Exotics 21

Wind farm surveys have brought a number of unusual vessels to resupply periodically in areas of the sixth boro.  Ocean Endeavour is a science ship that fits into this set that I’m calling exotics.

Saturday I caught Ocean Endeavour taking her crew of scientists and technicians back out to sea, to their survey work.

Her sheer made me think she was once a whaling harpoon vessel;  the shape of bow and stern made me think she might have been a cable ship.

But in fact, she started life in the British navy as an auxilliary vessel specializing

in moorings and salvage, with such duties as laying and maintenance of underwater targets, navigation marks, moorings and raising sunken vessels.  Click on the next two photos for their sources.  USNS operates similarly tasked vessels, Grasp and Grapple.

From launch in 1986 until 2001, it was RMAS Salmaster (A186).

She’s been working in the New York Bight and as far east as the Vineyard Sound for at least the past six months.

Her sister Gardline vessel is Ocean Researcher.

All photos, WVD, who was happy to finally lay eyes on her.