Cruise Planning for R/V Sikuliaq
All cruise planning will now be done through the Marine Facilities Planning website . That said, this Sikuliaq Science Operations website will continue to be a central source for cruise planning information. Please contact the Marine Superintendent and Science Operations Manager if you have any questions.
Timeline:
1+Years Out
- Make sure you have submitted a SME request through the MFP website 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 Manual
- 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:
Please visit the Arctic Operations page if your project will operate in arctic waters.
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.
- Science party members apply for a TWIC card, if required by port(s) of call.
- Please contact the Science Operations Manager to request UNOLS supported facilities (Vans, Winches, or other specialized support)
- If you plan to fly Unmanned Aircraft, notify the Science Operations Manager during your pre-cruise planning meeting.
- A FAA Part 107 Certification is required. Please see the UNOLS UAS Operator Handbook.
- 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.
- 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
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
- Remote Network Access, i.e VPNs
- Complex science operations using the Green-Amber-Red (GAR) Model
2+ Weeks Out
- Please submit the following to the MFP website :
- Hazmat Inventory, Hazmat Usage Procedure and MSDS sheets
- Science Party Berthing Plan
- Science Project Waypoints:
- Please use this spreadsheet.
- Note: Sikuliaq's average transit speed is 10 knots.
- Please use this spreadsheet.
- Medical Information Forms:
- UAF does not use the MFP website to submit these.
- Please follow the directions on the Science Party Medical Forms webpage.
- Please read the required Chapter 1 from the UNOLS RVOC Safety Training Manual
- Please read the mandatory R/V Sikuliaq Cybersecurity Awareness Document
- If you have not viewed the UNOLS Shipboard Civility and Safety Videos, in the past 12 months, it is mandatory to view them before you board Sikuliaq.
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.
- The Sikuliaq Safety Presentation will be presented during your required Orientation and Safety Brief before or soon after the ship departs.
- 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.
