A computer database of planned research ship cruises and ship information and contacts will be maintained for a multi-nation consortium of research ship operators. In addition to NSF support, funding will be supplied the Office of Naval Research (U.S.) and marine science agencies in Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.K. The database will include information for research ships that are over 40m in length and will cover cruises for the current year and for as far into the future as information is provided. The database will be widely available by on-line electronic access. It will allow research cruises to be identified by ship name, country, places and dates of port calls, working area, science discipline, and chief scientist. It will also provide a list of operational contacts and physical and scientific characteristics for each ship. The system should help optimize the use of research ship time.
