SHIP SCHEDULE (PROVIDED BY THE UNOLS SHIP INDEX)

R/V SEWARD JOHNSON • 2007 Schedule | 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001

THE UNOLS FLEET: UNOLS is a consortium of 61 academic institutions involved in federally funded oceanographic research. Twenty of these institutions operate the 28 ships of the UNOLS Fleet. Details on the characteristics of each ship are available online. The Fleet is located throughout the United States and includes ships in Bermuda and Panama. Ships of the Fleet range in size from 20 meters to 85 meters and operate in coastal waters of the United States, the Great Lakes and the oceans of the world. Ships of the Fleet are available to all federally funded investigators and can be requested by using the on-line Ship Time Request Forms.

THE SCHEDULING PROCESS: The UNOLS Council has a Scheduling Committee that is tasked with scheduling the UNOLS Fleet. The Committee meets at least once each year and is in constant communication, coordinating ship time requests and ship schedules.

Although each federal agency operates differently with respect to investigators that require ship time, all investigators in need of UNOLS ship time should utilize the on-line Ship Time Request Form (see web address above). For the most part, project planning begins with proposals or letters of intent to the respective funding agency outlining the science to be performed. NSF requires that proposals must be submitted for panel review by 15 February of the year before the requested cruise. The proposal (or letter of intent) should also reflect the ship time needed and should include a hard copy of the Ship Time Request Form. A hard copy can be printed from the screen or can be the text email copy forwarded to the submitting PI. This web-based form is replacing the NSF Form 831 for NSF investigators.

Requests for ship time should be completed as early as possible, usually well before funding has been received. The online ship time request form can be completed in draft form for coordination with collaborating scientists. To get the form into the system it must be submitted by clicking on the 'Final Form Submission' button. It is then electronically transmitted and automatically addressed to the ship operators that can best perform the work. A copy is also sent to the submitting PI, funding agency indicated and to the UNOLS Office. The request will be posted on a world map in the geographical location of the proposed cruise. Separate maps are listed for each year. The maps are provided online. These maps are useful in cruise planning particularly when cruises are planned for remote locations. By viewing the maps it is easy to discern other investigators that might be planning science cruises in areas of interest. Collaboration with these investigators is encouraged possibly saving ship costs and enhancing the possibility of funding.

Once submitted, the ship time request is used by the Scheduling Committee to develop cost effective schedules. Investigators can view the ship schedules on-line. Final schedules do not firm up until late in the year before the cruise has been funded. If the assigned timeframe of your cruise is not satisfactory it is appropriate to directly contact the scheduler listed on the shipâs schedule. If the ship assigned is not acceptable then communication should be made directly with the Ship Scheduling Chair or the UNOLS Office. Both addresses can be found on the UNOLS homepage.

For more details on UNOLS, the ship schedules and the scheduling process follow the links listed above or start with the UNOLS home page at www.unols.org. All investigators should read the Research Vessel Safety Standards and Chapter 1 of the Safety Training Manual. Both documents can be found on the UNOLS web site. If work is scheduled in waters of a foreign state information on Department of State clearance requirements can be found on the ship time request form referenced above. For further information it is recommended that you contact the UNOLS office directly via e-mail office@unols.org or phone (831) 632-4410