>> Narrator Kapiolani Ching, UH student: The
University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of
Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, or
SOEST, recently received the ceremonial key
to its new marine facility at Pier 35 from
the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation.
>> Narrator: The transportation department
along with elected officials and UH representatives
conducted a blessing and ceremony to formally
convey the newly renovated Pier 35 facility
to SOEST.
The $17 million project involved partial demolition
and renovations to the Pier 35 building and
is part of the Department of Transportation's
Harbor Modernization Plan to increase container
terminal space at the state's busiest commercial
harbor.
>> Narrator: UH operates two major research
vessels, the R/V Kilomoana and the R/V Kaimikaiokanaloa,
as well as several small boats, manned submersibles,
remotely operated, autonomous and towed underwater
vehicles and ocean gliders.
Many of the research cruises and marine operations
are done in collaboration with other specialized
research groups and programs at UH.
>> Brian Taylor, Dean, School of Ocean and
Earth Science and Technology: This is a new
page in the long centennial history of marine
science at the University of Hawaii.
It's a great day with a new facility, new
building and a renovated pier.
>> Narrator: SOEST is an important economic
driver for the state, bringing in about $100
million in federal and international research
grants a year, of which about $10 million
is used to operate the UH research ships.
SOEST also employs about 1,000 workers through
its various programs.
>> Taylor: Marine science is one of our core
education and research programs.
We're ranked in the top 15 in the world in
ocean and earth and atmospheric sciences,
so it's a key aspect of what we do.
>> Narrator: Taylor expects to move SOESTS'
marine operations to Pier 35 by this summer.
