Page 20: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2013)

In the Yard Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) reported that con- struction of the AGOR 27 R/V Neil Armstrong is pro- gressing according to plan at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) in Anacortes, WA. A major milestone was achieved re- cently with the completion of the hull assembly after the stern block was set, followed by the installation of the pilot house. The complex vessels, AGOR 27 and sister vessel AGOR 28 R/V Sally Ride, also well under way at DCI, meet the lat- est standards in shipbuilding technology, complying with the highest safety standards and providing unprecedented capa- bilities for advanced oceanographic research. After developing the Basic Design, Regulatory Design and Detail/Production Engineering for the navy-owned, advanced oceanographic research vessel, GPA now supports DCI onsite throughout the construction and delivery of the 238-ft. ves- sels. ?DCI is producing vessels of outstanding quality and together, we are meeting our timelines and are on schedule for the launch of AGOR-27 in the 1st quarter of 2014.? said Eric Engelbrecht, GPA?s Project Manager for these vessels. Delivery is scheduled for late 2014 for AGOR 27 and early 2015 for AGOR 28. Once completed, AGOR 27 will be operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and AGOR 28 will be man- aged by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography under charter party agreements with ONR. Both ships will be supporting scientists with ongoing research worldwide, including in the Atlantic, Western Paci c and Indian Ocean regions in a wide variety of missions. AGOR 27 & 28: Construction of New Oceanographic Research Vessels Progressing September 201320 MTRAGOR 27 R/V Neil Armstrong and AGOR 28 R/V Sally Ride (left) under construction at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) in Anacortes, WA. MTR #7 (18-33).indd 20MTR #7 (18-33).indd 208/22/2013 10:08:32 AM8/22/2013 10:08:32 AM