NOAA Ship Delaware II 2014-09-18 creation Delaware II (DE) The NOAA Ship DELAWARE II conducts fishery and living marine resource research in support of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC) Woods Hole Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. The ship's normal operating area is the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and the continental shelf and slope from Southern New England to Cape Hatteras, NC. Typical assessment work includes groundfish assessment surveys and Marine Resources Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction (MARMAP) surveys. Research conducted from the DELAWARE II provides an understanding of the physical and biological processes that control year-class strength of key economical fish species. The vessel is operated by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.