NERC Orders New Ship

01 Feb 2005

The UK Natural Environment Research Council, which has an annual budget of around £300m to fund and undertake impartial research in environmental sciences, has commissioned construction of a new £36m 5,000 tonne vessel, James Cook. To be built by Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk in Norway, she will replace the 20 year-old RRS Darwin for operation worldwide from the tropics to the edge of ice sheets. 

Tsunami Relief Aid Begins

01 Feb 2005

The widespread damage to livelihoods and infrastructures resulting from the magnitude 9 earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra on 26 December has brought a swift response from world aid agencies and organisations, including national hydrographic offices. 

BP-Scripps Agreement

01 Feb 2005

BP has concluded a $3m partnership agreement with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, for a three-year research programme. The initial focus of the programme, say the two organisations, will be to develop and evaluate new technologies for imaging and characterising seafloors and sub-seafloors.