THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORWAY The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) is the central, national institution for knowledge of the bedrock, mineral resources, superficial deposits and groundwater in Norway. NGU is a state institution responsible to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (NHD). As a research-based agency NGU is also adviser to other government departments in matters relating to geology and mineral resources. NGU has a budgeted turnover of NOK 122 million in 1997. C. 75% is financed by the national budget via NHD, while the remainder is funded by income in connection with commissions and co-operative projects. NGU has a staff of 220 of whom approximately half are scientific personnel. The Marine Geology Project Group consists of 8 staff with a broad range of experience in geology, geochemistry and database management. In addition, the Marine Geology Project Group activities involves personnel from NGU’s computing, laboratory and technical departments. NGU has the national mandate to co-ordinate regional investigations of the upper part of the sea floor in Norwegian areas, and carries out this task in co-operation with five other governmental institutions, including the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. The research also involves universities and other research institutions nationally and abroad. The primary aims of these investigations are: produce and supply marine geological information from the upper part of the sea-floor in Norwegian sea areas for the use of public services, industry, planning and science. give premises for national involvement in international co-operation with regard to issues relevant to the environment and resources. NGU runs a national database for storage of marine geological data from Norwegian sea areas, as part of NGU’s national geological information system. The databases presently contains references to more than 5000 sampling stations and more than 10000 seismic lines. Some recent and ongoing projects: A large number of coastal investigations related to marine geological resources and engineering has been performed in the last decades. Hazard assessment related to large clay slides in the northern fjords is one of the present key activities, involving NGU’s research vessel F/F Seisma. Compilation of reference data (literature, seismic lines, sampling stations) and structuring into ORACLE databases has been done since 1989. Seabed investigations for the industry and governmental institutions, both as commissions and co-operative projects, are irregularly performed. The Skagerrak Project (1990-1996) in the north-eastern part of the North Sea has been the main offshore activity since 1990, carried out in co-operation with other national government agencies, and national and international research institutions. The Skagerrak Project has focused on regional investigations related to geology, geochemistry and environment, with a heavy weight on pollution analyses. Future investigations are planned on the continental margin off Mid-Norway. CURRICULUM VITAE OF LEADING PERSONNEL Name: Terje Thorsnes Date of Birth: 23rd of June 1960 Nationality: Norwegian Qualifications: Cand. Scient., Geology, University of Bergen 1985 Present position: Project Manager, Marine Geology Project Group Experience: 1995-1998: NGU, Marine Geology. Environmental geochemistry offshore, project group management, co-editor of NGU’s publications on marine geology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), database management. 1989-1995: NGU, Marine Geology. Offshore bedrock mapping, database management (project leader) and GIS. 1986-1989: NGU, Bedrock section. Geological mapping and mineral resource investigations onshore, assistant in compilation of offshore bedrock maps.