The Lamont.Doherty Geological Observatory (L.DGO) of Columbia University will replace the R/V CONRAD with the M/V BERNIER and modify the BERNIER for use in support of ocean science research. L.DGO currently operates the 209.foot, Navy.owned R/V CONRAD. The CONRAD is 26 years old and its capabilities regarding future research project needs are severely restricted by size, load capacity, laboratory space, endurance and machinery limitations. The Navy has scheduled CONRAD for retirement by 1991 or sooner. The 239.foot, 5.year old R/V BERNIER, with the planned modifications, meets all of the University.National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) projected science requirements for a medium.to.high endurance, general purpose oceanographic research vessel. It will also provide enhanced capabilities for marine geology and geophysics field programs including multichannel seismic studies. A modern and efficiently operated academic research fleet is essential to field programs in the ocean sciences. The capabilities of the existing research fleet must be substantially improved if forefront ocean sciences research is to be successfully pursued during the next decade. Better sea.keeping ability, higher performance, improved over.the.side handling arrangements, and modern state.of.the.art ship board laboratories are needed to meet these requirements. The replacement of the CONRAD by the BERNIER will assist with the required upgrading of the national academic research fleet to provide support for high.latitude field research studies in the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), the Global Ocean Flux Study (GOFS) and other geoscience programs. It will provide support for multichannel seismic studies required by the Ridge Interdisciplinary Global Experiments (RIDGE) program and capabilities for site surveys in support of the Ocean Drilling Program.
