PASCAGOULA, Miss.- The Navy accepted USNS Maury (T-AGS
66) from builder VT Halter Feb. 16.
The USNS Maury was designed to perform acoustic,
biological, physical and geophysical surveys. The vessel will provide the U.S.
military with essential information on the ocean environment.
"The Navy's acceptance of T-AGS 66 is the
culmination of a dedicated team effort between the Navy and V.T. Halter,"
said Mike Kosar, the Support Ships, Boats, and Craft Program Manager for the
Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.
"I look forward to learning of the new and innovative contributions
to science and ocean exploration that USNS Maury and her crew will undoubtedly
make over the next 30 years."
T-AGS 66 is named in honor of Cmdr. Matthew Fontaine
Maury, known as the "Father of Modern Oceanography," and nicknamed,
"Pathfinder of the Seas." He
dedicated his life to the study of naval meteorology and oceanography, and made
copious contributions to the charting of wind and ocean currents. USNS Maury will continue to contribute to his
curiosity and thirst for ocean discovery and understanding.
The vessel is 353 feet in length with an overall beam of
58 feet. USNS Maury is 24 feet longer
than the previous T-AGS design to accommodate a moon pool for deployment and
retrieval of autonomous underwater vehicles.
USNS Maury will be operated by the Military Sealift
Command (MSC). MSC consists of
non-combatant, civilian crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart
ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, tactically preposition combat
cargo at sea and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S.
forces around the world.
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition
organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and
procurement of all major surface combatants, amphibious ships, special mission
and support ships, and special warfare craft.
-NAVSEA-