Oregon State University has been chosen to lead the development of a new fleet of U.S. Ocean Research Vessels.  The National Science Foundation grant will start at $3-three million  but is expected to grow to $290-million over ten years. Demian Bailey with the university' says this solidifies OSU as a national player in earth, ocean and atmosphere science. The three vessels will be designed to be more energy efficient, with cutting edge technology. They'll also be acoustically silent and that will help improve research of marine mammals.