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2. Research Vessel Utilization. Dr. Baker has already told you of his 

 concerns regarding support for the oceanographic research fleet. The US Navy has done 

 an excellent job of providing ships for use by the academic community, but I think that the 

 Navy could do a better job of utilizing the ships operated by academic institutions. The 

 best Navy example of utilization of these ships is the Office of Naval Research which 

 routinely uses academic research ships for the Naval Research Laboratory as well as 

 contract programs in basic research. 



In the case of applied research (tasks such as sensor or model validation), funding 

 for ship needs within the Navy is almost non-existent This is m part due to the 

 disappearance of the pool AGORs, USNS DeSteiguer, Bartlett, and Lynch, which had 

 traditionally fulfilled these needs. Research vessels operated by academic insutuuons could 

 readily meet these applied research needs of the Navy but a source of funding needs to be 

 found. Similarly, for validated operauonal requirements, 1 believe that the academic fleet 

 could meet Navy needs in some instances, at a substantial cost saving to the Navy. 



An example of utilizauon of academic ships and federal/state/pnvate consortia is the 

 Central Califonua Consortium. Ten years ago, NPS and MLML operated small (-85 foot) 

 ships with limited capability and decided, with other institutions in the cu^ea, to try to 

 acquire a larger, more capable research vessel. With full support of the Navy, a 135-ft 

 vessel was assigned to CENCAL, operated by MLML (California State University), with 

 the Navy proMding $500,0(X) per year for utilization of the ship by NPS students and 

 faculty. But this story may turn out to be a cauUonary one for such consortia; the Navy 

 has been able to identify only $67,000 for FY 96 operations. 



3. Global Observing Programs Ll. Matthew Fontaine Maury, USN, 

 established the onginal global ocean observing program in 1855 when he convinced 

 manners to systematically observe winds and currents and provide copies of these 

 observations to the Bureau of Charts and Navigation in exchange for Pilot Charts which 

 showed winds and currents based upon compilations of these data. Adm. Watkins has 

 previously provided you with information regarding a new attempt to organize a Global 

 Ocean Observing System. Because the intenor of the ocean is opaque with respect to 

 electromagnetic radiaUon, shipboard observauons are required in any global census of the 

 ocean's currents and waters. 1 believe that the US Navy (and other navies of the world) 

 can play an essenUal role in this program by taking advantage of a new generation of 

 shipboard ocean observing systems. There are two reasons why this is advantageous. 



