The University of Washington\u2019s R\/V Thomas G. Thompson is embarking on its easiest mission yet: a year in protected waters so that it can undergo some upgrades for improved performance. Those include new propulsion systems and engineering upgrades, according to a university release.<\/p>\n
The research vessel has been in service for 25 years, during which it has hosted sea-faring expeditions to the deepest ocean trenches and even braved Antarctic storms. Along the way, it\u2019s picked up a few dings here and there that need to be fixed, university officials say. <\/p>\n
In addition to the new engines, which should help to make the vessel more environmentally friendly and powerful, the ship is expected to get a new paint job and lifeboat. Winches used to lower instruments into the ocean will also be replaced. <\/p>\n
R\/V Thomas G. Thompson typically spends more than 260 days a year in open water on trips lasting up to two months. It was originally built in the 1990s. <\/p>\n
Top image:\u00a0The Thomas G. Thompson research vessel. (Credit: University of Washington)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The University of Washington\u2019s R\/V Thomas G. Thompson is embarking on its easiest mission yet: a year in protected waters so that it can undergo some upgrades for improved performance. Those include new propulsion systems and engineering upgrades, according to a university release. The research vessel has been in service for 25 years, during which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":26018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,52],"tags":[103,349,206],"class_list":["post-26024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-technology","tag-news-2","tag-technology","tag-university-of-washington"],"remote_post_permalink":false,"remote_post_featured_image":false,"yoast_head":"\n