This project empowers a metadata- and clearinghouse-enabled organization to assist an international partner to code metadata using the FGDC standard and become a registered clearinghouse node. Specifically, the project will train IT personnel of the Chinese National Marine Data & Information Service (NMDIS), Tianjin China, in the FGDC metadata standard and Z39.50 installation and configuration, ultimately to realize a new registered node in the FGDC NSDI Clearinghouse called “PICES – NMDIS (National Marine Data & Information Service)”. This project is a component of a wider-scoped effort: a metadata federation of member countries (Canada, Peoples Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, USA) of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES). The US, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan already have registered nodes, with Korea having two. This project will add a sixth node: “PICES – NMDIS”, representing China. NMDIS, under the Chinese State Oceanic Administration (SOA, established in 1958), is a national comprehensive sector for research on marine information technologies and service for public benefit.