NOAAS McArthur (S 330)

NOAAS McArthur (S 330) sometime between 1970 and 2003
History
U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey
Name:	USC&GS McArthur (MSS 22)
Namesake:	William Pope McArthur (1814-1850), a United States Coast Survey officer who pioneered hydrographic survey work on the United States West Coast
Builder:	Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Norfolk, Virginia
Laid down:	15 July 1965
Launched:	15 November 1965
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Jack K. Bennett
Commissioned:	15 December 1966
Fate:	Transferred to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 3 October 1970
NOAA
Name:	NOAAS McArthur (S 330)
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Acquired:	Transferred from U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 3 October 1970
Decommissioned:	20 May 2003
Homeport:	Seattle, Washington
Nickname(s):	"Mini-Mac" (after commissioning of the larger NOAAS McArthur II (R 330), known as "Big Mac," in May 2003)
Fate:	Sold to Blackwater Worldwide 2006
Name:	M/V McArthur
Namesake:	Previous name retained
Owner:	Academi
Operator:	Academi
Port of registry:	United States
Acquired:	2006
In service:	September 2007
Homeport:	Norfolk, Virginia
Identification:	IMO 6602082
Status:	Active
General characteristics (survey ship)
Class and type:	McArthur-class hydrographic survey ship
Tonnage:	854 gross register tons; 207 net register tons
Displacement:	995 tons (full load)
Length:	175 ft (53 m)
Beam:	38 ft (12 m)
Draft:	12.1 ft (3.7 m)
Installed power:	1,600 horsepower (2.1 megawatts)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors diesel engines, twin controllable-pitch propellers, 186 tons fuel
Speed:	12 knots
Range:	6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Endurance:	17 days
Complement:	Either 23 (6 officers and 17 crew) plus up to 13 scientists or 38 (8 NOAA Corps officers, 3 licensed engineers, and 27 other crew), plus up to 2 scientists
Notes:	440 kilowatts electrical power; Hydroplot PDP 11/34 computer
General characteristics (maritime security ship)
Class and type:	none
Type:	Private maritime security ship and training ship
Tonnage:	854 gross register tons; 207 net register tons
Displacement:	995 tons (full load)
Length:	175 ft (53 m)
Beam:	38 ft (12 m)
Draft:	12.1 ft (3.7 m)
Installed power:	1,600 horsepower (2.1 megawatts)
Propulsion:	Two General Motors diesel engines, twin controllable-pitch propellers, 186 tons fuel
Speed:	12 knots
Range:	6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Endurance:	17 days
Boats & landing craft carried:	Three rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs)
Complement:	45 (includes 35 private security personnel)
Aircraft carried:	Two MH-6 Little Bird helicopters

NOAAS McArthur (S 330), was an American survey ship in commission in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 1970 to 2003. Prior to her NOAA career she was in commission in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1966 to 1970 as USC&GS McArthur (MSS 22).

In 2007, the ship went into private service with Blackwater Worldwide (later known as Blackwater USA, Xe Services LLC, and Academi) as the maritime security and training ship M/V McArthur

Constructed as a "medium survey ship" (MSS) for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, McArthur was laid down on 15 July 1965 by the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Norfolk, Virginia, and launched on 15 November 1965, sponsored by Mrs. Jack K. Bennett. The Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned her on 15 December 1966 as USC&GS McArthur (MSS 22). When the Coast and Geodetic Survey merged with other United States Government agencies to form NOAA on 3 October 1970, McArthur became part of the NOAA fleet as NOAAS McArthur (S 330).

McArthur had one sister ship, NOAAS Davidson (S 331).

With her home port at Seattle, Washington, McArthur spent her career operating along the United States West Coast, in Alaskan waters, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. She began her career operating as a hydrographic survey ship, but later became primary U.S. West Coast current survey vessel. She engaged in measurements of chemical, meteorological, and biological sampling for several large-scale programs within NOAA. Her work was focused primarily on the exclusive economic zone of the United States off the U.S. West Coast, especially in several of the National Marine Sanctuaries there. She also conducted Chase Encirclement Stress Studies (CHESS) -- marine mammal surveys throughout the eastern tropical Pacific -- and took part in the Oregon, California, Washington (ORCAWALE) Project in support of protected species research efforts; she also participated in the Sustainable Seas Expedition. The scientists who carried out research aboard McArthur came from many divisions of NOAA, as well as other United States Government agencies, U.S. state government agencies, and academia.