The U.S. Navy accepted the Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) from VT Halter Marine February 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. Built at VT Halter Marine’s shipyard in Moss Point, Mississippi, the ship is the last of its class.
Mike Kosar , the Support Ships, Boats, and Craft program manager for the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said: “The Navy’s acceptance of T-AGS 66 is the culmination of a dedicated team effort between the Navy and VT Halter. 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.
The vessel is 353 feet in length with an overall beam of 58 feet. Maury is 24 feet longer than the previous T-AGS design to accommodate a moon pool for deployment and retrieval of autonomous underwater vehicles.
Maury will be operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) which 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.