The 8,400 square-foot research facility and offices will allow for the 250-foot vessel’s 24 crew members and 19 scientists a place to house and conduct future explorations. The facility, whic is expected to open next summer, will be located at Pier 1 and will be 80 feet from the ocean.

The Okeanos Explorer — under the supervision of Rear Adm. Jonathan W. Bailey, director of NOAA and NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations — is a former Navy surveillance ship that was recently converted into a world-class tool for advanced scientific discovery.  Live images from the seafloor and water column will be broadcast from the ship by satellite and Internet to scientists ashore in the United States and the command center in Indonesia.

The Internet coverage will involve the public to follow the missions, which will include regular logs from sea and news releases.

Quonset ultimately became the home because it’s close location to the University of Rhode Island’s Oceanographic Program.

“We’re very pleased and look forward to partnering with NOAA. The government saw potential in Quonset and this will be a driving force in future programs,” said Steven King P.E., Managing Director of Quonset Development Corporation (QDC).

Gov. Carcieri expressed his excitement that Rhode Island is one of America’s leading centers of oceanic research and bringing the Okeanos Explorer to Rhode Island will allow for more research to develop at URI.

“With all this research, the Okeanos should be housed in the Ocean State. The oceanographic graduate school has a national and international reputation and they’re part of the whole plan,” he said.

Sen. Reed has secured over $23 million in federal funding to make the Okeanos the first U.S. government ship to be used “solely” for ocean exploration. The ship can also be linked to classrooms across the country and globe.

“Four and half years ago, we hatched this plan and we had to fight off some powerful forces to get the Okeanos to Rhode Island. This is the beginning of a new era in underwater exploration with the Okeanos leading the way,” said Dr. Robert Ballard, director of the Center for Ocean Exploration and Archaeological Oceanography.

The ship is equipped with the most state-of-th- art equipment developed by the Ocean Exploration and Research program, which will bring a “new and deeper understanding to yet-unexplored areas and phenomena in the ocean.”

Mounted on the hull, is a multibeam sonar which produces high-resolution maps of the seafloor down to 6,000 meters. The sonar will also be able to see gas plumes, phytoplankton and fish.

The architect for the project is Saccoccio and Associates and the General Contractor is A. Autiello Construction Company.
This story will be featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes on Nov. 29.