Outboard engines for coastal research vessel

中型船舶是海岸系统研究的重要设备。 魁北克海洋研究人员长期以来一直使用波士顿捕鲸船进行采样和访问近岸地点，但由于发动机出现不可修复的问题，这艘船已不再运行。 在此，我们请求提供资金（20 401美元），用于更换这些发动机。 这一需求在目前尤为迫切，因为共同申请人最近获得了NSERC战略赠款，该赠款在很大程度上依赖于对圣劳伦斯生态系统中大片地理区域的水柱进行生物和物理采样。 除了这一迫切需要外，每个共同申请人对这一资源都有自己的特殊用途，包括浮游生物取样、部署现场仪器、进入近海和偏远地点以及作为潜水作业平台。 在这个时候，适度的资金投资将确保这一关键的研究基础设施保持运作，并可用于现在和未来的各种研究项目的后勤支持。

Midsize watercraft are essential equipment for studies of coastal systems.  Researchers of Québec-Océan have long had access to a Boston Whaler for sampling and accessing nearshore sites, but this boat is no longer operational due to irreparable problems with the motors.  Here we request funds ($20,401) for the replacement of these motors.  This need is particularly acute at this moment as the co-applicants have recent been awarded an NSERC Strategic grant that relies heavily on biological and physical sampling of the water column over a large geographic area in the St. Lawrence ecosystem.  Beyond this immediate need, each co-applicant has his or her own particular uses for this resource, including for sampling plankton, deploying field instruments, accessing off-shore and remote sites, and as a platform for diving operations.   A modest investment of funds at this time will ensure that this critical research infrastructure remains operational and available for the logistic support of a diverse set of research projects now and in the future.