University of Washington – R/V Thomas G. Thompson and R/V Rachel Carson Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment (SSSE) 2024

This award provides support for Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment (SSSE) for R/V Thomas G. Thompson, a 274-foot general-purpose, global research vessel, and R/V Rachel Carson, a 72-foot coastal research vessel. Both vessels are operated by the University of Washington as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This award will enable the acquisition of Keyboard-Video-Monitor (KVM) system controls for both the R/V Thompson and R/V Carson and multiple video monitors for R/V Thompson's computer lab for science and shipboard data systems. KVM systems have become standard on global class vessels in the fleet and valuable for situational awareness on any research vessel. R/V Thompson currently has an IP-based CCTV system that was an item flagged for replacement during a recent ship inspection and will be replaced with an up-to-date reliable system with this request. Finally, CTD operations on R/V Thompson will be improved by acquiring a sled on a track to replace the current accordion system to stage the ship's CTD package. The new system will allow deployment in much higher sea states with a greater margin of safety. The principal impact of the present proposal is under Merit Review Criterion 2 of the Proposal Guidelines (NSF 23-525). It provides infrastructure support for scientists to use the vessel and its shared-use instrumentation in support of their NSF-funded oceanographic research projects (which individually undergo separate review by the relevant research program of NSF). The acquisition, maintenance, and operation of shared-use instrumentation allows NSF-funded researchers from any US university or other organization access to well-maintained, high-quality, calibrated instruments for their research. It ensures the collection of high-quality oceanographic data in support of science, reduces the cost of that research, and expands the base of potential researchers. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.