RV Marcus G. Langseth

	RV Marcus G. Langseth, operated by the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory
History
Owner	National Science Foundation
Operator	Columbia University, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory
Builder	Ulstein (Norway)
Launched	15 June 1991
Completed	1991
Acquired	2004
Identification	IMO number: 9010137; MMSI number: 367059880; Callsign: WDC6698;
Status	Active
Notes	Originally constructed as a seismic vessel the Marcus G. Langseth was modified and outfitted to perform the tasks required of a general purpose research vessel.
General characteristics
Tonnage	3,834 GT
Displacement	2578.4
Length	71.5 m (234 ft 7 in)
Beam	17.0 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draft	5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Ice class	Baltic IA
Installed power	2 x shaft generators 1665 KVA each
Propulsion	2 x Bergen BRG-6 2650 kW/3550 hp (each); 1 x Tunnel 590 kW/800 hp bow thruster
Speed	13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) max
Crew	20 crew, 35 scientific

RV Marcus Langseth is a research vessel operated by the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University as a part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet.^[1]^[2] The Marcus G. Langseth was dedicated on December 4, 2007, came into service in early 2008, replacing the RV Maurice Ewing.^[3]

Marcus G. Langseth is intended primarily to collect multichannel seismic data, including 3-D surveys. The ship was purchased from the geophysical survey company WesternGeco in 2004, having previously been named Western Legend.^{[citation needed]} The Marcus G. Langseth was named for Marcus G. Langseth, a Lamont scientist.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2009 Chinese authorities denied the vessel permission to pass between Taiwan and China.^[4] In August 2009, Marcus G. Langseth was named in a Canadian lawsuit seeking to halt its seismic tomography experiment.^[5] The lawsuit was dismissed, diplomatic clearance was issued and the ship sailed after a delay of a day.^[6]^[7]

References

^ "University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System: UNOLS Vessels". University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29.
^ "Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory: R/V Marcus G. Langseth". Archived from the original on 2011-07-09.
^ "New Seismic Vessel Will Look Deep Under Oceans". Science Daily. 2007-12-04. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2011-11-02. The academic community's most advanced seismic-research vessel was dedicated here today, opening potential new windows on natural hazards, earth's evolution, and other vital questions. The R/V Marcus G. Langseth, owned by the U.S. National Science Foundation, will generate CAT-scan-like 3D images of magma chambers, faults and other structures miles below the world's seabeds. To be used by dozens of cooperating institutions, it will be operated for NSF by Columbia University's Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory.
^ Qiu, Jane (2009-03-31). "China denies US ship access to Taiwan Strait". Nature News. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2011-11-02. The research vessel Marcus G. Langseth will have to steer clear of the waters that separate Taiwan from mainland China, after the Chinese government denied the US seismic research vessel permission to sail in the area.
^ "Lawsuit Seeks to Halt U.S. Blasts in Canadian Marine Protected Area". Environmental News Service. 2009-08-13. Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-11-02. Two environmental groups are taking the Canadian government to court to stop loud seismic blasting by an American research vessel that threatens endangered and threatened whales in a Canadian marine protected area. U.S. researchers have asked Canada to grant a controversial seismic vessel access to the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents, a marine protected area 250 kilometers (155 miles) off British Columbia's coast and a habitat of endangered blue whales, threatened fin whales, and other marine life.
^ William Wilcock. "The Campaign Against the Endeavour Tomography Study – A "Moral Victory" for Canadian Environmental Groups?" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
^ "Federal court will not stop U.S. seismic testing in whale habitat off B.C. coast: The Federal Court of Canada on Thursday dismissed a request by environmental groups for a stay of the federal government's authorization of U.S. seismic surveys off the B.C. coast". Canada.com. 2009-08-28. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2011-11-02. Justice Michael Kelen said he was not satisfied that the surveys would harm marine life based on new federal requirements imposed since the legal action was launched.