Federal funding agencies are facing declining or, at best, constant budgets. The two primary support agencies for the UNOLS Fleet of academic research vessels (NSF and ONR) are no exception. During the period of fiscal austerity, the arrival of the long-awaited Navy AGOR Class I research vessels ROGER REVELLE and ATLANTIS in 1996 and 1997, respectively, will further increase operational costs for the federally-supported UNOLS Fleet. Budget projections indicate that by 1997 the academic fleet, which at that point will be the most scientifically capable in UNOLS history, will face a $13 million shortfall. This is equivalent to the annual operating costs for two Class I vessels and one intermediate class research vessel.
Over the short-term (1-3 years), it is possible to reduce operations for the entire UNOLS Fleet, but for the long-term (>3 years) it is not prudent to operate the 27 ship fleet on marginal schedules. The only viable solution to sustained budget limitations is to: 1) reduce the size of the UNOLS Fleet or; 2) expand the user base. The forces that have lead to the configuration of the current fleet include a host of important science initiatives ranging in scale from global to coastal. Given that the delays inherent in building oceanographic field assets (10-15 years) is much longer than the associated science initiatives (3-7 years) . The issue of fleet reduction is one that needs to be approached most carefully. In essence, until concerted efforts are made to build new partnerships with potential users of the UNOLS Fleet, we consider it unwise to reduce it. For example, possible multi-agency coordination for coastal zone research and fisheries should be carefully considered. However, if it ultimately becomes necessary to reduce its size then the current mix of capabilities in the UNOLS Fleet should be maintained.
Even in the face of limited resources, the UNOLS/science community should continue planning for new assets that are vital to oceanographic science - the Arctic Research Vessel and platforms to support coastal science. Finally, there is little question that new observational technologies will emerge and, further, that they will greatly enhance both land-based and sea-going science. Specifically, AUVs, ROVs and buoys equipped with multiple sensor systems (optical, acoustical, and chemical) will improve our understanding of oceanographic processes just as they will provide the academic research fleet with the capability of carrying out synoptic, three-dimensional studies in the open ocean.