DRAFT

UNOLS COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday, September 18, 2003, 8:30 am

National Science Foundation
Room 1235

To download a pdf copy of these minutes click: <200309cncmi.pdf>

Executive summary

The UNOLS Council met on Thursday, September 18, 2003, at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Room 1235. Tim Cowles, UNOLS Chair, called the meeting to order at 0830. Due to the approach of Hurricane Isabel, many Council members could not travel to the meeting, but participated via phone conference. The meeting was abbreviated so that those who wished to avoid the storm could do so.

A major focus of the meeting was academic fleet renewal activities and plans. Jim Yoder gave a report on the National Science Foundation (NSF) facility implementation plans. A resolution has been approved for including a funding request for the ARRV as part of the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account in a FY2005 or future budget. Jim discussed the status of the Regional Class Ship design and construction effort. OCE is discussing design and acquisition strategies for 3-4 ships based on the SMRs and the JJMA report. The Integrated Product Team (IPT) approach with two teams is under consideration.

Jim discussed the EWING midlife refit plans. OCE is discussing replacement vessel options with Lamont as an alternative to a EWING refit. For the replacement vessel option they will carefully consider total cost, cost in relation to refit, and the financing plan.

Jim addressed the topic of ALVIN replacement. OCE will carefully consider the recommendations from the NRC study on Future Needs for Deep Submergence Science before making a recommendation. Funds are available beginning in FY04, if NSF decides to support ALVIN replacement.

Lastly, Jim reported on the status of marine mammal and acoustic permits. NSF has been meeting with the NMFS to address acoustic permitting and to establish guidelines. There is a matrix under development that is intended to provide guidelines for the permitting process; however, it will not be ready this year.

The Navy has expressed interest in supporting an Ocean Class Phase II study. The Ocean Class study will resemble the study conducted for the Regional Class by JJMA.

A series of charts showing ship utilization trends and projections were presented. Fleet utilization and projected use for 1993 to 2005 indicates an increasing ship demand. In 2003, a total of 373 days needed to be deferred to 2004. In 2004, it is estimated that deferred programs will require 289 days to be moved to 2005 in addition to a near record number of days being scheduled in 2004.

A summary of FIC recommendations and activities were presented. FIC encourages the agencies to update the FOFC plan so that consideration of increasing ship demand, future observatory facility needs, and changing ship retirement dates are included. FIC endorses the Integrated Product Team (IPT) plan (2-teams) as a reasonable acquisition approach; however, the opportunities for community feedback need to be clearly defined in the process. FIC recommends the formation of a Regional Ship Users Advisory Committee that will include science users, naval architects, ship operators, and marine technicians. The issue of community input to the design process was a serious concern of both the FIC and Council.

Other FIC activities include:

· Continuation of KILO MOANA debrief interviews.

· FIC recommends that a ship motion analysis of KILO MOANA be supported.

· Continue to review and provide feedback on design and construction efforts.

· FIC will send NSF a letter of endorsement in support LDEO’s option for replacement of EWING with a commercially available modern, seismic vessel.

· FIC will keep abreast of new ship design efforts and ensure that new issues/regulations are considered in future design efforts.

· FIC recommends that the UNOLS Post Cruise Assessment Subcommittee provide feedback to FIC in respect to shipboard capabilities and equipment improvements.

· FIC will review the UNOLS Ocean Observatory working group recommendations and encourage community feedback to the working group’s draft report.

Tim Cowles provided a summary of the JJMA Phase II study on the Regional Class Conceptual Development Task. The “desired SMR” monohull design regional vessel is estimated to be within the budget cap and does not require design trade-off decisions. The estimated ship day rate for the desired SMR monohull and SWATH variants were $13,389 and $14,287, respectively. The day rates are comparable to current intermediate vessel rates. Various acquisition strategies were considered by the study including the conventional approaches, Integrated Product Team (IPT) with one team approach (Similar to AGOR 26), and the IPT with two-team approach. It appears that that JJMA and NSF are favoring the IPT 2-team approach for acquisition. The Council voiced concern over the need for a formalized mechanism for community feedback into the design process. There is also concern regarding the size of the “desired SMR” vessel. Due to regional operating area differences, there is not a community consensus regarding the vessel’s size. NSF plans call for construction to begin in FY06.

The status of various ship design and construction efforts was presented. Terry Whitledge reviewed the status and future plans in the ARRV design effort. A key change in the design was the decision to use a Z-Drive propulsion system instead of Azipod. The propulsion evaluation of the Azipod revealed that the system exceeded the noise criteria. Z-drives will improve underwater-radiated noise characteristics over all frequency bands. Mike Purdy of Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) provided a report on plans for EWING’s mid-life refit/replacement. LDEO is considering acquisition of a modern, commercially available, seismic replacement vessel. The estimated cost for acquisition of the replacement ship is $7M with an additional cost of approximately $12M for conversion (which includes costs for re-flagging).

Two ship mid-life refit efforts were reported. Steve Rabalais reported that the PELICAN mid-life refit effort is complete and the ship is back in operation. As a major part of the refit, the ship was extended approximately 11 feet. Bruce Corliss reported that the CAPE HATTERAS mid-life effort is 90% complete and the ship is back in operation. The remaining work is being done dockside in homeport.

The CAPE HENLOPEN replacement effort continues. Four shipyard proposals were received for the construction of the CHRV and are under consideration.

A variety of UNOLS discussion items were addressed. These included:

· Ocean Studies Board’s Committee on Future Needs in Deep Submergence Science

· UNOLS Working Group on Ocean Observatory Facility Needs

· Icebreaker Plans and Major Issues

· Quality of Service, Post Cruise Assessment –Subcommittee tasking

· Defined Levels of Technician/Instrumentation Support

· UNOLS Wires and Cables

· Winches – Manufacturer ship visits

· Committee and Agency Issues

Lastly Tim Cowles recognized departing Council and Committee members and thanked them for their dedicated service to UNOLS:

Recommendations – No formal Council recommendations were made at the meeting.

Council Action items

Task	Assignment
Review draft UNOLS objectives, priorities and goals for 2003-2004 (Top 10 list) – provide input to UNOLS Office	Council
Review draft report from UNOLS Working Group on Ocean Observatory Facility Needs – provide input via on-line feedback page.	Council
Subcommittee on Post Cruise Assessment – revise tasking statement and implement	PCA Subcommittee
Review draft performance requirements for a new wire. Provide input via on-line feedback page.	Council

Index of appendices

I. Meeting Agenda

II. Participant List

III. NSF Report (1.2 MB)

IV. UNOLS Utilization Trends and Projections

V. FIC Report to Council – 9/18/03

VI. JJMA Regional Class Concept Development Task Review (1.7 MB)

VII. Alaska Region Research Vessel – Status Report – to download the PowerPoint slides along with video clips go to <http://color.mlml.calstate.edu/unols/fic/arrv/arrv.html>

VIII. EWING Replacement Plans (3.1 MB)

IX. UNOLS Ocean Observatory Working Group –Status Report (15.4 MB)

X. Icebreaker Plans and Major Issues

XI. RVTEC Subcommittee Report on Definition of Technical Support

XII. AICC Activities and Issues

Proceedings of the meeting

Welcome and Introductions: The UNOLS Council meeting was held on Thursday, September 18, 2003, at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Room 1235. Tim Cowles, UNOLS Chair, called the meeting to order at 0830 and provided an opportunity for introductions. Due to the approach of Hurricane Isabel, many Council members could not travel to the meeting. Some of these members joined in the discussions via phone conference. The meeting was abbreviated so that those who wished to leave the area to avoid the storm could do so.

Accept the minutes of the June 2003 Council Meeting – A motion was made and approved to accept the minutes of the June 2003 Council meeting.

Academic Fleet Renewal Activities and Plans:

Federal Agency Plans for Fleet Renewal Implementation - Jim Yoder gave a report on the National Science Foundation (NSF) facility plans and Fleet renewal. His viewgraphs are included as Appendix III. There are three Ocean Science programs that are in the Major Research Equipment (MRE) queue for support. These include the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), and the Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV). In August, “the Board approved a resolution for including a funding request for the ARRV as part of the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) account in a FY2005 or future budget request by the National Science Foundation." Of the seven NSF MREs, three are from the Ocean Sciences division.

Jim discussed the status of the Regional Class ship design and construction effort. OCE is discussing design and acquisition strategies for 3-4 ships based on the SMRs and the JJMA report. One acquisition possibility under discussion is the Integrated Product Team (IPT) approach. This approach could be implemented with an MOU between NSF and another Federal entity with shipbuilding expertise. Government teams would be formed and would include a UNOLS representative. An RFP would be issued for Phase I design and construction. Two competitors would be selected. Their competing designs would be evaluated and then one would be selected. A firm fixed price contract for Phase II would be awarded and the lead ship operator would be added to the IPT. Once the detail design is completed, construction would begin. Following lead ship construction, the options for more ships could be executed and in turn the additional ship operators would be added to the team. NSF would conduct competitions for selection of the ship operators with each selection in time to join the Phase II process. NSF is very concerned with the cost of the construction project, as any extra costs would need to come out of the science budget.

Jim discussed the EWING midlife refit plans. In October 2003 a EWING midlife refit community workshop was held and the recommendation was that: “Only a replacement vessel can provide all the desired capabilities for improved 2-D MCS, an effective 3-D MCS and substantially improved general-purpose capabilities.” OCE is discussing replacement vessel options with Lamont as an alternative to a EWING refit. For the replacement vessel option they will carefully consider total cost, cost in relation to refit, and the financing plan.

Jim’s last slide was on the topic of ALVIN Replacement. The agencies recommended a study be conducted by the National Research Council to examine future needs in deep submergence science. The NRC committee report is expected in October 2003. OCE will carefully consider the report recommendations and discuss internally before making a recommendation. OCE has not determined the process for replacing ALVIN, should that option be chosen. The process will likely require NSF and NSB approval. Funds are available beginning in FY04, if NSF decides to support ALVIN replacement.

Jim reported on the status of marine mammal and acoustic permits. Over the past year operations were delayed and/or cancelled due to marine mammal permitting issues. NSF has been meeting with the NMFS to address acoustic permitting and establish guidelines. There is a matrix under development that is intended to provide guidelines for the permitting process; however, it will not be ready this year. For now, operations involving various sound sources are being addressed on a case-by-case situation. It is unclear how multibeam operations will be addressed. NSF has no plans to support acoustic permits for anything but seismic work.

There was Council discussion on these issues:

Question – Have the OOI facility installation and support needs been addressed and will they be included in an updated Fleet Plan? Jim replied that they plan to wait until the OOI office is established to address this issue.

Question – Will the FOFC plan be updated, and if so when? Jim replied that FOFC plans to address this issue at their next meeting. However, an update may be overtaken by Congressional language that will direct the agencies to establish an implementation plan.

Question – Will UNOLS be funded for additional staff to support the marine mammal permitting process? Jim explained that they would wait until they hear from NMFS with a recommendation before providing support for a person. We need to find out what level of expertise is needed for that position. Jim commented that the technical expertise would probably be beneficial to the process.

Navy – Although there was no representative present, at the FIC meeting it had been reported that the Navy has expressed interest in supporting an Ocean Class Phase II study. The Ocean Class study will resemble the study conducted for the Regional Class by JJMA.