action. The effect of wave and swell on a ship's structure is an im- 

 portant area in which more basic research is needed. The Coast 

 Guard is in good position to contribute to this type of research, but 

 any expansion of its research efforts would require more personnel and 

 laboratory facilities at the Oceanographic Unit. 



Future Role. The multi-agency control of coordination of the 

 National Oceanography Program is primarily through the Inter- 

 agency Committee. However, the program's operation is complicated 

 by the justification that each agency must make before the respective 

 appropriations committees of the Congress. This is likely to lead to 

 an unbalanced program, depending on the importance that each ap- 

 propriations committee attaches to oceanography. 



This difficult budgeting problem could be solved best by a detailed, 

 composite national program which allocat^es priorities for manpower, 

 goals, and investment in vessels and facilities. 



The national program will be administered by the OiBce of Science 

 and Teclinology, established in June 1962. 



Although Treasury's (Coast Guard) role in the national program 

 is minor in terms of dollars needed, it is a major participant in terms 

 of the facilities and manpower it can provide. Further, its traditions, 

 training, and professional interest have given the Coast Guard ad- 

 ministrative abilities not fully recognized under existing plans for the 

 future. The Study Group believes the Coast Guard is able to con- 

 tribute substantially to the national program, not only in research, 

 but also in planning and annual programing. 



Recommendations 



The Coast Guard should assume an increasingly active role on the 

 Interagency Committee on Oceanography. It should be a major par- 

 ticipant in the national program, taking part in all stages of deter- 

 mining policy, planning, programing, and allocating resources. 



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