NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER Banner

Photo of NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER

The NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER is a hydrographic survey ship that was originally commissioned with NOAA in 1968. The ship was deactivated in 1989 but a critical backlog of surveys for nautical charts in Alaska, where FAIRWEATHER will operate, was a motivating factor to reactivate the ship. "The Fairweather will bring a much-needed capability to the tremendous survey backlog in Alaska waters. I know Ketchikan will give a warm welcome to the vessel and the NOAA families attached to it," said Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The 35-year old ship has been tied up at NOAA's Marine Operations Center - Pacific in Seattle, Washington.

The FAIRWEATHER is designed and outfitted primarily for conducting hydrographic surveys in support of nautical charting. Scientific equipment normally aboard is limited to equipment that supports these survey operations. The ship will be equipped with the latest in hydrographic survey technology – multi-beam survey systems; high-speed, high-resolution side-scan sonar; and an on-board data-processing server.

The FAIRWEATHER will operate in Alaskan coastal waters. The FAIRWEATHER is named for Mt. Fairweather in southeast Alaska. Mt. Fairweather is the highest peak in the Fairweather Range, which is the tallest coastal range on earth. The vessel is operated by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations and will be home ported in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Visitor Information Science User Information Ship Specifications


 

FAIRWEATHER's E-mail address is:

Noaa.Ship.Fairweather@noaa.gov

FAIRWEATHER's Mail address is:

NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER
Marine Operations Center, Pacific
1801 Fairview Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102-3767

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•  Updated: August 3, 2004