The US Navy-owned research vessel Roger Revelle has begun undergoing a year-long upgrade programme to extend its service life, enhance its operating systems, and strengthen its research capabilities for the navy and scientific organisations.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego has operated and maintained Roger Revelle since 1996 under a charter lease agreement with the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which manages the ship on behalf of the navy.
During the mid-life refit, which is being conducted by Vigor Shipyard in Oregon, Roger Revelle will receive brand new diesel engines, sonar, and other navigation and ship-positioning systems. Included in the new systems is an improved sonar that will allow the ship to map the ocean floor in sharper detail.
The onboard laboratories will also be updated to include advanced IT infrastructure and improved real-time ship-to-shore communications. Several critical sensor systems will also be replaced.
The US$52 million refit is sponsored by the ONR, Scripps, and the National Science Foundation.