NOAA’s Latest Research Vessel Employs Impressive Suite of Furuno Marine Electronics

When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) specced their newest research vessel, they looked to Teknicraft and All American Marine for the hull design and Furuno for electronics. Their new 50' semi-displacement catamaran, launched with a full suite of quality Furuno marine electronics, is ready to assist in their research missions in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) in Washington State.

The ultra-stable semi-displacement catamaran features a TZTL12F MFD (Multi Function Display) and TZ Pro on the bridge, connected to the powerful Solid-State DRS6ANXT Radar. Installed by Radar Marine in Bellingham, Washington, the lightning-fast 12" NavNet TZtouch2 display comes pre-loaded with all of the charts the crew will need for safe and reliable navigation. The NXT series of Solid-State Doppler Radar provides the power and signal clarity researchers need to track hazardous targets. Furuno features such as Fast Target Tracking augment situational awareness at all times by tracking nearby vessels. Dual wide-screen monitors provide the displays for a dedicated PC running the intuitive and powerful TZ Pro software.

An SCX20 Satellite Compass stabilizes the vessel's electronics by calculating and providing extremely accurate heading, pitch, roll, and heave information. Reliable communication with other nearby vessels is achieved with the inclusion of the LH5000 Loud Hailer, allowing the crew to instantly notify nearby ships of their presence regardless of limited visibility. It also includes the ability to immediately sound any of the eight built-in, internationally acknowledged warning signals.

The vessel was purpose-built to help NOAA and their partners at OCNMS to study and provide science-based solutions to the evolving environmental pressures on our ocean and coasts. OCNMS encompasses 3,188 square miles of marine waters off the rugged Olympic Peninsula coastline, extending up to 50 miles seaward - roughly the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. This important sanctuary is home to many marine mammals and seabirds, thriving kelp forests, deep-sea coral and sponges, and diverse intertidal communities teeming with fish and other sea life.