RV Laurence M. Gould is an icebreaker used by researchers from the United States' National Science Foundation.[3][1] for research in the Southern Ocean. The vessel is named after Laurence McKinley Gould, an American scientist who had explored both the Arctic and Antarctic.[5] He was second in command of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's first expedition to Antarctica from 1928 to 1930. He helped to set up an exploration base at Little America on the Ross Ice Shelf at the Bay of Whales.
 RV Laurence M. Gould in Punta Arenas, Chile.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | RV Laurence M. Gould |
| Namesake | Laurence McKinley Gould |
| Owner | Edison Chouest Offshore |
| Operator | Antarctic Support Contract[1][2] for the National Science Foundation.[3] |
| Builder | North American Shipbuilding Company |
| Yard number | 154 |
| Laid down | 1994 |
| Launched | 1997 |
| Homeport | Punta Arenas, Patagonia |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Antarctic Research & Supply Vessel (Subchapter U) |
| Tonnage | 2,966 GT |
| Length | 70 m (230 ft)[4] |
| Beam | 17 m (56 ft)[4] |
| Draught | (Loadline): 19.417 ft (5.9 m) |
| Ice class | ABS A1 |
| Installed power | 2 × Caterpillar 3606 diesel engines, 4,575 hp (3,412 kW) |
| Speed | 11.3 knots (20.9 km/h; 13.0 mph) (max) / 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) (average)[4] |
| Endurance | 75 days |
| Complement | 26 research scientists |
Gould died in 1995 at the age of 98, and in the same year the National Science Foundation initiated the charter for the services of this ice-strengthened vessel to further its studies and knowledge of the Antarctic Peninsula and Southern Ocean.[2]
The ARSV Laurence M. Gould is operated by the Antarctic Support Contract (ASC)[1][2] on a long-term charter from Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO). ASC staffs the vessel with a charter representative to coordinate cruise planning and scheduling, and with technical staff to support science operations. ECO provides the vessel master, ice pilot, and crew.
The vessel charter with Edison-Chouest Offshore expires July 16, 2024 with the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs announcing in April 2024 that the charter will not be renewed on conclusion of the 2023-24 Antarctic season.[6]
The Gould, completed in 1998, is 230 feet long and is ice-classed ABS-A1, capable of breaking one foot of level ice with continuous forward motion. The Gould can accommodate 37 scientists and staff in one- and two-person staterooms. The Gould acts as a resupply ship and does long term environmental research[7] in the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Peninsula, shuttling between Punta Arenas, Chile and Palmer Station, Antarctica. She replaced the RV Polar Duke as the main supply ship to Palmer Station.
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The Laurence M. Gould docked at Punta Arenas, Chile, alongside her older and bigger sister ship, the Nathaniel B. Palmer -
RV Laurence M. Gould at Palmer Station -
RV Laurence.M. Gould in Arthur Harbor
References
edit- ^ a b c "Lockheed Martin - Antarctic Service Contract". Lockheed Martin. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Usap Portal: Science and Support in Antarctica - Laurence M. Gould". United States Antarctic Program. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ a b "R/V Laurence M. Gould". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ a b c "Laurence M. Gould". MarineTraffic.com. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
- ^ "Laurence McKinley Gould Online Exhibit". Carleton College. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ "Non-Renewal of ARSV Laurence M. Gould Charter: Transition Plans for Antarctic Research Support". U.S. National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Palmer LTER". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
External links
edit- Research Vessels of the US Antarctic Program
- Current position of the RV Laurence M. Gould
- News on the USAP Research Vessels in The Antarctic Sun
