Eight years after the initial proposal was submitted, the University of Hawai‘i welcomed the newest member of its research fleet, the R/V Kilo Moana, a twin hull marvel that has been called the best research ship in the U.S. academic fleet. School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) faculty and staff and family and friends of the crew were on hand to celebrate the ship’s arrival at Snug Harbor Sept. 3.
The official welcoming ceremonies are scheduled Sept. 10 at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Speeches by dignitaries, music by the Pacific Fleet Band brass ensemble and a blessing by Professor Lilikala Kame‘eleihiwa will begin at 11 a.m.
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The R/V Kilo Moana is the first U.S. research ship to use the small waterplane area, twin hull (SWATH) technology, designed to provide a comfortable, stable platform in high sea conditions. It is owned by the Office of Naval Research and operated by SOEST. The name is Hawaiian for "oceanographer," and among those on hand to greet the ship was Manoa Oceanographer David Karl. Members of Karl’s lab will be on the ship’s first research cruise as part of an interdisciplinary, multi-university study of biocomplexity in ocean waters. |
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Hula dancers and customs agents met the ship on its first arrival to Hawai‘i shores. Constructed in Jacksonville, Fla., it paused at Grand Cayman, squeezed through the Panama Canal and anchored off Kona on its six-week voyage to Hawai‘i. The ship averaged 12 knots, its most efficient cruising speed (using just 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel a day), said Debby Ramsey, second assistant engineer. The excitement of working on the new ship and UH’s reputation as a good place to work attracted Ramsey, Captain Gray Drewry and several other former Univeristy of Washington crew members. |
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“I’m stoked,” said an exuberant Brian Taylor. The professor of geology and geophysics wrote the original proposal that brought the Kilo Moana to UH and oversaw the construction. “It’s essential for scientists to get to sea, and the capabilities this ship has are tremendous.” Typical missions will include water sampling, coring, equipment launch, towing and recovery. On board laboratories allow for shipboard data processing and sample analysis. Assisting Taylor was a committee including UH researchers Fred Duennebier, Eric Firing, David Karl and Christopher Measures; computer research facility manager Michael Simpson and shhipboard support services supervisor Steve Poulos. |
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The Kilo Moana accommodates 31 scientists and a crew of 17. Among them was First Mate John Stah, who was greeted by young friend Ethan. Also happy to see him: wife Sharon Stahl, a SOEST research associate. Ship’s Cook Debby Gall was delighted by the lunch provided at the arrival party—her first meal in six weeks that she didn’t have to cook herself. While those aboard raved about her chocolate chip cookies and monthly "thanksgiving" dinners, she marveled at what scientists can put away. “I’ve cooked for underwater construction crews. Deep divers are in cold water and go straight into decompression chambers, which are also cold, so they burn a huge number of calories. They eat like no one I ever saw … until I cooked for these scientists,” she laughed. “And they’re skinny!” |
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Among those eager to tour the new ship was SOEST Dean Barry Raleigh. Winning the right to operate the ship was a major feat that included convincing the officials not to locate all research vessels at Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Sen. Daniel Inouye was instrumental in securing funding. "We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude," Raleigh said. "This is the best research ship ever built and operated in the United States." |
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The Kilo Moana is driven by two fixed pitch propellers with conventional rudders. It can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots, tow 10,000 pounds and hold a precise position in waves of up to 6 meters and winds up to 47 knots. Using data from position and environmental sensors, the sophisticated dynamic positioning system automatically controls propulsion and steering to steer a fixed heading, hold a designated position or follow a bottom trackline. The working deck is equipped with cranes, winches and handling gear to carry, launch and recover equipment over the side or stern. Facilities include library and conference rooms and hydrographic, computers, chemistry, wet and meteorology laboratories. |
