USNS Assertive (T-AGOS-9) was a Stalwart class Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship of the United States Navy. NOAA acquired Ex-USNS Assertive from the United States Navy on 31 March 2004, intending to replace NOAA David Starr Jordan R444 after the Assertive underwent a conversion for research use to be completed by 2008. The planned NOAA conversion was never carried out because a study conducted by NOAA determined that building a new ship was more cost effective than converting the Assertive and on December 11, 2008 title was transferred from NOAA to MARAD, then transferred on December 17, 2008 from MARAD to the Seattle Maritime Academy. The Seattle Maritime Academy intended to utilize the ship for 30-day at-sea training cruises during the summer months. During the