veys. The Coast Guard supports NODC, both in operational proce- 

 dures and funding. The Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit will work 

 with NODC. 



The Coast Guard's External Role in Oceanography 



This includes all Coast Guard activities that support the national 

 program through cooperation with other agencies involved in oceano- 

 graphic research. The Coast Guard's many sea-going vessels, as well 

 as officers and enlisted men trained in sea-lore, can make a valuable and 

 economical contribution once the ships and stations are equipped with 

 the necessary instruments, laboratories and storage space, and addi- 

 tional personnel are trained. The versatile medium and large vessels 

 can be equipped at moderate cost, and the 13 graduate oceanographers 

 already serving as Coast Guard officers can handle the initial phase 

 of the expanded program. 



Internal Role. This includes "in-house" research pertinent to other 

 Coast Guard missions, such as analysis and study of data supporting 

 the International Ice Patrol, law enforcement, merchant marine safety 

 and research on wave and swell action relative to search and rescue. 



For example, at sea, a distressed aircraft must be given a ditch head- 

 ing which is the best compromise betwen wind, swell, and surface wave 



17 



