Port of Baltimore - Star Spangled Spectacular - NOAA Okeanos Explorer  1 of 3 >
Sept. 12, 2014 - NOAA Okeanos Explorer "is America's first ship dedicated to ocean exploration and discovery."  Using multibeam sonar, the Okeanos Explorer has done extensive mapping of the ocean floor, and its remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system produces remarkable high-speed, high-definition video made available live via satellite ("telepresence").  (Live feed here).  Okeanos Explorer operates somewhat similar to NASA space programs in that most of the science is done off board the ship; data is provided to scientists and citizens around the world.  Among its accomplishments in 33 expeditions and 46 cruises between 2009 and July 2014 Okeanos Explorer has "mapped 723,547 sq km of unmapped or poorly mapped seafloor in high resolution.  (An area equivalent to the states of California and Arizona combined.)."   It has done 136 ROV dives.  After leaving Baltimore, the ship will explore Atlantic Canyons and New England Seamounts (+).  More:  NOAA.
The C-band antenna dome is 17 feet wide and weighs 1,900 pounds.
Parking space for the ROV with tracks to move the ROV onto the aft deck.
The ROV crane, with a bit of the A-frame at left and a bit of the track just visible at lower  right.
Specifications:
Built by VT Halter Marine, Inc. of Moss Point, Miss.; launched in 1988 as the USNS Capable.
Acquired by NOAA in 2004, and commissioned Aug. 2008.
Length:  224 feet.
Breadth:  43 feet.
Draft:  15 feet.
Speed:  10 knots.
Displacement:  2,298.3 metric tons.
Crew:  46, comprising six officers, 20 crew, 20 scientists.
More:  NOAA.   (Facebook | Twitter)

Also note that similar work is being done by the E/V Nautilus, led by Dr. Robert Ballard.  (Facebook | Twitter)
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