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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YP-679

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Delta - KIlo NUDK

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal

YP- 676 Class Training Craft

Built by Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Contract awarded, 25 May 1983

Laid down, 18 April 1984

Launched, 11 December 1984

Delivered and placed in service at US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 03 June 1985

Reclassified IX-531, 07 August 2001

Assigned to Office of Naval Research as "Afloat Lab," unofficially nicknamed "Starfish"

Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 29 March 2007

Transferred to US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY and renamed TV Liberator

Placed out of service, 2024

Listed for sale by GSA Auctions, November 2024 (re-listed December 2024)

Specifications:
Displacement 176 tons (max.)
Length 108'
Beam 24'
Draft 8'
Speed 12 kts.
Armament none

Complement

2 Officers

4 Enlisted

Range 1800 nm

Propulsion

two 12V-71N Detroit diesel engines

two propellers, 437 shp @ 2,100 RPM

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
143167917	266k	Undated photo of *YP-679*, probably shortly after completion.	Frank Bittner
143167904	122k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) makes a port visit to Baltimore´s Inner Harbor in 2003, offering the public an opportunity to view some of the newest research being developed to benefit Sailors and Marines. The "Afloat Lab" is a former Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft now serves as a test platform for the Office of Naval Research. Since it has the same machinery, electronics and navigation systems as the Navy's large fleet ships, it is an ideal test platform. US Navy photo from the ONR Media Gallery, by James Boyle, ONR	Office of Naval Research
143167908	289k	The Office of Naval Research (ONR) vessel "Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679), open for visitation while docked in Ocracoke, NC, 24 August 2004. *YP-679* was taking part in the 2004 Hunt for Alligator Expedition. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with support from ONR, conducted a week-long expedition off Cape Hatteras where the Civil War era vessel was lost during a fierce storm in 1863. US Navy photo # 040824-N-7676W-041 by JOCS John F. Williams.	Robert Hurst
143167916	346k	NOAA and East Carolina university researchers deploy a sidescan sonar towfish from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) vessel "Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679), during the Hunt for the Alligator Expedition, August 2004. *YP-679* was taking part in the 2004 Hunt for Alligator Expedition. Photo by David Hall/NOAA	Robert Hurst
143167909	208k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) receives a fresh coat of paint at Naval Station Annapolis, Md, 15 March 2005. In the summer of 2005 the Afloat Lab, which features working demonstrations and exhibits that give visitors a sample of cutting edge Navy science and technology, will visited Charleston, S.C., Fleet Week in New York City and Harborfest in Norfolk, VA. US Navy photo # 050315-N-7676W-069 by JOCS John F. Williams.	Robert Hurst
143167905	517k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) prepares to dock at the South Street Seaport in preparation for New York City's 18th annual Fleet Week. The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, along with a number of international navies, will participate in this year's celebration from May 25 - June 1, 2005. US Navy photo # 050524-N-7676W-052 New York City (May 24, 2005) by JOCS John F. Williams.	Office of Naval Research
143167910	321k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) docked at the South Street Seaport's Pier 17 during the 18th annual Fleet Week in New York City, 29 May 2005. Fleet Week allows the community to celebrate the sacrifices made by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard by giving them the opportunity to visit the city and experience the "Big Apple's" hospitality. US Navy photo # 050529-N-7676W-006 by JOCS John F. Williams.	Robert Hurst
143167911	772k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) pulls alongside the Iowa-class battleship ex-*USS Wisconsin* (BB-64), located at The National Maritime Center Nauticus on the Elizabeth River waterfront of downtown Norfolk, VA., 13 June 2005. The Afloat Lab was visiting Norfolk to participate in Harborfest 2005. The event drew about 1500 visitors to YP-679** during the three-day event. US Navy photo # 050613-N-7676W-125 by JOCS John F. Williams.	Robert Hurst
143167912	207k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) moored at Alexandria, VA., 19 June 2005. *YP-679* hosted 1,298 visitors during two days of public tours. The Afloat Lab, operated by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), allows ONR to demonstrate naval technologies in an "at sea" environment. US Navy photo # 050619-N-7676W-006 by JOCS John F. Williams.	Robert Hurst
143167901	108k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) makes a port visit to Baltimore´s Inner Harbor, 17 June 2006, offering the public an opportunity to view some of the newest research being developed to benefit Sailors and Marines. The "Afloat Lab" is a former Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft that now serves as a test and demonstration platform for ONR. US Navy photo # 060617-N-7676W-002 by JOCS John F. Williams	Office of Naval Research
143167902	98k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) makes a port visit to Baltimore´s Inner Harbor, 17 June 2006, offering the public an opportunity to view some of the newest research being developed to benefit Sailors and Marines. The "Afloat Lab" is a former Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft that now serves as a test and demonstration platform for ONR. US Navy photo # 060617-N-7676W-007 by JOCS John F. Williams	Office of Naval Research
143167903	65k	"Afloat Lab Starfish" (YP-679) outboard the World War II Destroyer, ex-*USS Cassin Young* (DD-793)**, 9 June 2006, at the Charlestown Navy Yard, during a visit to Boston, MA., as part of the second annual Navy Week celebration held June 8 - 13. US Navy photo # 060617-N-7676W-006 by JOCS John F. Williams	Office of Naval Research
143167913	254k	YP-679 "Afloat Lab" conducting survey operations in Search Area 1, off the North Carolina coast while searching for the lost American Civil War era submarine *Alligator*, September 2005. Photo by John Williams, ONR	Robert Hurst
143167915	15k	YP-679 "Afloat Lab" underway, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
T/V Liberator
143167906	75k	T/V Liberator moored at Kings Point, New York, date unknown. Photo courtesy U.S. Merchant Academy.	Robert Hurst
143167907	97k	T/V Liberator moored at Port Jefferson, New York, 25 September 2011. Photo courtesy U.S. Merchant Academy.	Robert Hurst
143167914	550k	TV Liberator moored in Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD, early 2015. Photo courtesy sailbaltimore.org	Dave Wright
143167918	54k	TV Liberator moored at Mallory Pier, USMMA Kings Point, date unknown. Photo from GSA auction listing.	Dave Wright
143167919	82k	TV Liberator undergong her last shipyard period at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT, spring 2020. Photo from GSA auction listing.	Dave Wright