C3f the three major components of the Federal fleet (academic, 

 NOAA. and United States Navy), the academic ships showed the least 

 gain in operating support from fiscal year 1976 to 1977 and also for the 

 total 3-year period reported here; NOAA made the greatest overall gains 

 both in funding and fleet size; and USN. having lost ground between 

 1974 and 1976. shows a significant recovery in 1977. In both 1976 and 

 1977. the USN has committed funds (shown in table C-2 but not in C-1) 

 for the conversion of Concidci Mail, which will enter service late in fiscal 

 year 1977 as a replacement for Michelson and for use on deep-ocean sur- 

 veys in the Atlantic. 



The academic fleet declined to 28 ships in fiscal 1977 because of the 

 early retirement of Agassiz, but a replacement is now under construc- 

 tion. The count of academic ships is expected to return to 29 during fis- 

 cal 1978. However, unless support funds show a more substantial in- 

 crease than in fiscal 1977 (about 8 percent), some ships will operate at 

 less than an optimal utilization level. 



Table C-2. Agency Lists of Federally Supported Oceanographic Ships 



Year 



Ship Built 



U.S. Navy-Oceano- 

 graphic Ships: 



Canada Mail (c) 1965 



Michelson(c) 1944 



Bowditch(c) 1944 



Dulton(c) 1944 



Chauv3net 1969 



Harkness 1969 



Wilkrs 1971 



Wyman 1971 



Bent 1965 



Kane 1967 



Mizar(c) 1957 



Hayes 1971 



Lynch 1965 



Barllell 1969 



Desteiguer 1969 



NOAA Fleet: 



Atlantic Marine Center: 



Researcher 1970 



Ml Mitchell 1967 



Peirce... 1963 



Whiting 1963 



Oregon II 1967 



George E. Keliz(c) 1944 



Albatross IV 1962 



Delaware 11 1968 



Ferrel 1968 



Rude, Heck 1966 



George M. Bowers 19SS 



Berths Length 



Funding in thousands 

 FY 75 FY 76 FY 



Operational Status 



1 Into service last quarter FY 1977. KY 1976 and 1977 funding primarily for conversion. 



2 Major casualty repairs. 



J 10-year extended life overhaul. 



<RRS due to funding, 



5 Extended yard period, major installation. 



» Extended yard period, major repair 



^ Out of program 



8 Funding problems 



^Out of service Dec. 1976 



85 



