224 



Program Costs 



The Commission's recommendations for 

 technical and operating services are estimated 

 to involve annual costs of about $44 million 

 above present levels during the early 1970's 

 and about $74 million annually thereafter. 

 An analysis of these amounts is shown in 

 Table 6-1. On this table, technological de- 

 velopment for all service activities is shown 

 in a single entry. Major investments in new 

 technology will be necessaiy to prepare to 

 meet requirements for exanded and improved 

 services in years to come. 



The proposed bathymetric mapping and 

 nautical charting programs will be accom- 

 plished using existing and new Government 

 vessels and contractor-operated ships. The 

 Commission's $180 million estimate includes 

 $34 million for construction of these bathy- 

 metric survey ships, $33 million for con- 

 struction of 8 nautical charting vessels, $53 

 million for operation of the Government- 

 owned ships, and $60 million for operation 

 of chartered vessels. 



XOAA will have a major responsibility 

 for marine safety and enforcement func- 

 tions — boating safety, certification of diving 

 equipment, marine traffic control, and similar 

 activities. The Commission anticipates that 

 incremental expenditures averaging $10 mil- 

 lion annually will be necessary throughout 

 the coming decade. 



The Commission's recommendations for the 

 improvement of environmental data services 

 probably could be satisfied with incremental 

 funding totaling $60 million over 10 years; 

 about half of this amount would go to the 

 National Oceanographic Data Center. Since 

 the Marine Council's study is not complete, 

 however, this figure is no more than a very 

 rough estimate. 



The improvements of the techniques for 

 mapping and charting must be undertaken 



quickly, and specific needs for survey instru- 

 mentation have been noted by the Commis- 

 sion. To improve navigational services, two 

 technological programs are recommended by 

 the Commission. One is to develop a system 

 to improve navigational positioning within 

 the zone extending roughly 200 miles off the 

 U.S. coast. The other, much more difficult 

 requirement is to develop new systems to im- 

 prove the reliability and lower the cost of 

 navigation far from shore and under the 

 surface. Engineering studies also will be 

 required to devise new and improved stand- 

 ards for vessel construction and certification 

 of recreational boating and diving equip- 

 ment. A major opportunity exists to apply 

 technology to the improvement of data 

 storage and retrieval systems. Though the 

 necessary expenditure is relatively modest, 

 it should receive high priority. 



The Commission has recommended that 

 NOAA assume responsibility for sponsoring 

 programs to provide reference standards, 

 test and calibration procedures, and test 

 facilities. Funds for this program also are 

 included in the $250 million estimate shown 

 in Table 6-1 for technology development. 



The technical sei-vices supporting marine 

 operations are being furnished by the Fed- 

 eral Government with a minimum of fanfare. 

 The prevailing efficiency with which the 

 services are operated minimizes public 

 clamor for bold new programs and tends to 

 conceal the vital functions being performed. 

 Yet it is evident that technology is not 

 being adequately applied to improve the effi- 

 ciency of the services. Conversely, the serv- 

 ices are not being reoriented rapidly enough 

 to meet the challenges posed by new 

 teclmolog^-. 



The growing size, complexity, and essen- 

 tialitv of these services calls for thorough- 



