R/V Thomas Washington, 1989-1991

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.

Thomas Washington 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 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.

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. As of 2007, Vidal Gormaz continued to serve the Chileans.

[Taken from the entry on Thomas Washington in Wikipedia.]