 She was laid down on 12 August 1963 and launched on 15 March 1967.The Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned her as USC&GS "Fairweather" (MSS 20) in a joint ceremony with her sister ship USC&GS "Rainier" (MSS 21) at the Pacific Marine Center in Seattle, Washington, on 2 October 1968.When NOAA was established on 3 October 1970 and took over the Coast and Geodetic Survey's assets, she became part of the NOAA fleet as NOAAS "Fairweather" (S 220).