Station for Research vessel Weatherbird II , which is involved in critical global warming research in local waters.

BBSR director Dr. Tony Knap said the 115-foot ship was the most successfully funded vessel in America's research fleet.

And he said the grant is the largest amount of money the US National Science Foundation has awarded BBSR to date.

The money comes at a time when other research stations are struggling to secure grants for scientific projects as bidding becomes increasingly competitive.

Dr. Knap said the $1.3 million grant was proof of the NSF's confidence in BBSR staff scientists' capabilities and Bermuda's geographic position to conduct important oceanographic research.

BBSR is currently seeking to find out whether the so-called greenhouse effect is warming the world's oceans as more carbon dioxide gets into the atmosphere.

While conceding the BBSR was also having a "tough time'' securing grants, Dr.

Knap said it was faring better than other research organisations.

"We are suffering the effects of the recession as much as anyone,'' he said.

"Research grants are now done on a very competitive basis in the US due to the whole election process. More money is going into social programmes than science and the result is a hold-up in funding for the various programmes.

"There are also not as many students taking programmes at the facility due to parents being laid off. The recession is not only affecting tourism but the type of visitor who comes here for intellectual stimulus.'' Dr. Knap said the refit, which will take place at a US shipyard between next January and May, would enable scientists to conduct research farther off Bermuda and stay out for longer.

A bow thruster for stability at sea and three permanent laboratories will be installed.

The wheelhouse will be moved to a higher deck and four new cabins will be built to increase the ship's sleeping capacity to 22 people.

The galley will be modified to provide more seating and the air conditioning system will be replaced.

And a new hydraulic winch and system to double the ship's water sampling capabilities will be installed. Scientists will be able to get water samples from 24 different depths at a time.

Bids are being reviewed and sites inspected to determine the best shipyard, Dr. Knap said.

Assistant director of operations, Mr. Harry Barnes, will direct the project while Weatherbird II captain Lee Black and chief engineer Tony Sherriff will supervise.

A partial refit took place last year to modify the transom to improve ship stability. And major changes were made to the former oil rig before it was commissioned as BBSR's research vessel.

The ship is set to leave Bermuda in early January and is expected to resume oceanographic quests off Bermuda by early May.

WEATHERBIRD II -- set for a $1.3 million refit early next year.