U.S. Naval Ship Bruce C. Heezen (T-AGS 64) arrived in Da Nang today (18th Oct, 2007), signifying the first visit by a Pathfinder class hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessel to Vietnam.

The purpose of the visit is to familiarize counterparts from Vietnam’s weather and hydrographic agencies, both military and civilian, with the U.S. Navy’s oceanography program and the capabilities of our hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessels.

With its embarked team of oceanographers and hydrographers from the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), these vessels conduct a wide range of survey operations covering the disciplines of physical oceanography, hydrography and bathymetry, acoustics, and geophysics–using sophisticated sensors to measure the temperature, salinity, and currents in the ocean. Additionally, survey vessels can map the bottom of the ocean to determine water depth and the geology of the sea floor.

The visit will include tours for representatives of Vietnam’s Hydro-Meteorological Service, and related agencies. Briefings and static displays will include an overview of the U.S. Navy’s oceanography program, and demonstrate the value of hydrographic, oceanographic, and meteorological data in ocean prediction as well as safe and secure navigation. One of Heezen’s embarked Hydrographic Survey Launches (HSL) will also conduct a shallow water survey in Da Nang’s harbor, and the data collected by Heezen’s scientists will be shared with their Vietnamese counterparts. Representatives from the Vietnamese Navy are also expected to visit Heezen.

USNS Bruce C. Heezen is one of seven hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessels that are part of the 24 vessels in Military Sealift Command’s Special Mission ship program office. The vessel is crewed by 26 merchant mariners under contract to MSC. The ship’s captain is merchant mariner Capt. Bruce LaChance. The vessel embarks up to 27 scientists from the Naval Oceanographic Office to perform oceanographic and hydrographic survey operations.