This research ship has a large 'moon pool' which allows divers and diving devices to enter the sea from within the vessel, through a hull opening beneath the waterline.

Propulsion Machinery
Type/System: Westinghouse diesel electric power system, with diesel engines driving generators that power electric motors that in turn power propeller shafts.
Main Engines: Four Fairbanks Morse, model 38D8½, eight cylinder, air starting, fresh water cooled by heat exchanger, 1,500/1650 shaft horsepower @ 850 rpm, diesel engines.

Main engines present hours (2009)
No. 1 Engine, 1,741.5 Hours
No. 2 Engine, 488.4 Hours
No. 3 Engine, 5,019 Hours
No. 4 Engine, 2.3 Hours

Main Generators: Four Westinghouse, model CC2147, DC, 1,000/1150 kW, @ 805 rpm, 450 volt DC generators driving two bronze 12-ft-0-in-dia X 13-ft 4-in pitch propellers.
Main Motors: Two Westinghouse, model EE-6684, 2,500/2,750 hp. @ 150 rpm, 450 volt DC electric motors.

Engine Exhaust System
Piping: Dry type steel and flexible steel piping lagged in engine room, muffler located in stack on vessel's exterior.

Fuel System
Tanks: Thirty-one integral steel tanks with vents and shut-off valves at tanks.
Plumbing: Steel supply and return lines through strainer, water trap, and filters to engine with flex lines, and shut
off valves at engines.
Centrifuge: Two Sharples, model DHI-10401, electric motor powered 720-gph diesel oil purifiers.
Fuel Oil Transfer Pump: One each DeLaval 1-1/2-in-dia model 3Dfx187 powered by 2-1/2 hp. electric motor.
Lube Oil System
Tanks: Two, integral steel fresh oil and one, hydraulic oil tanks with steel plumbing to on deck fill and discharge pipes.
Centrifuge: One Sharples, model AE-14MV, 225-gph capacity lube oil purifier.
Oil Transfer Pump: One DeLaval, model 3DFX118, 1-1/2-in-dia pump powered by 5-horsepower electric motor.
Dirty Oil Tank: One integral tank with Buffalo, model 1-CLM pump powered by 2-hp. electric motor with pump out capability to main deck.

Operational Controls
Steering Controls: Sperry electric/hydraulic type wheel and jog stick with two electric motor powered, hydraulic pumps, Two bridge control stations; Two bridge wing stations; One aft steering station at steering gear.

Steering Machinery: Two Dennison, model PA-202-573-X533, 29-gpm. hydraulic pumps, each powered by one 20-hp. electric motor.
Engine: Single lever engine room telegraph and back up system with like unit at engineers station; Motor control unit on bridge with port and starboard bridge wing stations also. vessel also equipped with voice tube.

Electrical System
Power Supply: 450 volt AC from service generators and 12-volt DC from storage batteries;
Shore power by means of heavy duty electric extension cord.
Batteries: Accommodations for approximately fifty, various size batteries for emergency communication power connected to plastic covered, multi-strand, copper cables, all located in corrosion proof, well-ventilated boxes in battery locker on forecastle deck . Presently on board two 20-cell Nicad banks; Four 20-cell lead acid batteries.
Battery Maintenance: 12-volt DC from permanently mounted battery chargers in deck house.
Wiring: Armor covered, multi-strand, copper marine type wiring, well secured throughout vessel's interior.
Fixtures: Marine type exterior and interior lighting fixtures, with marine type switches, light sockets and receptacles in vessel's interior.
Circuit Protection: Circuit breakers and/or fuses in all circuits with dead front master panels and switches in engine room and emergency generator room.
Ship Auxiliary Power
AC Service Generator: Four Westinghouse, model G-39, 450-volt AC, 1,000-kW generating units, each powered by one Fairbanks Morse, model 38F5 ½ , air starting fresh water cooled through heat exchanger, diesel engines.
Emergency AC Service Generator: One Westinghouse, model 5SJ4444P24Y5F1, 225/450-volt AC, 100-kW generating unit powered by one Fairbanks Morse, model 49B42 hydro starting, fresh water cooled through radiator diesel engine.

Ventilation System
Accommodations: Natural and mechanical type through door and window openings, equipped with electric central heating and air conditioning. Air-condition units presently inoperative due to removal of duct work and fan disassembly.
Engine Room: Natural and mechanical type through scuttles and vent openings, equipped with electric blowers.

Alarm System
Propulsion Engines: Audible and visual type for low oil pressure or abnormal operating temperatures of oil or coolant to engineer’s board.
Generator Engine: Audible and visual alarm, also protected by automatic shut-down system.
Bilge: Seven station audible and visual type from bridge & engine room. Hydraulic watertight door controls on
bridge and at doors.
Fire/Smoke Alarm: One Kiddie, Marine, twenty (20) station audible and visual throughout vessel in accommodation spaces, galley, engine room and process spaces with monitor panel on bridge.
General Alarm: Audible and visual type with rotating beacons in high sound areas.
Potable Water System
Tanks: Two integral steel tanks with vents and shut-off valves at tanks.

Plumbing: Steel piping with in line strainer and/or filter.
Water Pressure System: Two Buffalo, model 11/4CCL, 70-gpm. 5-hp electric motor powered pressure units with pumps, surge tanks and necessary plumbing..
Water Heater: Steam heated.
Boilers: Two Crane, model Cyclothern, 80-horsepower, water tube boilers, capable of producing 2400-lbs of steam per hour.
Desalinator: Two Aqua Chem, 5165SWH1, 3,00- gal per day capacity each.
Air System Storage: One steel 500-gal. capacity air receivers; Two steel 100-gal. capacity air receivers.
Compressor: Two Quincy, model 340-30, two cylinder, 10-hp. electric motor driven , air compressors;
One Quincy, model 5120, two cylinder 25-hp. electric motor driven , air compressor; One Quincy, model D210,
one cylinder 3-hp. electric motor driven , air compressor; One Cardair, model D210, two cylinder 10-hp. electric motor driven , air compressor; One IR, 2400-lb dive compressor, located in aft equipment room.
Plumbing: Steel piping and brass valves throughout with flexible hose couplings to controls and engine starters and ship’s whistle.

Anchoring Gear
Winch: Anchors hauled by two Skagit, model WX2WYC-27-10, single gypsy drum hydraulic winch with two capstan type rope drum heads, each powered by 40-hp. electric motor/Dennison, model PVo7U 0205 LY OB 600W,
hydraulic pump, located on foredeck.
Anchor: Two Bower, 4,853 lb. each stockless type anchors, one 1-3/16-in-dia 810-ft. length of stud link chain rode with necessary swivels and shackles; Spare 250 lb. Danforth type anchor in Lazaret.
Bilge/Washdown System
Sea Chests: Two.
Bilge Pumps: One Buffalo, model 3SVL, 325-gpm. centrifugal pump powered by one 10-hp. electric motor.
Ballast Pump: One Buffalo, model 3SVL, 325-gpm. centrifugal pump powered by one 10-hp. electric motor.
Sewage System
Heads: Sea water under pressure piped to marine toilet and continuing on to Omnipure marine sewage treatment system.
Pressure System: Separate sea water system with one Goulds, model 1-1/4 X 1-1/4 CCL, 70-gpm capacity powered by 5-hp. electric motor, surge tank and necessary plumbing.

CARGO HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Deck Gear
Forward Deck Crane: One Skagit, model KX8-3.7/28, 7,300 lbs. @ 20’ radius/4,700 lbs. @ 28’ radius short pedestal mounted, hydraulic extension boom crane located on foredeck.

OCEANOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
Electronics
Fathometer: One Raytheon, model Survey Fathometer.
Transducer Amplifiers: Two US Government Wideband 5-KHZ to 40-MHZ amplifiers.
Trailing Gear
“A” Frame: One Fabricated, all welded steel set on aft main deck with hydraulic ram extension/retraction units.

Winches
Deep Sea Anchor & Coring Winch: One Western Gear Co., model DSHW-150D, two drum level winding, winch
with a pull of 30,000-lbs @ 133-fpm. to 6,800-lbs. @ 600-fpm., powered by one 150-hp. electric motor.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Emergency Lighting
System: 12 volt throughout engine room and upper deck companion ways with dedicated batteries and charge maintenance system. .
Life Saving Gear
Personal Flotation Devices: Unknown number of USCG approved Type I life preservers equipped with reflective tape, and with vessel's name lettered thereon, located forward quarters area.

Hand Rails
Weather Deck: 4 ft. 5 in. to 3’-9” minimum height steel bulwark around foredeck and sides of Forecastle Deck, with 4 ft. 5 in. minimum height 4-coarse rails on forward side and 3 ft. 9 in. 3-coarse steel pipe hand along sides of rail of observation deck covered with canvas spray curtain; 3’-6” minimum height steel pipe hand rails on other decks.
Portable Fire Fighting Apparatus
Fire Axe: Several standard fire axe mounted on bulkhead at fire stations.
Fixed Fire Fighting System
Fire Pump: One Buffalo, model 21/25 WV, 325-gpm., 3-in-dia. pump, powered by 40-hp. electric motor, piped to twenty-eight stations, each with rack for section of 1-1/2-in-dia. rubber reinforced fire hose, foam wand, fire axe and spanner.
Fire/Bilge Pump: One Buffalo, model 21/25 WV, 325-gpm., 3-in-dia pump, powered by 40-hp. electric motor,
piped into bilge and fire systems.
Fixed Extinguishing System: Engine room, twenty one, 100-lb. cylinder, CO2 System. Foam system piped throughout.

2009 Survey Remarks
Bow, Port Side, Starboard Side, Stern, Bulwarks, Superstructure and Deck: found free of waste areas chafing or rot and was lightly wash-boarded and contained scattered light indents and /or insets;

Hull plate thickness ultrasonic measurements in 2005 were 0.370 forward at the main deck, 0.315 at the “A” deck aft, 0.470 at the aft engine room both port and starboard, and from 0.420 to 0.465 along 60-ft of the starboard amidships. Subject vessel is apparently ice strengthened; Hull scantlings were military specification and are considered normal for this type vessel.
Stays, Shrouds, Whip Lines, Blocks and Tackle: Generally found to be in weathered deteriorated condition.
Bilges and Internal Framing: Visible areas found free of waste, rot and/or oil accumulation.
Engine Room Machinery: Found to be clean and appeared to be subject of an adequate maintenance program.
Sufficient oil supply and extra oil and fuel filters on board for expected usage; engines reportedly previously operated without excessive exhaust smoke or crank case back pressure; exposed moving machinery parts are equipped with safety guards.
Deck Machinery: Anchor winch and deck cranes reportedly operate without binding or exhibiting elliptical motion of drums; clutches, dogs cables, sheaves hooks and brakes appear to be in satisfactory condition.
Decks: Guard rails and bulwark are up to industry standard and in satisfactory condition; weather deck, engine room and forepeak ladders and/or stair treads are covered with a high traction coating.
Interior: Government required remediation project to remove asbestos and PCB contaminated wiring has resulted in accommodation areas overhead being damaged due to removals of wiring and ducting. This repair has largely been completed.

NOTES

Prior to 2000 subject vessel was maintained by NOAA.
Major hull repairs have not been necessary during this ownership..

HIGHEST & BEST USE
The highest and best use of subject vessel would be to convert it to a super yacht. The next best use would be as an oceanographic exploration vessel or as a midsize cruise ship.

VALUATION METHODOLOGY

Subject vessel is an ex NOAA oceanographic research ship that was retired from service in 2000. Since that time it has been the subject of a remediation project that removed all of the carcigenic material leaving a largely functional vessel that is a good candidate for a super-yacht/expedition conversion.

Replacement Value by Cost
There is adequate information with which to develop a value by cost. First, a similar but smaller vessel was recently constructed for NOAA by V. T. Halter of Gulfport, MS, in their yard at Pascagoula, MS, the M/V “OSCAR DYSON”. The M/V “OSCAR DYSON” is contracted to cost $38-million. When fitted out it will be a fishing
research vessel with a value of about $55-million. We will compare the basic vessel construction of the M/V “OSCAR DYSON” to the former NOAA Vessel M/V “SAHARA”. The M/V “OSCAR DYSON” is 63-m X 15-m X 5.9-m which translates into 206.64-ft X 49.20-ft. X 19.32-ft., or a block of – 196,382-cu ft. The M/V “SAHARA” is 280-ft. X 52-ft. X 28.6-ft. or a block of -cu 390208 ft. From this comparison we immediately see that the M/V “SAHARA” is about 198% larger than the M/V “OSCAR DYSON”. Accordingly we would expect that its new replacement construction cost for a new similar vessel built to US Military specifications would be about $38- million X 1.98 or $75-million.

Value By Market
This is a specialized vessel with a narrow area of utility. As there are no current offerings for vessels of this type, value by market cannot be readily ascertained. However, Interest in a project of this type utilizing subject vessel has been reported on the internet.
If subject vessel were to be converted to a super-yacht/expedition yacht with its value would be somewhere between 60 to 75% of the replacement cost or $45 to $56-million. The mean thereof being $50.5-million which is
comparable to the Shipyard offering.
Current Market Value
A. New replacement Cost (Gov't Vessel) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $75,000,000