Date: Wed, 17 Apr 96 11:58:53 PDT
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: capt@mpl.ucsd.edu, woodys@odf.ucsd.edu, edpete@mpl.ucsd.edu,
lonsdale@gdcmp1.UCSD.EDU, seaweed@mpl.ucsd.edu, cpm@mpl.ucsd.edu,
rpinkel@ucsd.edu, ccolgan@ucsd.edu, bcall@ucsd.edu,
rpitteng@cliff.whoi.edu, jcoburn@cliff.whoi.edu,
aguayo@mar.icmyl.unam.mx, demas_tom@hq.navsea.navy.mil
From: knox@sio.ucsd.edu (Bob Knox)
Subject: R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR24) delivery voyage July 8-31
Cc: rknox@ucsd.edu, millics@onrhq.onr.navy.mil, shipsked@ucsd.edu
To: Prospective scientific party members in delivery voyage, and their
employers/organizations
From: R. A. Knox, chief scientist
Date: April 17, 1996
Subj: Preliminary information, questions for response, action items.
(Tom Althouse, Woody Sutherland, Ed Petersen, Tom Demas, Rob Pinkel, Dick
Pittenger/Joe Coburn, Dr. Aguayo - please see questions listed by your
names in Section III below.)
(Sujata Millick and SIO Ship Sched. Office - for information)
Some information is tabular, best printed in fixed-pitch font.
I. BACKGROUND
R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR24) is scheduled to depart Pascagoula, MS on July 8
and to arrive at the Nimitz Marine Facility of SIO on July 31. Recipients
of this message are:
a. Persons whom I know to be prospective members of the science party for
this voyage, or
b. Employers/supervisors of yet-unnamed science party members - you are
asked to respond with details, or
c. Selected agency and other officials, for information.
Please read carefully and reply as indicated. My contact information is
listed at the end of this message. For matters not requiring personal
phone interaction, email is the best way to reach me.
The delivery voyage is first and foremost a period of vessel shakedown and
of initial exercise/demonstration for major scientific systems.
Accomplishment of research objectives is desirable, and certain such
objectives are planned, but it must be recognized that testing of the ship
and science equipment takes precedence. There is no funded science program
that poses an obligation for the vessel to accomplish any particular set of
operations or observations.
The voyage plan breaks in two main parts, at the Panama Canal. Different
people will be aboard for one, the other, or both parts.
II. GENERAL PLAN OF WORK
A. Weeks prior to departure: science systems and electronics powered and
tested insofar as dockside testing is possible. Winches ready for
operation, wires rigged and terminated, any sheaves needed later rigged
with tag lines, etc. P-Code GPS up and running - new Revelle unit if
possible, otherwise loaner from Melville. Inmarsat and other comms.
tested. Computer systems ready. Lab furniture and supplies loaded/set up.
These tasks are principally for SIO crew and SIO/STS personnel, in some
instances with mfr. rep. assistance.
B. Departure, July 8. Anchoring exercise, emergency drills, boat launch
exercises - as soon as feasible following departure.
C. Transit to deep water in central Gulf of Mexico. Have SeaBeam and
other underway systems (computers, ADCP, 3.5 kHz) up and running beginning
at departure, to the extent possible. Identify and, if possible, fix any
faults. Continue this process through all "transit" segments of voyage.
D. Initial winch tests, with terminated wires, dummy weights (no actual
instrument packages).
E. Complete transit to initial SeaBeam test area at 21N 85W.
F. SeaBeam roll/bias and related testing, 1 day
G. Transit to Grand Cayman (ETA July 12), embark Navy personnel for
acoustic testing (Carderock) and underwater video.
H. Proceed to Cayman Trench, Carderock acoustic testing (nominal 1 day)
and further SeaBeam testing (nominal 1 day) either underway and/or at
trench, as appropriate. Insert 8 daylight hrs. underwater video work as
feasible.
I. Return to Grand Cayman, disembark Carderock and video groups.
J. Transit to Panama Canal, again operating and checking underway systems.
Arrival on Atlantic side - target date July 17.
K. On Atlantic side, embark persons making canal transit, and possibly
some or all of those making Pacific portion of voyage.
L. Canal transit - 2-3 days including wait/embark/disembark time at both ends.
M. On Pacific side, disembark persons not staying with ship to San Diego.
Embark persons joining for Pacific segment of voyage if not already
embarked.
N. Pacific portion of voyage, conducting SeaBeam survey along axis of
trench system (P. Lonsdale plan), subject to (a) foreign clearances
received, (b) any remaining requirements for ship or science system tests,
and (c) 31 July ETA San Diego. To date, clearances are in hand from
Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador, leaving the two most
important ones (Mexico and Guatemala) still in process.
O. Inserted within the voyage plan above, at convenient and reasonable
times and places, reasonable amounts of ship manouvering, control and
dynamic positioning exercises, for purposes of crew familiarization.
Underway times thus far have been planned conservatively at 10 knots,
whereas from trials results ship can make 15 knots, so gained time will be
parcelled out to these manouvering exercises as the gains are realized,
while still maintaining the ETA San Diego and the target arrival at Panama.
P. Arrival at San Diego, 31 July.
III. SCIENCE PARTY PERSONNEL
As you will see, there are a number of entries that are rumored or
probable, but for which I lack specifics at this time. One purpose of this
message is to ask for specifics where this can be done. To that end I
would ask the following recipients of this message to address the following
incomplete entries:
WOODY SUTHERLAND: Please check #8, provide details #13-16
ED PETERSEN: Please check #4-5. Also advise - perhaps coordinating with
Tom Demas - what is known about #28-32, and whether you, I or someone else
should be obtaining definite information from HMI, from their
subcontractors, or both.
ROB PINKEL: Please provide details for #17-21, give this message to them.
TOM DEMAS: Please provide or point us to details about Carderock and
underwater video personnel, pass this message to them. Also any advice re
#28-32, in concert with Ed Petersen.
DICK PITTENGER OR JOE COBURN: Please provide details for #24-25, pass
message to them
DR. AGUAYO: Please pass a copy to Dr. Sandoval, and let me have his email
address.
All persons noted below by name should review the listed particulars and
let me know if there are errors.
Name Affiliation Segment of voyage
1. R. A. Knox (Chief Scientist) SIO/UCSD all
2. Ellen Revelle Eckis Ship Sponsor 3
3. Rollin Eckis (accompanying) 3
4. E. Petersen SIO/UCSD all
5. C. Petersen (accompanying) all
6. T. S. Althouse SIO/UCSD 1
7. A. Althouse (accompanying) 1
8. W. Sutherland SIO/UCSD all
9. P. Lonsdale SIO/UCSD 2
10 R. Fisher SIO/UCSD 2
11. W. Armitstead SIO/UCSD all
12. C. deMoustier SIO/UCSD all
13. SIO/SCG #1 (software) SIO/UCSD all
14. SIO/SCG #2 (hardware) SIO/UCSD all
15. SIO/ResTech #1 SIO/UCSD all
16. SIO/ResTech #2 SIO/UCSD all
17. Pinkel group #1 SIO/UCSD 1
18. Pinkel group #2 SIO/UCSD 1
19. Pinkel group #3 SIO/UCSD 1
20. Pinkel group #4 SIO/UCSD 1
21. Pinkel group #5 SIO/UCSD 1
22. C. Colgan SIO/UCSD 1
23. W. Call SIO/UCSD 1
24. WHOI #1 WHOI all
25. WHOI #2 WHOI all
26. J. Aguayo Camargo UNAM/ICMyL 2
27. H. Sandoval UNAM/ICMyL 2
28. HMI Warranty Engr. Halter Marine, Inc. all
29. Markey Engr. Markey 1
30. SeaBeam rep. #1 SeaBeam Insts. all
31. SeaBeam rep. #2 SeaBeam Insts. 1
32. RDI rep. RDI, Inc. 1
33 thru X. Carderock team Navy/Carderock 4
(X+1) thru N. Underw. video team Navy/video 4
Notes:
A. Numbered voyage segments are:
1. Pascagoula to canal
2. Canal to San Diego
3. Canal transit only
4. Embark/disembark at Grand Cayman, i.e., subportion of segment 1
B. Sizes of Navy Carderock team (X-32) and underwater video team (N-X) are
not yet determined. Combination of these two groups should not exceed 6
persons, unless other uncertain entries opt out. This translates into
science complement maximum of 32 (when these two groups are aboard, segment
4). Science party of 32 plus 24 crew (larger than normal for purposes of
this voyage) plus 1 empty 2-person room and 1 further empty bunk (reserved
in case of room defects causing need for personnel moves during voyage)
makes total ship maximum complement of 59.
C. I would appreciate receiving individual contact information (address,
phone, fax and - especially - email) as soon as convenient from those
science party members not yet listed by name above, or for whom I do not
already have such information. I intend to transmit and exchange future
science party information items by email to the maximum extent possible.
IV. TRAVEL AND SHIPBOARD PROCEDURE NOTES - PRELIMINARY
Much of what follows will be familiar to SIO personnel, but perhaps not to
some others.
1. Safety is a central concern at sea, and especially so in this case of a
ship that is new and unfamiliar to all hands aboard. If you see what looks
like a dangerous situation, fix it or bring it to the attention of someone
who can. I would strongly encourage anyone who has not previously done so
to read the UNOLS RVOC Safety Training Manual, ch. 1, which is intended for
science party members. It is available on the Web at
http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/safe_man.html
Alternatively, the Ship Scheduling Office (shipsked@ucsd.edu) can Xerox a
copy for you if requested. Pay attention to the advice therein regarding
proper work clothing and footwear, so as to pack accordingly. There will
be additional ship-specific safety information and drills on the ship.
2. As yet we have not identified a ship's agent in Panama or Grand Cayman.
I will forward this information when I have it.
3. Persons joining or leaving the ship in either Panama or Grand Cayman
should make their own travel arrangements, attend to their own visa,
vaccination and passport formalities, etc. In Grand Cayman we hope to
effect personnel transfers by small boat, not entering port. I will
provide further information to affected persons when I have it.
4. All science party personnel will fill out standard SIO forms relating
to medical information, personal information needed to enter and clear
ports, and verification of employment/insurance status. I will forward
these forms and detailed instructions later. Please be prompt and complete
in returning them.
5. The ship provides sheets, towels, pillows and pillowcases, blankets,
and all meals. Bring your own toiletries, necessary medications, etc.
6. Since the ship is new, recreational materials like books, board games,
etc. may be in short supply. Bring your own.
7. You will see it again in the forms, but it bears repeating here.
Nobody is permitted to bring any alcoholic beverages of any kind aboard.
Limited times and amounts of beer and wine service are conducted by the
ship. Personal supplies are forbidden, as is any consumption of alcohol
outside the ship-managed provisions. And any illegal drugs are exactly
that - illegal. Random searches for drugs may be made. Any violations or
violators discovered will be brought to the attention of appropriate law
enforcement authorities.
8. Plan to board the vessel on July 8 in Pascagoula, i.e., do not plan to
sleep aboard the night of July 7. Similarly, plan to leave the ship on the
day of arrival, July 31. If either of these constraints presents a real
problem, let me know, and I will take exceptions under advisement.
Panama arrangements and port stops are still somewhat uncertain, as noted
in #2 of this section. More persons are leaving than joining there, so in
principle there should be no difficulty in accommodating all hands.
According to the list in section III above, the worst case would be 31
persons aboard during the canal transit, assuming that all departing
personnel left the ship on the Pacific side and all arriving personnel
joined on the Atlantic side. This just fits.
V. CLOSING NOTE
This first voyage for the nation's newest and most capable research vessel,
bearing the name of one of the truly great statesmen of science in our
time, will be a remarkable event in the life of SIO and, I trust, the basis
of a warm memory for all participants. It has been over a decade since the
initial planning by the Navy and the oceanographic community that led to
the funding and construction of the new AGOR ships. It has been nearly 5
years since SIO was awarded the operation of R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR 24) by
the Navy. You will be sharing in a significant milestone in our seagoing
science. I look forward to welcoming each of you aboard, and I wish you a
safe, productive and enjoyable time as one of the ship's company. If I can
provide further information or answer questions at any time, please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Bob Knox
Dr. Robert A. Knox
Research Oceanographer and Associate Director
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 0210
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0210
619-534-4729
619-822-5811 (fax)
rknox@ucsd.edu