U.K. center provides national focus for oceanographic sciences and technology

The Southampton Oceanography Centre at Empress Dock, UK, conducts ocean surface and depth research and is the country's biggest single investment in marine studies. The center, which was opened on Apr. 17, 1996, by Prince Philip, features a research aquarium, laboratories, temperature-controlled and pressure test facilities. It is also equipped with modern oceanographic devices such as the Towered Ocean Bottom Instrument seafloor survey system, sensors and a range of robotic vehicles.