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Office of Coast Survey
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
Hydrographic Ships
NOAA operates four large ships dedicated to hydrographic surveying: NOAA Ship Fairweather, NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler, NOAA Ship Rainier, and NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson. Each ship is equipped with the latest echo sounding technology to measure water depth and identify submerged hazards to navigation. Each ship has 1-6 smaller boats (called launches) that are lowered into the water for surveying in shallow areas.
Coast Survey deploys five navigation response teams equipped with trailerable survey boats, a fly-away mobile survey kit, and uncrewed survey systems that generally survey ports, harbors, and the near shore environment. These three-person teams are rapidly deployed in response to emergency survey requests to identify navigational hazards and assist in reopening key ports, supporting the recovery of affected coastal communities and the overall resumption of commerce.
Navigate with Confidence
