735 



49, 

 Appendix IV.J. 



Title: Academic Fleet and Deep Submergence Assets . - 



Issue: How can the nation provide and maintain premier capability for facilities for oceanographic 

 research, training, and education? 



Relevance: A modem and efficieitt research ship fleet, including deep submergence assets, is essential to 

 meet research requirements for aE major oceanographic programs. 



Backgroimd and Approach: The academic research fleet in the 1950s and 1960s consisted primarily of 

 surplus ships from the war effort. In the early 1970s the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory 

 System (UNOLS) was established with membership by all major ship operating institutions and federal 

 sponsor agencies. Basic principles include open access to all UNOLS vessels by all federal, state, and 

 local research programs, joint planiung for new and replacement ships with open competition, and 

 common operating, safety, and budgetary standards. Deep submergence assets, i.e., ALVIN, were added 

 in the mid-1970s and expanded to include programs for Navy operational assets in early 1990s, i.e., NR-1, 

 Sea Cliff, Turtle, and access to fleet submarines for Arctic research. 



Corxstruction of new research ships from 1970 hence was a three-way partnership between Navy, NSF, 

 and academic institutions and was based on plans cooperatively developed through this partnership. In 

 general. Navy buUt the larger replacement research ships with expeditionar}' and global capabilities. 

 National Science Foundation buUt and acquired intermediate ships for regional and coastal studies, and 

 institutions provided smaller ships for local research. Operations support is provided by nine federal 

 agencies and as required state and institutional sources. The 28 ships of the UNOLS fleet coupled to deep 

 submergence science assets and operating agreements provide the world's premier capability for 

 oceangoing research. 



Partners: Research ships were constructed or acquired by Navy, National Science Foundation, and some 

 institutions with Navy providing most major facilities. Deep submergence capabilities provided by Navy. 

 Operations support is primarily from National Science Foimdation with significance participation by the 

 Office of Naval Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and lesser use by 

 Department of Energy, United States Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals 

 Management Service, Advanced Resewch Projects Agency, Navy laboratories, and institutional sponsors. 



Motivating Factors: Capital costs for seagoing platforms-ships and submersibles are very large. 

 Capabilities required to meet research needs of different agencies are similar. Common benefit to all 

 agencies from sheired-use facilities. 



Products: Oceanographic data and research studies. 



Impact or Benefit: US has the premier academic research fleet in the world with cost savings to all federal 

 agencies. There is no duplication of fadlities, and enhancements and improvements by any sponsor 

 available to all parties. The combination of Navy-led capital improvements and provision of access to Navy 

 operational deep submergence assets with NSF-led operations support enabled the US community to obtain 

 and operate the research fadlities required for international leadership in ocean sciences. 



Lessons Learned: UNOLS is very successful with a minimum of conflict. The key is a clear statement of 

 common objectives £md a common interest of federal sponsors and users and academic institutions. 

 Academic control of management and operations of research ships to meet institutional and national 

 needs with federal oversight and leadership of capital asset acquisition and assignment has worked very 

 effectively. 



