UNOLS Fleet Improvement Committee
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
Fort Pierce, FL
Tuesday & Wednesday, March 9 & 10, 2004

March 9^th:  FIC Meeting:

0830 Welcome and Introduction – David Hebert, FIC Chair, will open the meeting.

• Accept Minutes – Accept the minutes from September 17, 2003.
• Review Agenda and modify as needed

0845 – 1200:

• Review FIC Action/Task List from September meeting
• Identify FIC Projects, Goals, and Priorities for 2004
• KILO MOANA discussion
  • Review and discuss Debrief responses and post-cruise assessments for late 2003 early 2004 cruises.
  • Review the KILO MOANA’s cruise schedule and debrief assignments.
  • Identify areas of concern (CTD operation problems, Noise, Over-the-side handling issues).  This list will be sent to U. Hawaii for consideration.
  • Status of SWATH ship motion analysis
  • Review KILO MOANA debrief interviews in respect to the monohull versus SWATH hull characteristics
• Review FIC Website – Discuss any changes.
• Science Mission Requirements (SMRs):
  • Discuss options/process for upgrading SMRs and developing new SMRs.
  • Review list of UNOLS SMRs and identify areas where updates or additional SMRs are needed:
    • Global Vessel with a Heavy-lift Capability (Ocean Observatory Support platform)
    • Global Class Vessel with Seismic Capabilities – Review any community input and finalize.
    • Regional Class SMR – discuss issues regarding prioritization of SMRs
    • General-Purpose Global Class Vessel – Review SMR and consider update for mid-life refit plans for THOMPSON (2006). 
    • Handicap Accessibility considerations in new SMRs and updates
    • Ocean Class Steering Committee – review membership

1230 – 1330    Lunch – HBOI Cafeteria

• SMRs – Continue discussion from morning
• Fleet Renewal – FIC discussion.  Identify any issues/recommendations to address during the joint Council/FIC meeting
  • Ship use trends – Update from September meeting
  • Draft FIC version of Figure 17 of the FOFC plan.
    • EWING replacement/refit plans
    • Review dates for new ships construction - Ocean and Regional Class vessels
    • Update retirement dates of UNOLS Vessels
    • Review Global Class retirement/replacement needs.  KNORR and MELVILLE are slated for retirement in 2014/15 without replacement (according to FOFC plan).  Is this consistent with recent ship utilization trends.  Will new Ocean Class vessels be able to meeting new demand?
    • Ocean Observatory Facility needs
  • Lessons Learned from previous R/V construction <http://color.mlml.calstate.edu/unols/fic/smr/whatwelearned.html> - Review feedback received.  Compile the feedback and provide to agencies for consideration in new ship construction efforts, as well as, adding them as an appendix to the SMRs.
  • Integrated Facilities Planning – A UNOLS goal is to plan for ships, submersibles, aircraft, observatories and instrumentation through a systematic and coordinated approach.  FIC discussion on possible approaches.
• Fleet Improvement – Review potential areas for fleet improvement that have been identified in Post Cruise Assessment Reports.
• High-Resolution Marine Meteorology (HRMM) Workshop – Discussion on FIC involvement with the group to improve meteorological data collected on UNOLS ships.  Background information, including recommendations for the first HRMM Workshop can be obtained at <http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/RVSMDC/marine_workshop/Workshop.html>.
• Draft a FIC Report for the Council Meeting – Include any recommendations and planned actions.
• Review FIC Action items
• Other business
  • FIC membership changes.
  • Review UNOLS Charter, Annex IV (FIC)
  • Other items.

March 10^th:  Joint Session:  Council and FIC

0800 Coffee and Pastries

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

• HBOI Welcome
• Accept the minutes of the September 18, 2003 Council Meeting.

0845 – 0930 – Agency and CORE Reports – Agency activities, budget information, and Fleet renewal plans.

• USCG
• NOAA – Beth White
• ONR – John Freitag
• Oceanographer of the Navy – Bob Winokur
• Others
• NSF – Jim Yoder

0930 – 1200    Academic Fleet Renewal Activities and Plans:

• FIC Meeting Report – Recommendations and activities regarding Fleet Renewal
• Regional Class – Acquisition Process and RFP Status
  • Response to FIC recommendations (formation of a RSUAC)
• Ocean Class Planning – Phase II – report from Dan Rolland (JJMA)
• FOFC Implementation Plan – Status report
• Ocean Commission Recommendations
• Ship Design and Construction Activities:
  • Status on ARRV Design and funding – Terry Whitledge
  • Status of CAPE HENLOPEN Replacement effort
  • EWING Mid-Life Refit/Replacement Plans
  • CAPE HATTERAS Mid-life
  • SWATH/Monohull Motion Analysis Study – Curt Collins
  • Global Class Mid-Life Refit Planning

11:00 am - Marine Mammal Phone Conference – Phone Conference with Dr. Douglas Wartzok.  Dr. Wartzok is a member of the NRC Committee on Assessing Ambient Noise in the Ocean with Regard to Potential Impacts on Marine Mammals

• Open Discussion on reports and identification of any FIC/Council Tasking.

1200 – 1300    Break (Lunch will be delivered to meeting)

1300 – 1515

• Application of UNOLS Vessel Designation - University of Hawaii has requested UNOLS Vessel designation for R/V KAIMIKAI-O-KANALOA (KOK).  Material regarding this request was distributed prior to the meeting.  Council, FIC, and Agency discussion.
• Guidelines for Becoming a UNOLS Vessel – Is an update needed?
• UNOLS Working Group on Ocean Observatory Facility Needs – Review the Working Group Report recommendations and consider endorsement.
• Shipboard Over-the-Side Handling Systems – Mike Prince will provide an update on activities.
  • Winch Inspections
  • Load Handling System Symposium
• Other FIC/Council Business

1515    Adjourn Joint FIC/Council Session

FIC Members are Welcome to stay for the full Council Meeting.