U.S. Navy Took Delivery of Pathfinder-class Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Maury (T-AGS 66)

: Posted On Saturday, 20 February 2016 10:20

Naval Forces News - USA

U.S. Navy Took Delivery of Pathfinder-class Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Maury (T-AGS 66)

The U.S. 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.

PASCAGOULA, Miss.- The Navy accepted USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) from builder VT Halter Feb. 16. (Photo by U.S. Navy)

"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.