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NOAA SHIP JOHN N. COBB—WEATHERING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

May 3, 1999 — The John N. Cobb is not only NOAA's oldest research vessel, but the only wooden ship in today's NOAA fleet. In its nearly 50 years of service, the Cobb has conducted fisheries and oceanographic research throughout the Northern Pacific Ocean utilizing almost every type of fishing method including seining, trawling, and long-lining. In the past the ship has conducted operations for the Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Atomic Energy Commission as well as every West Coast university's fisheries or oceanographic programs.

Today, the Cobb conducts its fisheries research in Southeast Alaska and the U.S. Pacific coastal waters in support of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay (Alaska) Laboratory. The ship collects fish and crustacean specimens using trawls and benthic longlines. It also collects fish larvae, eggs, and plankton using plankton nets and both surface and midwater larval nets. Bottom trawls can also be conducted to depths of up to 600 meters. Additionally, the ship also conducts marine mammal surveys of whales, porpoises, and seals. The Cobb carries a full suite of electronic equipment, from a directional sonar to computers for navigation and data collection.

The Cobb bears the name of a distinguished leader in the field of fisheries research, John N. Cobb. He was the founder and first dean of the University of Washington's School of Fisheries. In the early 1900's, Mr. Cobb served in the Bureau of Fisheries (the predecessor to today's National Marine Fisheries Service) for 17 years. He is regarded widely for his untiring efforts in the development of the School of Fisheries and for his data gathering on the fisheries of Alaska.

The Cobb, launched on January 14, 1950, is designed after a West Coast purse-seiner with certain modifications to improve its seagoing characteristics. In 1950, the ship was written up in the Encyclopedia Americana as the most advanced fisheries research vessel in the world. Even after 48 years of service, the ship is in excellent condition, experiences almost no down time due to mechanical failures and continues to earn "Outstanding" ratings on its annual fleet inspections.

For 12 consecutive years the Cobb participated in Seattle's SEAFAIR Special Peoples Christmas Cruise. The ship hosts special needs adults and their companions during a decorated boat parade on Seattle's waterways.

Since NOAA’s beginning, a large percentage of its oceanographic, atmospheric, hydrographic, fisheries and coastal data has been collected on NOAA ships and aircraft. This fleet of platforms is managed and operated by the Office of NOAA Corps Operations, an office made up of civilians and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Corps (a uniformed service of the United States). In addition to research and monitoring activities critical to NOAA’s mission, NOAA ships and aircraft provide immediate response capabilities for unpredictable events, such as recovery and search efforts after the TWA Flight 800 crash; damage assessment after major oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez, Persian Gulf War and New Carissa; and several hurricanes during the 1998 season.

 

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