For all offshore waters - international, domestic & foreign
Oceanographic operations, from surveying at 12 knots to rock dredging to installing deep sea moorings, frequently conflict with other marine activities and vessel transits in the area. Means exist to broadcast and publish information about your operations and operations area(s) to warn and inform other marine activities.
By submitting information about your operations to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), all marine traffic in your subject area will receive the information via the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The information will also appear in weekly Notices to Mariners.
Two to four weeks prior to your cruise, send an email to <navsafety@nga.mil> with the following information:
- Name of vessel(s)
- Dates/times of operations
- Operations area, latitudes/longitudes, etc. (OK to define an area by opposite corners, position and radius, track line, etc.)
- Brief description of operations
- If any equipment (such as surface buoys) will pose a hazard to surface navigation, describe the equipment, light characteristics, position and anticipated time on station.
- Vessel contact information (Master's email address)
- Your (Chief Scientist) contact information
When submitting this to NavSafety, please cc SIO's Ship Scheduling Office and Port Captain.
If your oceanographic operations are within US coastal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), it is important to also submit information about your operation to the Local Notice to Mariners managed and disseminated by the US Coast Guard. For US west coast (California to Washington), out to 200 miles and including bays and harbors, please refer to the following:
For Alaska, Hawaii and US east coast, contact the SIO Port Captain.
If you are installing buoys/mooring anywhere in the eastern Pacific from California to Alaska, please refer to the following:
Additional Resources
Created: 3/22/12
Modified: 3/22/12
- R/V Sally Ride
-
R/V Roger Revelle
-
Handbook
- Section 1: Welcome Aboard
- Section 2: Specifications
- Section 3: Vessel Layout Description
- Section 4: Ship's and Scientific Equipment Description
- Section 5: Technical Services and Special Equipment
- Section 6: Navigation and Communications Capability
- Section 7: Safety
- Section 8: Ship Organization
- Section 9: Scientific Berthing Plan
- Specifications
- Schematic Drawings
- Berthing Plan
- Scientific Equipment
- Major Shipboard Equipment
-
Handbook
- R/V Robert Gordon Sproul
- R/V Bob and Betty Beyster
- Emeritus: R/V Melville
- Emeritus: R/V New Horizon
- Research Platform FLIP (FLoating Instrument Platform)
- Preventing harassment and discrimination
- Alcohol and illegal drugs: Zero tolerance
- Departure & arrival times
- Pregnancy and Lactation at Sea
- Accommodating Disabilities
- Minimum Age At Sea
- Isotope Use on Scripps Ships
- Geophysical survey requirements in California waters
- Export controls and compliance
- Scientific shipments to Scripps vessels
- Ship to Shore Communications
- Internet use policy
- Winch and Wire Regulations
- Ship Usage Rates
- Data and Sample Distribution Policy
- Stable Isotopes on SIO Ships
- Carryforward of Ship Time
- Using non-UNOLS vessels
- Transportation Worker's Identification Credential (TWIC)
- Naval Clearances
- Notice to mariners
- Volunteering Aboard Scripps Ships
- USCG Rules for Buoys