DEep Submergence Science Committee

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Carriage House

Woods Hole, MA

June 13-14, 2005

A copy of these minutes can be downloaded as a pdf at <200506desmi.pdf>.

 

Executive Summary:

The Deep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC) met on June 13-14, 2005 at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).  The meeting included agency reports from NSF and NOAA.  Representatives of the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) provided reports on:

·         Vehicle operation summaries

·         Status of WHOI archives

·         Ship and vehicle improvement and upgrade plans.

·         Navigation improvements 

·         Slurp Guns

·         Rock drill transfer

·         Deep submergence scheduling in 2006 and beyond

 

The meeting included status reports on new vehicle design efforts at WHOI.  The replacement deep diving Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) is moving forward and if all goes on schedule the replacement HOV would be ready for service in 2009.  Karen Von Damm provided a report from the Replacement HOV Oversight Committee.  The Hybrid ROV project is also progressing and the vehicle should be ready for service in 2007.  An update on the status of AUV development efforts at WHOI was provided along with a summary of ABE operations.

 

A new task item was assigned to DESSC.  NSF and NOAA have requested that the DESSC establish safety standards for HOVs.  The Navy will not inspect the replacement HOV. 

 

There will be one vacancy on the DESSC in September.

 

Recommendations:

 

·         Copyright Issues – DESSC recommends that WHOI include the credits from source for images/photos that are included in their archive and on their website.

 

·         Access to Data – Recommend that WHOI provide clear guidance to incoming cruise participants on how the contents of the ship’s computer hard drive will be used post-cruise

 

·         Shallow Submergence Science Committee – DESSC recommends that the Shallow Submergence Science Committee is no longer needed.  Access to non-NDSF issues is being addressed.  Safety concerns regarding use of non-Navy inspected HOVs will be addressed by a soon to be formed subcommittee.

 

Action Items:

 

·         Establishing Criteria for bringing New Assets into the NDSF –DESSC will review and comment on the latest revision of the criteria.  Once the draft has been finalized, it will be circulated to the agencies, then the NDSF operator for comment.  Pending revision, the draft criteria will be sent to the UNOLS Council for approval. 

 

·         Liaison to RHOC – Identify a DESSC member who is willing to serve as a liaison to the Replacement HOV Oversight Committee.  Provide the recommendation to Dolly Dieter

 

·         Establishing Safety Standards for the use of Human Occupied Vehicles - NSF will send a letter to DESSC with a charge to establish safety standards for HOVs.  At the summer Council Debbie and Peter will inform the Council about the charge.  The safety standards will address certification of the vehicle, certification of the ship, and training (vehicle and ship crew).  In response to NSF’s charge a subcommittee will be formed.  Potential members include RVOC Safety Committee representative, HOV operators from WHOI, HBOI, and HURL, and science users (DESSC).  Input from the Navy and legal counsel would likely be required.  This effort might span 2 years.

 

·         Winter Meeting Strategies: A subcommittee of Craig Young, Jennifer Reynolds, and KT Scott will recommend a strategy (forum(s) and format) for the winter DESSC meeting that will better engage the deep submergence biologists.  They will also consider including a training session as part of the meeting.
 
·         DESSC/NDSF Booth – DESSC proposes that there be a DESSC booth at the Fall AGU meeting that could highlight the NDSF vehicles.  WHOI offered to help provide the graphic displays for the booth.  DESSC members could help staff the booth.  A proposal requesting agency approval and funds to support the booth is required.  
 

·         DESSC Membership - Dave Mindell completes his 2nd term in 9/05.  Nominations are needed to fill his position.  Individuals associated with Margins or Archeology research are desired.  Annette will send Deb Kelley the list of past nominees.  Hedy Edmonds completes her first term in 9/05 and has expressed a willingness to continue for a second term.

 

·         Replacement HOV Sensors/equipment – DESSC will poll the community on scientific equipment requirements for the replacement HOV.  Input on new and emerging technologies is needed.   This input is needed so that it can be included in WHOI’s RFP for the new vehicle.  The deadline for sending information is needed from WHOI.

 

·         Navigation – DESSC will consider to what level navigation data should be the responsibility of the NDSF Operator.

 

·         Equipment Proposal - WHOI will request DESSC endorsement of their 2006 shipboard scientific equipment proposal.  The proposal is likely to include a request for a New Kongsberg DP system, a new isotope van, and winch slip rings.

 

 

Appendices

 

 

I.

Meeting Agenda

II.

Participant List

III.

UNOLS Report

IV.

NDSF Operator’s Report:

 

a.

NDSF Operations Summary

 

b.

Archiving Status Report

 

c.

Update of NDSF-Related WHOI Activities

V.

Upgrades to NDSF:

 

a.

Atlantis Improvement Status

 

b.

ROVs: Control Vans, Medea Modifications, Slurp Gun

 

c.

Alvin Upgrades and Overhaul Plans

 

d.

Rock Drill Status

VI.

NDSF Vehicle Request Summary

VII.

Geographic Distribution of NDSF Vehicle Requests

VIII.

Replacement HOV Report

IX

Replacement HOV Committee Report

X.

ABE and Sentry Report (2.8 MB)

XI.

Hybrid ROV Status Report (3 MB)

XII.

Ocean Observatories Report (8.7 MB)

XIII

NeMO Outreach Activities – “DIVE” website (1.5 MB)

XIV

ROPOS Report

XV

MBARI Report (1 MB)

XVI

COMRA Report

XVII

REMUS AUVs

XVIII

SeaBed AUV (1 MB)

 

 

Meeting Minutes

 

Day One:  Monday, June 13, 2005

 

Introductory Remarks, Meeting Logistics, Introductions – Deb Kelley, Deep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC) Chair, called the meeting to order at 0830 on Monday, June 13, 2005.  The meeting was held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Carriage House.  The agenda for the meeting is included as Appendix I.  The items of the agenda are reported in the order addressed.  Meeting participants introduced themselves.  The list of attendees is included as Appendix II.

 

A motion was made and approved to accept the minutes of the December 2004 - DESSC Annual Community Meeting and the May 2004 - DESSC Meeting.

 

Agency and UNOLS Reports

 

National Science Foundation (NSF) - Dolly Dieter provided the report for NSF.  The NSF budget is grim and will likely be so for the next few years.  Additional budget reductions can be expected next year.  It is unlikely that NSF will be able to support anything beyond the essentials.

 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -Barbara Moore reported that NOAA’s 2005 budget is not as bad and in 2005 they will continue to support at past levels.  NOAA will have 29 Alvin days in 2005 and 46 are planned in 2006.  In 2006, the President’s budget request for NOAA is less than in 2005.  The future will likely be either level or down.

 

UNOLS Report -Peter Wiebe, UNOLS Chair, provided the UNOLS report.  His slides are included as Appendix III.  He reviewed the following topics:

•         Budget Shortfalls and Impact on 2006 Ship Use

•         Fleet Renewal Activities

•         Arctic Icebreaker Coordination

•         Aircraft for Oceanography

 

In February 2005, Larry Clark (NSF) sent a letter to UNOLS outlining the funding shortfall in February 2005.  A UNOLS ad hoc committee was formed in March 2005 and included       Marcia McNutt, MBARI (Chair), Eileen Hofmann, ODU, and Denis Wiesenburg, UAF.  They are evaluating the funding levels to define the magnitude of the problem.  They plan to have recommendations in time for the scheduling meeting in mid-July. They will work to develop a plan for ship lay-ups that will fit the budget realities and minimize impact on funded scientific programs. They will consider longer term issues such as the impact of retirements versus lay-ups, the various forms of lay-ups, and funding prospects in the out years (Observatories).

 

Peter continued by reviewing Fleet renewal activities: 

 

Regional Class – UNOLS has provided feedback to NSF regarding IPT representation, operational capabilities and performance requirements.  Money is available at NSF to begin the design/build process and an RFP will likely be announced later this year.

 

 

Ocean Class – UNOLS provided a recommendation on the Ocean Class hull form in February 2005.  The recommended hull is a monohull.  The availability of funds and timeline is still unclear, but ONR continues include funds to support ship construction in their budget request.

 

General Purpose Global Vessel SMR - A Steering Committee was formed to update the Global Vessel General Purpose SMRs.  A community on-line survey form regarding science needs is coming soon.

 

 

 

Other Ship News - In other ship news, the Langseth should be available for operations in 2006.  Gyre will retire this summer, and BBSR plans to acquire Seward Johnson II and retire Weatherbird II.  The Hugh R. Sharp will replace Cape Henlopen in 2006.

 

Dolly Dieter added that NSF’s Major Research Equipment (MRE) queue has been reordered and the Alaska Region Research Vessel has moved up to the top of the list.  It is now planned for 2007.  Ocean Observatories is now third in the queue.

 

UNOLS Fleet Improvement Plan – The Fleet Improvement Committee is updating the 1995 Fleet Improvement Plan.  They hope to have a draft in September 2005.

 

 

Peter reviewed the Arctic Icebreaker Coordination Committee (AICC) and icebreaker activities. 

•         Healy left on June 3rd for three missions in the Arctic. 

•         The Polar Sea engines were condemned and there was no money to fix them.  NSF now has Congressional authorization to charter for a second vessel for McMurdo

•         President’s budget request for icebreaker operations support was included in the NSF budget for FY2006.  Many decisions about future icebreaker funding, operations and major overhaul/replacement will be affected by the final appropriations action on this budget proposal, which is still pending.

•         AICC provided comprehensive review and comments on two draft versions of a “Mission Analysis” report, which is the first step in a procurement process that could lead to major overhaul or replacement of the Polar Star and Polar Sea.

 

Peter reviewed the Science Committee for Oceanographic Aircraft Research (SCOAR) activities and plans- 

•         SCOAR is developing procedures and criteria for broader use and accessibility of aircraft

•         Interact with NCAR-OFAP and ICCAGRA

•         Set up procedures for designating new National Oceanographic Aircraft Facilities

•         Define basic instrument suite for UNOLS ocean science aircraft

•         Set up web-based CIRPAS request system

•         Determine operational guidelines and safety standards for UNOLS NOAF aircraft

 

 

 

National Facility Operators Report

 

NDSF Vehicle Operations Summary – Rick Chandler summarized vehicle operations and highlights.  His slides are included as Appendix IVa. Alvin highlights include: