OCEANOGRAPHY 15 



The United States currently operates about 52 ships, mostly of small size, 

 for oceanographic research and surveys. About 30 of these will require replace- 

 ment during the next 10 years because they will be overage. Ccmstruction of 

 new research ships in preference to the conversion of existing hulls is consid- 

 ered essential for a number of reasons. The Navy is making a stlidy of the effi- 

 ciency and economy of new construction versus conversions for various 

 applications, to point to the most feasible methods of providing the Navy with 

 the required oceanographic ships in the next 10 years. 



The most critical element in expanding our effort in this field is the shortage 

 of scientific personnel to man the ships and carry out a creative program. 

 Recently, we have compiled data from 10 major universities and institutions 

 concerned with training of oceanographers as well as the conduct of research. 

 This information is most encouraging and we must do everything possible 

 to continue the trend. The number of professional oceanographers at the 

 Ph.D.. M.S., or equivalent level and the number of their graduate students for 

 the past 3 years is summarized in the following table. These data show that 

 there has been an increase of 28 percent in the professional level and of 80 per- 

 cent in graduate students over the last 3 years. 



Universities and institutions which supplied this data are: Colimibia Uni- 

 versity, Johns Hopkins University, Oregon State College, Texas A. & M., Uni- 

 versity of Miami, Univemty of Rhode Island, University of Southern Cali- 

 fornia, University of Washington, Scripps Institution of Oceanogi-aphy of the 

 University of California, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 



By 1970 I believe we can exi)ect the annual cost of the program to level off 

 at approximately $85 million. Here I would like to emphasize that beginning 

 in fiscal year 1962 the annual cost of the program for several years may re- 

 quire funding in excess of $100 million to permit the construction of ships and 

 shore laboratories necessary for expan.sion of the program. The training and 

 educational program, however, will not be a large percentage of the total pro- 

 gram cost. It has been estimated that approximately $15 million will provide 

 the means whereby an adequate number of oceanographers can be trained in 

 the next 10 years. This figure is a cost of education only, not the cost for 

 facilities at educational institutions. 



The Navy, by far the largest supporter of oceanogi-aphic research, contracts 

 with universities and nonprofit institutions for about three-fourths of its basic 

 research program : the i*emainder is conducted in Navy-oi>erated laboratories. 

 The funding for this research and for the construction of one research ship 

 totals $22.9 million and constitutes the Xavy ix>rtion of the national ocea- 

 nographic program. In addition, the Navy Hydrographic Office conducts an 

 extensive military survey program and the technical bureaus carry out many 

 closely related military programs at universitie.s. Government laboratories, and 

 with industry. The cost of these efforts approximates $14 million for military 

 surveys and about $10 million for military research. Because of the peculiarly 

 military character of these programs, their funding is not included in the na- 

 tional oceanographic program. 



The Navy's concern about the oceans today, as in the past, stems directly 

 from military requirements. Here, the most pressing problem lies in the field 

 of undersea warfare. To exploit fully the complex oceanic environment for 

 offensive and defensive purposes, we must know and understand the char- 

 acteristics of the oceans and we must know why and when these characteristics 

 change. Other applications of oceanic knowledge include sea state and wave 

 forecasts and ice condition forecasts, both of which have military and non- 

 military significance. 



Aside from the military asi^ects of oceanography through a knowledge of 

 the interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean, we may eventually learn 

 to modify or even control storms, weather, and climate. We need to study the 

 seas to determine the safety factors in radioactive waste disposal and to improve 

 the safety and comfort of the centuries-old means of worldwide transportation. 

 The potential resources of the sea, particularly the living resources, must ulti- 

 mately play a larger role in the world's economy. A great deal of additional 



