Investigating the unknown: converting the USNS CAPABLE to explore the world's oceans

In September 2004, USNS CAPABLE (T-AGOS 16) was transferred from the U.S. Navy to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is preparing to convert the ship to conduct reconnaissance missions to explore unknown and poorly known areas of the world's oceans. CAPABLE is the seventh T-AGOS ship to be transferred to NOAA from the Navy. The ship is expected to have three major mission capabilities: (1) deep ocean high-resolution mapping; (2) a sophisticated science-class remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) armed with high-definition video and still cameras and sampling equipment; and (3) an onboard image-processing and broadband satellite transmission capability to send data real time to onshore scientists, educators and other users at universities and other facilities. The plan is to build integrated, networked teams of explorers and technicians - some at-sea, some ashore - working together to explore and characterize new areas and to make new discoveries. This paper further describes the ship's anticipated mission capabilities and the out-of-the-ordinary approach taken by NOAA to execute the conversion.