Cruise Planning for R/V Sikuliaq
Timeline:
1+Years Out
- Request Ship Time via UNOLS or contact the Marine Superintendent
- Seek Permits, Permissions and Impact Studies
- Seek Clearance to work in Foreign Waters
- Explore the Alaska Sikuliaq Program
- Become familiar with the UNOLS Research Vessel Safety Standards
- Request Additional Internet Bandwidth to support your cruise. Internet Access aboard Sikuliaq is limited. Email the Science Operations Manager for information on expandability options and cost.
Additional Items For Arctic Operations:
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Complete the R/V Sikuliaq Arctic Field Plan Form. This generates a one page summary of your science operations. See an example here.
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For more context on the above document, see: Development of best practices for scientific research vessel operations in a changing Arctic: A case study for R/V Sikuliaq.
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Become familiar with Sensitive Operations in the Arctic.
6+ Months Out
- Please contact the Marine Superintendent and Science Operations Manager to schedule your first pre-cruise planning meeting.
- Learn about Mapserver, a Web-based, GIS Mapping and Data Tool available aboard Sikuliaq.
- Some data products need to be requested and can require lengthy lead times.
- R2R Eventlogger (ELOG) is available to all science party members via the ship's local website. Contact the Science Operations Manager with any questions. Sikuliaq's Marine Science Techs can help with questions/setup when aboard. Screen shot
- Science party members apply for a TWIC card, if required by port(s) of call.
- Request permissions to fly Unmanned Aircraft from the Alaska Center for UAS Integration
- Please contact the Science Operations Manager to request UNOLS supported facilities (Vans, Winches, or other specialized support)
- Review information about Export Controls especially if your project will be sailing in or through foreign waters or your project has foreign national science party members.
2+ Months Out
If your cruise will involve/require any of the following items please click on the links below:
- Shipping Scientific Cargo
- Hazardous Materials/Chemicals
- Lithium Batteries
- Radio Active Materials/Stable Isotopes
- Explosives
- Ice Stations
- Diving
- Portable Winches/Handling Systems, not supplied by Sikuliaq
- Surface Buoys or sub-surface moorings
- Complex science operations using the Green-Amber-Red (GAR) Model
2+ Weeks Out
Please submit:
- An official cruise plan document and a deck layout to the Science Operations Manager and Marine Superintendent
- A Hazmat Inventory, Hazmat Usage Procedure and MSDS sheets to the Science Operations Manager
- A Science Party Crew List
- Science Party Medical Information Forms
- A Science Party Berthing Plan
- Science Project Waypoints. Please use this spreadsheet.
- Note: Sikuliaq's average transit speed is 10 knots.
- Please read the required Chapter 1 from the UNOLS RVOC Safety Training Manual
Sailing Aboard R/V Sikuliaq
- Embarkation
- Moving aboard: Science members may move aboard on the first mobilization day (and are encouraged to be aboard no later than the night before departure), and move off by 1630 on the last de-mobilization day. Science party personnel may eat aboard starting with lunch of the first mobilization day through lunch of the last de-mobilization day. Contact the Marine Superintendent or Science Operations Manager if you have questions.
- Science Staterooms
- Life aboard Sikuliaq What to expect, pack, policies, etc.
- Disembarking
- All cargo off-loading and the cleaning of rooms/science spaces should be complete by 1630 on the last de-mobilization day. Deviations from this schedule must be arranged in the pre-planning of the cruise.
- UNOLS Post cruise Assessment Report
