USNS James M . Gilliss ( T - AGOR - 4 ) USNS " James M . Gilliss " ( T - AGOR - 4 ) was a " Robert D . Conrad " - class oceanographic research ship acquired by the U . S . Navy in 1962 . She performed various underwater surveys and tests in the Atlantic Ocean and eventually was transferred to the Mexican Navy as an oceanographic research ship in 1996 . Built in Sturgeon Bay , Wisconsin . The second ship to be so named by the Navy , " James M . Gilliss " ( T - AGOR - 4 ) was laid down by Christy Corp . , Sturgeon Bay , Wisconsin , 31 May 1961 ; launched 19 May 1962 ; sponsored by Mrs . Hubert H . Humphrey , wife of the Senator from Minnesota ; delivered to the Navy 5 October 1962 ; and turned over to the Military Sea Transportation Service ( MSTS ) 5 November 1962 , Captain Torston Johnson in command . Oceanographic service . Manned by a civilian crew and carrying 15 scientists from the Naval Oceanographic Office , " James M . Gilliss " was the first of a new class of oceanographic ships to be operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service ( MSTS ) . In addition to the latest in oceanographic and meteorological equipment , she also possessed unusual design features , including special antiroll tanks for stability and a retractable bow propulsion propeller . As a mobile , floating research laboratory , she was capable of carrying out experiments in sound transmission , underwater life , and ocean floor characteristics , thus enabling her to help continue the Navy ' s lead in the exploration and understanding of " inner space . " Searching for Thresher . Departing Sturgeon Bay 8 November , she arrived New York City 19 November for sea trials and shakedown . On 12 April 1963 she departed New York City to take part in the massive search for sunken submarine " Thresher " ( SSN - 593 ) . Operating out of Boston , Massachusetts , she lent her " know - how " to this vital and difficult operation for 5 months before arriving Washington , D . C . , 22 September . After returning to New London , Connecticut , for additional equipment tests , she departed 1 November for oceanographic research operations off Bermuda . North Atlantic operations . During the next 4 months she operated in the Atlantic from the Bahamas to the New England coast . In March 1964 she steamed to the Caribbean for surveying and scientific work out of San Juan , Puerto Rico . Arriving Key West , Florida , 28 March , she operated from the Strait of Florida to the Bahamas and Bermuda for more than a year . Departing Key West 23 May 1965 , she arrived New York 27 May and prepared for deployment to waters off the British Isles . She sailed 14 June ; arrived Belfast , Northern Ireland , 27 June ; and began 3 months of research and survey operations from the British Isles and France to Newfoundland . Departing Belfast 15 September , she returned to New London 6 October and resumed research operations off the U . S . East Coast , which have continued into 1967 . She continued to operate in the Atlantic from New England to the Bahamas while supporting important surveys and scientific experiments of the Naval Oceanographic Office . Post - mission inactivation . " James M . Gilliss " was placed out of service on an unspecified date and transferred to the Mexican Navy on 9 December 1996 where she continued to operate for that nation as an oceanographic research ship .