The main purpose of this legislation, known as the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act or the ANCHOR Act, is to enhance the cybersecurity and telecommunications capabilities of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This fleet consists of research vessels that are used for oceanographic studies and are funded by the National Science Foundation. Key provisions of the Act require the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop a comprehensive plan within one year of the law's enactment.