USNS Assertive (T-AGOS-9)

Assertive at Seattle Maritime Academy, 2009
History
United States
Ordered:	20 January 1982
Builder:	Tacoma Boatbuilding Company
Laid down:	30 July 1985
Launched:	20 June 1986
Acquired:	9 September 1986
Struck:	3 March 2004
Status:	Transferred to Seattle Maritime Academy 17 December 2008
General characteristics
Class & type:	Stalwart-class ocean surveillance ship
Displacement:	2535 tons
Length:	224 ft (68 m)
Beam:	43 ft (13 m)
Draft:	15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion:	Diesel Electric
Complement:	Officers: 7 Enlisted: 13

USNS Assertive (T-AGOS-9) was a Stalwart class Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship of the United States Navy.

NOAA acquired Ex-USNS Assertive from the United States Navy on 31 March 2004, intending to replace NOAA David Starr Jordan R444 after the Assertive underwent a conversion for research use to be completed by 2008.^[1] The planned NOAA conversion was never carried out because a study conducted by NOAA determined that building a new ship was more cost effective than converting the Assertive and on December 11, 2008 title was transferred from NOAA to MARAD, then transferred on December 17, 2008 from MARAD to the Seattle Maritime Academy.^[2] The Seattle Maritime Academy intended to utilize the ship for 30-day at-sea training cruises during the summer months. During the rest of the year, the Assertive would be a dock side engineering laboratory. As of Summer 2009 the Assertive was off limits to students at SMA. Inspection by Instructors and students shows that critical electrical systems are missing and shore power is limited to a section of the engine room.Sea birds have made a home in the bridge area.^[3] As of October 2012, the Assertive has been listed for sale.^[4]

References

1. "Report of NOAA's Ship Platform Requirements FY 2003 - FY 2012" Created July 29, 2004, Accessed online February 28, 2009.
2. "FY 2010 to FY 2024 NOAA Ship Recapitalization Plan" Accessed online February 28, 2009.
3. "Former Ocean Surveillance Ship Arrives at SMA" Created December 29, 2008, Accessed online February 28, 2009.

• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
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