UNH Gets Funds for New Research Vessel

It's called a Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull, or SWATH, and when finished, will have a length of 100 feet and accommodate a crew of 16 including scientists. New Hampshire U.S. Senator Judd Gregg, who secured funding for the vessel, said that $5 million dollars in federal funds has already been appropriated for the initial design and engineering.

(SOT Gregg) :16 "This ship is an exciting idea?I don't know much about it in the sense that I don't understand all the electronics that are going into it, but clearly its a unique design and it will be obviously a major new step in the area of research."

Gregg said that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard will have no direct role in the vessel, which will be operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in conjunction with the University of New Hampshire. Scott Gudes, deputy Undersecretary of NOAA, said that the ship will have a role in homeland security as well as marine research.

(SOT Gudes) :22 "This is a critical addition to our capability to get really accurate maps of our entrances to our commercial ports and to our defense installations and ports, and really will help us do a lot better job on the bathymetry of the ocean bottom that is so critical to promoting safe navigation"

Gudes said that the new vessel will replace an existing one already in service, and introduce new technology that will enhance NOAA missions. Design and engineering work will proceed under the initial funding phase. Again, New Hampshire Senator Gregg.

(SOT Gregg) :13 "There'll be another $9 million dollars going into the budget this year, or maybe half this year and half next yea to be able to complete construction on it. So it's definitely on-plan and is going to be built."

Completion and launching of the research craft is expected in late 2004 or early 2005. For NHPR News, I'm Roger in New Castle.