R/V Rachel Carson Planning

Scheduling the R/V Rachel Carson can be requested through the UNOLS Marine Facilities Planner (MFP) or directly through UW MarOps Manager of Marine Operations Robert Kamphaus. 

Space aboard the Carson is limited to 24 science members during day trips and 10 on overnight trips. 

Please note: A marine technician is required for any cruise that will be operating shipboard scientific equipment and/or crane and wire usage.

Cruise Planning Timeline - R/V Rachel Carson

Upon Scheduling

Mission Summary

Provide the general location of study, goals, types of research including necessary equipment and sensors and rough science party size estimate. You may substitute a funding proposal if one was submitted, approved, and includes the following:

• Scientific sensors
• Other scientific equipment
• Ship provided hardware
• Deck mounted hardware provided by science party
• Space requirements
• Electrical requirements
• Hydraulic requirements
• Clearances, Permits, Licenses
  • Requests for foreign clearances, export licenses, or any applicable permitting must be be initiated at least six months prior to cruise departure.

Six Months Prior

Foreign clearances, permits, licenses

Four Weeks Prior

Cruise Planning Meeting 

Notice to Mariners, if necessary, due four Tuesdays before departure

If the planned work involves deployment of buoys or instruments that will be left in the water post cruise or out of sight of CAB during the cruise a Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) will need to be published.

If the planned work is in high traffic areas, in-port areas, restricted channels, and rivers may require publishing a LNM. If you have questions on this please reach out to UW MarOps.

• High traffic areas are in and adjacent to the Vessel Traffic Services lanes (VTS).  
• In-ports and their approaches serving heavy traffic (example Elliot Bay, Commencement Bay, Victoria Harbor).  
• Restricted channels with heavy traffic (example Rich Passage).
• Rivers used by heavy traffic (example the Columbia River between the entrance and Port of Portland).

Cruise Plan (UW MarOps can assist with this)

A detailed cruise plan includes each of the following:

• Anticipated cruise timeline
• Load and unload dates and requirements
• On-site and underway expectations and operations
• Daily itinerary
• Navigation data including waypoints and expected tracklines
• Updated equipment requests

Initial Participant List, collected in MFP

Two Weeks Prior

Finalized Passenger Manifest and Documentation, collected in MFP

Ensure participants are familiar with What you need to know before sailing on a UW vessel

Ensure participants watch the UNOLS Civility at Sea video.