Gyre (T-AGOR-21), best known as RV Gyre, was the lead ship of her class of oceanographic research ships acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1973 for assignment to the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet of Navy owned ships. Gyre was operated by the Texas A&M University School of Oceanography as part of the Navy owned UNOLS fleet until stricken 17 August 1992 and transferred to the university under a program transferring ships to states, schools and other public institutions. The university operated the ship until sale in December 2005.
Active research vessel with TDI-Brooks Intl since 2005
Notes
Transferred from Navy to Texas A&M, owned and operated by university until December 2005. Returned to the U.S. Maritime Administration and sold to TDI-Brooks Intl 2005.
Gyre was purchased by TDI-Brooks International, Inc., flagged in Vanuatu, Port Vila and operated as a for hire research and survey vessel with particular suitability for undersea oil and gas related work.
Gyre was built in New Orleans, LA, by Halter Marine, Inc. and was laid down on 9 October 1972 and launched on 23 May 1973. She was delivered to the Navy 14 November 1973 and placed in service as RV Gyre (T-AGOR-21).[1] The ship was the lead of the AGOR-21 class research vessels.[2] The class was to be specifically designed to reduce cost of both acquisition and life cycle costs by adopting commercial standards and practices in design.[3]
The ship was 182 ft (55.5 m) length overall, 36 ft (11.0 m) beam, 12.5 ft (3.8 m) draft, 292 gross register tons (GRT) with a displacement tonnage of 946. The two shafts were driven by geared diesel engines for a cruising speed of 9.5 kn (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph), maximum speed of 11.8 kn (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph). Gyre had a hydraulic electric bow thruster. With a capacity of 89,000 US gallons (340,000 L) of diesel oil the ship had a range of 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at cruising speed and endurance of sixty days limited by food. The ship was operated with five officers and five crew with a scientific complement of twenty-three.[2]
Gyre had wet and dry laboratories with a capability to carry an 8 by 8 by 20 ft (2.4 by 2.4 by 6.1 m) instrument van on deck. For equipment handling and operation there were two "A" frames of 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) capacity, two cranes with 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg) capacity and three oceanographic/hydrographic/trawl winches. Raytheon shallow and deep water sounding systems were installed and the ship had a capability for seismic profiling.[2]
University assignmentedit
Gyre was leased to the Texas A&M University School of Oceanography as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet of Navy owned ships, based in Galveston operating with call sign KJCL.[2][4] The ship had undergone modifications in 1980 and 1984 and then struck from Navy list in August 1992. The university acquired the vessel by transfer from the Navy and continued to operate Gyre as part of the UNOLS fleet with National Science Foundation (NSF) support for research.[5][1] The vessel was sold in December 2005.[6]
Operationsedit
The university operated Gyre until 31 August 2005. At that time maintenance of an older ship and federal research budget cuts for research made operation uneconomical. The university was left without a ship capable of carrying twenty-three researchers and sustained voyages in the Western Gulf of Mexico. In 2005 Gyre only made nine cruises with 76 total days at sea compared to fifteen and 194 days at sea in 2000.[7] The 2000 operations involved ten days in support of NSF requirements with the rest supporting state, Navy, Minerals Management Service (MMS), and other authorized federal and private projects.[5] The MMS used Gyre as the research platform for The Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos (DGoMB) project studying impact of oil and gas operations on the sea floor biota.[8]
Commercial operationedit
Gyre is currently operated by TDI-Brooks International, Inc., College Station, Texas, flagged in Vanuatu, Port Vila advertised for work out of Mexico, Northern South America and West Africa.[9][10]Gyre is identified with IMO number 7318999, MMSI number 577275000, and call sign YJYX5 and noted as particularly well suited for oil and gas exploration and off shore production support. The ship now has four laboratory or work spaces and quarters for nine crew and twenty six technical staff.[9]
Referencesedit
^ ab"GYRE (AGOR 21)". U.S. Navy, NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office, Naval Vessel Register. 18 February 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ abcdNational Oceanographic Fleet Platform Characteristics (PDF) (Report). Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). January 1992. pp. 119=122. (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^Van Haaren, Cary G. (March 1978). "The AGOR-21 Class Oceanographic Research Ships: An Acquisition Analysis" (PDF). Naval Postgraduate School. (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^"Historical List of all UNOLS Vessels". University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
^ ab"Award Abstract #0070212 Ship Operations". National Science Foundation. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^"The history of the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University". Texas A&M University. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^Cappiello, Dina (12 June 2005). "A&M to retire research ship; some of crew will follow suit". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^Rowe, Gilbert T.; Kennicutt, Mahlon C. II (July 2009). Northern Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope Habitats and Benthic Ecology Study (PDF) (Report). Minerals Management Service. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^ ab"R/V GYRE" (PDF). TDI-Brooks International, Inc. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
^"R/V Gyre (AGOR-21)". NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
R/V Gyre (Recent photos, information and specifications)
January 01, 1970
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Gyre T AGOR 21 best known as RV Gyre was the lead ship of her class of oceanographic research ships acquired by the U S Navy in 1973 for assignment to the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System UNOLS fleet of Navy owned ships Gyre was operated by the Texas A amp M University School of Oceanography as part of the Navy owned UNOLS fleet until stricken 17 August 1992 and transferred to the university under a program transferring ships to states schools and other public institutions The university operated the ship until sale in December 2005 History United States NameGyre BuilderHalter Marine Inc New Orleans Louisiana Laid down9 October 1972 Launched23 May 1973 Acquiredby the U S Navy 14 November 1973 In serviceas RV Gyre T AGOR 21 date not known Out of service17 August 1992 Stricken17 August 1992 ownership to Texas A amp M IdentificationIMO number 7318999 MMSI number 577275000 Callsign KJCL YJTX5 StatusActive research vessel with TDI Brooks Intl since 2005 NotesTransferred from Navy to Texas A amp M owned and operated by university until December 2005 Returned to the U S Maritime Administration and sold to TDI Brooks Intl 2005 General characteristics Class and typeGyre class oceanographic research ship Tonnage292 GRT Displacement946 tons Length182 ft 55 5 m Beam36 ft 11 0 m Draft12 5 ft 3 8 m Propulsiontwo Caterpillar Inc 398D diesel engines reduction gear drive to two Liaaen variable pitch propellers Speed9 5 kn 17 6 km h 10 9 mph cruising 11 8 kn 21 9 km h 13 6 mph maximum Range8 000 nmi 15 000 km 9 200 mi at cruising speed Endurance60 days Complement10 civilian mariners 23 scientific party Gyre was purchased by TDI Brooks International Inc flagged in Vanuatu Port Vila and operated as a for hire research and survey vessel with particular suitability for undersea oil and gas related work Contents 1 Construction amp characteristics 2 University assignment 3 Operations 4 Commercial operation 5 References 6 External linksConstruction amp characteristics editGyre was built in New Orleans LA by Halter Marine Inc and was laid down on 9 October 1972 and launched on 23 May 1973 She was delivered to the Navy 14 November 1973 and placed in service as RV Gyre T AGOR 21 1 The ship was the lead of the AGOR 21 class research vessels 2 The class was to be specifically designed to reduce cost of both acquisition and life cycle costs by adopting commercial standards and practices in design 3 The ship was 182 ft 55 5 m length overall 36 ft 11 0 m beam 12 5 ft 3 8 m draft 292 gross register tons GRT with a displacement tonnage of 946 The two shafts were driven by geared diesel engines for a cruising speed of 9 5 kn 17 6 km h 10 9 mph maximum speed of 11 8 kn 21 9 km h 13 6 mph Gyre had a hydraulic electric bow thruster With a capacity of 89 000 US gallons 340 000 L of diesel oil the ship had a range of 8 000 nmi 15 000 km 9 200 mi at cruising speed and endurance of sixty days limited by food The ship was operated with five officers and five crew with a scientific complement of twenty three 2 Gyre had wet and dry laboratories with a capability to carry an 8 by 8 by 20 ft 2 4 by 2 4 by 6 1 m instrument van on deck For equipment handling and operation there were two A frames of 30 000 pounds 14 000 kg capacity two cranes with 7 000 pounds 3 200 kg capacity and three oceanographic hydrographic trawl winches Raytheon shallow and deep water sounding systems were installed and the ship had a capability for seismic profiling 2 University assignment editGyre was leased to the Texas A amp M University School of Oceanography as part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System UNOLS fleet of Navy owned ships based in Galveston operating with call sign KJCL 2 4 The ship had undergone modifications in 1980 and 1984 and then struck from Navy list in August 1992 The university acquired the vessel by transfer from the Navy and continued to operate Gyre as part of the UNOLS fleet with National Science Foundation NSF support for research 5 1 The vessel was sold in December 2005 6 Operations editThe university operated Gyre until 31 August 2005 At that time maintenance of an older ship and federal research budget cuts for research made operation uneconomical The university was left without a ship capable of carrying twenty three researchers and sustained voyages in the Western Gulf of Mexico In 2005 Gyre only made nine cruises with 76 total days at sea compared to fifteen and 194 days at sea in 2000 7 The 2000 operations involved ten days in support of NSF requirements with the rest supporting state Navy Minerals Management Service MMS and other authorized federal and private projects 5 The MMS used Gyre as the research platform for The Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos DGoMB project studying impact of oil and gas operations on the sea floor biota 8 Commercial operation editGyre is currently operated by TDI Brooks International Inc College Station Texas flagged in Vanuatu Port Vila advertised for work out of Mexico Northern South America and West Africa 9 10 Gyre is identified with IMO number 7318999 MMSI number 577275000 and call sign YJYX5 and noted as particularly well suited for oil and gas exploration and off shore production support The ship now has four laboratory or work spaces and quarters for nine crew and twenty six technical staff 9 References edit a b GYRE AGOR 21 U S Navy NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office Naval Vessel Register 18 February 1999 Retrieved 12 September 2019 a b c d National Oceanographic Fleet Platform Characteristics PDF Report Naval Oceanographic Office NAVOCEANO January 1992 pp 119 122 Archived PDF from the original on 1 June 2022 Retrieved 12 September 2019 Van Haaren Cary G March 1978 The AGOR 21 Class Oceanographic Research Ships An Acquisition Analysis PDF Naval Postgraduate School Archived PDF from the original on 1 June 2022 Retrieved 12 September 2019 Historical List of all UNOLS Vessels University National Oceanographic Laboratory System Retrieved 11 September 2019 a b Award Abstract 0070212 Ship Operations National Science Foundation 5 August 2003 Retrieved 12 September 2019 The history of the Department of Oceanography at Texas A amp M University Texas A amp M University Retrieved 12 September 2019 Cappiello Dina 12 June 2005 A amp M to retire research ship some of crew will follow suit Houston Chronicle Retrieved 12 September 2019 Rowe Gilbert T Kennicutt Mahlon C II July 2009 Northern Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope Habitats and Benthic Ecology Study PDF Report Minerals Management Service Retrieved 12 September 2019 a b R V GYRE PDF TDI Brooks International Inc Retrieved 12 September 2019 R V Gyre AGOR 21 NavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive 4 January 2019 Retrieved 12 September 2019 External links editCruise 1 R V Gyre04G03 Texas A amp M Cruise description with objectives personnel R V Gyre Recent photos information and specifications Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USNS Gyre amp oldid 1150016229, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
