Heck and her sister ship USC&GS Rude (ASV 90), later NOAAS Rude (S 590), were designed to conduct wire-drag survey operations together, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey acquired them to replace the survey ships USC&GS Hilgard (ASV 82) and USC&GS Wainwright (ASV 83) in that role.
Like Hilgard and Wainright before them, Rude and Heck worked together under a single command conducting wire-drag surveys, clearing large swaths between them with a submerged wire.
During their careers, however, electronic and acoustic technologies arrived that allowed a single ship to do the same work as two wire-drag vessels, using side-scan sonar or multibeam sonar.
 As a result, Heck and Rude began to operate independently in 1989, employing the improved technology.

Heck's deck equipment featured one winch and one telescoping boom crane, giving her a lifting capacity of up to 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), as well 500 feet (150 meters) of cable that could pull up to 250 pounds (113 kilograms).
She had 11 bunk spaces, and her mess room could seat seven.
 She was equipped for diving operations to allow human investigation of submerged obstacles.
 She had a 19-foot (5.7 meter) fiberglass launch for utility or rescue operations.
Heck and her sister ship USC&GS Rude (ASV 90), later NOAAS Rude (S 590), were designed to conduct wire-drag survey operations together, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey acquired them to replace the survey ships USC&GS Hilgard (ASV 82) and USC&GS Wainwright (ASV 83) in that role. Like Hilgard and Wainright before them, Rude and Heck worked together under a single command conducting wire-drag surveys, clearing large swaths between them with a submerged wire. During their careers, however, electronic and acoustic technologies arrived that allowed a single ship to do the same work as two wire-drag vessels, using side-scan sonar or multibeam sonar.  As a result, Heck and Rude began to operate independently in 1989, employing the improved technology.
Heck's deck equipment featured one winch and one telescoping boom crane, giving her a lifting capacity of up to 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), as well 500 feet (150 meters) of cable that could pull up to 250 pounds (113 kilograms). She had 11 bunk spaces, and her mess room could seat seven.  She was equipped for diving operations to allow human investigation of submerged obstacles.  She had a 19-foot (5.7 meter) fiberglass launch for utility or rescue operations.
NOAAS Heck (S 591)