Research Vessel Rates 

Notes

1) Provisional rates are adjusted at the end of the year to account for all costs and ship days. See below for details.
2) Projected rates are our best estimate to be used for proposal budgeting, and may differ from provisional and final rates.
3) Rates are shown with 16% overhead. SIO proposals to non-Federal agencies may be subject to other indirect rates; contact SIO Contracts & Grants for applicable rate.
4) All rates include crew, fuel, food, standard shipboard technical services and limited port logistics.

Explanation of usage rates

Provisional Rate

Federal law requires that we charge all federal users the same rate for similar service.  This rate cannot exceed the rate charged to non-federal users for the same service.  The SIO federal day rate is determined as the actual operating costs for the year, divided by the number of operating days.  Because this final rate cannot be known until the end of the year, we charge users a provisional rate based on our best estimate of our anticipated costs and number of ship days.  When final rates are known at the end of the year, each user is issued an invoice to settle their account.

Projected Rate

This is an estimate of the rates we anticipate for future years, and should be used for planning purposes only.  The actual rate will vary as described for the provisional rate (above).

Fixed Rates

If desired, ship users have the option of using a fixed rate (as opposed to the provisional rate) for ship time.  The fixed rate enables transactions to be completed without having to wait until the end of the calendar year, although at a premium compared to the provisional rate.  Contact SIO Ship Scheduling for current details.

Smallest billable unit

SIO observes the standard UNOLS practice of charging ship use per "operating day", which is any calendar day or fractional calendar day at sea or away from home port. 

Departure and arrival times: Revelle, Melville, New Horizon

When operating from San Diego, SIO vessels depart port at 0800 and arrive at 1600.  For all other ports, SIO vessels depart at 1600 and arrive at 0800.

Departure and arrival times: Robert G. Sproul

Robert G. Sproul is billed on a 24-hour day basis (as opposed to a calendar day basis), with a one day minimum. For example, a trip that departs San Diego at 0800 and returns the following calendar day at 0700 will be billed for one day's use.

Mobilization charges

Mobilization and demobilization are not charged if carried out in San Diego. In other ports, these days are charged according to the standard usage rate.

Standard Technical Services

SIO ship rates include general-purpose shipboard technical support as described by the U.S. National Science Foundation Guidelines for Oceanographic Technical Services, NSF Form 04-052. This support is provided by SIO Shipboard Technical Support (STS), and includes the services of STS technicians ashore and at sea. STS personnel conduct the maintenance, calibration, scheduling, logistical assistance, and at-sea supervision of instrumentation and shared-use equipment available to aboard SIO research vessels.

For any questions please call the SIO Ship Scheduling Office (858) 534-2841.

Bruce Appelgate, PhD
Associate Director, SIO

Nancy A. F. Wilson
Manager, Office of
Contract and Grant Admin., SIO