Page 32: of Marine Technology Magazine (April 2012)

32MTRApril 2012The NATO Research Vessel (NRV) Alliance is unique in more than 28 ways. It is owned by the 28 member nations of the NATO alliance. The 305-ft. Alliance is essentially a Global class? research vessel, capable of oper- ating wherever NATO needs it, but is specially designed for underwater acoustic research for the benefit of the member nations. NATO researchers say she is the quietest ocean-going research ship in the world. Alliance is an asset of the NATO Undersea Research Centre at the Italian port city of La Spezia. The ship flies the merchant marine flag of Germany and is listed as a naval auxiliary with the German Government. Alliance is managed under a contract with Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (UK) in Glasgow, according to Capt. Helge Wrage, an ASM employee who has served aboard as master for seven years. And hes the new guy,? because there are several crewmembers on board who have served since the beginning, 25 years ago. Wrage says Alliance has two crews which rotate on board to maximize the time the ship can spend underway. Alliance has an overall length of 305 ft. (93m), with a beam of 50 ft. (15.2m) and draft of 17 ft. (5.2m). With a clean hull, she can sustain up to 16.3 knots, and can cruise economically at 11.5 knots for 7,200 nm. She consumes about 8 tons of fuel per day cruising and about 5 tons at lower speeds for conducting scientific operations. Alliance has an endurance of 26 days, enabling it to per-form extended research on site. Even when nations have their own capabilities, there is tremendous value in shar- ing a research ship which performs scientific research for the benefit of all NATO nations. Decision Making Support We publish our schedule,? says Ed Gough, NURCs chief scientist. Others can come and work with us. We plan cruises that are mutually beneficial.? Gough says the science conducted on Alliance, as with all the work done at NURC, delivers knowledge to enable better strategy and tactics. Were in the decision-making business. Theres no harder place to make decisions than the ocean environment.? NURC scientists help speed the delivery of new capabil- The stern shows the unique capability to tow sophisticated arrays and systems for underwater research. (Photo credit: NATO Photo by Captain Dave Waterman, USN)