USNS Bruce C. Heezen

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USNS Bruce C Heezen T-AGS-64 (2).jpg
USNS Bruce C. Heezen
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
Namesake Bruce C. Heezen
Owner United States Navy
Operator Military Sealift Command
Awarded13 January 1997
Builder Halter Marine
Laid down19 August 1997
Launched25 March 1999
In service13 January 2000
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and type Pathfinder-class survey ship
Displacement5,000 long tons
Length329 ft (100 m)
Beam58 ft (18 m)
Draft19 ft (5.8 m)
Speed16 kn (30 km/h)
Complement26 mariners/27 sponsor personnel

USNS Bruce C. Heezen (T-AGS 64) is a Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship. It is the fifth ship in the class.

Contents

Naming

She is named after Bruce C. Heezen, who was the leader of the team from Columbia University that discovered the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during the 1950s. The ship was the first Navy vessel to be named by civilians. Nine students from Oaklawn Elementary School in Cranston, RI named the ship after winning a contest sponsored by the Navy. Amanda Baillargeon, James Coogan, Meagan Durigan, Stephen Fish, Patricia Gumbley, John Lucier, Sara Piccirilli, Dana Scott, and Rebecca Webber were led by their teacher Marilyn Remick.[ citation needed ]

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References