Obtained by NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science in 2012 and known by its R5502 NOAA hull number, the 58' 04' vessel was officially named the R/V Chesapeake at a small ceremony held November 17, 2016 at the Cambridge Shipyard Facility in Cambridge, MD. Constructed in 1977 as the US Coast Guard Aid to Navigation Boat 55108, the vessel served at various stations under jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard 8^th District, New Orleans, LA servicing aids to navigation from the mouth of the Mississippi river to South West Pass, LA.55108 served with distinction in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, evacuating over 7,000 people from St. Bernard Parish.

R5502 is shown before the naming ceremony and dressed with American, Maryland and NOAA flags and with bunting covering her new name. Credit: NOAA

The boat was refitted for its science mission at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Muskegon Field Station, under the guidance of Dennis Donahue. With a draft of 5'2', range of 400-900 nautical miles, deck equipment with lifting capacities up to 3,000 lbs and capacity to add equipment and sensors, the R/V Chesapeake is a capable vessel and valuable asset for NCCOS, NOAA, and Maryland DNR.

Cooperative Oxford Lab employees and partners, representing NCCOS, NMFS, Maryland DNR and Cambridge Shipyard Facility, celebrate the naming of NCCOS' Research Vessel Chesapeake. Also attending was Maryland State Senator Addie Eckardt, who represents the counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, and Wicomico in the Maryland General Assembly. Credit: NOAA.

For more information, please contact Jay Lewis.