diff --git a/compass/ocean/__init__.py b/compass/ocean/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8b13789179
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compass/ocean/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+
diff --git a/compass/ocean/ocean.cfg b/compass/ocean/ocean.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6569e91ef3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compass/ocean/ocean.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# This config file has default config options for the ocean core
+
+# The paths section points COMPASS to external paths
+[paths]
+
+# the relative or absolute path to the root of a branch where MPAS-Ocean
+# has been built
+mpas_model = MPAS-Model/ocean/develop
+
+# The namelists section defines paths to example_compact namelists that will be used
+# to generate specific namelists. By default, these point to the forward and
+# init namelists in the default_inputs directory after a successful build of
+# the ocean model.  Change these in a custom config file if you need a different
+# example_compact.
+[namelists]
+forward = ${paths:mpas_model}/default_inputs/namelist.ocean.forward
+init    = ${paths:mpas_model}/default_inputs/namelist.ocean.init
+
+# The streams section defines paths to example_compact streams files that will be used
+# to generate specific streams files. By default, these point to the forward and
+# init streams files in the default_inputs directory after a successful build of
+# the ocean model. Change these in a custom config file if you need a different
+# example_compact.
+[streams]
+forward = ${paths:mpas_model}/default_inputs/streams.ocean.forward
+init    = ${paths:mpas_model}/default_inputs/streams.ocean.init
+
+
+# The executables section defines paths to required executables. These
+# executables are provided for use by specific test cases.  Most tools that
+# COMPASS needs should be in the conda environment, so this is only the path
+# to the MPAS-Ocean executable by default.
+[executables]
+model = ${paths:mpas_model}/ocean_model
diff --git a/compass/ocean/tests/__init__.py b/compass/ocean/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4adc558666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compass/ocean/tests/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+
+def collect():
+    """
+    Get a list of testcases in this configuration
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    testcases : list
+        A dictionary of configurations within this core
+
+    """
+    testcases = list()
+    for configuration in []:
+        testcases.extend(configuration.collect())
+
+    return testcases
diff --git a/compass/testcases.py b/compass/testcases.py
index e6eee0d989..23035b901b 100644
--- a/compass/testcases.py
+++ b/compass/testcases.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from compass.examples import tests as example_tests
+from compass.ocean import tests as ocean_tests
 
 
 def collect():
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ def collect():
 
     testcase_list = list()
 
-    for tests in [example_tests]:
+    for tests in [example_tests, ocean_tests]:
         testcase_list.extend(tests.collect())
 
     validate(testcase_list)