GOMESA Application Details

1. Title of Project: USM Research and Teaching Vessel
2. Location of Project: Jackson County, MS
3. Requesting Organization: The University of Southern Mississippi
4a. Name: T. Michelle Shows
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 601-266-4119
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 118 College Drive #5157
4e. Address Line 2
4e. City, State Zip: Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
4f. Email: ORA-PAM@usm.edu
5. FundingRequested: $15,000,000
Awarded Amount:: $0
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: Yes
7a. Amount of Additional Funds: $2,500,000
7b. Source of Additional Funds: Funds will be requested through the 2024 Gulf Coast Restoration Funding Call
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $17,500,000
9. Project Description/Overview: The USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is requesting funds for design and fabrication of a new vessel for research and teaching to replace an aging and soon-to-be-retired vessel that provides critical access and capacity for scientists, students, federal agencies, non-profits, and industry partners in Mississippi and the northern Gulf of Mexico. USM is a leader in ocean science and engineering research and teaching with USM’s GCRL providing scientific support to the state of Mississippi and the broader Gulf of Mexico region and academic programming since 1948. As Mississippi’s designated marine laboratory, GCRL has historically maintained the unique advantage of owning and operating a fleet of research vessels that provide critical resources for research, education, and outreach efforts. The use of large vessels at USM enhances and expands the high-quality education and research opportunities the University can provide as a leading marine science institution, while delivering valuable benefits to our community and associated economy. An essential vessel in USM’s fleet is the R/V Tommy Munro. This 97-foot research vessel was completed in 1981 and for more than 40 years it has filled a critical role for research and teaching. This vessel has capacity for and has been widely used to conduct trawling surveys; long-lining; deployment and recovery of arrays, structures, buoys and moorings; cable laying and sea/shore interface installation; submarine and diverless systems support; camera platform and tracking assignments and oceanographic surveys and logistics. After more than four decades of service, the R/V Tommy Munro is at the end of its usable life, as maintenance costs for the steel-hulled vessel are becoming prohibitive for its continued use. The outdated design and technologies inherent to a vessel its age are also impacting its usability and ability to support and train students and the workforce. Although USM’s fleet has other large vessels, the capabilities of R/V Tommy Munro are unmatched in the fleet. The R/V Point Sur, a USM vessel of similar size, is also aging and will be retired in a few years, and the upcoming, larger RCRV Gilbert R. Mason, at 198 ft is much larger and unable to replicate R/V Tommy Munro capabilities. The vessel requested here will enable USM and GCRL to maintain its unique capacity to provide critical resources to benefit students, researchers, the public, and Mississippi’s economy.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: The overarching goal of this project is to design and fabricate a new vessel for research and teaching to replace an aging and soon-to-be-retired vessel that provides critical access and capacity for scientists, students, federal agencies, non-profits, and industry partners in Mississippi and the northern Gulf of Mexico. In support of the goal, the objectives of this project are to: (1) Design a modern vessel to support critical research and teaching needs using sustainable and durable materials with low-emissions and affordable maintenance and operational costs to ensure broad use for coastal protection, conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure affected by coastal wetland losses, and (2) Fabricate the new vessel prior to retirement of the current vessel to maintain continuous support of critical research and teaching needs that require water access and modern technology capabilities
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses: Yes: The proposed project will design and fabricate a vessel to provide water access for research and education focused on coastal protection, conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetland losses. Entities that use the current vessel and have need for a continued use include federal and state agencies and university and private sector companies whose data collection activities support understanding coastal and offshore environments and are linked to conservation, restoration, management, and/or protection of resources.

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.: Yes: This project will design and fabricate a vessel to replace the R/V Tommy Munro as the only non-Federal vessel capable of conducting groundfish trawl sampling for the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP). SEAMAP is a State/Federal/University program for collection, management, and dissemination of fishery-independent data and information in the southeastern United States. The main goal of SEAMAP is to collect long-term, standardized, fishery-independent data on the condition of regional living resources and their environment. As part of this standardized effort, SEAMAP needs reliable research vessels to conduct their sampling, which this new, modernized vessel would provide.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: The following timeline and milestones have been developed to ensure major deliverables are accomplished. ‘Year 0’ represents current fiscal year 2025 – 2026 in which USM is in the process of planning to identify expanded research and teaching needs for the vessel and identify the associated vessel specifications. These dates are defined on a quarterly basis to begin July 1, 2024 and be completed June 30, 2028. Milestone 1.0: Vessel Needs Planning – 2025-2026: USM investment to identify expanded research and teaching needs for the vessel and associated vessel specifications – Year 0 Milestone 2.0: Select Shipyard for Architecture, Design, and Construction – Quarter 1 Milestone 3.0: Architecture and Design of Research and Teaching Vessel – Quarter 2 through Quarter 6 Milestone 3.1: Basic structure, hull design, and propulsion system determined Milestone 3.2: Customization for scientific and educational needs to include accommodations, labs spaces, and deck equipment Milestone 3.3: Final review and approval from USM and IHL Milestone 3.4: Final review and approval from the United States Coast Guard Milestone 4.0: Fabrication of the Research and Teaching Vessel – Quarter 6 through Quarter 16 Milestone 4.1: Hull fabrication and erection Milestone 4.2: Outfitting of heavy machinery and ship systems Milestone 4.3: Launch vessel Milestone 4.4: Installation and testing of deck equipment and instrumentation Milestone 4.5: Sea trials with USM and shipyard to ensure the vessel is performing as expected and with optimum outputs Milestone 4.6: Sea trials with United States Coast Guard to ensure safety and operational compliance Milestone 4.7: Official ship designation and approval to sail granted by United States Coast Guard Milestone 4.8: Delivery of the research and teaching vessel to the USM GCRL Milestone 5: Research, Teaching, and Industry Partner Development – Quarter 2 through Quarter 15 Milestone 6: Marketing and Communications – Quarter 1 through Quarter 16 Milestone 7: Launch of Vessel Services – Quarter 16 Milestone 8: Quarterly Reporting – Quarter 1 through Quarter 16 (30 days after the end of every quarter)
13. Project Timing: Deferred/Long-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):: Other Pre-planning stage Funds Budgeted

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: The design and fabrication of a new, modern vessel will enable GCRL to expand its unique capacity to provide critical resources for research, education, and outreach efforts to benefit students, researchers, the public, and Mississippi’s economy with access for projects that enhance, protect, and conserve Mississippi's marine resources. This project will increase the present and long-term competitive advantages of the region and directly enhance research and innovative technologies and impact present and future generations in Mississippi through experiential educational opportunities. The new, modern research and teaching vessel will advance conservation efforts through many avenues, but notably through the reliance on the vessel by State, Federal, and University partners through the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP). SEAMAP is a State/Federal/University program for collection, management, and dissemination of fishery-independent data and information in the southeastern United States. The main goal of SEAMAP is to collect long-term, standardized, fishery-independent data on the condition of regional living marine resources and their environment. These data are used to for assessment and management of many state- and federally managed fisheries species. The R/V Tommy Munro has served as the only non-Federal vessel capable of conducting groundfish trawl sampling through the SEAMAP program for multiple decades. The new, modernized vessel to replace the R/V Tommy Munro will ensure continuity of SEAMAP sampling using a standardized approach and will also enable expansion and new opportunities for comprehensive and accurate assessments to enable conservation, protection, and enhancement of the marine interest in Mississippi and beyond.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 4
17. Estimated Completion Date: 6/30/2029

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $0
Travel: $0
Architecture & Engineering: $1,000,000
Legal: $0
Consulting: $0
Construction: $13,988,000
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $0
Indirects: $0
Other: $12,000
Total: $15,000,000


Internal Project Number: 1297
Application Submission Date: 06/28/2024
Fiscal Year: 2026
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:

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