Emerit: R/V Melville

Research vessel Melville was built in 1969 with funding by the U.S. Navy, and subsequently owned by the Office of Naval Research and operated by Scripps Oceanography as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS).

Configured as a general-purpose oceanographic research vessel, Melville supported a wide range of scientific activities across every discipline of oceanography, and involving capabilities as diverse as deep-towing cameras, deploying massive moorings, precisely maneuvering remotely-operated vehicles thousands of meters below the ship, and launching (and recovering!) unmanned aircraft used to measure gravity and atmospheric physical properties.

A Global Class vessel, Melville excelled at projecting our observational capabilities to the far corners of the planet, operating for extended periods of time far from port through all kinds of weather, with a full complement of state-of-the-art sensing systems and instruments aboard. Melville sailed more than 1.5 million miles from the Arctic Circle to the Southern Ocean, crossed the equator more than 90 times, mapped the deepest spot on the planet, recovered core and dredge samples from trenches greater than 8,000 meters deep, and made first-ever observations of deep ocean volcanic eruptions. Much of what we know today about plate tectonics, marine biodiversity, ocean circulation, waves, climate and the multitude of ways the ocean impacts human society, has benefited from research conducted aboard Melville.

Melville served much longer than the design expectation of a 30-year life, having undergone a service life extension in 1992 that extended the useful life of this ship to 46 years, and resulted in a more capable and efficient vessel. In 2014 Melville reached the end of this extended period, and was retired from UNOLS service in September of that year.

Specifications

Built: 1969 Mid-Life: 1992 Length: 279' Beam: 46'

Draft (max): 16.6'
ITC Gross Tonnage: 2,516 tons
ITC Net Tonnage: 754 tons
Registered Tonnage, Gross: 2,516 tons
Registered Tonnage, Net: 754 tons
Loaded Displacement: 2,944 long tons
Crew: 23
Scientific Berthing: 38
Motors: Two 1,385 hp Propulsion General Electric
Bow Thruster: 900 hp Retractable Azimuthing Thruster
Propulsion: Two 1385 hp Z-Drive Lips
Water Capacity: 15,900 gal
Incinerator: Yes
Fuel Consumption: 3,600 gal/day (transit)
Transit Speed For Cruise Planning: 11.4 knots ( variable with conditions -- contact us prior to making speed/time estimates)
Minimum Speed: variable to 0, any direction
Endurance: 40 days at 11.7 knots (fuel)
Range: 10,061 nm at 11.7 knots (fuel)
Fuel Capacity: 129,000 (planning)
Radio Call Sign: WECB
Laboratory Space: 2,636 sq. ft
Main Deck Working Area: 4,050 sq. ft
Freeboard: 12 ft
Sewage System: MSD
Holding Tanks: 8,000 gal
Document/State I.D#: CF0719XS

Scientific berthing at 38 assumes 2 persons in the chief scientist room, and 4 persons in the dormitory.
We request that the second berth in ResTech stateroom and the second berth in the computer tech stateroom be the last two berths filled in the case of a full ship.

Ownership: Title held by U.S. Navy. Operated under charter agreement with Office of Naval Research.

Navigational Capabilities

GPS Trimble Tansmon P-Code GPS Trimble NT 200 DGPS RADAR Sperry 3cm, 10cm ADU GPs Ashtech Attitude-sensing System Fathometer Use EDO Doppler Speed Log Gyro - Sperry MK 37, MK 23 Doppler Speed Log - EDO 300 kHz Dynamic Positioning System - Kongsberg K-POS DP-11 ADF (VHF) - SIMRAD Taiyo

Scientific Equipment

EQUIPMENT	MFGR/MODEL	FREQ (kHz)	NOTES
Multibeam	Kongsberg EM122	12 kHz	150 degrees maximum swath width
Sub-Bottom Profiler	Knudsen 3260	3.5 and 12 kHz	Echosounder
ADCP	RDI Ocean Surveyor	75 kHz
ADCP	RDI Ocean Surveyor	150 kHz
Underway Data System			Meteorological and Sea Surface
Data Network			Ethernet, audiovisual in labs and staterooms, F/O and copper links
Computer System	Linux server		1 GB network
Work Stations	Linux and PC		In laboratory
Printers/ Plotters			Laserjet and color inkjet

Other portable equipment and technical services available on cruise-specific basis.

Vans: Multiple van placement locations on main deck, winch deck and forward on 02 deck.

Communications: VHF, SSB voice, and INMARSAT voice and data.

Major Shipboard Equipment

Equipment	Location	Working Load	Notes
Allied Heavy Crane	Top of aft staging bay	5,000 pounds	Trawl and dredge capable
Pettibone Crane	02 level amidships	1,800 pounds	Trawl and dredge capable
Stern A-frame	Stern-centered	14,000 pounds
Squirt (hydro) boom	Above quarterdeck, starboard side	12,000 pounds
Portable Cranes	Various	Various	Contact marine superintendent for availability
Instrument wells	1 – 01 level, 28-inch diameter tube 2 – Fantail, 28-inch diameter tube		Located behind each thruster, oriented slightly aft and outboard
Mooring Capstan	Main deck Aft		Moveable
Seismic Air Compressor	Trawl winch room		1,850 PSI
Deck Boltdowns	All decks and laboratories		2 foot x 2 foot pattern
Stern Ramp	Stern-centered		12 feet wide
Bow Observation Chamber	Below waterline at bow
Cargo Hoist	Forward end of main laboratory		4 feet wide x 4 feet long
Overhead Hoists	Both staging bays

Winches	Cable	Notes
Northern Line traction drum	3x19 9/16-inch trawl .680-inch EM	For safety, science users must provide their own wire. 10,000 meter capacity
Northern Line hydrographic	3x19 1/4-inch hydro	For safety, science users must provide their own wire. 10,000 meter capacity
Markey DESH-6	.322-inch EM	For safety, science users must provide their own wire. 10,000 meter capacity
Markey DESH-5 CTD	.322-inch EM	For safety, science users must provide their own wire. 10,000 meter capacity

Schematic Drawings