125 



Coast Guard resources and cover a wide range of activities, such as 

 oceanographic and meteorological data reporting, marine studies, geo- 

 physical surveys, and submersible handling. 



The Coast Guard is managing a study of the feasibility of a national 

 data buoy system under the auspices of the Marine Sciences Council. 

 The study will compile and analyze maritime oceanographic and 

 meteorological data requirements, survey the state of the art in data- 

 buoy systems, conduct a cost-utility analysis to determine which data 

 can most economically be obtained by buoy systems and which systems 

 have the best promise for cost-effective acquisition of data, conduct a 

 cost-benefit essay to determine whether buoy systems are in the na- 

 tional interest, and, finally, develop a step-by-step plan for the re- 

 search, development, and implementation of a national system. 



The Marine Sciences Council is conducting reviews of the data -buoy 

 program. 



A large navigation buoy has been placed in the approaches to New 

 York Harbor at the location of the old Scotland Lightship. Next 

 month we will install a prototype sensor system which will collect 

 surface meteorological and oceanographic data. 



The buoy's telemetering capability will be used to transmit this 

 information to a shore control station for direct relay to users, such as 

 ESSA. Future similar lightship replacements will be instrumented. 



The Coast Guard's resources in buoy tenders and experienced buoy 

 personnel are being used to good advantage in servicing oceanographic 

 buoys for other agencies. 



One buoy tender is now devoting full time to this task. Others are 

 expected to be available in the future as increased effectiveness in the 

 aids to navigation system, generally through the use of more reliable 

 equipment and power sources, reduces the system demand for ship 

 services. 



An oceanographic research ship is included in our 196S budget 

 request for ship construction. This ship will replace the 24-year-old 

 converted buoy tender Evergreen^ which works full time on ice patrol 

 and other national programs. 



The new ship will have advanced capabilities to be completely 

 responsive to multidiscipline national programs. The ship is sup- 

 ported by the full Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and 

 by the Marine Sciences Council. 



An icebreaker replacement study is underway. The Department of 

 Defense and the Marine Sciences Council have been asked for their 

 views on the military and scientific deep-polar needs, respectively, for 

 these ships. With this input we will complete a cost-effectiveness study 

 to determine the optimum composition of the icebreaker fleet, both as 

 to size and propulsion plants. 



We are procuring 20 loran-C and four Navy navigation satellite 

 receivers this year for improved positioning accuracy necessary for 

 oceanographic investigations. 



Participation in the Spacecraft Advisory Committee on Oceanog- 

 raphy and the use of satellite sensors for ice detection have given new 

 promise for increasing the efficiency of international ice patrol. 



With the increased emphasis on oceanography and related matters, 

 a Marine Sciences Division was established last year with our ad- 

 ministrative organization. An Office of Research and Development is 



