The keel-laying ceremony for Discoverer, a brand-new oceanographic research vessel being built for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was held in Houma, La., by NOAA, the U.S. Navy and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors.
The construction of a ship officially begins with the keel-laying ceremony. Second Gentleman Douglas C. Emhoff was chosen as the ship’s sponsor, according to an Oct. 28 NOAA news release.
“We are excited to mark the beginning of Discoverer’s construction and couldn’t be more pleased that Second Gentleman Emhoff is serving as the ship’s sponsor,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, according to the release.
The 244-foot Discoverer will support NOAA missions, ranging from oceanographic research and exploration to studying marine life, climate and ocean ecosystems, the release said. Clean energy technologies such as vessel emission controls will be incorporated into the vessel and its sister ship, Oceanographer.
Raimondo said the Biden administration’s commitment to sustainability and collecting environmental data is reflected in the sponsorship of Discoverer, the release reported.
TMC Managing Director Walter Thomassie said the company was excited to begin construction on Discoverer, “which will be essential to the continued study and monitoring of the health of our oceans,” according to the release. A collaborative effort by NOAA, the U.S. Navy teams and Thoma-Sea will deliver an efficient, state-of-the-art vessel that will serve the nation for years with a reduced carbon footprint.
