R/V Melville

• Built: 1969
• Mid-Life: 1992
• Length: 279'
• Beam: 46'
• Draft (max): 16.6'
• Gross Tonnage: 2,516 tons
• Displacement: 2,944 long tons
• Crew: 23
• Scientific berthing: 38
• Motors: Two 1,385 hp Propulsion General Electric
• Bow Thruster: 900 hp Retractable Azimuthing Thruster
• Propulsion: Two 1385 hp Z-Drive Lips
• Water Capacity: 15,900 gal
• Incinerator: Yes
• Fuel Consumption: 3,600 gal/day (transit)
• Speed, Cruising: 11.7 knots
• Speed, Maximum: 14 knots
• Speed, Minimum: variable to 0, any direction
• Endurance: 40 days at 11.7 knots (fuel)
• Range: 10,061 nm at 11.7 knots (fuel)
• Fuel Capacity: 129,000 (planning)
• Radio Call Sign: WECB
• Laboratory Space: 2,636 sq. ft
• Main Deck Working Area: 4,050 sq. ft
• Freeboard: 12 ft
• Sewage System: MSD
• Holding Tanks: 8,000 gal
• Document/State I.D#: CF0719XS

Scientific berthing at 38 assumes 2 persons in the chief scientist room, and 4 persons in the dormitory.
Ownership:
Title held by U.S. Navy. Operated under charter agreement with Office of Naval Research.

Navigational Capabilities

• GPS Trimble Tansmon P-Code
• GPs Trimble NT 200 DGPS
• RADAR Sperry 3cm, 10cm
• ADU GPs Ashtech Attitude-sensing System
• Fathometer Use EDO Doppler Speed Log
• Gyro - Sperry MK 37, MK 23
• Doppler Speed Log - EDO 300 kHz
• Dynamic Positioning - ROBERTSON
• ADF - SIMRAD Taiyo