December 9, 2019 — Between April and August 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said its 231-foot survey and research ship, Rainier, will conduct research and a hydrographic survey of the reefs and slopes surrounding the Mariana Islands Archipelago.
A team of researchers and scientists will be aboard the ship.
Noriko Shoji, Science Operations Division director of NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service-Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, said the Rainier will operate 24 hours a day and will use research equipment and deploy divers.
According to NOAA, the operations of the ship also include “two 28-foot hydrographic survey launches as well as two dive platform vessels that will be working concurrently with the ship to study coral reef health and obtain high-resolution depth measurements of the seafloor.”
Shoji said they’re hoping to obtain “detailed depth information and seafloor characterization which will be useful in determining fisheries habitat, understanding coral reef health as well as marine geologic processes.”
Shoji added that updating the nautical charts will also help ensure safe ocean navigation.