NOAA Awards $99.6M Contract for Henry B. Bigelow Upgrade

NOAA has awarded a 99.6 million dollar contract to JAG Ketchikan for expanded upgrades and maintenance on the research vessel Henry B. Bigelow. The 14-month programme will begin after the 2027 field season and includes replacing the propulsion system with Tier 4 generators and more efficient motors, alongside broader technology modernisation. The Bigelow is a core part of NOAA's fleet and primarily studies and monitors fish stocks along the US East Coast, with the agency expecting the vessel back in service for the 2029 field season.

 

Scope of the Contract Award

 

NOAA has awarded 99,637,544 dollars to JAG Ketchikan, a company based in Ketchikan, Alaska. The contract covers expanded upgrades and maintenance on the research vessel Henry B. Bigelow. The work is scheduled to begin following the 2027 field season and will run for a 14-month period. This timeline reflects the scale of the improvements planned for the vessel. The agency anticipates the ship returning to service in time for the 2029 field season.

The Bigelow occupies an important place within NOAA's research operations. It is one of 15 research vessels operated by the agency across its fleet. The ship studies a wide range of marine life and ocean conditions along the US East Coast. Its primary mission centres on studying and monitoring fish stocks in the region. This role makes the vessel central to the science underpinning fisheries management.

 

Propulsion and Technology Modernisation

 

A central element of the project involves overhauling the vessel's propulsion system. The existing system will be replaced with variable speed Tier 4 generators and lighter, more efficient motors. Tier 4 generators meet stricter emissions standards, reducing the environmental impact of the vessel's operation. The addition of more efficient motors is intended to improve overall performance. These changes equip the Bigelow to continue supporting NOAA science missions.

The upgrades extend well beyond propulsion to a broad range of shipboard systems. The comprehensive maintenance will replace pumps, fans, cranes, the fire detection system and radars. The work will also increase the number of single-person staterooms aboard the vessel. NOAA leadership said modernising shipboard technology will improve the ship's efficiency and operational safety. The agency framed these investments as ensuring future research remains at the forefront of the field.

 

Read more: Imenco Future Technologies Invests in Subsea Robotics Firm Frontier

 

Strategic Approach to Fleet Maintenance

 

The project reflects NOAA's broader approach to managing its research vessels. The agency is working to maximise the service life of each vessel through long-term maintenance planning and tracking. This forward-looking strategy aims to keep vessels dependable and up to date over extended periods. Planning maintenance in advance helps avoid unexpected downtime and extends operational lifespans. The goal is to provide reliable vessels for use by NOAA scientists and their science partners.

Agency officials framed the Bigelow investment as part of this longer-term vision. NOAA described the upgrades as investing in the future of its science missions along the US East Coast. Improving the vessel supports the agency's ability to carry out responsible, science-based management of national fisheries. The emphasis on future capability positions the work as more than routine repair. It ties the maintenance directly to the continuity of NOAA's research mission.

 

Maintaining Continuity During the Work

 

NOAA has taken steps to ensure its research continues while the Bigelow is out of service. The agency has begun modifying other vessels in its fleet to perform the Bigelow's mission during the maintenance period. This planning helps prevent a gap in data collection along the East Coast. Maintaining continuity is important given the vessel's role in monitoring fish stocks. The approach reflects careful coordination across the wider fleet.

One vessel has already been adapted to take on part of the Bigelow's workload. NOAA Ship Pisces was recently modified to conduct bottom trawling operations typically carried out by the Bigelow. These adjustments are designed to keep the relevant science and data collection running seamlessly. By transferring key tasks to another vessel, the agency limits disruption to its East Coast research. This ensures long-term monitoring efforts remain uninterrupted during the upgrade.