Over 1,000 visitors toured USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) while the ship was berthed in downtown New Orleans from September 29 to October 2.

Maury, the Navy's newest oceanographic survey vessel and the sixth ship in the Pathfinder Class fleet operated by Military Sealift Command and technically controlled by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), was open to local schools and NAVOCEANO employees, who will man the ship's future survey teams, on Thursday and Friday, followed by tours open to the general public over the weekend.

NAVOCEANO Commanding Officer Capt. Greg Ireton explains Maury's future role in the U.S. Navy fleet, saying, "Maury will collect critical oceanographic data around the world that will keep our ships safe at sea by providing better safety of navigation information to the fleet." He goes on to say, "We are thrilled to have gotten to share her with the city of New Orleans before she deploys globally."

Throughout the four-day open house, Maury was host to 1,057 visitors. While on board, visitors heard from subject matter experts from NAVOCEANO and Fleet Survey Team in scientific and engineering fields, as well as military personnel from the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Mine Warfare Center. All three commands are based at Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi and support Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.

Maury, named for Cmdr. Matthew Fontaine Maury, known as the "Pathfinder of the Seas" and father of modern oceanography, is paving the way for a new class of ships better equipped to support autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) survey operations. The ship is 353 feet in length, 24 feet longer than the previous T-AGS design, to accommodate a moon pool used for launch and recovery of AUVs and other oceanographic systems.

NAVOCEANO, comprised of approximately 800 military, civilian and contractor personnel, uses a variety of platforms, including ships, aircraft, satellite sensors, buoys and unmanned underwater vehicles to collect oceanographic and hydrographic data from the world's oceans.


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