OFEG News

OFWG Report

OFEG response to the ESF Marine Board’s report, European Ocean Research Fleets

The Ocean Facilities Exchange Group (OFEG) fully supports the conclusion that it should become the Forum for Global and Ocean Class Research Ships and the associated ‘heavy’ equipment. In so doing, OFEG will endeavour to maintain its much-praised flexibility and exchange of know-how, and ensure that there is an optimal mix of Ocean and Global Class vessels, together with a range of effectively utilised heavy exchangeable equipment – such as Remotely Operated Vehicles and seismic facilities.

Research Ships:
OFEG agrees that at this time there is appropriate capacity in the European research fleets and that the fleet of Global and Ocean Class ships is state-of-the-art. OFEG is however concerned that this position can only be maintained if there is a process of on-going renewal of the fleet and, as such, it is critical that fully funded plans are in place for the replacement of three Global and Ocean Class ships – RRS Discovery, RV Sonne, and the RV Poseidon – which are approaching the end of their scientifically useful lives.

OFEG considers that there is a need for a balanced portfolio of ships (in term of size and capability) within its Global and Ocean Class fleet to allow for the cost-effective delivery of science programmes. Given this, OFEG is concerned at the perceived trend towards building increasingly large ships (for e.g., the replacement of the RRS Charles Darwin by the RRS James Cook). In this respect, OFEG position continues to be that there is a strong requirement to maintain the current capacity of Europe’s Ocean Class fleet – and consequently there is strong support from all members for the replacements of the RV Poseidon and RV Pelagia when they have reached the end of their operational lives.

Heavy equipment:
OFEG supports the conclusion that Europe does have access to a state-of-the-art set of heavy equipment that is more extensive than elsewhere in the world. The scheduling and technical support of heavy equipment is considered to be crucial factors when it comes to exchanging equipment. OFEG will now actively consider opportunities for the joint ownership and partnership arrangements for heavy equipment to maximise the cost-effective utilisation of these expensive facilities.

(April 2008)