Chapter headings and selected papers: Introductions. Global aspects of megascience (P.A.J. Tindemans). Policy. The world weather watch: is an ocean equivalent meaningful or realistic? (P.E. Dexter et al. ). The challenge to observe the world ocean circulation and its variability (W.P.M. de Ruijter). Policy - An example of a National Approach. Technology: Instruments/Monitoring Networks. SEAWATCH, performance and future. (S.E. Hansen, J.H. Stel). SeaNet: European workshop on fixed monitoring networks in the North Sea region (R. van der Poel, J. Rozema). Technology: Remote Sensing. ESA's support of operational oceanography: current status and future plans (J.A. Johannessen, G. Duchossois). Economics: Benefits/Costs. Estimates of the costs and benefits of operational oceanography at the single industry level (N.C. Flemming). Metocean data collection: short-term costs and long-term benefits? (C.J. Shaw). Economics: Logistics/Structures. The economics of operational oceanographic services (P. Ryder). Baltic. Towards a Baltic oceanographical operational system, 'BOOS' (H. Dahlin). Arctic. Operational climate monitoring program of the Arctic ice cover (O.M. Johannessen et al. ). Atlantic. Global ocean data assimilation of temperature data: preliminary results (N. Pinardi et al. ). North-West Shelf: Pysical Models. Towards dynamic coupling of open ocean and shelf sea models (A.M. Davies, J. Xing). North-West Shelf: Ecological Models. The importance of high frequency data in ecological modelling (J.I. Allen). Mediterranean. The EuroGOOS Mediterranean test case: science and implementation plan (N. Pinardi et al. ) Regional GOOS. GOOS Modules. Health of the ocean-module: the HELCOM example (J.M. Leppanen). Developing Countries. Discussions and Conclusions.