UNBSCO/N S /IQC/1-4 (Continued) 



The various alternatives to the International Oceanographic 

 Vessel listed in Project 2.32o8 are being implemented to 

 greater or less extent in UNESCO's 1961-1962 regular programme, 

 and form an integral part of planning for future U^ESCO work 

 in this field. It seems unlikely that existence of the 

 international vessel would eliminate the need for such action^ 



Of the problems which it is proposed that the study 

 encompass, the legal aspects have been described in 

 UbESC0/NS/0CEAN/95(7). There seem to be no insurmountable 

 legal difficulties. The administrative and logistic problems 

 are not unique and need not influence the decision as to 

 whether such a vessel should be operated. 



The scientific and financial problems, and the utility of 

 U^ESCO•s operating such a vessel for training purposes, are 

 matters which are basic to this decision. The principal 

 questions to be answered are the following: 



1, What purpose would the International Oceanographic 

 Vessel serve? 



2, What would it cost? 



3, Can the same purposes be served better, or at less 

 cost, by other means? 



PURPOSE OF INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSEL 



From the beginning the principal purpose proposed for the 

 International Oceanographic Vessel has been research, particularly 

 in waters not now intensively investigated by ships of any 

 country. The training aspects were given less emphasis, 

 although subsequently Project 2.32.8 stressed primarily the 

 training problem. 



I. Research 



With the development of large scale international 

 oceanographic programmes, such as those of the International 

 Geophysical Year and the International Indian Ocean Expedition, 

 and with the organization of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 

 Commission, the research requirements originally foreseen seem 

 to be less critical. The regions which are not being 

 intensively investigated become fewer every year. The number 

 of research vessels is increasing steadily. The need of 

 certain groups of scientifically advanced countries for a high- 

 seas research vessel may be met more satisfactorily by regional 

 vessels (see later). 



WS/0861.126 4 



