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The R/V Hugh R. Sharp is a 146 feet acoustically quiet research vessel operated by the University of Delaware Marine and Earth Studies program, as a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS). The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system with twin Z-drives and a tunnel-style bow thruster. The vessel has a dynamic positioning system, enabling it to maintain a precise location ‘on-station’ during research activities. It has a nominal cruising speed of 11 knots, and can carry 14 to 20 scientists on cruises up to 18 days in duration. It typically operates in the coastal waters from Long Island, New York, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as well as the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. Projects occasionally require the vessel to work as far north as the Gulf of Maine, as far south as Florida, and as far offshore as Bermuda. Operational support for the R/V Hugh R. Sharp is provided primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The R/V Hugh R. Sharp is a purpose-built research vessel designed with special attention to controlling underwater radiated noise to minimize effects on the marine environment.