UNIVERSITY-NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC 
LABORATORY SYSTEM (UNOLS) 
UNOLS is an association of 18 academic insti- 
tutions which operate significant seagoing ocean- 
ographic facilities. The functions of UNOLS are 
to provide for community-wide coordination and re- 
view of the use of facilities, to increase the oppor- 
tunity for access to those facilities, to assess the 
current match of facilities to the needs of academic 
oceanographic programs, to recommend priorities 
for replacing, modifying, or improving the numbers 
and types of facilities, and to assist Federal agen- 
cies in utilizing and funding ships and other fa- 
cilities. 
Included in the “First Annual Report of UNOLS 
Advisory Council to Federal Funding Agencies” 
is the following recommendation: 
“Submersibles should be utilized more in univer- 
sity research than at present, both on an insti- 
tutional basis and as National Oceanographic 
Facilities (including charter funding). Total sup- 
port of about $1.3M in 1973 and $1.9M in 
1974 should be about evenly divided between 
ONR, NSF, and NOAA (MUS&T Office). The 
two latter agencies should join in supporting at 
least two submersibles and a submersible ‘char- 
ter fund’ as UNOLS National Oceanographic 
Facilities.” 
Appendix I of the UNOLS report contains the 
following recommendations by the UNOLS Working 
Group for a University Submersible Facility: 
—Two submersibles in the Atlantic and two in 
the Pacific, to provide a shallow-water capa- 
26 
bility (less than 1,000 ft) and a deep-water 
capability (greater than 1,000 ft) in each area. 
(One vehicle is ALVIN.) 
—Not less than one-third of the total opera- 
tional time to be available to the entire aca- 
demic oceanographic community. (A_ facility 
operator can designate all or part of the time 
on any facility for this purpose and may change 
the allocation annually.) 
—A fund to provide submersible support through 
lease, charter, or other short-term arrange- 
ments. 
—A UNOLS appointed review committee to re- 
view proposals and allot time and funds. 
The emphasis here is on submersible usage and re- 
search by universities. While a significant portion 
of federally funded marine science and engineering 
is conducted at academic institutions, there are many 
requirements with Federal agencies, non-UNOLS 
institutions, State agencies, and industry that must 
be considered. An interpretation of the UNOLS 
recommendations to accommodate all major in- 
terests ca nbe stated as follows: 
—There is a significant university interest in 
using submersibles. 
—There is a need for a designated focal group 
which can provide submersible time and 
funding. 
—The funding of the overall research programs 
cuts across ICMSE agency lines and requires 
coordination to provide consistency and conti- 
nuity in support. 
