2009 Shipboard Scientific Equipment

ABSTRACT

10 July 2009

Proposal Number: 0943827

Institution: Columbia University, LDEO

PI: A. Walsh

Co-PI: D. Goldberg, P. Ljunggren

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

The proposal requests numerous Shipboard Scientific Support (SSSE) items for the vessels operated by the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO); namely the R/V MARCUS LANGSETH. The requests specifically include items that have been recommended from past NSF inspections, Navy INSURV's, or Post-Cruise Assessments (PCA's) and have been otherwise deferred by the operators due to cost. All of the items requested will either improve safety, enhance science support capability, or extend vessel service life. Due to the nature and timing of these requests, the vendor quotation standards normally required by the SSSE Program were waived out of necessity with many of the figures provided as estimates for budgetary purposes and based mainly on past experience of the vessel operators for similar work.

Broader Impacts: The LANGSETH supports federally funded scientific research throughout the world's oceans to expand human knowledge of the ocean environment and is the only 3D seismic vessel in the academic fleet. During operations, the vessels routinely expose graduate and undergraduate students to seagoing oceanography through real-time satellite connectivity from ship to shore, and open house events. The LANGSETH is scheduled to complete over 260 NSF sponsored days in 2009.