NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN - launched May 30, 1996. Halter Marine is projecting delivery during the week of March 8, 1997.
NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA - now in service after completion of the conversion to support the TAO climate array. Has completed a cruise for the ATOC program (for Scripps Institution of Oceanography) during the transit from Seattle to Hawaii, and is about to depart on the first TAO cruise. The conversion met all of the NOAA scientific mission requirements, and all systems operational. KA'IMIMOANA is uniquely configured for efficient buoy/mooring support operations.
NOAA Ships MALCOLM BALDRIGE and DISCOVERER - to be out of service before the end of fiscal year '96.
Several studies are being conducted of the Corps and Fleet, by groups in and out of Department of Commerce. All are in-progress and/or administratively restricted by the Administration at this time.
This year, NOAA has chartered a significant number of days aboard R/V PELICAN.
NOAA has identified $2.6 M to be utilized annually beginning in FY '97 for charter of UNOLS vessels. Because of the expected delivery date for the RON BROWN and projected sailing schedules, NOAA presently expects the sum for UNOLS charter to be slightly larger during FY 1997.
Dr: Alan Thomas, Acting Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and Dr. Ken Johnson, are co-chairs of a UNOLS - NOAA committee to explore increased collaboration between UNOLS and NOAA research programs. Other agencies are represented.
On June 10-11, 1996, a Workshop on Maintaining Current and Future Fisheries Resource Survey Capabilities was held, convened by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Federal, State, academic, and commercial interests were represented. Findings and recommendations are being developed by the steering committee and are expected to be distributed quickly.