Vehicles

The main deck cabin houses a large laboratory,
forward of which are two twin
cabins, a bathroom and galley. Forward
of this is the wheelhouse with an additional
fold-down berth.
The vessel has a service speed of 18
knots with two Cummins QSB 6.7 main
engines producing 260kW each.
The Sentinel was named by DWR Director
Mark W. Cowin, who is retiring
at month’s end after a 36-year career at
the Department. Cowin named the vessel
to honor the late Laura King Moon,
DWR’s former Chief Deputy Director
who passed away in 2015. “Laura King
Moon worked tirelessly as a guardian
of California’s water supply and
its environment,” Cowin said. “This
new research vessel is dedicated in her
memory.” Moon was an environmental
champion who dedicated her 38-year
career to resource and water policy.
The Sentinel replaces the San Carlos,
which provided valuable service for the
past 40 years gathering information that
informed water quality analysis, biological
opinions and State Water Project
(SWP) decisions. Cowin said it was time
for a “new guardian of the Delta waters
to greet new challenges.” Design and
construction of the Sentinel was accomplished
with funding from the SWP’s
29 contractors. The construction project
began in February 2015, and the vessel
was launched in October 2016, with sea
trials occurring since the launch.
Principal Dimensions
Length, o.a. ..................................18.3m
Length, w.l. ...................................17.1m
Beam, o.a. ......................................7.3m
Draft (hull) ..................................... 0.9m
Draft (prop or max) ....................... 1.1m
Depth ...........................................2.35m
Capacities
Fuel Oil ................................ 1,700 liters
Fresh Water ............................470 liters
Sullage ....................................190 liters
Passengers ........................................ 20
Crew ......................................................5
Propulsion and Performance
Speed (Service) ....................... 18 knots
Speed (Max) ............................ 21 knots
Main Engines...... 2 x Cummins QSB6.7
Power 2 x 350hp / 260kW @ 2,800rpm
Propulsion........................ 2 x Propellers
Generators 2 x Northern Lights M864W3
Flag ................United States of America
Class /Survey ........ USCG Subchapter T
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Marine Technology Reporter 15