BRP Gregorio Velasquez (AGR 702)
BRP "Gregorio Velasquez" was built by the United States Navy as USNS "Melville" (T-AGOR-14) for university support of Navy programs. The ship was operated as the research vessel R/V "Melville" by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for oceanographic research. As the R/V "Melville", it was the oldest active vessel in the academic research fleet, collectively known as the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) (UNOLS). The US Government confirmed on 17 November 2015 that the "Melville" was to be transferred to the Philippine Navy as Excess Defense Articles (EDA)s. The vessel was  officially transferred to the Philippines on 28 April 2016 and was commissioned into active service at the same time with the Philippine Navy. Construction. "Melville" (AGOR 14) was laid down on 12 July 1967 by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan, launched on 10 July 1968 sponsored by Marguerite "Peg" Kletchka Cederberg, wife of Congressman Elford Cederberg. The ship, second given the name by the Navy, was completed and delivered to the Navy on 1 August 1969 then placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS "Melville" (T-AGOR 14). "Melville" was chartered to the  Scripps Institution of Oceanography for operation by the Office of Naval Research as part of the UNOLS fleet. Though often listed as a "Robert D. Conrad"-class oceanographic research ship the ship is of an entirely different appearance, design and size as evidenced by "Melville"'s 2,944 vs. "Conrad's" 1,370 loaded displacement, dimensions of 279' X 46' X 16.6' as opposed to "Conrad's" 208'10" X 37'5" X 15'2", general appearance and layout and, most distinctly, completely different propulsion systems and capabilities. "Melville's" original system was a cycloidal system with propulsion later modified to an advanced system of twin  1,385 hp diesel electric engines driving 1,385 hp Z-Drive Lips with a 900 hp Retractable Azimuthing Thruster allowing the ship to move 360° under main engines while "Conrad's" was single screw 2,500shp diesel-electric with a retractable azmuthing bow thruster. Sister ship. "Melville's" sister ship is the R/V "Knorr", best known as the ship which located the wreck of the RMS "Titanic" in 1985, which was also launched in 1968. Designation. "Melville " was named for George Melville, a pioneer arctic explorer and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, who was Chief of the Bureau  of Steam Engineering from 1887 to 1903. Operating personnel. A crew of 23 keeps the ship operational, and up to 38 scientists can be accommodated for the purposes of the scientific expedition. Operational history. "Melville" was configured as a general purpose oceanographic vessel of the Global Class operating world wide. The ship sailed over 1.5 million miles and crossed the Equator more than 90 times. With an expected useful life of 30 years the ship underwent a service life extension in 1992 to give the additional years service before retirement after 45 years of service. In that overhaul the hull  was lengthened, increasing her displacement to 2670 tons (full-load), and a new propulsion system was installed. Role in the 1976 movie "King Kong". The "Melville" was used in the 1976 movie "King Kong", starring Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges. It was used specifically because of its cycloid propulsion drive (at that time), which allowed it to move sideways. This type of drive is used, on research vessels, for station keeping in the ocean over drill and coring sites. RISE project expedition. In 1979 the "Melville" was the lead ship of the RISE oceanographic expedition to the crest of the  East Pacific Rise at 21° N off the west coast of Mexico. It was this expedition that discovered deep sea high temperature hydrothermal vents using the submersible "Alvin" and other oceanographic instruments. Transfer to the Philippine Navy. In September 2014 the ship reached the end of the life cycle extension of the 1992 service life extension. After 45 years of service "Melville" Scripps hosted a farewell for the ship on 21 February 2015 at San Diego. The White House confirmed on 17 November 2015 that the "Melville" and USCGC "Boutwell" (WHEC-719) would be transferred to the Philippine Navy as  Excess Defense Articles (EDA)s. On 29 April 2016, the ship was formally turned over and commissioned to the Philippine Navy at a ceremony held in San Diego, California. The ship was renamed BRP "Gregorio Velasquez", after a Filipino National Scientist, and assigned the pennant number AGR-702. The ship is expected to provide the Philippine Navy with hydrographic survey and maritime research capabilities.