Art Anderson Associates provided naval architecture and marine engineering services for in the conversion of the ex-USNS Indomitable into a multidisciplinary ocean-going research vessel. The converted vessel, now the NOAA Ship McArthur II, conducts oceanographic research and assessments, throughout the eastern Pacific, including the US West Coast, Central and South America.

Our tasking included providing designs for this conversion to match that of the McArthur II's sister ship, the Hi'ialakai. Conversion work items included the installation of a new mission deck above the main deck aft; extension of the forecastle deck; installation of a new A-frame, J-frame, knuckle boom deck crane, oceanographic winch, central hydraulic system with a new hydraulic power unit, Miranda work boat davit, and new anti-roll dump tank; relocation of the existing hydrographic winch; removal of various structures, including the raised winch control station house, and equipment incidental to the installations.

To save cost and provide commonality, the fleet drawings from previous conversions of were modified, based on an extensive shipcheck, to suit the McArthur II. In addition to drawing development, purchase specifications were prepared for the oceanographic winch, hydraulic power unit and Miranda davit. Throughout the project, close liaison was maintained with NOAA's technical personnel to ensure timely transfer of needed information and resolution of problems. By ensuring that all of NOAA's requests for this project were discussed and resolved at our corporate internal resource meetings, we were able to allocate the necessary resources and time without delay in either schedule or increase in fiscal charges.