Clearances

Foreign Waters
It is your responsibility as chief scientist to inform the ship scheduler, well in advance, and with complete details, of any plans or changes in plans for work in waters claimed by foreign governments - usually any waters within 200 nautical miles of their coasts (this includes collection of swath bathymetry while "in transit" through foreign waters). Authorization for work in foreign waters is obtained through official channels and often requires 7 months or more advance notice. It is becoming increasingly difficult to work in waters claimed by other nations because of a tendency for many of these coastal states to impose restrictions or conditional permission of one kind or other. It is important that you be prepared to deal with these contingencies. Some nations require that any work conducted in their waters be planned and executed in cooperation with scientists or institutions of their own nation; these people should be involved from the very beginning. Even when this degree of involvement is not required, it is normal for the host nation to require that one or two official observers be allowed to join the cruise and participate in the research. Bunk space and travel funds for these observers are your obligation, and should be budgeted for. NSF informs us that they consider this an appropriate item for the scientific research budget, not the ship operations budget.

Host nations may require some portion of the samples be turned over to them, as well as copies of all data and logs. They most certainly will require that copies of all reports and publications be sent to them.

A standardized data report and data copies, covering routine underway data types, are prepared by SIO and submitted to the State Department without charge to the science program. Foreign government requirements for additional copies or for other kinds of data and samples not covered in this standard submission will require science program effort and/or funding to SIO/STS for the necessary work. The Ship Scheduling Office can provide further details.

For more information on foreign clearances please review the Chief Scientist Manual.

Rose Dufour & Elizabeth Brenner

Ship Scheduler and Foreign Clearances Officer

8622 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla, CA. 92037

Phone: (858) 534-2841
Fax: (858) 822-5811
E-mail: shipsked@ucsd.edu

Navy Clearances
As most of you know, the military operates a number of bases along the west coast. The waters off the coast are used by the military to test equipment, conduct war games, transit both above and below the water, and conduct live ammunition exercises. In order not to interfere with these evolutions when they are scheduled, we request concurrence to operate in certain areas off the west coast from the Navy.

Depending on the area you wish to work, this concurrence may be required from a number of different government agencies. We do not ask the military for approval to work in these areas, but we do try to cooperate and meet their operational and our science needs.

Clearance information is required at least two (2) weeks in advance of scheduled departure. For your clearance we need to know latitude and longitude of your work site or for a large area the outside perimeter in latitude and longitude. An alternate area, if you have one, would be helpful.

The agencies also require a brief description of the work you are going to do. What is going over the side, i.e. instruments (weight and dimension), what size rope or wire it will be on and if there will be a signal transmitted (also frequency) and what size anchor (weight and dimension)? We also need the days, times and depths of the operations of the areas you will be in.

Also please be aware if you are leaving anything in the water, it is your responsibility to notify the Coast Guard. Please see contact information below.

Please feel free to contact me with if you have any questions or information regarding area clearances:

Port Captain
Marine Personnel Rep.
Nimitz Marine Facility
297 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92106

Phone: (858) 534-5568
Fax: (858) 534-1635

E-mail: portcapt@ucsd.edu

Notice To Mariners
Off Southern California

Commander
Eleventh Coast Guard District
Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 50-6
Alameda, CA 94501-5100

Tel: 510-437-2976
After Hrs: 510-437-3700
Fax: 510-437-2961

For immediate assistance, the ships can also contact Coast Guard San Diego on VHF-FM Channel