Name USNS Thomas Washington Construction started 12 September 1963 Length 64 m Tons burthen 1.243 million kg | Laid down 12 September 1963 Launched 1 August 1964 Tonnage 1.089 million kg | |
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Namesake Admiral Thomas Washington Sponsored by Misses Barbara E. and Ann H. Washington, granddaughters of Admiral Washington Acquired by the Navy, 17 September 1965 In service Transferred to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California. The ship was manned by a civilian crew and operated under the cognizance of the Oceanographer of the Navy, Builder Marinette Marine Corporation |
USNS Thomas Washington (T-AGOR-10) was a Robert D. Conrad-class oceanographic research ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1965 and transferred to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, while still under the control of the Navy. After her service to the U.S. Navy, she served in the Chilean Navy.
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Laid down in Marinette, Wisconsin
Thomas Washington (AGOR-10) was laid down on 12 September 1963 at Marinette, Wisconsin, by the Marinette Marine Corp.; launched on 1 August 1964; sponsored jointly by Misses Barbara E. and Ann H. Washington, granddaughters of Admiral Thomas Washington; and delivered to the Navy on 17 September 1965.
Transferred to the University of California
Transferred to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, of the University of California, soon thereafter, Thomas Washington operated under the control of the Oceanographer of the Navy, with a civilian crew, conducting research experiments in support of the national oceanographic programs of the United States.
Inactivation
Thomas Washington was struck by the Navy 1 August 1992 and, shortly thereafter, on 22 September 1992, she was sold and transferred to the government of Chile. She was renamed Vidal Gormaz (AGOR-60) by the Chilean Navy.
Vidal Gormaz was decommissioned by the Chilean Navy on 30 August 2010. As of November 2012 she is being broken up at Chinquique, Puerto Montt.