Glomar Explorer

GSF Explorer, formerly USNS Hughes Glomar Explorer (T-AG-193), was a deep-sea drillship platform built for Project Azorian, the secret 1974 effort by the United States Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division to recover the Soviet submarine K-129.

This article is about the CIA ship used to recover a sunken Soviet submarine as part of Project Azorian. For the deep-sea oceanographic research and scientific drilling vessel, see Glomar Challenger.
History
NameGSF Explorer
OwnerGlobal Marine Development Inc.
OperatorCentral Intelligence Agency
Port of registryPort Vila, Vanuatu
Builder
Cost>$350 million (1974) (>$1.62 billion in 2022 dollars.)
Laid down1971
Launched4 November 1972
Completed31 July 1998
Acquired2010
Identification
FateScrapped
Notes
United States
NameHughes Glomar Explorer
NamesakeHoward Hughes
BuilderSun Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
Launched4 November 1972
In service1 July 1973
FateScrapped, 2015
Notes
General characteristics
TypeDrillship
Displacement50,500 long tons (51,310 t) light
Length619 ft (189 m)
Beam116 ft (35 m)
Draft38 ft (12 m)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric
  • 5 × Nordberg 16-cylinder diesel engines driving 4,160 V AC generators turning 6 × 2,200 hp (1.6 MW) DC shaft motors, twin shafts
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement160
Notes
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