The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) requests funds for shipboard scientific support equipment that are needed to carry out NSF-supported scientific research on board the R/V Neil Armstrong and R/V Atlantis, two vessels operating as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF). The specific equipment requested include an emergency escape hatch for one of WHOI’s portable radioisotope laboratory vans; a 12-channel sonar synchronization unit for R/V Armstrong to allow for more of the ship’s acoustic systems to be run simultaneously; and a new meteorological and navigation (Met/Nav) foremast for R/V Atlantis, which would replace the original 30-year old mast that is suffering severe corrosion and has become a safety and operational concern. Due to budget constraints and other competing priorities, only the emergency escape hatch and the new Met/Nav mast are being funded. This equipment will help ensure the vessels maintain their high-level capabilities to support NSF-funded research and will improve the safety of the systems they are replacing or augmenting. 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 operati