USNS Marie Tharp explained

USNS Marie Tharp (T-AGS-66)^[1] is a oceanographic survey ship operated by the Military Sealift Command of the United States Navy. The seventh ship in her class, Marie Tharp is named for oceanographer Marie Tharp; the ship was renamed in 2023 from Maury.

The-then Maurys keel was laid on 1 February 2011 in a ceremony at the VT Halter Marine shipyard in Moss Point, Mississippi. The hull was launched on 27 March 2013 and the ship was delivered on 16 February 2016.^[2] Maury completed her maiden voyage in June 2016.^[3]

Details

Marie Tharp was the first oceanographic survey ship built since was launched in 2000. At approximately 350feet, Marie Tharp is 24feet longer than her other sister ships in the same class. This modification is to accommodate a 300square feet moon pool for unmanned vehicle deployment and retrieval.^[4]

Name change

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 created a new Naming Commission to examine names across the US armed forces that honor the Confederate States of America, the group of states that attempted to break away from the US during the American Civil War.^{[5] [6]}

In September 2022, the Naming Commission recommended the renaming of Maury and cruiser, with the new names to be decided by the Secretary of the Navy.^[7] Maury was named after military officer and diplomatic envoy Matthew Fontaine Maury, the "Father of Modern Oceanography" who resigned from a 36-year career in the US Navy to accept a command in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.^{[8] [9] [10]}

On 8 March 2023, International Women's Day, the US Navy Secretary, Carlos Del Toro, announced the ship would be renamed in honor of oceanographer Marie Tharp, best known for helping produce the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor.^{[11] [12] [13]} The renaming was formally completed in the Naval Vessel Register on 13 March 2023.^[1]

External links

• USNS Maury (T-AGS 66)

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=AGS66}} USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) ]. . United States Navy . 20 February 2020 . 16 March 2023.
2. Web site: USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) Delivered. 17 February 2016. US Navy. 13 September 2016.
3. Web site: Navy's Newest Oceanographic Vessel Sets Sail. 9 June 2016. US Navy. 13 September 2016.
4. Web site: Keel Laid for New Navy Oceanographic Survey Ship. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. 4 February 2011. Navy News Service. 5 February 2011.
5. News: Schmall . Emily . 2023-03-11 . Stripping Confederate Ties, the U.S. Navy Renames Two Vessels . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-03-12 .
6. News: 2022-09-13 . UPDATED: Commission Recommends Renaming Two Navy Ships with Confederate Ties . 2023-03-12 . USNI News . en-US.
7. Web site: UPDATED: Commission Recommends Renaming Two Navy Ships with Confederate Ties . . 14 September 2022 . 13 September 2022.
8. Web site: USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) Delivered. Affairs. This story was written by Team Ships Public. www.navy.mil. 2016-06-15.
9. Web site: Matthew Fontaine Maury Biography. xroads.virginia.edu. 2016-06-15.
10. Web site: Myers. Meghann. 2021-09-07. Here's your chance to help rename Army posts and Navy ships honoring the Confederacy. 2021-09-08. Military Times. en.
11. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3322038/secnav-renames-pathfinder-class-oceanographic-survey-ship-usns-maury-after-mari/ SECNAV Renames Pathfinder-class Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Maury after Marie Tharp
12. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/03/08/navy-renames-survey-ship-after-pioneering-female-ocean-researcher-stripping-vessel-of-confederate.html Navy Renames Survey Ship After Pioneering Female Ocean Researcher, Stripping Vessel of Confederate Ties
13. News: O'Connell . Suzanne . August 8, 2020 . Marie Tharp's maps revolutionized our knowledge of the seafloor . The Washington Post .