Research vessel Hugh R. Sharp gets a tune-up as it nears 20
Editor’s note: This column is a regular feature written by staff at the University of Delaware. It will spotlight UD research at UD facilities in southern Delaware, and related events in beach towns and surrounding areas.
Like most things in life, once research vessels reach middle age, they start to feel the wear and tear of daily activities. So, when the University of Delaware Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp reached the ripe old age of 19, Jon Swallow knew repairs and replacements were necessary to maintain the integrity of the ship.
Swallow, the soon-to-retire director of marine operations in UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, said most research vessels are designed to have a 30- to 40-year service life.
“We’ve had the ship at UD for almost 20 years, so it was due for its midlife maintenance,” said Swallow. “It's a great asset for the university because it's so unique. There are only a few universities that run a ship of this size.”
The R/V Sharp recently received extensive upgrades that will be on view at an exclusive tour set for Wednesday, July 2, at UD’s Lewes campus.
The tune-up was crucial. The multipurpose research vessel operates as a member of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet and the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System, and supports a wide range of marine disciplines. Those include chemical, geological, physical and biological sciences as well as acoustics, fisheries and marine mammal research. Available to researchers at UD and beyond, the R/V Sharp has been used extensively by the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a wide scope of research and survey missions.
The R/V Sharp has hosted several Student Experiences Aboard Ship programs providing experiential education at sea, and for UD undergraduate and graduate students, it serves as an important teaching vessel.
“We can support research, and we can support experiential science education,” said Swallow. “You inspire the next generation of marine scientists by taking them out on these scientific cruises. For the college students, when you look in their eyes when they come back, it’s like their whole life changed and they get super excited to continue with research at sea.”
For the tune-up, the R/V Sharp spent two months in a shipyard. During that time, a lot of work focused on the Z-Drives, a type of marine propulsion unit that gives the ship excellent maneuverability.
“We wanted to focus on the big stuff that makes the ship go,” said Swallow. “The Z-Drives, the propellers, the equipment that steers the ship, the Schottel drives and everything of that nature.”
The Schottel drives were taken off the ship and sent down to a Schottel shop in Louisiana where they were overhauled. The propellers were taken off and overhauled before being reinstalled. Extensive work was also performed to recondition the steel hull, engines, pumps and valves.
Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the tune-up, however, is the ship’s new paint job, now decked out in UD blue and gold.
The ship’s crew has welcomed new members, including new Chief Engineer Sam Palmer. Dave Walter will also be joining UD as the new director of marine operations.
Swallow said these are excellent additions to the program, and he is excited to see the ship get back out on the water again to help with marine research and education.
“The R/V Sharp is in the best shape it’s been in in a long time,” said Swallow. “We want to get the word out that the ship is here, it’s high-tech and unique, it’s just been fixed up and it’s ready to roll for another 15 years.”
Tours will take place at 1 and 2 p.m., July 2 at the Hooper Marine Operations Building, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes. To learn more, go to ud.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/9127. Space is limited.
Additional tours will take place at Coast Day, UD’s signature event in Lewes, set for Sunday, Oct. 5.
