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HMAS Cook

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HMAS Cook
Sailors from USS Missouri cheer to honour Prince Philip as he passes by aboard HMAS Cook in 1986
History
Australia
NamesakeCaptain James Cook
BuilderHMA Naval Dockyard, Williamstown, Victoria
Laid down30 September 1974
Launched27 August 1977
Commissioned28 January 1980
Decommissioned31 October 1990
IdentificationIMO number8872784
Motto"With Diligence and Skill"
FateConverted to merchant vessel, fate unknown
BadgeHMAS Cook - Ship's Crest
General characteristics
TypeOceanographic research vessel
Length316.6 feet (96.5 m) in length overall
Beam44 feet (13 m)
Draught15.1 feet (4.6 m)
Propulsion
  • Diesels
  • 2 shafts
Speed17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Range11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement150 + 13 scientists
ArmamentLight calibre weapons only

HMAS Cook (GOR 291/A 219), named after Captain James Cook, was an oceanographic research vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Design work for a dedicated oceanographic research vessel to replace the converted frigate HMAS Diamantina began in the late 1960s.[1] The ship was ordered in 1973.[1] Cook was 316.6 feet (96.5 m) in length overall, with a beam of 44 feet (13 m) and a draught of 15.1 feet (4.6 m).[2] Displacement was 1,900 tons at standard load, and 2,450 tons at full load.[2] Propulsion machinery consisted of diesel engines, connected to two shafts driving variable pitch propellers .[2] A bow thruster and an active rudder provided extra maneuverability, especially when the ship was required to remain in one position at sea for oceanographic measurements. Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), with a range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[2] Cook was operated by a ship's company of 150, with facilities for up to 13 civilian scientists.[2] The ship's armament was limited to light calibre weapons only.[2]

Cook was laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria,[2] on 30 September 1974, launched on 27 August 1977 and commissioned into the RAN on 28 January 1980.[1] After a six-year construction period the ship spent another two years in dockyard hands fixing defects from the building period, including the realignment of the entire propulsion mechanism to reduce vibration.[1]

Cook paid off on 31 October 1990 and was sold for conversion as a small cruise ship and subsequently renamed "Maria Kosmas" - IMO number 8872784.[citation needed] As of 2009, the vessel was in the United Arab Emirates) under the name "Cosmos", in the hands of Platinum Yachts and laid up next to the EasyCruiseOne for conversion into a private yacht, but work had been suspended.[3] In 2022, both vessels were dismantled even though the conversion had made progress earlier.[4]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946, p. 102
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946, p. 103
  3. ^ "Cosmos". Super Yacht Times. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  4. ^ Boonzaier (j_boonzaier), Jonathan (1 August 2022). "Ship that launched Sir Stelios' EasyCruise dream gets cut up for scrap in Dubai". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 1 January 2024.

References

[edit]
  • Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946. Brookvale, New South Wales: Child & Associates. ISBN 0867772190. OCLC 23470364.