R/V Allision, a 22-foot Zodiac Hurricane Model 640 rigid hull, inflatable boat (RHIB) was acquired by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office from the U.S.Coast Guard in 2008. Originally designed for rough-water search and rescue, its multichambered inflatable sponson and tow reel make it highly suited for tying alongside Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS) "smart buoys" for routine inspection and sensor maintenance, and for towing the buoys to and from their mooring sites. R/V Allision is aptly named, because "allision" refers to contact between a vessel and a fixed object—in this case, the RHIB and a CBIBS buoy.

R/V Allision Technical Specifications

Length Overall: 22 ft.

Length of Rigid Hull: 19 ft.

Beam: 8.5 ft (w/ inflatable collar), 6 ft. 2 in. (without collar)

Draft - Hull: 1 ft. 3 in.

Fuel Capacity: 48 gal. primary, 48 gal. reserve

Speed at Cruise: 28 kts.

Typical Crew: 2

Max. Capacity: 15 people

R/V Allision has twin outboard 90 hp Mercury four-stroke engines. Additional rubber reinforcement around the perimeter of the inflatable sponson protects the RHIB and the buoys from damage due to impact or abrasion.

For more information on the Allision, contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .