Keel laid for T-AGS 60 class oceanographic survey ship

At VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Pascagoula based VT Systems, Inc., keel was laid for T-AGS 66 USNS "Maury", the oceanographic survey ship for the U.S. Navy, which is currently under construction at Halter Moss Point. Delivery of the vessel is expected in July 2013.

T-AGS 60 class ships are designed and constructed to provide multi-purpose oceanographic capabilities for typical missions such as: oceanographic sampling and data collection of surface, midwater and ocean floor parameters; launching, recovering, and towing scientific packages, both tethered and autonomous, including handling, monitoring, and servicing remotely operated vehicles (ROV's); shipboard oceanographic data processing and sample analysis; and precise navigation, track line maneuvering, and station keeping to support deep ocean and coastal surveys.