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{{Short description|Medium survey ship based in Newport, Oregon (USA)}}
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{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = NOAA Ship Rainier.jpg
| Ship caption = NOAAS ''Rainier'' (S 221)
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{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}} [[File:Flag of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.svg|56px]]
| Ship name = USC&GS ''Rainier''
| Ship namesake = [[Mount Rainier]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
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| Ship builder = [[Aerojet-General Shipyards]], [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]]
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| Ship launched = March 1967
| Ship sponsor = Mrs. [[Robert M. White (meteorologist)|Robert M. White]]
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| Ship identification = (MSS 21)
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| Ship commissioned = 2 October 1968
| Ship fate = Transferred to [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] 3 October 1970
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = title
| Ship country = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}} [[File:NOAA Flag.svg|61px]]
| Ship name = NOAAS ''Rainier''
| Ship namesake = Previous name retained
| Ship acquired = Transferred from [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey|U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey]] 3 October 1970
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| Ship homeport = [[Newport, Oregon|Newport]], [[Oregon]]
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|6711003}}
*{{MMSI Number|303935000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: WTEF
* [[File:ICS Whiskey.svg|20px]] [[File:ICS Tango.svg|20px]] [[File:ICS Echo.svg|20px]] [[File:ICS Foxtrot.svg|20px]]
* [[Hull classification symbol|Hull number]]: (S 221)
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| Ship honors = [[File:NOAA Unit Citation ribbon.png|56px]] NOAA Unit Citation Award,&nbsp;1977
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| Ship status = Active
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Ship class = {{sclass|Fairweather|survey ship|0}} [[Hydrography|hydrographic]] [[survey ship]]
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| Ship tonnage = * {{GRT|1,591}}
* {{NRT|578}}
| Ship displacement = 1,800 [[ton]]s
| Ship length = {{convert|231|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|42|ft|m|abbr=on}} moulded
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| Ship draft = {{convert|14.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} maximum
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| Ship power = {{convert|2400|shp|MW|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = Two {{convert|1200|hp|MW|abbr=on}} [[General Motors]] 567C [[diesel engine]]s
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| Ship speed = {{convert|12|kn|km/h}}
| Ship range = {{convert|5898|nmi|km}}
| Ship endurance = 22 days
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| Ship boats = Four [[Hydrographic survey|survey]] [[Launch (boat)|launches]], and four smaller boats
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| Ship complement = Maximum of 55 crew and 8 scientists
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'''NOAA Ship ''Rainier'' (S 221)''' is a [[survey vessel]] in commission with the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA). Her primary mission is to chart all aspects of the [[ocean]] and [[Seabed|sea floor]], primarily in [[Alaska]] and the [[Pacific Northwest]]. The ship is [[Home port|home-ported]] at the NOAA Marine Operations Center–Pacific in [[Newport, Oregon|Newport]], [[Oregon]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 14, 2021|title=Rainier|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/marine-operations/ships/rainier|website=NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations}}</ref>

==Construction and characteristics==
''Rainier'' was designed as a "medium survey ship" (MSS) by the [[United States Maritime Administration|U.S. Maritime Administration]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/OMAO/NOAA_Corps/NOAA_ships/NOAA_ships_fleet_1989.pdf|title=Ships of the NOAA Fleet|publisher=Office of NOAA Corps Operations|year=1989|location=Rockville, Maryland}}</ref>  She was built for the [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]] at the Aerojet-General Shipyards in [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]]. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 15 March 1967 along with her [[sister ship]] [[NOAAS Fairweather (S 220)|USC&GS ''Fairweather'']].  The principal speaker at the ceremony was Dr. [[John Herbert Hollomon Jr.|J. Herbert Hollomon]], acting [[United States Under Secretary of Commerce]]. The ship was [[Ship sponsor|christened]] by Mrs. [[Robert M. White (meteorologist)|Robert M. White]], wife of the administrator of the [[Environmental Science Services Administration]]. The ship's original cost was reported to be [[United States dollar|US$]]4 million.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 13, 1967|title=2 Charting Ships Set For Launch|page=30|work=Baltimore Sun|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376917219/?terms=Rainier%20geodetic&match=1}}</ref>
[[File:Christening of NOAAS Fairweather and Rainier.jpg|left|thumb|Christening of USC&GS ''Fairweather'' and ''Rainier'' in 1967]]
''Rainier'' was delivered to the Coast and Geodetic Survey in April 1968, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 2 October 1968 as USC&GS ''Rainier'' (MSS 21) in a joint ceremony with her sister ship USC&GS ''Fairweather'' at the Pacific Marine Center in [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], Washington.  The principal speaker at the ceremony was [[Warren Magnuson|Senator Warren G. Magnuson]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 29, 1968|title=Geodetic Survey Vessels Will Be Commissioned|page=2|work=Tacoma News Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/734974075/?terms=Rainier%20commissioning&match=1}}</ref>  When NOAA was formed on 3 October 1970<ref>{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=Organizational Milestones {{!}} NGS History {{!}} NGS INFO - About Us {{!}} National Geodetic Survey|url=https://geodesy.noaa.gov/INFO/history/organizational-milestones.shtml|access-date=2021-08-25|website=geodesy.noaa.gov|language=EN-US}}</ref> and took over the Coast and Geodetic Survey{{'}}s assets, she became a part of the NOAA fleet as NOAAS ''Rainier'' (S 221).

''Rainier''{{'}}s hull is constructed of welded steel plates.  She is {{convert|231|ft|m|0}} long, with a beam of {{Convert|42|ft|m}}, and a draft of {{Convert|14.3|ft|m}}  She displaces 1,800 tons.  Her registered tonnage is 1,591 gross and 578 net.  Her construction complies with the standards of the [[American Bureau of Shipping]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://imlive.s3.amazonaws.com/Federal%20Government/ID224385682668036809203638165659607204450/Attachment_1_Specification.pdf|title=NOAA SHIP RAINIER, FY 2020 DRYDOCK REPAIR PERIOD, Statement of Work|publisher=NOAA|year=2019}}</ref>

''Rainier'' can cruise at 12 knots.  She is propelled by two three-bladed controllable-pitch propellers which are {{Convert|8.5|ft|m}} in diameter.  These are driven by two diesel engines.  The two main propulsion engines are [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors EMD]] [[EMD 567|LR-12-567-C]], each of which produces 1,200 shaft horsepower.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />  Electric power on board is provided by two diesel generators, each of which is capable of producing 300&nbsp;kW.  The generators are powered by [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU/Detroit Diesel]] 12V2000P82 engines.  She also has a 75&nbsp;kW emergency generator.  The ship has a 200 horsepower [[Manoeuvring thruster|bow thruster]] for improved maneuverability.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The ship's tanks hold {{Convert|107,000|USgal|l}} for diesel fuel, giving ''Rainier'' an unrefueled range of 5,898 nautical miles.<ref name=":2" />

''Rainier'' has 14 single-person staterooms, 13 double staterooms, and 6 four-person bunk rooms, giving her a total berthing capacity of 64.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Specifications {{!}} Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/marine-operations/ships/rainier/about/specifications|access-date=2021-08-21|website=www.omao.noaa.gov}}</ref>  The ship is equipped with an officers' wardroom, officer's mess, technician's mess, crew mess, galley, gym, laundry facilities, and an infirmary.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Survey|first=NOAA Office of Coast|date=2018-03-13|title=Take a 360 tour of NOAA Ship RAINIER|url=https://noaacoastsurvey.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/take-a-360-tour-of-noaa-ship-rainier/|access-date=2021-08-21|language=en}}</ref>  ''Rainier'' has a [[laboratory]] of {{convert|240|sqft|m2}} to support oceanographic observations and diving operations.<ref name=":2" />

The deck equipment features a large [[Crane (machine)|crane]] aft and two [[Bow (ship)|bow]]-mounted fixed cranes. This equipment gives ''Rainier'' a lifting capacity of up to {{convert|5,000|lb|kg}}.  She originally had an [[A-frame]] aft, but it was removed during a major refit in 2010 in favor of a Rolls-Royce Group ODIM Brooke Ocean MVP200 Moving Vessel Profiler for underway sound velocity determination during mapping missions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|url=https://data.ngdc.noaa.gov/platforms/ocean/nos/DAPRs/OPR-P133-RA-12_DAPR.pdf|title=Data Acquisition and Processing Report, NOAA Ship Rainier|publisher=NOAA|year=2012}}</ref>

She carries a [[Kongsberg Gruppen|Kongsberg]] EM710 multibeam sonar,<ref name=":5" /> and a variety of other conductivity, temperature, and water and bottom sampling instruments to map and characterize the ocean.<ref name=":4" />

The ship carries four survey launches for shallow water work.  They were built by All American Marine at its [[Bellingham, Washington]] shipyard.  They are constructed of welded aluminum.  The launches are {{Convert|28|ft|m}} long.  They can cruise at 24 knots driven by a single propeller powered by a [[Cummins]] QSC 8.3 liter 490-hp Diesel engine.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Great Lakes Association of Science Ships|url=https://canamglass.org/articles?page=3|access-date=2021-08-19|website=canamglass.org}}</ref> Each of these survey launches is equipped with a Kongsberg EM2040 multibeam sonar for mapping purposes.  ''Rainier'' also carries four other smaller boats to support dive operations and shore operations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Annual Small Boat Repair - NOAA Ship Rainier|url=https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/annual-small-boat-repair-noaa-ship-rainier|access-date=2021-08-19|website=InsuranceNewsNet|date=26 September 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

Rainier's crew varies with her mission, but her maximum complement is 13 [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps|NOAA Corps]] commissioned officers/mates, 4 [[United States Coast Guard]] licensed engineers, 6 unlicensed engineers, 16 deckhands, 10 survey crew, 4 stewards, 1 electronics technician, and 1 maintenance person, plus up to 8 scientists.<ref name=":4" />

The ship is named for [[Mount Rainier]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington State]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=NOAA ships Fairweather and Rainier mark 50 years of service {{!}} Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/find/media/articles/2018-03-23/noaa-ships-fairweather-and-rainier-mark-50-years-service|website=www.omao.noaa.gov}}</ref>

== Operational history ==
''Rainier's'' career began somewhat inauspiciously.  While she was delivered to USC&GS in April 1968, she was not placed into commission until October because Congress had failed to appropriate funds to operate the ship.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Seago|first=David|date=September 1, 1968|title=Along Tacoma's Waterfront|page=15|work=Tacoma News Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/734911267/?terms=Rainier%20commissioning&match=1}}</ref>  Since that time, however, she has been at sea almost every year.  The table below, while incomplete, gives a sense of her work.

{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Survey Area !! Notes
|-
|1969 || [[Caribbean Sea]]||Project BOMEX, the Barbados Oceanographic Meteorological Experiment, was an effort to characterize air-sea interaction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kuettner|first1=Joachim P.|last2=Holland|first2=Joshua|date=1969|title=the BOMEX Project|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|volume=50|issue=6|pages=394–402|doi=10.1175/1520-0477-50.6.394|jstor=26252790|issn=0003-0007|doi-access=free}}</ref>
|-
| 1970 || [[Bristol Bay]]|| ''Rainier'' collected magnetic, gravity, and seismic data in a 24,000 square mile area south of the bay.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93seAQAAIAAJ&dq=NOAA+rainier&pg=PP4|title=Systematic Geophysical Survey, Bristol Bay, Alaska, NOAA Ship Rainier, 1970|date=1972|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Survey, Marine Surveys and Maps|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 1973 || [[Southeast Alaska]]||<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 22, 1973|title=Seven Ships of NOAA Fleet toSurvey Alaskan Waters This Year|work=Petersburg Press|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/petersburg-petersburg-press-feb-22-1973-p-2/}}</ref>
|-
|1974 || [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]], [[Admiralty Inlet]]||<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|date=March 18, 1974|title=Activity in Port Angeles Harbor|work=Port Angeles Daily News|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/port-angeles-daily-news-mar-18-1974-p-6/}}</ref>
|-
|1997
|[[Stephens Passage|Stevens Passage]], [[LeConte Bay|Le Conte Bay]], [[Prince William Sound]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 22, 1997|title=NOAA Ship RAINIER FY 97 Operating Schedule|url=https://www.researchvessels.org/country/usa/rainier/rainier_97.pdf|website=Research Vessels}}</ref>
|-
|1998
|Prince William Sound, [[Lynn Canal]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 9, 1998|title=NOAA Ship RAINIER FY 98 Operating Schedule|url=https://www.researchvessels.org/country/usa/rainier/rainier_98.pdf|website=Research Vessels}}</ref>
|-
|1999
|Prince William Sound, Lynn Canal, [[Kodiak Island|Kodiak]], [[Cook Inlet]], [[Yakutat Bay|Yakutat]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 13, 1999|title=NOAA Ship RAINIER FY 99 Operating Schedule|url=https://www.researchvessels.org/country/usa/rainier/rainier_99.pdf|website=Research Vessels}}</ref>
|-
|2006
|[[Shumagin Islands|Shumagan Islands]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Temperature and salinity profile data from the NOAA ship Rainier and its launches collected in the vicinity of the Shumagin Islands, Alaska, June - August 2006 (NODC Accession 0002826) - CKAN|url=https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/temperature-and-salinity-profile-data-from-the-noaa-ship-rainier-and-its-launches-collecte|access-date=2021-08-25|website=catalog.data.gov}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|[[Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)|Prince of Wales Island]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=NOAA Ship Rainier Returns to Alaska to Conduct Sea Floor Surveys in Support of Safe Navigation|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/noaa-ship-rainier-returns-to-alaska-to-conduct-sea-floor-surveys-in-support-of-safe-navigation|access-date=2021-08-18|website=The Maritime Executive|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|Kodiak, Shumagan Islands, [[Chatham Strait]]
|The Chatham Strait survey was the first since the [[USC&GS Carlile P. Patterson|USC&GS ''Carlile P. Patterson'']] visited 116 years previously.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pq9xrDRaDn0C&dq=NOAA+rainier&pg=PA774|title=Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2015: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session|date=2014|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|Kodiak
|<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=NOAA Ship Rainier surveys Alaska's Uganik Bay {{!}} Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/find/media/articles/2016-09-20/noaa-ship-rainier-surveys-alaskas-uganik-bay|access-date=2021-08-22|website=www.omao.noaa.gov}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|Kodiak
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|2015
|Kodiak, [[Bering Strait]], [[Kotzebue Sound]]
|<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=NOAA plans increased 2015 Arctic nautical charting operations|url=https://www.workboat.com/government/noaa-plans-increased-2015-arctic-nautical-charting-operations|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.workboat.com|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|Kodiak
|<ref name=":7" />
|-
|2017
|[[Channel Islands (California)|Channel Islands, California]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Noozhawk|title=NOAA Ship Surveys Channel Islands to Gather Mapping Data, Support Safe Navigation|url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/noaa_ship_surveys_channel_islands_mapping_safe_navigation|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.noozhawk.com|date=16 October 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|California coast, [[Tracy Arm]], Lisianski Inlet
|<ref name=":8" /> The Tracy Arm survey included a mile of water that had been covered by the ice of the Sawyer Glacier at the last survey in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rainier|url=https://noaacoastsurvey.wordpress.com/category/noaa-ships/rainier/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=noaacoastsurvey.wordpress.com|date=27 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|[[Puna, Hawaii|Puna coast]], [[Hawaii (island)|Hawaii Island]]
|Replacement for [[USNS Vindicator (T-AGOS-3)|NOAAS ''Hi'ialakai'']] .  Surveyed changes to the seafloor caused by the eruption of [[Kīlauea|Kilauea]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=VOLCANO WATCH: NOAA Ship Surveys New Lava Deltas Off Puna|url=https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2019/10/17/volcano-watch-noaa-ship-surveys-new-lava-deltas-off-puna/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.bigislandvideonews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-17|title=Loss Of NOAA's Primary Honolulu Ship A Setback For Research|url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/06/loss-of-noaas-primary-honolulu-ship-a-setback-for-research/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Honolulu Civil Beat|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|[[Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve|Glacier Bay National Park]]
|Surveyed 87 square miles of sea floor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deep fiords and hydrographic history in Glacier Bay National Park – Office of Coast Survey |date=18 October 2021 |url=https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/updates/deep-fiords-and-hydrographic-history-in-glacier-bay-national-park/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|Western Pacific
|Conducted mapping and reef surveys around [[Guam]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands|Northern Marianas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOAA ocean mapping and reef surveys in the Mariana Islands – Office of Coast Survey |date=28 March 2022 |url=https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/updates/noaa-ocean-mapping-and-reef-surveys-in-the-mariana-islands/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

== Significant incidents ==
The [[fishing vessel]] ''Cricket'' sank in southern [[Sitka Sound]] on 10 June 2008.  Her two crewmen abandoned ship in [[survival suit]]s. ''Rainier'' rescued them.<ref name="alaskashipwrecksc">[https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-c/ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (C)]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=June 10, 2008|title=2 Rescued Off Troller|work=Sitka Daily Sentinel|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sitka-daily-sentinel-jun-10-2008-p-1/}}</ref>[[File:NOAAS Rainier (S 221) with Mount Rainier.jpg|left|thumb|NOAAS ''Rainier'' with her namesake, [[Mount Rainier]], in the background.]]

The ship underwent a service-life extension renovation during 2010.  This work took place at the [[Vigor Industrial|Vigor Marine]] shipyard in [[Portland, Oregon]], under a $13.1 million contract.  Among the work performed was the installation of the Kongsburg multibeam sonar system and the MVP200 Moving Vessel Profiler, replacement of davits and other deck machinery, refitting of living and berthing spaces, and upgrades to machinery control systems, power generation machinery, and the ship’s steering system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Fishing & Aquaculture {{!}} NOAA announces $13.1m contract to repair survey ship|url=https://www.worldfishing.net/news101/shipyardsrepairers/noaa-announces-$13.1m-contract-to-repair-survey-ship|access-date=2021-08-23|website=www.worldfishing.net}}</ref>  ''Rainier'' was originally expected to be retired in 2015,<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://oceanleadership.org/files/IWG-F%20Fleet%20Status%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf|title=Federal Oceanographic Fleet, Status Report|publisher=Council on Environmental Quality|year=2007|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> but with the additional investment in extending her life, she is now expected to serve until 2028, when she will be 60 years old.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.nopp.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/federal_oceanographic_fleet_status_report.pdf|title=Federal Oceanographic Fleet, Status Report|publisher=National Ocean Council|year=2013|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

While transiting the [[Montlake Cut]] in the [[Lake Washington Ship Canal]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], on 16 April 2018, ''Rainier'' struck the bottom and a concrete wall.<ref name=oregoncoastdailynews20180418>[http://oregoncoastdailynews.com/2018/04/18/noaa-ship-rainier-crashes-washington/ Anonymous, "NOAA Ship Rainier Crashes In Washington," oregoncoastdailynews.com, April 18, 2018 Retrieved August 20, 2018]</ref> No injuries were reported, but the ship suffered damage to one of her [[propeller]]s, dents in her [[Hull (ship)|hull]], and paint scrapes.<ref name=oregoncoastdailynews20180418/>

During the summer surveying season in 2018, while ''Rainier'' was off the [[Southern California]] coast, the [[United States Coast Guard]] requested that she assist a disabled [[sailboat]].  ''Rainier'' successfully towed the boat to calm waters.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=NOAA Ship Rainier assists sailboat in distress {{!}} Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/find/media/articles/2018-09-01/noaa-ship-rainier-assists-sailboat-distress|access-date=2021-08-22|website=www.omao.noaa.gov}}</ref>

On March 22, 2018, NOAA hosted a ceremony in Newport, Oregon, to celebrate 'Rainier''′s and her [[sister ship]] ''Fairweather''′s 50 years of service.<ref name=":0" />

On September 5, 2023, ''Rainier'' experienced a fire on board during operations off [[American Samoa]] with 41 people on board. The fire was caused by a malfunctioning MSD ventilation booster fan in the exhaust stacks and affected machinery spaces, the ship's machine shop, and a computer lab. The ship was left without propulsion and electrical power for about 23 hours before returning to [[Pago Pago]], American Samoa under reduced power.  There were no reported injuries.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/marine-operations/news-media/article/noaa-ship-rainier-incident-update | title=NOAA Ship Rainier Incident Update &#124; Office of Marine and Aviation Operations }}</ref>

NOAA sponsors a Teacher at Sea program in its fleet, where primary and secondary school teachers go aboard to participate in the science undertaken by the ships.  The intent of the program is to spread awareness of NOAA and ocean sciences generally to teachers who can use this knowledge in their classrooms.  ''Rainier'' has had a Teacher at Sea participant aboard since 2011,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2011NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program 2011; Year in Review|date=25 July 2024 |publisher=NOAA}}</ref> 2013,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2013NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program; 2013 Year in Review|publisher=NOAA|year=2013}}</ref> 2014,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2014NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program; 2014 Year in Review|publisher=NOAA|year=2014}}</ref> 2016,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2016NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program; 2016 Year in Review|publisher=NOAA|year=2016}}</ref> 2018,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2018NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program; 2018 Year in Review|publisher=NOAA|year=2018}}</ref> and 2019.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/highlights/pdfs/2019NOAATeacheratSeaReport.pdf|title=NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program; 2019 Year in Review|publisher=NOAA|year=2019}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==

* [[File:NOAA Unit Citation ribbon.png|106px]] NOAA Unit Citation Award

In 1977 ''Rainier'' received the [[NOAA Unit Citation Award]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Administration|first=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GM1GAQAAMAAJ&q=NOAA+rainier|title=NOAA.|date=1978|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Public Affairs|language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mount Mitchell class hydrographic survey ship}}
{{2018 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainier (S 221)}}
[[Category:Ships of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
[[Category:Survey ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Jacksonville, Florida]]
[[Category:1967 ships]]
[[Category:Washington (state)-related ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2018]]