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centers. These centers are located at the University of 

 Connecticut at Avery Point, Rutgers University in New Jersey, the 

 University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the Caribbean Marine 

 Research Center at Vero Beach, Florida, the University of Alaska 

 at Fairbanks, and the University of Hawaii at Honolulu. Research 

 progreuns which are conducted primarily outside of the U.S. 

 exclusive economic zone, at great depth, or without geographic 

 specificity are managed through NXJRP's National Office. NURP 

 utilizes various interagency and international agreements to 

 assure civilian access to unique deep submergence vehicles. This 

 includes the 4000m (13,000 ft) capable ALVIN (through an 

 agreement between NOAA, the National Science Foundation, and the 

 Office of Naval Research), the Navy's 6000m (20,000 ft) SEA 

 CLIFF, and the Japanese 6500m (21,300 ft) SHINKAI. 



In 1992, research operations facilitated by NURP occurred in 

 areas from the Gulf of Alaska south to the Caribbean, and from 

 the Gulf of Maine to Hawaii as well as the far Western Pacific. 

 More than 1300 scientists from over 300 institutions participated 

 in research operations which resulted in over 700 submersible 

 dives, nearly 450 remotely operated vehicle missions and more 

 than 8000 wet dives using air and mixed gasses. These undersea 

 operations represent a majority of the scientific research dives 

 conducted throughout the world. I am proud to report that no 

 injuries resulted from these operations. 



