Assignment of operating responsibility for a regional fleet to an 
oceanographic institution will increase an already heavy bureaucracy 
at these institutions. It is important that this administrative appara- 
tus not be allowed to overwhelm the research and educational efforts 
of the institution. Concern with the bureaucracy has prompted this 
suggestion to establish indepedent user groups. 
Fleets could be based in one place or dispersed, depending on avail- 
able operating facilities. User groups may be built around single, large 
oceanographic laboratories or a cluster of small ones. Rigid guide- 
lines or formulas for formation of user groups should not be estab- 
lished if they can be avoided. However, formal organizations will be 
necessary to increase flexibility and, perhaps, economy in oceano- 
graphic operations and to give all qualified scientists equal access to 
ships supported by the Federal Government. 
The essential characteristic of ship operations must be responsive- 
ness to scientific aims. The ship must be under the complete control 
of the chief scientist in all matters that do not affect its safety or inter- 
nal workings of the crew. This requires a great deal of understanding 
among scientists, crew, officers, and senior scientists in particular. We 
propose that this understanding be achieved by education. AI officers 
of oceanographic ships should have training in oceanography in order 
to understand the scientists’ objectives. This might be done by corre- 
spondence courses in part, but a 1-year program leading to an MLS. 
in oceanography would be far preferable. The Coast Guard and Navy, 
for example, already have farsighted programs of graduate training 
in oceanography for their officers. The training could be accomplished 
when officers are rotated to shore. On the other hand, no one should 
be designated chief scientist on a ship who is not familiar with officers’ 
problems concerning privileges of the crew, safety at sea required by 
law, and similar matters. A seminar course for scientists with partici- 
pation by officers might provide an ideal solution, although training 
for junior scientists could be given at sea during expeditions. 
10.7. NATIONAL FACILITIES 
In sections 4 and 6 certain national facilities such as test ranges re- 
quired for proper advance of ocean science and technology have been 
considered. In this section we propose additional facilities for ma- 
rine studies. 
National Oceanographic Data Center 
The National Oceanographic Data Center was established to ac- 
quire, process, store, and disseminate oceanographic data for scientific, 
commercial, and military purposes from virtually all sources in the 
United States and from many foreign sources. NODC pursues its ob- 
jectives through four branches: preparation, processing, quality con- 
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