The US Navy has selected Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to operate one of their new research vessels, the AGOR 27, which is currently being built.

New Ocean Class research vessels feature global endurance, an optimised number of science berths as well as advanced technologies, and will replace the navy’s ageing fleet of research ships.

AGOR 27 will be used by the navy to study the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans role in the Earth’s climate system, as well as for North Atlantic ecosystems and their sustainability.

WHOI is scheduled to receive the vessel in mid-2014 and will operate under a Bareboat Charter Party agreement with the US Navy.