US Navy christens oceanographic survey ship

March 6, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Navy has christened the future USNS Robert Ballard (T-AGS 67) during a ceremony at Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding.

As informed, the ceremony took place in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on February 28, 2026.

The ship is named in honor of Dr. Robert Ballard, a retired US Navy commander and a tenured professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. Ballard is also a National Geographic Explorer at Large. Ballard is renowned for discovering the final resting place of the RMS Titanic.

The christening of the future USNS Robert Ballard underscores the navy’s commitment to building America’s Golden Fleet, the officials noted.

Oceanographic survey ships have two multipurpose cranes and five winches, plus a variety of oceanographic equipment, including multibeam echo-sounders, towed sonars, and expendable sensors. They support worldwide oceanographic programs by collecting crucial data on the physical, biological, acoustic, and geophysical properties of the world’s oceans.

These survey ships use advanced multibeam sonar systems and other precision sensing equipment to chart large areas of the ocean floor.

“The USNS Robert Ballard will go to sea ready to do consequential work. She and her crew are tasked with understanding the undersea environment, supporting our fleet, and advancing the Navy’s mission. It is only fitting that a United States Navy ship defined by capability, access, and awareness now carries Dr. Ballard’s name and legacy into service,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.

The core of the survey fleet is the Pathfinder‑class, which includes ships like USNS Pathfinder, USNS Bowditch, USNS Henson, USNS Bruce C. Heezen, and USNS Mary Sears.

These vessels are approximately 328 feet (around 100 meters) long, have a displacement of 4,762–4,838 tons, and carry crews of civilian mariners alongside teams of scientists.

Equipped with cranes, winches, hydrographic survey boats, sonar systems, and other specialized gear, they are capable of gathering depth and environmental data from shallow coastal waters down to the deep ocean. Their surveys support everything from safe navigation to improved undersea warfare technologies.

More recent additions to the fleet, such as USNS Marie Tharp (formerly Maury) and the upcoming USNS Robert Ballard, are larger versions of the Pathfinder design and include enhancements to support modern mission needs. These digital‑era ships are longer, around 353 feet (107.5 meters), and carry larger scientific complements.

They also have features such as moon pools for launching and recovering underwater vehicles, including autonomous systems, expanding their ability to conduct complex oceanographic research and data collection.