Posted:
August 31, 2010
Military Sealift Command deactivated oceanographic survey ship USNS John McDonnell Aug. 25.
The vessel has worked in support of the Naval Oceanographic Office since 1991, charting hundreds of thousands of nautical miles and verifying thousands of navigational hazards, MSC reported.
The MSC charter award to AMO-contracted 3PSC LLC for the T-AGS oceanographic survey ships was for the operation of six vessels with the option for a seventh, as reported one year ago in American Maritime Officers and on AMO Currents. The option for the seventh vessel was exercised and 3PSC has been operating, and AMO has been manning, all seven vessels since the turnover of the T-AGS fleet to 3PSC.
The deactivation of the USNS McDonnell is part of the effort to streamline survey operations, MSC reported. Unlike the Pathfinder class, which is capable of conducting both deep- and shallow-water scans, the USNS McDonnell was only equipped with the sensors to conduct shallow-water surveys.
Construction of a new, more capable survey ship, T-AGS 66, will start in October, MSC reported.
The USNS McDonnell has surveyed territorial waters in 10 countries and several seas. The vessel also provided emergency services in several instances. In 1993, it located two downed F-16s in the Northern Arabian Gulf, and in 1994, it uncovered the wreckage of a Navy helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, MSC reported. In 1996, the USNS McDonnell detected a crashed F-14 in the Central Arabian Gulf.
The six T-AGS ships in operation under AMO contract are the USNS Henson, USNS Pathfinder, USNS Sumner, USNS Bowditch, USNS Bruce Heezen and USNS Mary Sears. If all options in the contract are exercised, the MSC charter with 3PSC could remain in effect until March 2017.
Oceanographic survey ship USNS McDonnell deactivated
Military Sealift Command deactivated oceanographic survey ship USNS John McDonnell Aug. 25.
The vessel has worked in support of the Naval Oceanographic Office since 1991, charting hundreds of thousands of nautical miles and verifying thousands of navigational hazards, MSC reported.
The MSC charter award to AMO-contracted 3PSC LLC for the T-AGS oceanographic survey ships was for the operation of six vessels with the option for a seventh, as reported one year ago in American Maritime Officers and on AMO Currents. The option for the seventh vessel was exercised and 3PSC has been operating, and AMO has been manning, all seven vessels since the turnover of the T-AGS fleet to 3PSC.
The deactivation of the USNS McDonnell is part of the effort to streamline survey operations, MSC reported. Unlike the Pathfinder class, which is capable of conducting both deep- and shallow-water scans, the USNS McDonnell was only equipped with the sensors to conduct shallow-water surveys.
Construction of a new, more capable survey ship, T-AGS 66, will start in October, MSC reported.
The USNS McDonnell has surveyed territorial waters in 10 countries and several seas. The vessel also provided emergency services in several instances. In 1993, it located two downed F-16s in the Northern Arabian Gulf, and in 1994, it uncovered the wreckage of a Navy helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, MSC reported. In 1996, the USNS McDonnell detected a crashed F-14 in the Central Arabian Gulf.
The six T-AGS ships in operation under AMO contract are the USNS Henson, USNS Pathfinder, USNS Sumner, USNS Bowditch, USNS Bruce Heezen and USNS Mary Sears. If all options in the contract are exercised, the MSC charter with 3PSC could remain in effect until March 2017.