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Coastal and regional oceanographic fleet

Overview and challenges

EGMRI4 May 2010

Olivier Lefort

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Ocean and Global vessels in Europe

Vessels operated on Ocean scale which length is over 55 m :

Global vessesls ; 11 (2007) Ocean vessels : 15 (2007)

An up to date fleet, with no question of over capacity, mainly operated by West European countries A large majority of those vessels open to barter through OFEG agreement.

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Regional vessels in Europe

In 2007, 20 vessels operated in 12 European eco-regions,Each region is covered by 235 days of research in average per year.There is no established transnational acces procedures except some limited initiatives (Ifremer /IEO cooperation, Eurofleets project),

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Large exchangeable equipment in Europe

A limited number of countries own most of the large and exchangeable equipment :

Seismic Submersibles, ROVs, AUVs,Towed vehicles,Portable winches.

Lending, leasing and exchange mainly happen on a bi-lateral case by case basis, or through OFEG Barter. Increasing technical interoperability of those equipment is a key factor for better exchange, but can be relatively costly

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Existing cooperation or initiatives

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An efficient and constructive process since 1996 : OFEG ship time barter

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Thalassa : an exemple of regional cooperation (IEO / Ifremer)

Ifremer is the sole owner of the vessel, but :Spain and European regional structural funds paid 15% of the investment in 1995,An agreement was signed in parallel which warranty access to the vessel to IEO 60 days per year (2 campaigns) at a fixed operational day rate .More than 20 campaigns in 15 years

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EUROFLEETS Project

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• contribute to a common strategic vision for European research fleets and associated heavy equipment

• use more efficiently the existing European Ocean/Global and Regional fleets, and develop their interoperability capacities;

EUROFLEETS to aim to :

Eurofleets concepts and objectivesTowards an alliance of European research fleets

• facilitate a wider sharing of knowledge and technologies across fields and between academia and industry

• promote greener and sustainable research vessel operations and eco-responsibility;

• open to all European researchers access to high performing research vessels ans equipment on basis of scientific excellence;

foster the coordinated and joint development of European fleets in terms of capacity and performances.

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Challenges

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Ship time fundingShip time funding through EU framework programs is quite limited

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Investment in regional vessels in Europe

An aged fleet which number of vessels will dramatically decrease from 20 in 2007 to 8 in 2015 if renewal or major refits are not started now.

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Typical coastal vessel project

Length between 25 and 40 m Budget : 10 to 25 M€ according to length and equipment (West European shipyard)

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Typical regional vessel project

Length between 50 and 60 m Budget : 45 to 55 M€ according to equipment (West European shipyard)

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As a conclusion

Eco regions investments could be promoted with shared national countries funding, and managed through initial exploitation agreementsPart of the investments should be supported by European funding (20%?),Explicit generalized ship time funding through EU programs is a key point for the futureEurofleets project is limited in time (4 years). It should be secure in the future through European regional organisation : a future for Ervo ?