Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, Meet the RV Fleetsays many students do not become ac-tively involved in research cruises until Operating Institution Ship Owner Length (ft.)it is time to start loading the ship, which it turns out is typically a year or more GLOBAL CLASS SHIPSafter the planning begins. “The UN-University of Washington THOMAS G. THOMPSON Navy 274OLS Chief Scientist Training program Scripps Institution of Oceanography ROGER REVELLE Navy 274taught me that there is so much more to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ATLANTIS Navy 274the process of planning and executing a University of Alaska Fairbanks SIKULIAQ NSF 261successful expedition that will greatly Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory MARCUS LANGSETH NSF 235bene? t my own research programs into the future. Participating in the program OCEAN/INTERMEDIATE CLASS SHIPS was an enlightening opportunity to learn University of Hawaii KILO MOANA Navy 186about the details of cruise planning all Oregon State University OCEANUS NSF 177the way from making ship time requests University of Rhode Island ENDEAVOR NSF 185in proposals to always walking off the Scripps Institution of Oceanography NEW HORIZON SIO 170ship with all data in hand.” Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences ATLANTIC EXPLORER BBSR 168“There is no better way to learn about this process than working directly from REGIONAL CLASS SHIPS UNOLS and NSF staff, the Marine Tech-University of Delaware HUGH R. SHARP UD 146nicians, and experienced PIs. I believe my future research cruises will be far COASTAL/LOCAL CLASS SHIPS more ef? cient than they otherwise would Scripps Institution of Oceanography ROBERT GORDON SPROUL SIO 125be due to the knowledge with which I Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium PELICAN LUMCON 116University of Miami F.G WALTON SMITH UM 96am now equipped through this train-Skidaway Institute of Oceanography SAVANNAH UG 92ing,” Netburn says. “On top of all that, University of Minnesota - Duluth BLUE HERON UMD 86I collected ancillary specimens of deep University of Washington CLIFFORD A. BARNES NSF 66sea ? shes for my research, met a group of bright and friendly young scientists, NOAA GLOBAL CLASS VESSEL (scheduled in cooperation with UNOLS) and got to spend a few more days of my NOAA RONALD H. BROWN NOAA 274life in my favorite place in the world- the sea!” USCG ICEBREAKERS (scheduled in cooperation with UNOLS) USCG USCGC HEALY USCG 420Arctic ResearchUSCG USCGC POLAR STAR USCG 399UNOLS has a standing Arctic Ice-USCG USCGC POLAR SEA USCG 399breaker Coordinating Committee that works closely with the Coast Guard and the polar science community. “The committee serves as a liaison between funding agencies and the Coast Guard to make the best use of the USCGC Healy as a research vessel, and to improve its science capabilities,” Alberts says.The Coast Guard has two heavy Polar-class icebreakers that also have science capabilities, but has struggled to keep at least one of them operational. President Barrack Obama recently called for new icebreakers, but building new ships for the polar regions is costly. “We expect we’ll be asked to help de-velop science mission requirements for the new icebreaker class,” Alberts says.Speaking in Alaska, President Barak Obama called for an accelerated pro-curement of new Coast Guard icebreak-ers. “These heavy icebreakers will en-sure that the United States can meet our national interests, protect and manage our natural resources, and strengthen our international, state, local, and tribal re-lationships,” the president said. But the vessels will cost an estimated $1 billion each, and Congress has not approved the funding.By Edward Lundquistwww.marinelink.com 129MR #11 (122-129).indd 129 11/3/2015 10:35:25 AM