NOAA’s fleet of 15 research and survey ships range from large oceanographic research vessels capable of exploring the world’s deepest ocean, to smaller ships responsible for charting the shallow bays and inlets of the U.S. The fleet supports a wide range of marine activities, including fisheries surveys, nautical charting and ocean and climate studies. As of 2023, the average age of the ships in our fleet is 30 years old. By 2030, six of those ships will likely reach the end of their service life. For the first time, the agency has four new ships under construction at one time. Learn more about how NOAA is recapitalizing the fleet, planning for the future and will continue to meet the agency’s science mission.
