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www.sea-technology.com October 2015 / st 49 HRI Grant to Study Health Of Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Scientists with the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies received a $398,349 federal grant to develop a framework for evaluating the health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and its ties to the well-being of coastal residents. The goal of the project is to identify a matrix of scientifc indicators, conditions that can be measured to capture a pic- ture of the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and the ecosystem services it provides. Ecosystem services are benefts and uses that residents gain from the environment. They include recreational activities like fshing and surfng to the pure personal enjoyment derived from living on the coast. Researchers plan to develop an assessment and decision framework that can be used by federal, state and local agen- cies, NGOs, and other groups in support of ongoing restora- tion and protection projects in the Gulf of Mexico. New England Coral Canyons, Seamounts Could be Federally Protected The Barack Obama Administration is considering what could be the frst-ever monument in the Atlantic Ocean and the frst in waters off the continental U.S. The announcement specifcally identifes part of the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts Area, which includes fve underwater can- yons and four seamounts as high as 7,000 ft. above the ocean foor. The waters teem with diverse marine life, such as plank- ton, squid, sperm whale, seabirds and sea turtles, according to Brad Sewell, senior attorney at the NRDC's Oceans Pro- gram. This area is critical to the health of ocean fsh, which are the lifeblood of many Atlantic coastal communities yet are highly vulnerable to long-term harm from commercial fsh- ing, oil and gas exploration, mineral extraction and climate change. Obama Administration Seeks To Ramp Up Arctic Efforts U.S. President Barack Obama is looking to accelerate the acquisition of additional icebreakers to ensure the U.S. can operate year-round in the Arctic Ocean. In addition, the Obama Administration will spearhead efforts to enhance sci- entifc observations of the Arctic to increase understanding of this region. The administration will propose to accelerate acquisition of a replacement heavy icebreaker to 2020 from 2022, begin planning for construction of additional icebreakers, and call on Congress to work with the administration to provide suf- fcient resources to fund these critical investments. NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will take ac- tion to promote safe marine operations and transportation in the Arctic through mapping and charting efforts in the Ber- ing, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, for which existing maps and charts are nonexistent or outdated. Additionally, north of Dutch Harbor, located on the Aleu- tian Chain, there are no deepwater harbors in the U.S. Arctic capable of providing shelter to vessels operating in, or transit- ing through, the U.S. Arctic region. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun a process to evaluate the feasibility of deepening and extending Nome's harbor capabilities. Such a project could potentially enhance the region's ability to shel- ter ships from the Arctic weather and serve as a safe standby location for vessels involved in operations farther north. NOAA will modernize and install additional instrumen- tation on the Arctic coast to monitor the effects of climate change and enable safe marine operations and transporta- tion—including a permanent National Water Level Observ- ing Network station to monitor sea level rise, and up to six temporary water-level stations. In 2015, NOAA will announce the availability of a new operational Arctic sea ice thickness satellite product. This year, the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Network (AM- BON) will launch the frst of three sampling cruises as part of a fve-year demonstration project to gather a broad range of Arctic marine biodiversity data. Report Focuses on Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Ka- trina, the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the White House has announced the release of the report "Ecosystem- Service Assessment: Research Needs for Coastal Green Infra- structure," which recommends prioritized areas for federal research to support coastal green infrastructure that will en- hance the coastal United States' natural defenses, particularly as climate change will contribute to an increased frequency and intensity of weather events. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused more than $100 billion in damages and killed more than 1,800 people. In 2012, Hur- ricane Sandy struck the Eastern Seaboard, causing 72 deaths and causing more than $50 billion in damages. Federal recommendations made after Hurricane Sandy highlighted the use of green infrastructure to increase the pro- tection and resilience of coastal communities, and called on agencies to advance their integration into disaster-readiness strategies. Coastal areas are among the most populated, economi- cally valuable and ecologically productive regions in the U.S. While many are protected by "gray infrastructure" like levees, seawalls and bulkheads, these can be expensive to maintain and can even damage the ecosystems around them. Field Trials Start for First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Prototype The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) celebrated the launch of feld trials for the frst prototype hydrogen fuel cell unit to power onboard refrigerated containers. MARAD, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, provided $815,000 to fund the clean energy-powered container unit that could pave the way to dramatically reduced harmful emissions at the Port of Hono- lulu. During the six-month deployment period, performance feedback and data will be recorded to determine the en- vironmental, energy and cost savings from the hydrogen fuel cell unit. Afterward, Sandia National Laboratories will analyze the operational, safety and cost performance data to develop a business case for using hydrogen fuel cells for marine use. ST capital report