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52-653: Rainier was designed as a "medium survey ship" (MSS) by the U.S. Maritime Administration . She was built for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey at the Aerojet-General Shipyards in Jacksonville , Florida . She was launched on 15 March 1967 along with her sister ship USC&GS Fairweather . The principal speaker at the ceremony was Dr. J. Herbert Hollomon , acting United States Under Secretary of Commerce . The ship

104-782: A ROTC scholarship from one of the other maritime schools. The Maritime Subsidy Board negotiates contracts for ship construction and grants operating-differential subsidies to shipping companies. The Maritime Administrator is vested with the residual powers of the Director of the National Shipping Authority, which was established in 1951 to organize and direct emergency merchant marine operations. The Maritime Security Program (MSP) authorizes MARAD to enter into contracts with U.S.-flag commercial ship owners to provide service during times of war or national emergencies. As of 2007, ten companies have signed contracts providing

156-475: A Kongsberg EM2040 multibeam sonar for mapping purposes. Rainier also carries four other smaller boats to support dive operations and shore operations. Rainier's crew varies with her mission, but her maximum complement is 13 NOAA Corps commissioned officers/mates, 4 United States Coast Guard licensed engineers, 6 unlicensed engineers, 16 deckhands, 10 survey crew, 4 stewards, 1 electronics technician, and 1 maintenance person, plus up to 8 scientists. The ship

208-424: A Teacher at Sea program in its fleet, where primary and secondary school teachers go aboard to participate in the science undertaken by the ships. The intent of the program is to spread awareness of NOAA and ocean sciences generally to teachers who can use this knowledge in their classrooms. Rainier has had a Teacher at Sea participant aboard since 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019. In 1977 Rainier received

260-631: A battlefield during World War I. The creation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps also ensured that in wartime a set of officers with technical skills in surveying could be assimilated rapidly into the United States Armed Forces so that their skills could be employed in military and naval work essential to the war effort. Before World War I ended in November 1918, over half of all Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps officers had served in

312-609: A commissioned officer in any of the other U.S. uniformed services and transferring their commission from that service, new NOAA Corps officers are appointed via direct commission and must complete a 19-week basic officer training class (BOTC) at the United States Coast Guard Officer Candidate School at the United States Coast Guard Academy before entering active duty. NOAA Corps officers receive

364-576: A department of one of the six branches of the United States Armed Forces . The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps traces its roots to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey , the oldest scientific agency of the federal government. The Coast and Geodetic Survey was founded as the United States Survey of the Coast under President Thomas Jefferson in 1807 and renamed the United States Coast Survey in 1836. Until

416-410: A fire on board during operations off American Samoa with 41 people on board. The fire is believed to have started in the exhaust stacks and affected machinery spaces, the ship's machine shop, and a computer lab. The ship was left without propulsion and electrical power for about 23 hours before returning to Pago Pago , American Samoa under reduced power. There were no reported injuries. NOAA sponsors

468-457: A lifting capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg). She originally had an A-frame aft, but it was removed during a major refit in 2010 in favor of a Rolls-Royce Group ODIM Brooke Ocean MVP200 Moving Vessel Profiler for underway sound velocity determination during mapping missions. She carries a Kongsberg EM710 multibeam sonar, and a variety of other conductivity, temperature, and water and bottom sampling instruments to map and characterize

520-759: A result, the ESSA Corps was redesignated the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps , known informally as the NOAA Corps . Rear Admiral Harley D. Nygren was appointed as the first director of the new NOAA Corps. In 1972, the NOAA Corps became the first uniformed service of the United States to recruit women on the same basis as men, and in that year it commissioned Ensign Pamela Chelgren , making her

572-702: A service-life extension renovation during 2010. This work took place at the Vigor Marine shipyard in Portland, Oregon , under a $ 13.1 million contract. Among the work performed was the installation of the Kongsburg multibeam sonar system and the MVP200 Moving Vessel Profiler, replacement of davits and other deck machinery, refitting of living and berthing spaces, and upgrades to machinery control systems, power generation machinery, and

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624-470: A significant amount of its work in the succeeding years was related to support of military and naval requirements during the Cold War . When the Coast and Geodetic Survey was transferred to the newly established Environmental Science Services Administration on July 13, 1965, control of the corps was transferred from the Coast and Geodetic Survey to ESSA itself, and accordingly, the corps was redesignated

676-417: A total berthing capacity of 64. The ship is equipped with an officers' wardroom, officer's mess, technician's mess, crew mess, galley, gym, laundry facilities, and an infirmary. Rainier has a laboratory of 240 square feet (22 m) to support oceanographic observations and diving operations. The deck equipment features a large crane aft and two bow -mounted fixed cranes. This equipment gives Rainier

728-601: A worldwide aeronautical charting effort, and a Coast and Geodetic Survey officer was the first commanding officer of the Army Air Forces Aeronautical Chart Plant at St. Louis , Missouri . Three officers who remained in Coast and Geodetic Survey service were killed during the war, as were eleven other Survey personnel. After the war ended in August 1945, the Coast and Geodetic Survey again returned to peacetime scientific duties, although

780-510: Is 1,591 gross and 578 net. Her construction complies with the standards of the American Bureau of Shipping . Rainier can cruise at 12 knots. She is propelled by two three-bladed controllable-pitch propellers which are 8.5 feet (2.6 m) in diameter. These are driven by two diesel engines. The two main propulsion engines are General Motors EMD LR-12-567-C , each of which produces 1,200 shaft horsepower. Electric power on board

832-558: Is made up of scientifically and technically trained officers . The NOAA Corps and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are the only U.S. uniformed services that consist only of commissioned officers , with no enlisted or warrant officer ranks. The NOAA Corps' primary mission is to monitor oceanic conditions, support major waterways, and monitor atmospheric conditions. The NOAA Corps traces its origins to

884-702: Is named for Mount Rainier in Washington State . Rainier's career began somewhat inauspiciously. While she was delivered to USC&GS in April 1968, she was not placed into commission until October because Congress had failed to appropriate funds to operate the ship. Since that time, however, she has been at sea almost every year. The table below, while incomplete, gives a sense of her work. The fishing vessel Cricket sank in southern Sitka Sound on 10 June 2008. Her two crewmen abandoned ship in survival suits . Rainier rescued them. The ship underwent

936-531: Is provided by two diesel generators, each of which is capable of producing 300 kW. The generators are powered by MTU/Detroit Diesel 12V2000P82 engines. She also has a 75 kW emergency generator. The ship has a 200 horsepower bow thruster for improved maneuverability. The ship's tanks hold 107,000 US gallons (410,000 L) for diesel fuel, giving Rainier an unrefueled range of 5,898 nautical miles. Rainier has 14 single-person staterooms, 13 double staterooms, and 6 four-person bunk rooms, giving her

988-697: The American Civil War (1861–1865), the Coast Survey was staffed by civilian personnel working with United States Army and United States Navy officers . During the American Civil War, Army officers were withdrawn from Coast Survey duty, never to return, while all but two Navy officers also were withdrawn from Coast Survey service for the duration of the war. Since most men of the Survey had Union sympathies, most stayed on with

1040-649: The Environmental Science Services Administration Corps , known informally as the ESSA Corps . The ESSA Corps retained the responsibility of providing commissioned officers to operate Coast and Geodetic Survey ships and of providing a set of officers with technical skills in surveying for incorporation into the U.S. armed forces during wartime. Following the establishment of the ESSA, Rear Admiral H. Arnold Karo

1092-552: The NOAA Unit Citation Award . United States Maritime Administration The United States Maritime Administration ( MARAD ) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation . MARAD administers financial programs to develop, promote, and operate the U.S. Maritime Service and the U.S. Merchant Marine . In addition, it conducts research and development activities in

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1144-573: The United States Maritime Commission was abolished on May 24, 1950, its functions were split between the Federal Maritime Board which was responsible for regulating shipping and awarding subsidies for construction and operation of merchant vessels, and Maritime Administration, which was responsible for administering subsidy programs, maintaining the national defense reserve merchant fleet, and operating

1196-810: The United States Merchant Marine , the United States Department of Defense , the United States Coast Guard , the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , and the United States Department of State . Like its predecessors, the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps and the ESSA Corps, the NOAA Corps provides a source of technically skilled officers which can be incorporated into the U.S. Armed Forces in times of war, and in peacetime supports defense requirements in addition to its non-military scientific projects. Should it be called into active duty, it would be

1248-965: The United States Merchant Marine Academy . In 1961, the Federal Maritime Board regulatory functions were assumed by the newly created Federal Maritime Commission , while the subsidy functions were assigned to the Maritime Subsidy Board of the Maritime Administration. On August 6, 1981, MARAD came under control of the Department of Transportation thereby bringing all transportation programs under one cabinet-level department. The Maritime Administration collaborates with stakeholders from all transportation sectors and modes in order to accomplish its mission to improve

1300-573: The president . NOAA Corps flag officers are authorized the use of rank flags. NOAA Corps officers can be militarized by the President of the United States under the provisions of 33 U.S.C.   § 3061 , which states: The President may, whenever in the judgment of the President a sufficient national emergency exists, transfer to the service and jurisdiction of a military department such vessels, equipment, stations, and officers of

1352-568: The Administration as the President considers to be in the best interest of the country. An officer of the Administration transferred under this section, shall, while under the jurisdiction of a military department, have proper military status and shall be subject to the laws, regulations, and orders for the government of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, as the case may be, insofar as the same may be applicable to persons whose retention permanently in

1404-478: The MSP with a reserve of sixty cargo vessels. NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (informally the NOAA Corps ) is one of eight federal uniformed services of the United States , and operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency overseen by the Department of Commerce . The NOAA Corps

1456-630: The Survey rather than resigning to serve the Confederate States of America ; their work shifted in emphasis to support of the United States Navy and Union Army , and these Coast Surveyors are the professional ancestors of today's NOAA Corps. Those Coast Surveyors supporting the Union Army were given assimilated military rank while attached to a specific command, but those supporting the U.S. Navy operated as civilians and ran

1508-642: The U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, or United States Marine Corps , performing duty as artillery orienteering officers, as minelaying officers in the North Sea (where they were involved in the laying of the North Sea Mine Barrage ), as navigators aboard troop transports , as intelligence officers, and as officers on the staff of American Expeditionary Force commanding officer General John "Black Jack" Pershing . The Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps returned to peacetime scientific pursuits after

1560-623: The U.S. Army, the United States Army Air Forces , the U.S. Navy, or the U.S. Marine Corps, and deployed in North Africa , Europe , the Pacific , and the defense of North America as artillery surveyors, hydrographers , amphibious engineers, beachmasters (i.e., directors of disembarkation), instructors at service schools, and in a wide variety of technical positions. They also served as reconnaissance surveyors for

1612-418: The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and ESSA had their own flags, neither the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps or ESSA Corps did. The NOAA Corps adopted its flag on 7 March 2002, the last of the then-seven uniformed services of the United States to have its own distinctive flag. The flag has a navy blue background. Centered on the background is a white circle inscribed with "NOAA COMMISSIONED CORPS" and "1917",

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1664-399: The U.S. Navy again withdrew all of its officers from Coast and Geodetic Survey assignments. They returned after the war ended in August 1898, but the system of U.S. Navy officers and men crewing the Survey ' s ships that had prevailed for most of the 19th century came to an end when the appropriation law approved on June 6, 1900, provided for "all necessary employees to man and equip

1716-512: The U.S. marine transportation system. MARAD operates one federal service academy and administers a Grant-In-Aid Program for six state-operated maritime academies: Students at these academies can graduate with appropriate United States Coast Guard licenses (Mate or Engineer) if they choose to take the Coast Guard License exam. They may become commissioned reserve officers in any branch of the service when graduating from USMMA or

1768-520: The United States entered World War I in April 1917. To avoid the dangers that Coast Survey personnel had faced during the Civil War of being executed as spies if captured by the enemy, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps was established on 22 May 1917, giving Coast and Geodetic Survey officers a commissioned status so that under the laws of war , they could not be executed as spies if they were captured while serving as surveyors on

1820-485: The ceremony was Senator Warren G. Magnuson . When NOAA was formed on 3 October 1970 and took over the Coast and Geodetic Survey ' s assets, she became a part of the NOAA fleet as NOAAS Rainier (S 221). Rainier ' s hull is constructed of welded steel plates. She is 231 feet (70 m) long, with a beam of 42 feet (13 m), and a draft of 14.3 feet (4.4 m) She displaces 1,800 tons. Her registered tonnage

1872-937: The establishment of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps on May 22, 1917, which the service recognizes as its official date of establishment. The Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps became the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps in 1965, which in turn became the NOAA Corps in 1970. The NOAA Corps is the smallest of the eight uniformed services of the United States government . It has over 300 commissioned officers , but no enlisted or warrant officer personnel. The NOAA Corps today employs professionals trained in engineering , earth sciences , oceanography , meteorology , fisheries science , and other related disciplines. NOAA Corps officers operate NOAA ships , fly NOAA aircraft , manage research projects , conduct diving operations, and serve in staff positions throughout NOAA , as well as in positions in

1924-489: The first female commissioned officer. In 1977, Chelgren became operations officer aboard the NOAA research ship NOAAS  Peirce , making her third-in-command and giving her the highest shipboard posting ever achieved by a woman in the Uniformed Services of the United States up to that time. On 1 June 2012, the NOAA research vessel RV Gloria Michelle , a boat crewed by two NOAA Corps personnel, became

1976-486: The first vessel in the history of NOAA or its ancestor organizations to have an all-female crew. On 2 January 2014, Michael S. Devany was promoted to vice admiral upon assuming duties as Deputy Under Secretary for Operations at NOAA , becoming only the second vice admiral in the combined history of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, ESSA Corps, and NOAA Corps, and the first since the promotion of Vice Admiral Karo in 1965. On 15 July 2024, Nancy A. Hann assumed

2028-486: The grade of admiral has been established as a rank in the NOAA Corps, the rank has not been authorized for use by the United States Congress . Current NOAA Corps ranks rise from ensign to vice admiral , pay grades O-1 through O-9, respectively, although the rank of vice admiral has been used only rarely in the history of the NOAA Corps and its predecessors. Unless already on active duty as

2080-408: The latter referring to the year of the founding of the NOAA Corps's original ancestor, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps. A red triangle symbolizing the discipline of triangulation used in hydrographic surveying — as a similar triangle does in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, ESSA, and NOAA flags and the commission pennants flown by Coast and Geodetic Survey and NOAA vessels — lies within

2132-484: The maritime field; regulates the transfer of U.S. documented vessels to foreign registries; maintains equipment, shipyard facilities, and reserve fleets of Government-owned ships essential for national defense. MARAD also maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies and logistically supporting the military when needed. When

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2184-469: The military service of the United States is not contemplated by law. For formal service uniforms , the NOAA Corps wears the same Service Dress Blues and Service Dress Whites as the U.S. Navy , but with NOAA Corps insignia in place of U.S. Navy insignia . For daily work uniforms , the NOAA Corps wears the same Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) as the U.S. Coast Guard , but with NOAA Corps insignia in place of U.S. Coast Guard insignia . Although

2236-407: The ocean. The ship carries four survey launches for shallow water work. They were built by All American Marine at its Bellingham, Washington shipyard. They are constructed of welded aluminum. The launches are 28 feet (8.5 m) long. They can cruise at 24 knots driven by a single propeller powered by a Cummins QSC 8.3 liter 490-hp Diesel engine. Each of these survey launches is equipped with

2288-431: The position of Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, NOAA, and became the third person and first woman to achieve the rank of vice admiral in the combined history of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, ESSA Corps, and NOAA Corps. The NOAA Corps uses the same naval commissioned officer ranks as the United States Navy , United States Coast Guard , and United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps . While

2340-628: The risk of being executed as spies if captured by the Confederates while working in support of Union forces. After the war, U.S. Navy officers returned to duty with the Coast Survey, which was given authority over geodetic activities in the interior of the United States in 1871 and was subsequently renamed the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1878. With the outbreak of the Spanish–American War in April 1898,

2392-528: The same pay as other members of the U.S. uniformed services. They cannot hold a dual commission with another U.S. uniformed service, but inter-service transfers sometimes are permitted from other services via 10 U.S.C.   § 716 . Unlike their United States Armed Forces counterparts, NOAA Corps officers do not require their rank appointments and promotions to be confirmed by the United States Senate , and only require approval from

2444-651: The ship suffered damage to one of her propellers , dents in her hull , and paint scrapes. During the summer surveying season in 2018, while Rainier was off the Southern California coast, the United States Coast Guard requested that she assist a disabled sailboat . Rainier successfully towed the boat to calm waters. On March 22, 2018, NOAA hosted a ceremony in Newport, Oregon, to celebrate 'Rainier ′s and her sister ship Fairweather ′s 50 years of service. On September 5, 2023, Rainier experienced

2496-608: The ship’s steering system. Rainier was originally expected to be retired in 2015, but with the additional investment in extending her life, she is now expected to serve until 2028, when she will be 60 years old. While transiting the Montlake Cut in the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle , Washington , on 16 April 2018, Rainier struck the bottom and a concrete wall. No injuries were reported, but

2548-497: The vessels," instead of U.S. Navy personnel. The law took effect on July 1, 1900; at that point, all U.S. Navy personnel assigned to the Survey ' s ships remained aboard until the first call at each ship ' s home port , where they transferred off, with the Survey reimbursing the Navy for their pay accrued after July 1, 1900. From July 1900, the Coast and Geodetic Survey continued as an entirely civilian-run organization until after

2600-462: The war. Its first flag officer was Rear Admiral Raymond S. Patton , who was promoted from captain to rear admiral in 1936. When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps again suspended its peacetime activities to support the war effort, often seeing front-line service. Over half of all Coast and Geodetic Survey officers were transferred to

2652-653: Was christened by Mrs. Robert M. White , wife of the administrator of the Environmental Science Services Administration . The ship's original cost was reported to be US$ 4 million. Rainier was delivered to the Coast and Geodetic Survey in April 1968, and commissioned on 2 October 1968 as USC&GS Rainier (MSS 21) in a joint ceremony with her sister ship USC&GS Fairweather at the Pacific Marine Center in Seattle , Washington. The principal speaker at

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2704-456: Was promoted to vice admiral to help lead the agency. He served as the first Deputy Administrator of ESSA and was the first vice admiral , and at the time the highest-ranking officer , in the combined history of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps and ESSA Corps. Rear Admiral James C. Tison Jr. was the first director of the ESSA Corps. The ESSA was replaced by the new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on October 3, 1970. As

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