The NOAAS Surveyor (S 132) was an oceanographic survey vessel operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1970 to 1995. Originally commissioned as USC&GS Surveyor (OSS 32) in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, she was built by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego and launched on April 25, 1959. Notably, she was the last steam-powered ship constructed for the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the first equipped with a deep-water multi-beam echosounder, marking a modernization effort for the fleet. Surveyor's design integrated advanced scientific and navigational equipment, including shallow and deep-water echosounders, a stabilized mapping sonar, a Hydroplot data processor, seismic reflection profile processors, and a comprehensive suite of laboratories—oceanography, gravimetric, and photographic. Her construction featured two three-story boilers powering impulse turbines, providing a top speed of approximately 13 knots, although a damaged reduction gear caused vibrations. She also employed a unique maneuvering aid—a stern-mounted electric thruster—allowing precise docking without tugs. Her seakeeping abilities were generally good, with the ship capable of enduring around 32 days at sea, primarily fueled by bunker C oil and JP4. Based in Seattle, Washington, she operated extensively across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, from Alaska’s Beaufort Sea to Antarctica’s Palmer Peninsula. Her missions included hydrographic surveys, notably discovering Axial Seamount on Endeavor Ridge, and supporting studies on the Alaskan Arctic and Antarctic Marine Living Resources. One of her notable heroic events occurred in 1980 when crew member Wallace K. Kanahele rescued a fellow sailor from hypothermia, earning the Department of Commerce Gold Medal. Decommissioned in 1995, Surveyor was subsequently decontaminated and sold for private use, serving as a windbreak at Tacoma’s Tyee Marina and later moored in British Columbia. Her legacy includes geographic features named after her, such as the Surveyor Fracture Zone and Surveyor Gap, underscoring her significance in maritime and scientific history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.