It is projected that many oceanographic vessels of the European regional fleet will need to be renewed in the coming years. The expert group identified a need for strategic reassessment and co-ordination, at European level, of oceanographic vessels, as part of a broader assessment and co-ordination of European MRIs. The GSO were tasked to develop and promote a "Framework for a coherent and co-ordinated world-wide development and operation of global research infrastructures". The global nature of the challenges ahead requires facilities that are too complex, and too expensive to be built and operated by individual countries.