Wednesday, September 12, 2001 - Stafford II, Room 535

8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Key aspects of this meeting:

FIC Must:

§Continue to push NSF and other agencies to develop capitalization plans.
§Provide suitable material (SMR's, white papers) to NSF, NOPP and other agencies. 
§Keep the community involved via letters to EOS etc. 

This meeting must provide our plans to achieve the above. 
The meeting will begin with about 1.5 hours of comments that will get us up to date (on the same page).
Topics will include the following:

Analysis of Fleet Utilization Trends

• Review Fleet utilization projections.  Click here stats.htm for fleet charts.

Long-Range Planning for the UNOLS Fleet - The FOFC draft discussion paper, Charting the Future for the National Academic Research Fleet, and the UNOLS response to the draft can be viewed at: http://www.unols.org/committees/fic/renewal/fltdisc/fofc_fleet_plan.html.  The status of the FOFC working group's effort to update the draft will be addressed.

Fleet Renewal Efforts in Progress

• KILO MOANA - Status and Operation Plans

-Status report on Construction
-Science Shakedown Cruise planning

• Alaska Research Vessel  - Status and FIC's Role in design review
• N. Atlantic and NW Pacific Oceans Class Vessels (OSU and URI plans)
• CAPE HENLOPEN Replacement Status
• SAVANNAH - Construction status and Operations Plans

At this point we should all understand the current situation regarding the FOFC process and what plans institutions are making. 
Fleet Capabilities needed to support Observatory Work

• Will new ships be needed?
• What are the options?

10:00 to 10:20 Coffee Break
The rest of the day will be spent addressing the three over-arching items (capitalization, planning, community involvement). 
Fleet Capitalization

What can FIC do to help the agencies achieve their capitalization goals? 

Science Mission Requirements (SMRs) and Conceptual Design Development 

It seems clear that new vessels will be built. SMR's are needed. 

• Establish guidelines for producing SMRs including time line. 
• Identify SMRs for development (based on new vessel classifications)
• Identify geographic regions where efforts should be initiated. 

How will FIC work with the institutions? U. Delaware and U. Alaska are examples. The new OSU/URI consortium is another. 
Should FIC raise the flag for the Gulf?

LUNCH 12:00 to 13:00 (Bring back sandwiches)

Community Outreach

What is needed to keep and/or get the community involved? EOS letters?

Review of the FIC Website

Recognizing the days discussion what should be done with the FIC web site? 

• Living Document Status

• Additions/Deletions/Modifications

OTHER

Quality of Service - What is FIC's Role?

Safety Recommendations for Shipboard Scientific operations - FIC's role.

FIC Membership - The first terms for Chris Measures and Terry Whitledge will end in 9/01.  Both are eligible for a second term.

Other Business

The meeting will end at 4:30 and adjourn to the new Ocean.US offices for refreshments and discussion.