The R/V KOK is a 223’ single-hulled vessel owned and operated by the University of Hawaii Marine Center. The ship was modified in 1993 to serve as the primary support ship for three submersibles, but also functions as a multi-purpose oceanographic research vessel. Over 1050 sq. ft. of space is provided in 4 different laboratories and over 3000 sq. ft. of exterior working space is available on the aft main deck, the aft 01 deck, and the hangar. The KOK operates out Honolulu, Hawaii and has worked throughout the Pacific over the past 2 decades. The cruising speed is 9 kts with a minimum speed of approximately 1 kt.
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Specifications
Layout
Scientific Equipment
Deep Water Multibeam Sonar System
CTD System
Seabird SBE 9/11plus CTD housing with pressure sensor, rated for 6,800m depth rating, equipped with:
- 2 Sea-Bird SBE 3P temperature sensors
- 2 Sea-Bird SBE 4C conductivity sensors
- 2 Sea-Bird SBE 43 dissolved oxygen sensors
- Other auxiliary sensors can be included by prior arrangement:
- Biospherical QSP-2300 log scalar PAR sensor (2,000 m depth rating),
- Wetlabs ECO FLNTU Chlorophyll Fluorometer & Turbidity sensor (6,000 m depth rating),
- Seapoint SCF Chlorophyll Fluorometer (6,000 m depth rating),
- Wetlabs C-Star 25 cm transmissometer (6,000 m depth rating),
- Applied Microsystems SVPlus sound velocity profiler (5,000 m depth rating).
- For casts being conducted near the sea bottom an altimeter or a 12 kHz acoustic pinger will be attached to the frame to monitor the package’s height off the sea floor.
- Water samples can be collected with 12 L PVC sampling bottles with internal Teflon-coated springs. The bottles can be triggered at any depth with a Seabird SBE 32 carousel.
- 24-bottle and 12-bottle rosette frames are available.
Underway Sea Water
An underway seawater system is installed, with a thermosalinograph and a bench top fluorometer.
Underway Instrumentation
- ADCP — Workhorse 300
- Knudsen 320C with 12 kHz transducer
- Thermosalinograph: SBE21 analog, with SBE-3S temperature probe.
- Turner Fluorometer
- RM Young Anemometer
Underway Data
At the end of the cruise, one copy of all the data is given to the chief scientist.
- ADCP: wh300
- GPS: Trimble GPS
- Gyro heading
- Wind speed and heading
- Thermosalinograph: SBE-21 temperature, SBE-21 conductivity, SBE-21 salinity, SBE-3 sea surface temperature
- Fluorometer
Support Equipment
CRANES
- One Pittman Crane (02-deck) with capacity- 10,000 lbs
- One Aurora 45F Folding Crane, Model 45KTNC 10,000 (Aft Deck, port side) with capacity of 40,000 lbs at 15 ft, 16,200 lbs at 25 ft, and 10,000 lbs at 45 ft.
- North American crane (Aft Deck, starboard quarter) 2,000 lbs
WINCHES
- Northern Line trawl winch (Model 3355-EAHOW) with 10,000 meters of 9/16” wire
- Markey DESH-5 Hydrographic Winch with 10,000 meters of 0.322 three conductor cable.
- 440 VAC, 3 phase 30A, 60A and 100A available in after hanger to support portable equipment

