research ship

See also: research-ship and researchship

English

Etymology

From research (noun) +‎ ship (noun).^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˌsɜːt͡ʃ ˈʃɪp/, /ˌɹiːsɜːt͡ʃ-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɹiˌsɜɹt͡ʃ ˈʃɪp/, /ɹiˌsɜɹt͡ʃ-/, /ɹə-/
• Rhymes: -ɪp
• Hyphenation: re‧search ship

Noun

research ship (plural research ships)

1. (nautical) A ship that is designed and used for research.

   Synonyms: research vessel, (abbreviations) RS, R.S., R. S., R/S

   • 1958, Japanese Contribution to the International Geophysical Year 1957/8, Tokyo: National Committee of the International Geophysical Year, Science Council of Japan, →OCLC, page 148:

     Eight stations were occupied by the researchship Ryofu-Maru along the 30° N-line which crossed the Japan Trench at the vicinity of Ramapo Deep, during the period from May 12 to June 20.

   • 1960, Lester Rosenblatt, “The Design of Modern Oceanographic Research Ships”, in The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers: Transactions, volume 68, New York, N.Y.: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, →OCLC, page 213, column 2:

     Experience also shows that a research ship spends from one quarter to one half of her sea time on scientific station when the sustained speed seldom exceeds 3.5 knots.

   • 1971, Soviet Union: Daily Report, volume 71, [Reston, Va.]: Foreign Broadcast Information Service, →OCLC:

     On the new scientific researchship everything is aimed at subjecting the sea to the will of man and making ships even more reliable and comfortable, and more inhabitable, as the specialists say.

   • 1974, Brian Johnson, Third World and Environmental Interests in the Law of the Sea, London: International Institute for Environment and Development, →OCLC, page 12:

     The US research ship Glomar Challenge has conducted successful drilling experiments at a depth of 5,000 metres.

   • 1990, Walter Lenz, Margaret Deacon, editors, Ocean Sciences: Their History and Relation to Man: Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on the History of Oceanography, Hamburg, 23.–29. 9, 1987 (Deutsche hydrographische Zeitschrift [German Hydrographic Journal]; no. 22), Hamburg: Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie [Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency], →OCLC, page 545:

     This brings to my mind the important statement which Henry [Bryant] Bigelow made when he was asked by Rockefeller foundation authorities, "What would you like to have first, a building or a researchship", and his prompt answer was "a ship".

Alternative forms

• researchship

Derived terms

abbreviations

• R/S
• R. S.
• R.S.
• RS

 

Translations

ship that is designed and used for research

References

1. “research ship, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2024.

Further reading

• research vessel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia