FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			June 6, 1996


Contact:	Scott Kathey  (831) 647-4251 or 4201

NOAA Research Ship McArthur
Rescues Stranded Mariners


	The research vessel McArthur suspended scientific operations 
this morning to rescue a vessel in distress along the Big Sur Coast.  
The McArthur, a government research vessel operated by the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was 
conducting marine research for the Monterey Bay National Marine 
Sanctuary early Tuesday morning when it intercepted a report from 
the U.S. Coast Guard that the 77-foot motor vessel Redoubt had lost 
power and was adrift off the Big Sur Coast, northwest of Gamboa 
Point.  The Redoubt had been in route to Mexico from Seattle when 
its engine suddenly failed.  The coast was shrouded in heavy fog, 
reducing visibility to a quarter of a mile, with seas of 12-14 feet, and 
winds between 35 and 45 mph.  The McArthur located the Redoubt 
on radar 12 miles away and immediately terminated its research 
operations and vectored to intercept the crippled vessel.  The 
McArthur used a cannon to fire a line over to the Redoubt in the 
rough seas, secured the tow line, and is currently towing the vessel 
south to rendezvous with a commercial salvage vessel off Point 
Piedras Blancas.  The salver will tow the Redoubt to Morro Bay for 
repairs.

	This is the second time in four days that the McArthur has 
suspended Sanctuary research operations to assist vessels in 
distress.  On June 1, the McArthur rescued the 28-foot sailing vessel 
Lorraine off Ano Nuevo Island when the Lorraine suffered a broken 
mast and its anchor line wrapped around the propeller.  The 
Lorraine was hidden in heavy fog and shark infested waters.  The 
McArthur located the vessel and towed it to Santa Cruz before 
resuming Sanctuary research operations.

	NOAA operates a fleet of federal research vessels that chart 
ocean waters and conduct a wide array of oceanographic and 
biological research missions throughout U.S. waters and around the 
world.  The 175-foot McArthur is based in Seattle, Washington and 
conducts ocean research between South America and Alaska.  The 
ship has been conducting a scientific research cruise within the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary since May 22 and is 
scheduled to leave the Sanctuary on June 8.

	The McArthur is scheduled to host an Open House for the 
public at Pier 32 in San Francisco on Monday, June 10.  The public 
and media are invited to tour the ship between 11:00 AM and 3:00 
PM.  The public will be able to view ship compartments, static 
displays, research equipment, and computer simulations.

MEDIA  NOTE * *
For more information about the Open House, contact Captain Tom 
Richards, NOAA Corps, at Fort Mason in San Francisco (Tel. 415-
556-0858).