NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada (Shimada's official website) was launched at VT Halter Marine, in Pascagoula, Mississippi on September 26th, 2008, and was delivered to NOAA on February 2nd, 2010. Shimada is the final of four new Fisheries Survey Vessels built by NOAA from 2003 to 2010. The fourth vessel of its kind, the Bell M. Shimada offers fisheries scientists the ability to monitor fish populations without altering their behavior, allowing them to collect data with unprecedented accuracy. With better data, biologists and oceanographers can help managers make better management decisions.
With this dedicated vessel, we'll make a quantum leap in our capacity to study a complex ocean ecosystem and conduct multi-species assessments. ~ John Stein - Deputy Science Director, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA
In the Pacific, the Bell M. Shimada will help scientists gain valuable insight into the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem, a globally–significant natural resource that stretches from Baja California to British Columbia. Two scientists at the Center recently described some of the way in which this vessel will enhance existing or open opportunities for new research projects. Bell M. Shimada was named by a team of students from Marina High School in Monterey, CA, who won a regional NOAA contest to name the vessel. The ship's namesake served with the Bureau of Fisheries and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, and was known for his contributions to the study of tropical Pacific tuna stocks, which were important to the development of West Coast commercial fisheries following World War II. Bell M. Shimada's son, Allen, is a fisheries scientist with NOAA's Fisheries Service.
All vessel information courtesy of NOAA's Shimada web page.
General Information
- General Information in PDF format (189 kb) If needed, download PDF reader from link located at bottom of page.
- Ship's Personnel
Movie
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada: Keel Laying to Crew Takeover (sound required)
Quicktime, Windows Media File
Mission Information
Ship Specifications
All links courtesy of NOAA Bell M. Shimada website. If any links are not working, please navigate to their official website.
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