NOAA's Albatross IV is Retired
The NOAA research ship Albatross IV was decommissioned, ending its 45-year career in service. The vessel sailed more than 655,000 miles on 453 research cruises, primarily fisheries surveys off the northeastern coast of the U.S. These surveys created the world's longest continuous study of fish population data. NOAA's new fisheries survey vessel, the Henry B. Bigelow is replacing the Albatross IV, ensuring the collection of important ecological data goes uninterrupted. "Albatross IV is the grand old lady of the NOAA fleet," said William J. Brennan, Ph.D., acting under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and acting NOAA administrator. "I am proud to be one of the scientific crew members that sailed aboard this vessel that contributed significantly to our extensive knowledge about important fishery stocks and the marine environment off the Northeast." The Albatross IV is the last of four vessels sharing the same name sailing from Woods Hole since 1883. The original Albatross was the first to be built exclusively for marine research by any government. Built in 1962, Albatross IV was the first vessel in the modern ship-building era, and continued the long scientific tradition established by the first three Albatross vessels. "More than 2,400 people sailed aboard the Albatross IV, some working their entire careers with the vessel," said Rear Admiral Jonathan W. Bailey, director of the NOAA Corps, one of the nation's seven uniformed services, and director of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. "We are sad to see her go, but look forward to continuing this important work with the Henry Bigelow, a ship that is as much a quantum leap forward in capability for us now, as was the Albatross IV when it entered service back in 1963." For most of her service life, the 187-ft. Albatross IV conducted sampling and research cruises across the Northeast continental shelf in support of NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Her key projects included annual spring and autumn groundfish and sea scallop trawls. The magnitude of information collected by a ship like
NOAA's ship Albatross IV was decommissioned after 45 years in service. (Credit: NOAA)
34 MTR
November/December 2008
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