UNOLS COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday, November 15, 2001, 8:30 am

The Brookings Institute
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.

0830: Call the Meeting: Bob Knox, UNOLS Chair, will call the meeting to order and provide an opportunity for introductions.

The purpose of the meeting is for open discussion on important issues facing UNOLS.

Accept the minutes of June 2001 Council Meeting.

UNOLS Issues and Discussion Items:

Security Issues for Research Vessel Operations - In the wake of the terrorist attack on the United States of September 11th and the attack on R/V EWING in the western Gulf of Aden on August 31, Council and Federal Agency representatives will consider the immediate and long term implications of these events on Research Vessel operations. These incidents raise a number of questions about future UNOLS research vessel operations, not only in piracy- or terrorist-prone areas, but worldwide. A series of short presentations will be made to help focus the discussion on issues such as threat assessment, training and operational procedures, safety of crew and scientists, as well as other issues that may be raised. Subsequent discussion should help to focus on action items and areas of responsibility for UNOLS Council, Committees and Operators as well as for Federal Agencies.

Anticipate presentations by:

• Intro - Bob Knox
• WHOI (Joe Coburn)
• LDEO (Paul Ljunggren)
• Affected PI's (Brian Taylor. Review report by Amy Bower)
• Charles Dragonette - Office of Naval Intelligence
• Peter Petrelis - MARAD
• Richard Hayes - Oceanographer of the Navy
• Liz Tirpak - State Department
• USCG – CDR. Michael Rand
• RVOC - Steve Rabalais and Dan Schwartz
• UNOLS - Bob Knox (lead discussion and identify action items)

LUNCH: Available at the meeting

During lunch Bob Knox will give a short "UNOLS 101" presentation, intended primarily for the benefit of congressional staffers and other meeting attendees who are unfamiliar with UNOLS and its major issues. He will touch on UNOLS basics (organization, membership, fleet, funding) and on two subjects of current federal significance: (a) piracy/security concerns for ships, and (b) fleet renewal. Much of this material will be familiar to UNOLS "old hands" and/or will be considered in greater detail during the regular meeting. Such "old hands" may well choose to skip this lecture. There will be no quiz, paper or final exam.

AFTER LUNCH

Federal Agency Issues Federal agency representatives will have an opportunity to raise any other issues that may warrant the Council's attention or require UNOLS consideration.

Long Range Planning for the UNOLS Fleet The revised draft of the FOFC Long Range Fleet Plan will be reviewed and discussed. Future UNOLS actions with regards to fleet planning, SMRs, conceptual designs, and shipbuilding management will be considered.

Facilities beyond Ships and the National Deep Submergence Facility, the UNOLS Role: Discussion on this item continues from the last meeting.  What is the role of UNOLS and FIC with regards to new technology development for observatories and other emerging oceanographic facilities? Should new relationships be built between UNOLS and agencies such as NASA that are interested in developing similar tools for exploration and research? What are the implications of the Ocean Exploration Initiative?  The status/response to Bob Knox's letter to Ken Johnson regarding a UNOLS representative/liaison to the Observatories Committee will be discussed. 

Quality of Service Initiative (QSI): At the last meeting a subcommittee (Mike Prince, Wilf Gardner, Tom Shipley, Dale Chayes and Steve Rabalais) was identified to review the current on-line cruise assessment form and recommend design improvements.  Ways to increase user feedback are also to be considered.  The status of the subcommittee's activities will be reviewed.

Standards for services provided by UNOLS Operators: Dan Fornari has requested that the UNOLS Council address the issue of in-port service fees. Can or should UNOLS Operators adopt a standard policy with regards to what is covered by the Operator and what is paid for by the Scientist's grant? Is this part of a broader issue including establishing levels of service that are standard for other areas such as technical services? Report on discussions at RVTEC meeting.

UNOLS Goals, Priorities and Mission Statement Goals and Priorities were identified at the June Council meeting.  These will be reviewed and updated if necessary for presentation in the UNOLS Annual Report. 

WINCH & WIRE Follow-on Activities: - Mike Prince will report on plans to develop "Science Mission Requirements" for oceanographic wires, cables and ropes.

UNOLS Vessel Status – R/V SAVANNAH and R/V KILO MOANA. Formal requests to designate these vessels as UNOLS research vessels have been submitted pending completion of inspections.

UNOLS Standard Van Specifications – A brief update from Mathew Hawkins of the University of Delaware.

Committee Activities: Committee Chairs will have an opportunity to discuss activities, issues or plans that have occurred since the June Council meeting.  A full annual report by each Committee Chair will be included in the UNOLS Annual Report.