RV Rachel Carson (2008)

For other ships with the same name, see RV Rachel Carson.

History
United States
Name	Rachel Carson
Namesake	Rachel Carson
Operator	University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Builder	Hike Metal Products, Wheatley, Ontario
Cost	USD$4.6m
Christened	November 16, 2008
In service	2009
Homeport	Solomons, Maryland
Identification	MMSI number: 367380790 Callsign: WDE6481
Status	In service
General characteristics [1]
Type	Research vessel
Tonnage	78 GT 60 DWT
Length	81 ft (25 m) o/a
Beam	18 ft (5.5 m)
Draft	4 ft 8 in (1.42 m)
Installed power	Two MTU 10V 2000 M-72 diesel engines, 2 × 1,205 hp (899 kW)
Propulsion	Two Hamilton HM 651 water jets 30 hp (22 kW) Wesmar V2-12 bow thruster
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity	Up to 5 persons overnight; maximum of 30 for educational cruises
Crew	2

RV Rachel Carson is a research vessel owned and operated by the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science, named in honor of the marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson.

The 81-foot aluminum-hulled vessel is an extended and modified Challenger class fast research vessel, designed by marine architect Roger Long.[2] It is equipped with twin 1,200 horsepower diesel engines and water jet drives which give a maximum speed of 24 knots. A dynamic positioning system automatically maintains the vessel's position.[3]

The ship was built by Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario,[3] at a cost of $4.6 million, and christened by Katie O'Malley on November 16, 2008, at Annapolis.[4]

The Rachel Carson has operated in Chesapeake Bay since early 2009, teaching estuarine sampling techniques, carrying out water quality surveys, plankton collection, box coring operations, and deploying instrument packages.[3]

References

1. "Rachel Carson : Specifications and Equipment". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
2. "Research Vessel Design". JMS Naval Architects & Salvage Engineers. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
3. "The R/V Rachel Carson". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
4. "New R/V Rachel Carson Commissioned". Chesapeake Quarterly. 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2012.