gov.noaa.nodc:0299731 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-04-28T21:13:23Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America, for the Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds project (VSAD survey GU2402) from 2024-06-03 to 2024-08-12 (NCEI Accession 0299731) 2025-01-23 publication 2025-06-05 revision 2024-12-09 creation International DOI Foundation (IDF) 10.25921/ztyd-n418 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0299731 NCEI Archive Management System 0299731 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Gina Rappucci NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory gina.rappucci@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information resourceProvider Jenny Litz NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory jenny.litz@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Gina Rappucci NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory gina.rappucci@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information pointOfContact Laura Aichinger Dias NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory laura.dias@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information pointOfContact Lance Garrison NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory lance.garrison@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Carrie Sinclair NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory carrie.sinclair@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory website Institution web page information collaborator Garrison, Lance NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami, FL Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information author Rappucci, Gina NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami, FL Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information author Litz, Jenny NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami, FL Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information author Dias, Laura Aichinger NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami, FL Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information author Sinclair, Carrie NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Pascagoula/Stennis, MS Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory website Institution web page information author NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory website Institution web page information contributor NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center HTTPS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital As part of the Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds (VSAD) project, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) conducted a shipboard survey of the U.S. oceanic waters of the Gulf of America out to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from 2024-06-03 to 2024-08-12. The survey was designed for a two-team independent visual observer approach with distance sampling to estimate the detection probabilities for marine mammal sightings. A sighting constituted a single or group of marine mammals (whales and dolphins) seen at the same location and time. This dataset includes marine mammal visual observation data and effort points with surveying conditions that can be used in abundance and density modeling per visual line-transect survey protocols. This dataset also includes opportunistic marine mammal photographs and biopsy samples, and non-marine mammal sightings (a.k.a. occurrences) such as sea turtles. The primary goal was to conduct visual line-transect survey for abundance estimation, and distribution of cetaceans in the U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GoMx). Funding Agency: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center The data in this accession were funded by the Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds Project. This project is one of many selected by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group to restore natural resources injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This research was carried out [in part] under the auspices of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a Cooperative Institute of the University of Miami and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cooperative agreement #NA20OAR4320472. completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded NCEI Accession 0299731 was revised and a new version of the archival package was published. Updates to existing archival packages may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. The latest version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession. Please see journal.txt in the /about directory for additional details on changes made. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0299731 Preview graphic PNG 0299731 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2025-06-02 publication biological data Biopsy cetacean dolphins images MARINE MAMMALS sea turtles species abundance theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS BIG EYE BINOCULARS dart biopsy gun Distance Sampling line transect sampling photograph visual estimate visual observation instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ marine mammal observation survey - biological visual estimate visual observation theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter platform NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Pascagoula Laboratory dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Gulf of America Gulf of Mexico place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds (VSAD) project Provider Project Names EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MARINE MAMMALS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MARINE MAMMALS > DOLPHINS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > REPTILES > TURTLES > SEA TURTLES theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS BALEEN WHALES BIG EYE BINOCULARS BIOLOGICAL DATA BIOPSY CAMERA CETACEAN DISTANCE SAMPLING DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC DOLPHINS ENDANGERED SPECIES GULF OF AMERICA GULF OF MEXICO INDICATOR SPECIES In Situ/Laboratory Instruments LINE TRANSECT SAMPLING MARINE MAMMALS PHOTOGRAPH POPULATION ABUNDANCE SHIPS SIGHTING SPECIES ABUNDANCE SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELS SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS TOOTHED WHALES UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VISUAL OBSERVATION theme Provider Keywords Atlantic spotted dolphin Baleen whales Beaked whales Beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale Cetacean (large) Cetacean (small) Clymene dolphin Common bottlenose dolphin Common bottlenose or Atlantic spotted dolphin Cuvier's beaked whale Delphinidae Dolphins of the genus Stenella Dwarf sperm whale False killer whale Gervais' beaked whale Melon-headed or Pygmy killer or False killer whale Melon-headed or Pygmy killer whale Melon-headed whale Pantropical spotted dolphin Pilot whales Pygmy killer whale Pygmy or Dwarf sperm whale Pygmy sperm whale Rice's whale Risso's dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Sperm whale Spinner dolphin Striped dolphin Toothed whales theme Provider species common name Balaenoptera ricei Caretta caretta Cetacea Chelonia mydas Cheloniidae Delphinidae Dermochelys coriacea Feresa attenuata Globicephala Grampus griseus Istiophoridae Kogia Kogia breviceps Kogia sima Mesoplodon Mesoplodon densirostris Mesoplodon europaeus Mysticeti Odontoceti Peponocephala electra Peponocephala electra or Feresa attenuata Peponocephala electra or Feresa attenuata or Pseudorca crassidens Physeter macrocephalus Pseudorca crassidens Sphyrnidae Stenella Stenella attenuata Stenella clymene Stenella coeruleoalba Stenella frontalis Stenella longirostris Steno bredanensis Thunnus Thunnus thynnus Tursiops truncatus Tursiops truncatus or Stenella frontalis Ziphiidae Ziphius cavirostris theme Provider species scientific name BIG EYE BINOCULARS Dart Biopsy Gun Distance Sampling Line Transect Sampling VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Ships instrument Provider Instruments Ships platform Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian GORDON GUNTER (call sign: WTEO, ICES code: 33GG, 1998-) platform ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian 08CYHB Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: Public otherRestrictions Cite as: Garrison, Lance; Rappucci, Gina; Litz, Jenny; Dias, Laura Aichinger; Sinclair, Carrie (2025). Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America, for the Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds project (VSAD survey GU2402) from 2024-06-03 to 2024-08-12 (NCEI Accession 0299731). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/ztyd-n418. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. The Southeast Fisheries Science Center was authorized to conduct marine mammal research activities during the cruise under Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act (MMPA/ESA) Permit No. 21938-04. All marine mammal data, including photographs and biopsies, were collected under such permit. Biopsy samples were collected by trained and authorized personnel under the permit. If a photo displaying a marine mammal is used, please include the permit number in the captions and acknowledge NOAA Fisheries. Rappucci, G., Sinclair, C., & Garrison, L. (2024). Cruise Report: NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter Cruise GU24-02, June – August 2024, Vessel Survey for Abundance and Distribution Summer Research Cruise. Southeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document ; MMTD-2024-09. https://doi.org/10.25923/ag4f-zf67 2024 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/ag4f-zf67 https://doi.org/10.25923/ag4f-zf67 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/ag4f-zf67 Cruise Report information Rappucci, Gina author Sinclair, Carrie author Garrison, Lance author NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center publisher documentDigital Southeast Fisheries Science Center reference document ; MMTD-2024-09 crossReference program eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -96.5376233 -83.25461 24.29893 30.054395 2024-06-03 2024-08-12 In this accession, NCEI has archived multiple versions of these data. The latest (and best) version of these data has the largest version number. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. Word CSV JPEG 171459.328 https://doi.org/10.25921/ztyd-n418 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/299731 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/299731 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0233/0299731/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0299731 v1.1 was published. 2025-01-23T01:04:35Z NCEI Accession 0299731 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0299731/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0299731 v1.1 published 2025-01-23T01:04:35Z download NCEI Accession 0299731 was revised and v2.2 was published. Updates were received for this dataset. These updates were copied into the data/0-data/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession. 2025-06-05T01:29:30Z NCEI Accession 0299731 v2.2 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0299731/2.2 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0299731 v2.2 published 2025-06-05T01:29:30Z download dataset Previous title: Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of Mexico, for the Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds project (VSAD survey GU2402) from 2024-06-03 to 2024-08-12 (NCEI Accession 0299731) The metadata of the dataset has been updated by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information to reflect geographic name changes consistent with EO14172. 2025-06-03T20:07:40Z Parameter or Variable: cetacean (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Ships; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The goal of the research was to conduct line-transect surveys using the Distance sampling approach to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals in the oceanic waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A two-team independent observer approach using pedestal-mounted 25x150 mm “big eye” binoculars was used to correct for perception bias in resulting abundance estimates. Survey tracklines were oriented perpendicular to bathymetry lines and followed a “sawtooth” pattern from approximately the 100m-isobath to the Exclusive Economic Zone.; Data Quality Method: Data auditing consisted of making corrections based on error log notes from the field, plotting trackline points to identify errors made when recording effort status, and verifying sighting data based on data sheets from the field. Parameter or Variable: visual observation (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: BIG EYE BINOCULARS Parameter or Variable: species abundance (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: line transect sampling Parameter or Variable: MARINE MAMMALS (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: BIG EYE BINOCULARS Parameter or Variable: dolphins (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: BIG EYE BINOCULARS Parameter or Variable: biological data (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: BIG EYE BINOCULARS Parameter or Variable: Biopsy (measured); Units: millimeter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: documentation only - no instrument type; Sampling and Analyzing Method: dart gun; biopsy dart sampling asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian BIG EYE BINOCULARS BIG EYE BINOCULARS A pair of 25 x 150mm telescopes side-by-side, mounted on a pedestal and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects. https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/all/b3ecc166-16d5-4144-b23f-49ba59813b72?gtm_keyword=BIG%20EYE%20BINOCULARS>m_scheme=instruments dart biopsy gun dart biopsy gun Used to take remote biopsy samples. Distance Sampling Distance Sampling A set of randomly placed lines or points is established and distances are measured to those objects detected by traveling the line or surveying the points. https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/instruments/092cad6c-758d-4d0b-b615-615fc42e08b5?gtm_keyword=Distance%20Sampling>m_scheme=instruments Reference https://distancesampling.org/downloads/distancebook1993/index.html; Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P. and Laake, J.L. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman and Hall, London. 446pp. line transect sampling line transect sampling perpendicular distances from a line A line is traversed by an observer and perpendicular distances are measured from the line to each detected object. Reference https://distancesampling.org/downloads/distancebook1993/index.html; Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P. and Laake, J.L. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman and Hall, London. 446pp. photograph photograph still images used as the basis for making parameter determinations visual estimate visual estimate not an instrument - maybe an observation type visual observation visual observation not an instrument - maybe an observation type NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter Updated information for the vessel GORDON GUNTER from UNITED STATES(US). Name : GORDON GUNTER Country(s) : UNITED STATES(US) (ISO Country Code) Platform Class : 31 Research vessel Call Sign : WTEO IMO : 8835255 Pennant : R 336 Title : NOAA Ship Commissioned Date : 1998-08-28 Current Length : 68.3 Built : 1989-05-12 Previous Name (Notes): Relentless Notes : Built as the U.S. Naval Ship RELENTLESS (T-AGOS 18). Transferred to NOAA in 1993. Information Sources: - http://www.moc.noaa.gov/gu/index.html - http://www.seasearcher.com/lmiu/vessels/overview.htm?vesselID=341240 Confirmed by NOAA on 2010-09-10.