Student Connection
NOAA Ship Towsend Cromwell

10/11/01 Drydock Repairs
bow of ship in drydock

The bow of the CROMWELL. Note the bulbous bow. This
strange-looking protrusion is normally completely underwater. It has two
purposes: the shape decreases the wave-making resistance of the hull, allowing
us to move through the water more efficiently, and also it used to contain an
observation chamber with glass windows, which allowed the scientists and
up-close underwater view of where we were traveling.

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