The College of Oceanography at Oregon State University has requested several items of oceanographic instrumentation to be placed in a pool of shared use equipment. This equipment is maintained for use on or in association with the R/V WECOMA, a research vessel owned by the NSF and operated by the University. A substantial part of the ship's operating schedule during 1990 is in support of NSF-sponsored research projects. The instrumentation will also increase the capabi- lities of the ship and of the institution to support research and engineering activities. The instrumentation includes: -SEASOAR towed vehicle: This device, when towed behind a research vessel, undulates vertically in the upper ocean and can carry a variety of oceanographic sensors. The depth at which the vehicle samples can be monitored and controlled by a shipboard operator, -Electronic components for a sophisticated multiple-opening and closing net and environmental data collecting system, -Refrigerated centrifuge for processing samples at sea for later analysis. The instrumentation described above will increase the capability of the University to support NSF-sponsored research and engineering projects.
