44 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



grams, that a permanent interagency committee should be established 

 to review and coordinate the national effort and that international 

 cooperation is essential to the research and survey program. 



These recommendations were accepted and endorsed by the Federal 

 Council. 



The Interagency Committee then developed by joint plaiming the 

 budget for a 10-year national program to implement these general 

 recommendations. In the development of the initial funding re- 

 quest for this program in the fiscal year 1961 budget, the agencies 

 had to consider other competing needs of their respective depart- 

 ments while striving to give greater support to oceanography. 



The total funding requested for the oceanographic program in 

 fiscal year 1961 totals about $56 million, an increase of almost 50 

 percent over the fiscal year 1960 level of $37 million. For the previous 

 year, fiscal year 1959, funds for this work amounted to $24 million. 



I feel that this program provides for growth at a reasonable rate 

 and that it satisfies the most critical needs of the departments and 

 agencies in the field of oceanography. 



All of the Secretaries of the departments and heads of the agencies 

 represented on the Interagency Committee have indicated to me that 

 they consider this Committee an effective means for achieving co- 

 ordination and cooperation in our national program. I believe that 

 this organization, assisted by working groups or panels comprised 

 of representatives from the interested Federal agencies will be re- 

 sponsive to the needs of this country. 



What will a 10-year program require in terms of funds, facilities, 

 and manpower ? The National Academy of Sciences report indicated 

 that the program would cost $651 million in 1958 dollars over and 

 above the rate at which the program was then being supported. This 

 estimate is probably low when translated into 1961 dollars because 

 the cost of doing business has increased. 



Also, we believe that the unit cost of construction of ships has 

 been underestimated. Taking these factors into consideration, the 

 Interagency Committee has estimated that the total cost will approxi- 

 mate $1 billion during the 10-year program if our goal to double 

 our present capability is to be realized. This is a modest goal when 

 the level of our present knowledge is considered in relation to our 

 needs. And I would like to sa} r that doubling the present activity 

 in oceanography will require more than doubling the rate of expendi- 

 tures because of the capital investments required. 



The Interagency Committee has estimated the major cost elements 

 of the 10-year program to be as follows : 



(a) Oceanographic research and ship operations, $490 million. 



(b ) Ocean surveys and ship operations, $14-1 million. 



(c) Construction of 78 new ships and facilities, $405 million. 



In the first few years the annual cost of this program will of 

 necessity be greater than the average cost per year over the 10-year 

 period because of the immediate need for additional ships and shore 

 facilities — both are high cost, long leadtime items. Little expansion 

 can take place unless these capital items are provided. 



The. united States currently operates about 52 ships, mostly of 

 small size, for oceanographic research and surveys. About 30 of 

 these will require replacement during the next 10 years because they 

 will be overasre. 



