[en] During the 1979 performance period the Engineering Design of the Long Coring Facility has addressed a variety of tasks relating to the establishment of a series of operating parameters for a conceptual 50 meter long coring system. The results of these efforts have indicated that an operational system capable of the recovery of 50 meter long cores, from oceanic depths in sediments of 400 gm cm² is wholly possible given existing technology. Specific tasks included in the 1979 Engineering Design are as follows: (1) Hydrodynamic Stability; (2) Corer Structural Stability; (3) Corer Penetration Mechanics; (4) Anticipated Corer Pullout forces; (5) LCF Cable Dynamics; and (6) Core Head Instrumentation. Within the realm of Subseabed Disposal Programs Master Plan the LCF, as a part of the Instrumentation Development activity, is currently on schedule. Delays in receiving funding during 1979 have reduced, some what, the latitude enjoyed by the LCF project and have limited our progress to a point where any future delay can result in the LCF's falling behind the program schedule. However, at this time the LCF is considered to be on schedule, but lacking in flexibility to respond to any major contingency that may arise in the future