Page 40: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2014)

AGOR 27 On March 29, the Ocean Class Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) vessel hull number 27 started its ofÞ cial life as the R/V Neil Armstrong, the Þ rst research vessel named after a space explorer. Carol Armstrong, the widow of the famed astronaut, performed the christening duties during a brief sunbreak on a windy and rainy PaciÞ c Northwest afternoon. The number of illustrious speakers highlighted the rich di- versity of agencies involved in the design, construction and operation of the vessel. Dick Nelson, President of Dakota Creek Industries (DCI), the construction shipyard, spoke Þ rst followed by Chris Chuhran, VP of Guido Perla and Associ- ates, Inc. (GPA), the Seattle-based Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Þ rm that partnered with DCI for the de- AGOR 27 Comes to Life as the R/V Neil Armstrong By Kathleen Gleaves Images above (left to right): Carol Armstrong, wife of the ship?s namesake, astronaut Neil Armstrong, broke the tradi- tional bottle of champagne on the ship?s hull while Armstrong?s grand-daughter Kali cheers. Portrait of the dignitaries assembled for the christening of the R/V Neil Armstrong. Guests from the US Navy, NOAA, NASA, Woods Hole, Dakota Creek Industries and Guido Perla Associates were on the dais along with members of the Armstrong family. Courtesy of Karla DeCamp, Dakota Creek Industries May 201440 MTRMTR #4 (34-49).indd 40MTR #4 (34-49).indd 405/12/2014 4:18:26 PM5/12/2014 4:18:26 PM