Coastal and regional oceanographic fleet Overview and challenges EGMRI 4 May 2010 Olivier Lefort

1. log Coastal and regional oceanographic fleetOverview and challengesEGMRI4 May 2010Olivier Lefort

2. 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.

3. 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),

4. 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

5. log Existing cooperation or initiatives

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

7. 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

8. EUROFLEETS Project

9. Towards an alliance of European research fleets Eurofleets concepts and objectives EUROFLEETS to aim to : • 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; • 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.

10. log Challenges

11. Ship time funding • Ship time funding through EU framework programs is quite limited

12. 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.

13. Typical coastal vessel project • Length between 25 and 40 m • Budget : 10 to 25 M€ according to length and equipment (West European shipyard)

14. Typical regional vessel project • Length between 50 and 60 m • Budget : 45 to 55 M€ according to equipment (West European shipyard)

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