Center Introduction

History

In 1983, recognizing the need for domestic research and teaching in the field of oceanography, the National Science Council allocated NT$250 million and commissioned the Norwegian shipyard in Bergen to construct an 800-ton oceanographic research vessel, "Ocean Researcher I." Construction began on July 1, 1983, and was completed and launched on July 31, 1984. The vessel was finalized and underwent the related handover procedures on September 15 of the same year. On January 24, 1985, it returned to Taiwan and was handed over to the Institute of Oceanography at National Taiwan University for unified operation and management. After additional installation of some detection instruments, it officially began oceanographic research operations in April of the same year. To manage, maintain, and efficiently procure various precision and valuable instruments used in oceanographic research, the National Science Council established the "Ocean Researcher I Instrument Center" on March 1, 1986, . The center incorporating incorporated the research instruments and equipment on the Ocean Researcher I into the center, and was responsible for the procurement, maintenance, calibration, and other upkeep of valuable instruments, and as well as providing consultation services for operational technology. In 1994, with the successive commissioning of "Ocean Researcher II" and "Ocean Researcher III," the "Ocean Researcher I Instrument Center" was renamed the "Oceanographic Research Vessel Instrument Center." In 1996, it was incorporated into the College of Science at National Taiwan University and renamed the "Instrumentation Center - Marine Exploration Division" (abbreviated as "Marine Exploration Instrument Center,NTU.”Its services to include Ocean Researcher II and III, and opening applications for technical support to marine research scholars nationwide.

Starting in 2011, to strengthen the connection between marine science and technology, the Marine Exploration Instrument Center began hiring advisory professors, shifting its focus from purely technical services to independent research and development, as well as equipment integration. This transformed from purely technical services and instrument maintenance to independent research and development and equipment integration. The center into a key player in advancing marine science and offshore exploration to new heights.

The official name of the center today is Instrumentation Center - Ocean Exploration Group, NTU., and its primary research and office facilities are located on the first floor of the NTU Global Change Center. Funded by the NSC, it serves as a key support center for ocean research in Taiwan. It is a service center funded by the National Science Council for national marine research. Although its name and affiliated units have undergone several changes, its essence of serving and supporting Taiwan's marine science research and innovation remains unchanged. Its main tasks are:

• Responsible for maintaining the optimal state of existing instruments and equipment on research vessels.
• Improving the reliability of various equipment.
• Providing recommendations for new instrument purchases to the National Science Council.
• Introducing new observation technologies and updating research equipment.
• Enhancing observation technology to assist and support research projects.
• Independently developing and integrating instruments and equipment to materialize researchers' ideas.

Over the years, the center has provided technical support for both offshore and onshore operations related to various NSC research projects. Its services are not limited to Ocean Researcher 1; other domestic research vessels, such as Ocean Researcher 2, Ocean Researcher 3, and Legend, have also received support. Additionally, when domestic researchers need to conduct exploration work aboard foreign research vessels, the center can provide technical staff or equipment support upon approval. To help the public better understand the center's operations, since 1999, domestic researchers have been able to directly apply for various services through the center's website (https://ntuio.oc.ntu.edu.tw). The website also provides detailed information on the status of the center’s existing instruments for public inquiry.

Current Status

Currently, the center employs ten technicians and one administrative staff member. In addition, the Institute of Oceanography, NTU provides two technical specialists to assist with the center’s operations, help coordinate activities with the new Ocean Researcher 1, and supervise technical staff, all working together to provide technical support for the center.

After over 30 years of development, the center has fostered a highly professional and dedicated technical team. The range of services and equipment used by the center continues to expand. To institutionalize its operations and ensure transparency, NTU has established relevant management and operational guidelines, including the National Taiwan University College of Science Instrumentation Center Setup Guidelines, National Taiwan University College of Science Instrumentation Center Operational Management Guidelines, and the Marine Exploration Instrument Center Technical Staff Employment and Promotion Guidelines. These regulations provide clear bases for personnel employment, management, and promotion. Additionally, the center’s service system is governed by transparent and clear regulations and application procedures, such as instrument borrowing agreements and personnel and equipment support applications, all of which can be downloaded from the center’s website (https://ntuio.oc.ntu.edu.tw).

Currently, the center manages a wide range of instrumentation, divided into approximately 20 major categories based on functionality. The specifications, features, and usage instructions for each instrument are clearly displayed on the center's website. Moreover, standard operating procedures for important instruments have been compiled into detailed technical manuals by the technicians, and these are also made available on the website.

Operations

The center is led by its director, Prof. Chen-Fen Huang (Director of the Institute of Oceanography, NTU). The director consults with professors from the Institute of Oceanography to select suitable candidates for various advisory roles. Currently, the co-director is Assoc. Prof. Ho-Han Hsu. The advisory professors include: Asst. Prof. Je-Yuan Hsu (Marine Physics), Asst. Prof. Yu-Te Alan Hsieh (Marine Chemistry), Asst. Prof. Ming-Tsung Chung (Marine Biology and Fisheries), and Asst. Prof. Wei-Yu Chang (Atmospheric Radar, Chung Yuan Christian University). Daily affairs, such as assigning tasks to technicians and managing work assignments, are handled by co-director Assoc. Prof. Ho-Han Hsu, along with the technical specialists Shie-Dong Chiu, Yu-Fang Ma and lead technician Mr. Shiang-Chih Shie. The advisory professors oversee the technical staff, providing technical advice, answering questions, and offering development recommendations during business consultations. Each year, they conduct preliminary assessments of the technicians under their supervision, with results submitted to the director for approval.

Future Outlook

With the Ministry of Science and Technology (renamed the National Science and Technology Council in 2022) implementing the replacement plan for Ocean Researcher I, II, and III since 2016, the three newly built research vessels have successively replaced the 35-year-old Ocean Researcher I and the 25-year-old Ocean Researcher II and III, joining the national marine research fleet's exploration work. Taiwan's marine science community is also entering a new era of integration with international marine research. Therefore, in the next 3–5 years, each research vessel will divide tasks, develop their respective exploration technologies, lead Taiwan's marine science research and research teams to compete and cooperate with international mainstream marine research, and guide research directions during this critical period. The Instrumentation Center has experienced the offshore exploration era of the Ocean Researcher I research vessel, and after more than 30 years of development, it has closely integrated with more than 30 faculty members of the Institute of Oceanography at National Taiwan University and marine science database technicians, possessing

1. Strong marine science research capabilities,
2. Proficient offshore exploration technology,
3. The ability to independently develop instruments,
4. Rich experience in international cooperative exploration, and
5. A strong desire to learn and introduce innovative international exploration technologies.

Based on a comprehensive assessment of scientific objectives, university strengths, and international connections, the center’s future development will focus on advancing from remote sensing of atmospheric structures to seabed core sampling, with mid- to long-term goals in:

1. Installation and maintenance of shipborne atmospheric-oceanic observation radars,
2. Customization and development of observation instrument systems,
3. Operation and maintenance of underwater autonomous and remotely operated vehicles.