Alliance is a research ship. The 93 meters, 3,180 t NATO ship NRV ALLIANCE was designed in the mid 80’s as a quiet acoustic research platform. It is capable of operating in all oceans strategically important to NATO nations. ALLIANCE enables scientists and engineers from the Centre and partner nations to conduct a wide range of experiments. The ship is equipped with modern scientific instruments, a sophisticated navigation system, and its deck comprises of a vast array of winches (some fitted and some removable), heavy cranes, a lateral frame and a stern U-frame (including a large 4 drum main tow winch for large arrays). This variety of deck equipment allows a large variety of launch and recovery of scientific and engineering sensors, oceanographic instruments, autonomous vehicles and tethered devices.