OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 131 



ships, principally from the Navy Reserve Fleet, has provided us with an ocean- 

 ographic capability in the past and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the 

 future for many purposes. 



However, construction of new research ships in preference to the conversion of 

 existing hulls is considered essential for a number of reasons. The Xavy is 

 making a study of the efficiency and economy of new construction versus con- 

 version for various applications to point to the most feasible methods of providing 

 the Xavy with the required oceanographic ships in the next 10 years. This 

 includes those ships we plan to make available to nonprofit universities and 

 institutions as well as those for inhouse laboratories. 



******* 



By 1970 I believe we can expect the annual cost of the program to level off 

 at approximately $85 million. This annual investment will offer a great return 

 in national defense and in economic benefits to this country and to mankind. 

 Here I would like to emphasize that beginning in fiscal year 1962 the annual cost 

 of the program for several 3-ears may require funding in excess of .$100 million. 



This large sum of money will be required specifically for the construction of 

 ships and shore laboratories necessarv for a significant expansion in the program. 

 The training and educational program, however, will not be a large percentage 

 of the total program cost. We feel 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 oceanographic research, contracts 

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

 research program, the remainder is conducted in Navy-operated laboratories. 

 The funding of this research and development work constitutes our contribution 

 to the national oceanographic program. In addition, the Hydrographic Office of 

 the Navy conducts our extensive military survey program and the technical bu- 

 reaus of the Navy contract for many other closely related military programs 

 scattered throughout universities, Government laboratories, and industr3\ The 

 cost of this efi'ort 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 national oceanographic program. 



:i? :{: :}i He * * * 



The report of the National Academy of Sciences has focused national attention 

 on the needs of oceanography. The Interagency Committee has demonstrated its 

 effectiveness in a short time as a coordinating mechanism. In response to the 

 tasks facing it, the Committee has established working panels for specific purposes. 

 The function of one panel is to plan and coordinate our ocean survey program. A 

 second panel has the responsibility for working out the details for establishing 

 and the policies for operation of a national data center. We are considering 

 additional panels for training and education, for basic research, and possibly one 

 for special devices and instrumentation. 



Our next major task is to develop the budget for fiscal year 1962. Each 

 agency's program and the national program as a whole will be reviewed critically 

 by the committee for balance and technical validity. The final result must be 

 adequate to meet our most immediate needs using the resources available while 

 emphasis must be placed on providing the tools we need on a long term basis. 



TT^e expect to seek endorsement of this program and budget from the Federal Council 

 for Science and Technology and approval from the President before presenting it to 

 Congress as a complete national program in oceanography. [Emphasis added.] 



