Marine Infrastructure and Access to the Sea

Summary: Enhancing marine infrastructure for federal agencies and their partners that support access to the sea is critical to fulfilling all three cross-cutting themes. The demand for ocean and coastal data continues to expand and accelerate to help advance weather and climate modeling, forecasting and basic research, monitor the health and productivity of ocean ecosystems, evaluate blue carbon capture opportunities and identify MPA priority areas, support the development of ocean-based industries (such as offshore wind, aquaculture, fisheries, and ocean CDR), and improve climate resiliency strategies and policies. Increased capability is also required to support the exploration and mapping of the ocean seabed, subsea, and related natural and economic resources, especially within the EEZ and high latitudes. These objectives require a range of platforms such as research vessels (including ice-capable), autonomous underwater vehicles and ocean observing systems. Shore facilities provide the interface to these platforms as well as laboratories and shops that are water-dependent and benefit from access to the sea. This integrated infrastructure helps drive advances in technology development, from ship-deployed devices to autonomous vehicles to sensors. The ecosystem built around marine S&T infrastructure not only provides information critical to supporting federal and private climate and extreme event resiliency decision making, but requires a knowledgeable blue workforce including scientists, technicians and seafarers and shore-side facility operators, generating significant economic benefits and opportunities for coastal states and the nation. Enhanced marine scientific infrastructure also plays a critical role supporting U.S. economic and national security interests and concerns. Increasing competition in ocean-focused S&T development and awareness of the ocean environment are foundational to maintaining U.S naval superiority. The capability and resiliency of the U.S. federal and academic research fleet and supporting infrastructure will play a fundamental role shaping the nation’s role as a global leader in the coming decades.

Sector: Academia
Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
POC: Rob Munier, rmunier@whoi.edu
Other Contacts: Peter Hill, phill@whoi.edu; Taryn Carley, tcarley@whoi.edu