natural environment research council (nerc) marine

Natural Environment Research Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)Council (NERC)

Marine Facilities ReportMarine Facilities Report

Geraint WestGeraint WestHead, UK Ocean Research ServicesHead, UK Ocean Research Services

NERC Marine Facilities NERC Marine Facilities Funding ModelFunding Model

•• Changed at start of 2001 in response to falling ship demandChanged at start of 2001 in response to falling ship demand•• The new funding model redesigned to:The new funding model redesigned to:

–– Reduce the overall cost to scientists for days at seaReduce the overall cost to scientists for days at sea–– Allow NERC to test the ‘actual’ science demand for shipAllow NERC to test the ‘actual’ science demand for ship--time.time.

•• Features of the new funding model:Features of the new funding model:–– Capital Capital –– funded direct from NERCfunded direct from NERC–– InfrastructureInfrastructure

•• Scientists who have secured funding for science of internationalScientists who have secured funding for science of international quality (i.e. quality (i.e. equivalent to a NERC alpha 3 grade) can bid ‘free at the point oequivalent to a NERC alpha 3 grade) can bid ‘free at the point of use’ access to:f use’ access to:

–– 450 450 -- 500 operational sea days a year on the 500 operational sea days a year on the RRS DiscoveryRRS Discovery and and RRS Charles DarwinRRS Charles Darwin–– 6060--days a year on the days a year on the RRS James Clark RossRRS James Clark Ross

•• UK Ocean Research Service (UKORS) to manage UK Ocean Research Service (UKORS) to manage NERC’sNERC’s National Marine Equipment National Marine Equipment PoolPool

–– Superstructure Superstructure -- scientists are responsible for covering the UKORS technician scientists are responsible for covering the UKORS technician and equipment support costs.and equipment support costs.

RSU Ship UtilisationRSU Ship Utilisation

Demand & Utilisation of RSU Ships

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1998/9 1999/0 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/04(projected)Financial Year [-]

Num

ber o

f Day

s [-]

Total demand for NERCdays at seaNERC days at sea

Charter days at sea

Days not in use

Other (incl. Mob/demob,recertification, refit)

Following the introduction of new funding model:Following the introduction of new funding model:All available NERC science days allocated in 2001, 2002, and 200All available NERC science days allocated in 2001, 2002, and 20033

Increase of 50Increase of 50--60% compared with 199860% compared with 1998--20002000Demand increased by ca. 100% (compared with that in the period 1Demand increased by ca. 100% (compared with that in the period 1998998--2000)2000)

UpUp--date on the 2001 MFPdate on the 2001 MFP

•• Following 9/11 attack, NERC postponed a Following 9/11 attack, NERC postponed a 3030--day cruise on the day cruise on the RRS Charles DarwinRRS Charles Darwinscheduled to work to/from Muscat, Oman. scheduled to work to/from Muscat, Oman.

•• However it was decided to keep the ship in However it was decided to keep the ship in the Indian Ocean and she was moved into the Indian Ocean and she was moved into the Southern Indian Ocean for the the Southern Indian Ocean for the remainder of the year.remainder of the year.

JanSOTON

ConfirmedCruise

ProvisionalCruise

ShipsMaintenance

BarterCruise

ShipAvailable

259T

CharterCruise

265 272268

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecSOTON SOTON SOTON SOTON CLYDE CLYDE CLYDE CLYDE CLYDE SOTON

30 DaysRecertification

Period

10 DaysUKORSTrials

18 DaysCOLLINSAberdeenBiology

PorcupineSeabight

14 DaysTURLEY

PMLMulti-Disciplinary

SW Apps.39 Days

RICHARDSMarine

ProductivityMulti-Disciplinary

N. Atlantic

45 DaysWHITE

Ocean Margins LINKGeophysicsN. Atlantic

34 DaysBRIERLEY

MarineProductivity

Multi-DisciplinaryN. Atlantic

44 DaysMarine

ProductivityMulti-Disciplinary

N. Atlantic

27 DaysPRIEDEAberdeenBiology

PorcupineSeabight

21 DaysBRETTBGS

GeophysicsN. Atlantic

RR

S DISC

OV

ER

Y

38 DaysBETTSOC

Multi-DisciplinaryN. Atlantic

25 DaysTURLEY

PMLMulti-Disciplinary

N. Atlantic19 Days

SHARPLESSOES

Multi-DisciplinaryCeltic Sea

23 DaysIFREMER

Barter cruisePhys. Oceanog.

Azores

34 DaysWATTS

Ocean Margins LINKGeophysics

Amazon Cone

64 DaysRefit

& winchreplacement

7 DaysRSU

WinchTrials

N. Atlantic

13 DaysUKORS

TrialsN. Atlantic

137C 141140P 143139 142C 144 152147C

151 154

DURBAN FREMANTLE SEYCHELLES P. LOUIS MUSCAT

67 DaysSINHASOES

SE. Atlantic

45 DaysBRYDEN

SOESOceanographyS. Indian Ocean

14 DaysRSU

WinchTraining

Indian Ocean

40 DaysNEWSOC

OceanographyIndian Ocean

58 DaysSINHASOES

SE. Atlantic

30 DaysJACOBS

SOCMulti-Disciplinary

Arabian Sea

26 DaysBETTSOC

BiogeochemistryArabian sea

39 DaysCOLLIERImperial

GeophysicsArabian Sea

11 DaysNIOZ

Arabian Sea

RR

S CH

AR

LE

S DA

RW

IN

18 DaysTRIMMER

QMCBiochemistryArabian Sea

36 DaysHALLCardiffGeology

S. Indian Ocean

33 DaysCOWIE

EdinburghBiogeochemistry

Arabian sea

17 DaysTRIMMER

QMCBiochemistryArabian Sea

269

EngineMaintenance

33 DaysJENKINS

Autosub Under IceMulti-Disciplinary

Pine Island

8 Days additional to passageJICKELLS

AMT ConsortiaMulti-Disciplinary

North & South Atlantic

2 DaysPOL

S. Atlantic

21 DaysBGS

GeophysicsRockall

26 DaysDML

Multi-DisciplinaryNorwegian Sea

4 DaysCUNNINGHAM

SOCDrake Passage

S. Atlantic

RR

S JA

ME

SC

LA

RK

RO

SS

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

8 Days additional to passageAMT Consortia

Multi-DisciplinaryNorth & South

Atlantic

07 06 18 28 06 24 01 14 18 27 04 19 25 28 02 23 27 24 06 20

25 01 15 09 30 01 11

18 08 13 20 26 21 26 14 18 08 04

21 0713 21 23 10 27 10 16 20 25 11 28 08

25

SEYCHELLESSEYCHELLES

MUSCAT MUSCAT SEYCHELLESDURBAN

CAPETOWN

OT

HE

R SH

IPS

2002 2003

01 01

20 2024 2514 03

CAPETOWN

18

30 DaysRecertification

Period

SOTON MADEIRA

21 18

149

DUBAI

8481767574

TBC

271

145

263260 261 262 264 266 267 270 273 TBC

MUSCAT

0925

16 DaysLAMPITT

SOCR/V Poseidon (BMBF)

Porcupine Abyssal Plain

SOTON AZORES

31 DaysBARTON

CAMBRIDGER/V Ewing (NSF)Gulf of Mexico

14 DaysGERMAN

SOCR/V Knorr (NSF)

Bahamas

33 DaysGERMAN

SOCR/V Thalassa (IFREMER)

Azores

OPERATIONAL VERSION 1 1st August 2002 NERC MARINE FACILITIES PROGRAMME 2002 & 2003

DURBAN

24

01

7 DaysEngine

Maintenance

CAPETOWN

CAPETOWN

22DUBAI

24 04

DUBAI

12

14607 25

DUBAI

45 DaysCOWIE

EdinburghBiogeochemistry

Arabian sea

148

16 DaysMURTON

SOCGeology

Arabian sea

13 30 18 12

15022

24 DaysBETTSOC

BiogeochemistryArabian sea

73

40 DaysPARSON

SOCS. Atlantic

70

40 DaysBAS

BiologySouthern Ocean

71

40 DaysBAS/

Antarctic Funding Initiative

Southern Ocean

79 80 77 78

4 DaysBAS

Southern Ocean

1 DayAntarctic Funding

InitiativeSouthern Ocean

15 DaysAntarctic Funding


4 DaysBAS

Southern Ocean

82

46 DaysBAS

BiologySouthern Ocean



83

3 DaysPOL

S. Atlantic

TBC

14 DaysPARSON

SOCS. Atlantic

Annual RefitAnnual Refit

6 DaysSOC/POL

Drake Passage

S. Atlantic



MUSCAT

06

14 DaysEngine

Maintenance

PLYMOUTH CLYDE

21 DaysBRETT

BGSGeophysicsN. Atlantic

27412

CLYDE LISBON

28

WALVISBAY

WALVISBAY

24 30 24

DUBAI SEYCHELLESDUBAI

15 03

15 DaysGRIFFITHS

DMLR/V Poseidon (BMBF)

N. Atlantic

DUBAI

PassageLeg

25

RSUWinchTrials

13 DaysBMBF

Barter cruisePhys. Oceanog.Vema Channel

28 30BREST TENERIFE

13 26 28

RECIFE RECIFE

01 08 21

RECIFE

5 DaysNIOZ

Phys. Oceanog.Mozambique

Channel

15317

2002 MFP2002 MFP

•• NERC has continued to fully NERC has continued to fully utilize all available sea days:utilize all available sea days:

–– RRS Discovery RRS Discovery -- North North AtlanticAtlantic

–– RRS Charles Darwin RRS Charles Darwin -- Indian Indian OceanOcean

–– RRS James Clark RossRRS James Clark Ross –– (ca. (ca. 60 days) for two summer 60 days) for two summer cruises in the North Atlanticcruises in the North Atlantic

•• R/V PoseidonR/V Poseidon -- Opportunistic Opportunistic BarterBarter

–– to recover & reto recover & re--deploy deploy moorings on the Porcupine moorings on the Porcupine Abyssal PlainAbyssal Plain

–– Unfortunately cancelled due Unfortunately cancelled due to poor weatherto poor weather

5858GeophysicsGeophysicsActive EMActive EMCD142CCD142C

4040OceanographyOceanographyNewNewSOCSOCCD141CD141

3030MultiMultiJacobsJacobsSOCSOCCD143CD143

6767GeophysicsGeophysicsExxonMobilExxonMobilCD137CCD137C

Days at SeaDays at SeaDisciplineDisciplinePIPIInstitutionInstitutionCruise No.Cruise No.

OceanographyOceanographyBrydenBryden

240240

4545SOESSOESCD 139CD 139

Days at SeaDays at SeaDisciplineDisciplinePIPIInstitutionInstitutionCruise No.Cruise No.

1010TrialsTrialsWestWestUKORSUKORSD259TD259T

1818BiologyBiologyCollinsCollinsAberdeenAberdeenD260D260

1414MultiMultiTurleyTurleyPMLPMLD261D261

MultiMulti

BiologyBiology

GeophysicsGeophysics

MultiMulti

GeophysicsGeophysics

MultiMulti

AllenAllen

PriedePriede

BrettBrett

BrierleyBrierley

WhiteWhite

RichardsRichards

252252

4444MARPRODMARPRODD267D267

2727AberdeenAberdeenD266D266

2121BGSBGSD265D265


4545CambridgeCambridgeD263D263


2003 MFP 2003 MFP

6 (TBC) Barter cruises provisionally programmed6 (TBC) Barter cruises provisionally programmed

•• All available sea All available sea days utilised:days utilised:

–– RRS Discovery RRS Discovery -- North North AtlanticAtlantic

–– RRS Charles RRS Charles Darwin Darwin --Indian OceanIndian Ocean

–– RRS James RRS James Clark RossClark Ross ––AutosubAutosub Under Under Ice and Ice and Atlantic Atlantic MeridionalMeridionalTransectTransect

EquipmentEquipment•• Increased (stable) investment in the NMEPIncreased (stable) investment in the NMEP

–– caca. £0.5M pa from NERC. £0.5M pa from NERC–– caca. £0.2M pa from charter/hire.. £0.2M pa from charter/hire.

•• New scientific winch for the New scientific winch for the RRS DiscoveryRRS Discovery–– ca.ca.£3M£3M–– Will be fitted in FebruaryWill be fitted in February--April 2003.April 2003.

•• New Seismic Airgun SuiteNew Seismic Airgun Suite–– ca.ca.£300k)£300k)–– Trialled in early 2002Trialled in early 2002–– Used in JuneUsed in June--July for a 45July for a 45--day geophysics day geophysics

cruise in the N. Atlantic.cruise in the N. Atlantic.•• Jason II derivative ROVJason II derivative ROV

–– Trials first half of 2003Trials first half of 2003–– Operational on IFREMER barter cruise late Operational on IFREMER barter cruise late

20032003

Darwin ReplacementDarwin Replacement

•• RRS Charles DarwinRRS Charles Darwin will reach the will reach the end of its scientifically useful life end of its scientifically useful life in earlyin early--2006 2006

•• Project Management Board set up Project Management Board set up to oversee provision of a to oversee provision of a replacement shipreplacement ship

•• NERC Council approved science NERC Council approved science case in late 2001, since been case in late 2001, since been submitted to the UK Government submitted to the UK Government as part of a NERC bid to the 2002 as part of a NERC bid to the 2002 Spending Review.Spending Review.

•• Total cost projected to be £35M:Total cost projected to be £35M:–– ca.£10M from NERC baseline.ca.£10M from NERC baseline.

•• Final decision on the funding in Final decision on the funding in November 2002. November 2002.

Projected ship programme Projected ship programme for 2004for 2004•• Currently anticipate:Currently anticipate:

–– RRS Discovery RRS Discovery -- primarily N. Atlantic primarily N. Atlantic –– RRS Charles DarwinRRS Charles Darwin -- return to UK for refit e. 2004, then return to UK for refit e. 2004, then

primarily N. Atlanticprimarily N. Atlantic•• Depending on the science demand one may return to the S. AtlantiDepending on the science demand one may return to the S. Atlantic c

&/or S. Indian Ocean in the second half of 2004.&/or S. Indian Ocean in the second half of 2004.

–– RRS James Clark RossRRS James Clark Ross and and RRS Ernest RRS Ernest ShackletonShackleton, will operate , will operate in the Antarctic/Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic.in the Antarctic/Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic.•• Majority of available NERCMajority of available NERC--funded time in 2004 will be allocated to funded time in 2004 will be allocated to

two cruises (one in the Antarctic & one in the Arctic) for the two cruises (one in the Antarctic & one in the Arctic) for the ‘‘AutosubAutosub--UnderUnder--IceIce’ thematic programme.’ thematic programme.

Marine Facilities Tripartite Marine Facilities Tripartite Group (MFTG)Group (MFTG)

•• Currently examining opportunities to share Currently examining opportunities to share a greater variety of its marine equipment a greater variety of its marine equipment (incl. smaller equipment & equipment (incl. smaller equipment & equipment spares) and calibration facilities.spares) and calibration facilities.

•• Anticipate RNIOZ joining this year and Anticipate RNIOZ joining this year and possibly Spain.possibly Spain.

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