This meeting is open to all investigators, users, operators and sponsors of university oceanographic facilities.  It is a public forum for discussing the utilization and scheduling of research vessels and other facilities as well as their support and future planning.

Robert Knox, Chairman                                                                                                  John F. Bash, Executive Secretary

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The University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System is a planning mechanism for oceanographic facilities.  It is a joint effort of the academic community and the Federal funding agencies, principally the NSF, ONR, NOAA, USCG, MMS, and USGS.

UNOLS provides for community-wide cooperation and review of the utilization of facilities and opportunities for access to those facilities.  It assesses the match of programs to the needs of academic programs and makes recommendations of priorities for replacing or improving the numbers and mix of facilities.

UNOLS serves as a focus for new ideas and requirements for specialized facilities.

UNOLS does not replace direct contact between the investigator and institution's operating facilities.  It does, however, serve as a backup and clearinghouse for information and coordination that might not otherwise be available to the researcher and his/her laboratory.

UNOLS is composed of institutions and laboratories which use and/or operate sea-going facilities and maintain an academic program in the marine sciences.  It comprises several standing committees dealing with ship scheduling, marine operations, their regulations and logistics, technical support, Arctic icebreaker coordination, fleet improvement and replacement, and national facilities.  Member institutions' representatives are individuals whose role is to provide oceanographic facility services or use those facilities.  Membership does not ensure Federal funding.
 

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For further information, please contact:         UNOLS Office                      TELEPHONE:  (401) 874-6825
                                                                              P.O. Box 392                          FAX:  (401) 874-6167
                                                                              Saunderstown, RI  02874    INTERNET:  unols@gso.uri.edu
 
 

Introduction and Welcome:  Robert Knox, UNOLS Chair will call the meeting to order and report on 1998-1999 activities, current issues and issues continuing into 2000.

Accept Minutes of the 1998 Annual Meeting.
 

Research Vessel Operators' Committee (RVOC) - Paul Ljunggren, Chair, will review the activities of RVOC for 1998-1999 and plans for the 2-4 November Annual RVOC meeting at HBOI.

DEep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC) – Patty Fryer, Chair, will report on the DESSC activities, 1998/99 ATLANTIS/ALVIN/ROV operations, and equipment/instrumentation upgrades and improvements for the National Deep Submergence Facility.  She will report on deep submergence operations planned for 2000 and beyond.

Fleet Improvement Committee (FIC) - Larry Atkinson, Chair, will report on the FIC activities in 1998/99 and plans for the upcoming year including a status report on “The UNOLS Biennial Review of Sea Going Oceanographic Facilities.”

Ship Scheduling Committee (SSC) – Mike Prince, Chair, will review the recommendations of the September Ship Scheduling Review meeting.  He will summarize the UNOLS ship operation plans for 2000.  He will also recap the outcome of the revised scheduling process that was tried in 1999.

Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee (RVTEC) - John Freitag, Chair, will report on RVTEC activities in 1998/1999 and plans for the RVTEC Annual Meeting scheduled for 20-22 October.

Arctic Icebreaker Coordinating Committee (AICC) - Jim Swift, Chair, will report on the activities of the AICC in 1998/99 including the status of science modifications and testing for USCG Icebreaker HEALY.  He will also review Science of Opportunity operations planned for the future.
 
 

Federal Agency Reports - Information from Federal Agencies (DOS, MMS, NAVO, NOAA, NOO, NRL, NSF, ONR, USCG and USGS) on 1999 activities and forecasts for 2000 and beyond.

Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education – A report on CORE activities of interest to UNOLS will be provided.
 

NSF Academic Research Fleet Review – Don Heinrichs of NSF will review the recommendations of the Academic Fleet Review Committee as well as future implications of the results.

Winch and Wire Symposium – Jack Bash will report on plans for the Winch and Wire Symposium presently scheduled for December.

DESCEND Workshop Plans – Patty Fryer will report on plans for the DEveloping Submergence SCiencE into the Next Decade, “DESCEND” workshop.  The workshop is scheduled for October 25-27, 1999.

SeaNet Update – A report on the installation and use of SeaNet on selected UNOLS vessels will be provided.

Issues Before UNOLS:  Various issues of interest to UNOLS Members have arisen during the year.  The UNOLS Chair will introduce these issues for discussion:

- Future UNOLS Fleet Evolution
- Revised Research Vessel Safety Standards
- UNOLS Office Transfer
- Moorings as a Facility
- NOPP - Status and Outlook
- NOAA’s Fishery Needs
- UNOLS/NOAA-OAR MOU – Two-year Review
- UNOLS/NOAA-NMFS MOU Draft Status
- An Integrated Ocean Observation Plan
- New Ship Construction - Replacement plans for BLUE FIN and CALANUS
- Fleet Additions/Retirements (BLUE HERON was added, MOANA WAVE retired)
- Alaskan SMRs and Future Plans
- White Paper on Ship Scheduling
- UNOLS Future Public Outreach Plans
- UNOLS Brochure
- SEA CLIFF Engineering Study Status
- UNOLS Website Upgrades
- UNOLS Dues Accounting

 
UNOLS Membership Votes:  The following issues require a membership vote for approval:

• UNOLS Charter Revision - Clare Reimers will review proposed revisions to the UNOLS Charter.  A membership vote is required for adoption of the proposed revisions.  Enclosed is a copy of the proposed revised Charter (enclosure 1).
• Application for UNOLS Membership - Southern California Marine Institute has applied for membership as a UNOLS institution.  A copy of the application is included in enclosure 2.
• Application for UNOLS Membership - The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium has applied for membership as a UNOLS institution.  A copy of the application is included in enclosure 3.

• UNOLS Council Member, (3-year term) At-large, affiliated with any Member Institution.
• UNOLS Council Member, (3-year term) Operator representative, from among designated UNOLS Operator Institutions.

Calendar for UNOLS Meetings: