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USNS Eltanin (T-AK-270)
Encyclopedia
USNS Eltanin (T-AK-270/T-AGOR-8) was an Eltanin-class cargo ship
with an ice-breaking
hull acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1957 and then operated by the Navy in a non-commissioned status, named after Eltanin, the star in constellation Draco
. Her designation was changed to that of an oceanographic research ship in 1962 when she operated in Antarctic
waters.
. She was turned over to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) in October 1957 for operation in a noncommissioned status.
, and operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service, operated in the Antarctic Ocean, and became the first Antarctic research ship to do so. Some of Eltanins research cruises collected magnetic profiles of the sea floor that proved to be pivotal evidence in the acceptance of the continental drift theory, by proving the existence of sea floor spreading. These key profiles, which show symmetric bands of alternating magnetic orientation (corresponding to magnetic pole reversals) around various undersea ridges, are known by the ship's name and cruise number (ex. Eltanin-19).
, also at an unknown date, and transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration
for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
. In 1974 she was transferred to the Argentine Navy
and renamed ARA Islas Orcadas. She was later disposed of by the Argentine Navy in 1979.
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
with an ice-breaking
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
hull acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1957 and then operated by the Navy in a non-commissioned status, named after Eltanin, the star in constellation Draco
Draco (constellation)
Draco is a constellation in the far northern sky. Its name is Latin for dragon. Draco is circumpolar for many observers in the northern hemisphere...
. Her designation was changed to that of an oceanographic research ship in 1962 when she operated in Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
waters.
Built in Avondale, Louisiana
Eltanin (T-AK-270) was launched on 16 January 1957 by Avondale Marine Ways, Inc., Avondale, LouisianaAvondale, Louisiana
Avondale is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census...
. She was turned over to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) in October 1957 for operation in a noncommissioned status.
Conversion to research ship
On 23 August 1962 her classification was changed to Oceanographic Research Vessel and designated T-AGOR-8.Antarctic duty
Eltanin, under the direction of the National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, and operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service, operated in the Antarctic Ocean, and became the first Antarctic research ship to do so. Some of Eltanins research cruises collected magnetic profiles of the sea floor that proved to be pivotal evidence in the acceptance of the continental drift theory, by proving the existence of sea floor spreading. These key profiles, which show symmetric bands of alternating magnetic orientation (corresponding to magnetic pole reversals) around various undersea ridges, are known by the ship's name and cruise number (ex. Eltanin-19).
Inactivation
Eltanin was place out of service at an unknown date and struck from the Naval Vessel RegisterNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
, also at an unknown date, and transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration
U.S. Maritime Administration
The United States Maritime Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that maintains the National Defense Reserve Fleet as a ready source of ships for use during national emergencies, and assists the NDRF in fulfilling its role as the nation's fourth arm of...
for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
. In 1974 she was transferred to the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
and renamed ARA Islas Orcadas. She was later disposed of by the Argentine Navy in 1979.