NOAAS McArthur explained

NOAAS McArthur (S 330), was an American survey ship in commission in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 1970 to 2003. Prior to her NOAA career she was in commission in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1966 to 1970 as USC&GS McArthur (CSS-30).

In 2007, the ship went into private service with Blackwater Worldwide (later known as Blackwater USA, Xe Services LLC, and Academi) as the maritime security and training ship M/V McArthur

Construction and commissioning

Constructed as a "coastal survey ship" (CSS) for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, McArthur was laid down on 15 July 1965 by the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Norfolk, Virginia, and launched on 15 November 1965,[1] sponsored by Mrs. Jack K. Bennett.[1] The Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned her on 15 December 1966 as USC&GS McArthur (CSS 30). When the Coast and Geodetic Survey merged with other United States Government agencies to form NOAA on 3 October 1970, McArthur became part of the NOAA fleet as NOAAS McArthur (S 330).

McArthur had one sister ship, NOAAS Davidson (S 331).

Service history as USC&GS and NOAAS McArthur

With her home port at Seattle, Washington, McArthur spent her career operating along the United States West Coast, in Alaskan waters, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. She began her career operating as a hydrographic survey ship, but later became primary U.S. West Coast current survey vessel. She engaged in measurements of chemical, meteorological, and biological sampling for several large-scale programs within NOAA. Her work was focused primarily on the exclusive economic zone of the United States off the U.S. West Coast, especially in several of the National Marine Sanctuaries there. She also conducted Chase Encirclement Stress Studies (CHESS) -- marine mammal surveys throughout the eastern tropical Pacific—and took part in the Oregon, California, Washington (ORCAWALE) Project in support of protected species research efforts; she also participated in the Sustainable Seas Expedition. The scientists who carried out research aboard McArthur came from many divisions of NOAA, as well as other United States Government agencies, U.S. state government agencies, and academia.

On 26 October 1969, McArthur was docked in Ketchikan, Alaska, when a gunman shot a member of her crew, wiper John Fleagle, in the back on the pier. Fleagle managed to get aboard the ship and entered the stateroom of ESSA Corps Lieutenant, junior grade, Robert C. Husted, Jr., at approximately 06:00 hours. Husted attended to Fleagles immediate medical needs and, after determining that the gunman was aboard McArthur and holding the ships captain and quartermaster at gunpoint, left the ship at considerable risk to his life to run barefoot to the United States Coast Guard base about one-half mile (0.8 km) away to summon an ambulance and police. For his actions, Hustedt received the Department of Commerce Silver Medal in 1970.[2]

In 1989, the McArthur became the first NOAA ship to be commanded by a woman, Evelyn Fields. Fields thus also became the first woman to command a ship for an extended assignment in any United States uniformed service.[3]

McArthur was decommissioned on 20 May 2003 at the NOAA Marine Operations Center at Seattle and replaced in the NOAA fleet by the oceanographic research ship NOAAS McArthur II (R 330), which was commissioned the same day in a combined ceremony.

M/V McArthur

In 2006, McArthur was sold to Blackwater Worldwide, which converted her for use as a training ship and private maritime security ship,[4] [5] [6] [7] fitting her to carry two MH-6 Little Bird helicopters, three rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), and a crew of 45 that includes 35 private security personnel.[8] She entered service with the company in September 2007 as M/V McArthur, home-ported at Norfolk, Virginia, and repainted with a blue hull and white upper works.
Blackwater Worldwide described McArthur as a multipurpose maritime vessel designed to support military and law enforcement training, peacekeeping, and stability operations around the world.[9] In October 2008, it offered McArthurs services to shipping companies, seeking contracts to escort merchant ships in waters off Somalia to provide protection against attacks by Somali pirates.[10] However, McArthur was far too slow to keep up with the ships she was expected to protect.[11]

The whistleblower organization WikiLeaks published diplomatic cables that related to McArthur.[12] [13] The cables show that diplomats in the region where Blackwater/Xe/Academi proposed to operate McArthur to escort merchant ships requested guidance over the extent to which they should support Blackwater's attempts to secure customers for McArthur. Mark Mazzetti of the New York Times noted

According to Wired magazine, civil suits from McArthurs civilian crew members caused cancellation of plans to employ her on military missions;[5] [6] three civilian crew members filed harassment suits.[14] The fully equipped vessel sat moored in Norfolk, awaiting contracts.[15]

By 2010 the company, renamed Xe Services LLC in 2009 and Academi in 2011, was offering McArthur for sale. After Blackwater converted her in 2007, McArthur was said to be worth $15 million (USD), but by 2010 Xe was willing to sell her for $3.7 million.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NOAA Photo Library . www.photolib.noaa.gov . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041415/https://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/ship1398.htm . 28 February 2018 . dead.
  2. http://www.history.noaa.gov/hallofhonor/lifesaving_1955-2000other.html NOAA History: Hall of Honor: Commerce Medals Presented For Lifesaving and the Protection of Property 1955-2000
  3. Web site: Transformations: Fisheries Science and Technology.
  4. News: Blackwater Hits the High Seas. Wired magazine. Sharon Weinberger. 2007-10-09. 2013-02-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20130224123004/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/10/blackwaters-nav/. live. Lost amid the latest brouhaha, was a small report that Blackwater had bought and refurbished the McArthur, a 183-ft. ship that boasts "state of the art navigation systems, full GMDDSS communications, SEATEL Broadband, dedicated command and control bas, helicopter decks, hospital and multiple support vessel capabilities.".
  5. News: Blackwater's Pirate-Fighting Ops Sunk After Discrimination Suits. Wired magazine. Nathan Hodge. 2009-05-14. 2012-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20121114154411/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/05/blackwaters-pirate-fighting-ops-sunk-after-discrimination-suits/. live. Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell did not comment direct on the litigation, but she said one of the employees was terminated for cause. Regarding the discrimination suit, she told Virginian-Pilot the company "does not condone and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and takes allegations to the contrary very seriously." But she also disclosed that the company is no longer doing counter-piracy work..
  6. News: Did Blackwater Founder Fund Somalia's Pirate Fighters? [Updated]]. Wired magazine. Spencer Ackerman. 2011-01-20. 2011-01-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20110122134643/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/did-blackwater-founder-fund-somalias-pirate-fighters/. live. If Prince really is involved in the Saracen deal, it would update an earlier Blackwater effort to battle pirates off the Somali coast. In 2008, Blackwater announced it was "ready to assist the shipping industry," with a .50-cal-equipped pirate-hunting ship fashioned out of an oceanographic research boat. Alas, those plans got knocked off course as crewmembers began suing the company for discrimination. Did Prince want one more shot at the pirates and the terrorists — and the government paychecks?.
  7. News: Blackwater showing off new training ship at Nauticus . Virginia Pilot . Bill Sizemore . 2007-09-18 . Norfolk, Virginia . 2007-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105550/http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=132742&ran=139475 . dead . According to a press release issued by Nauticus, Blackwater's maritime division will operate vessels suitable for training, disaster response, law enforcement, surveillance and security, including anti-terrorism and anti-piracy activities. . 2014-05-29.
  8. News: Blackwater: 13 firms want pirate protection. Navy Times. Phil Ewing. 2008-10-28. 2013-01-29. https://archive.today/20130129132810/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_blackwater_102608w/. live. Blackwater CEO Erik Prince said the world's shipping firms are eager for as much protection as possible for their vessels, partly because the U.S. and international warships in the Gulf of Aden haven't done enough to stop or dissuade piracy..
  9. News: Blackwater Joins Fight Against Sea Piracy. The Washington Times. Barry Seper. 2008-12-04. 2008-12-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20081206060221/http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/04/blackwater-joins-fight-against-sea-piracy/. live . Formerly a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel, the McArthur was put in service in 1966 and decommissioned in 2003. Reconfigured and modified in 2006, the ship is now considered a Blackwater Worldwide maritime security support craft. Blackwater´s aviation affiliate can provide the helicopters, pilots and maintenance required to support escort missions in the Gulf of Aden..
  10. News: Blackwater Sets Sights on Somali Pirates. The Virginian-Pilot. Louis Hansen. 2008-10-18. Virginia Beach. 2008-10-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20081019161551/http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/blackwater-sets-sights-somali-pirates. live . For anti-piracy operations, the 14-sailor crew would be supplemented with Blackwater security guards, four rigid-hull inflatable boats and helicopters, Mathews said. Security teams could follow a merchant vessel by air and land..
  11. Web site: In press: Blackwater's pirate-fighting navy . Hooper . Craig . January 7, 2010 . nextnavy.com . 29 March 2014.
  12. News: WikiLeaks: Blackwater Was Planning to Hunt Pirates. Aol News. Lauren Frayer. 2010-12-01. 2011-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20110202213522/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/12/01/wikileaks-blackwater-was-planning-to-hunt-pirates/. live . That's according to secret U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks. The cables quote the U.S. ambassador in Djibouti, James Swan, as asking the State Department for "guidance on the appropriate level of engagement with Blackwater." After all, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had proposed banning Blackwater from war zones when she was running for president less than a year earlier. .
  13. News: Blackwater Aimed to Hunt Pirates. New York Times. Mark Mazzetti. 2010-11-30. A13. Washington DC. 2012-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20121221100104/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/world/africa/01wikileaks-blackwater.html?_r=0. live . The company's chief executive officer, Erik Prince, was planning a trip to Djibouti for a promotional event in March 2009, and Blackwater was hoping that the American Embassy there would help out, according to a secret State Department cable..
  14. News: Blackwater pirate fighting ship sidelined by its own crew. The Maritime Blog. 2009-05-16. 2014-05-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20140529152459/http://themaritimeblog.com/915/blackwater-pirate-fighting-ship-sidelined-by-its-own-crew. live. Life on board the McArthur was apparently not so good. Blackwater, now re-named Xe, now has three separate harassment claims from crewmembers who sailed aboard the ship on its recent voyage to the Middle East. .
  15. News: Blackwater's pirate-fighting navy has sunk!. United States Naval Institute. 2010-01-04. 2013-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20130106202914/http://blog.usni.org/2010/01/04/blackwaters-pirate-fighting-navy-has-sunk. live. And by May 2009, the ship had dissolved into something more akin to Animal House than a buttoned-down pirate fighter. But then what does one expect from a company run by a boss who, after reaping a political windfall, cries like a baby once the going gets hard?.

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