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12 April 1996

CRUISE INSTRUCTIONS
NOAA Ship: MILLER FREEMAN

Cruise No: MF96-10 (FOCI 10MF96)

Area: Western Gulf of Alaska

Itinerary:


May 23, 1996	 Depart	 Dutch Harbor

June 1, 1996 	Arrive	 Kodiak

  
Participating organizations:
NOAA - Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC)
NOAA - Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)
Western Washinton University


CRUISE DESCRIPTION:

Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) is a joint effort by scientists at PMEL and AFSC to understand the biological and physical processes which cause recruitment variability of commercially valuable fish and shellfish stocks in Alaskan waters. The FOCI program is presently studying the effects of the biotic and abiotic environment on the early life stages of walleye pollock spawned in the eastern Bering Sea. There are two aspects to the study: the acquisition and analysis of time-series data, and specific research topics to be covered on a cruise-by-cruise basis.

CRUISE OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this cruise are:
(1) to continue acquisition of long-term biological and physical time series data;
(2) to conduct a survey of pollock larvae for use in estimating distribution, drift, and mortality rates.
(3) to collect samples of pollock larvae for studies on growth and condition;
(4) to examine the biotic and abiotic conditions in the eventual nursery areas of pollock larvae.

1.0. PERSONNEL

1.1. Chief Scientist: Mike Canino (AFSC) 526-4174

The Chief Scientist has the authority to revise or alter the technical portion of the instructions as work progresses provided that, after consultation with the Commanding Officer, it is ascertained that the proposed changes will not: (1) jeopardize the safety of personnel or the ship; (2) exceed the overall time allotted for the project; (3) result in undue additional expenses; (4) alter the general intent of these project instructions.

1.2 Participating Scientists


	Name			Gender/Citizenship	Affiliation

	Mike Canino (chief scientist)	M/USA		NOAA/AFSC

	Steve Porter			M/USA		NOAA/AFSC

	Annette Brown			F/USA		NOAA/AFSC

	Bill Rugen			M/USA		NOAA/AFSC

	Stella Spring			F/USA		NOAA/AFSC

	Leslie Lawrence			F/USA		NOAA/PMEL

	Dan Dougherty			M/USA		NOAA/PMEL

	Destry Wion			M/USA		WWU*

  
* Western Washinton University

1.3 Ship Operations Contact:

Larry Mordock
(206) 553 - 4764
NOAA/PMC (PMC1x4)
1801 Fairview Ave. East
Seattle, WA 98102-3767


2.0. OPERATIONS:

Scheduling of individual activities will depend upon weather conditions and progress of scientific work, therefore, firm advance scheduling of events will not be possible, and a continual dialogue between scientific and ship's personnel will be especially important. To insure fulfillment of all the scientific objectives, the ship will steam at maximum cruising speed whenever time in transit and between stations is greater than three hours.

A standard oceanographic watch will be utilized which consists of a winch operator, a scientific staff of three and a survey tech on deck. Operations will be conducted 24 hours a day. In the event that an eddy is located before or during the cruise, special sampling of the eddy may be conducted at the discretion of the chief scientist. These samples may include ADCP observations, bongo, Calvet tows, and CTD casts with the suite of associated biological samples.

2.1. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES:

The larval survey will begin in the Unimak Pass area. Sampling with 60 cm Bongo net and CTD will then continue northeasterly from Unimak Pass to the Shumagin Is. Stations will be chosen depending upon larval abundance observed during Cruise MF96-08. An intensive survey of the FOCI grid will then be conducted over the shelf region from the Shumagin Is. to the south end of Kodiak I. Collections of larval pollock for growth and condition studies will be made during the larval survey. Stations will be chosen from among those listed in Appendices A and B. The station grid will not be completely determined before the cruise begins, but will be continually updated by the Chief Scientist as the cruise proceeds. Stations may be added or subtracted at any time at his discretion. Approximately 150 stations will be occupied during the cruise.

FOCI Line 8 will be occupied near the end of the cruise (Appendix A). Lines 16 and 17 may be occupied depending upon larval abundance. CTD casts will be done using the PMEL Sea Bird CTD system. Water samples will be collected for microzooplankton and chlorophyll content. 60 cm bongo tows with .333 mm mesh nets and 20 cm bongo tows with 0.153 mm mesh nets will be done at each station occupied on the FOCI lines.


2.2 PROCEDURES FOR OPERATIONS

CTD/Water Sample Operations
The primary CTD system will be the Miller Freeman 911+ Seabird CTD. Data will be acquired on a PMEL computer using SEASOFT software. The option to display CTD data using the SCS system and monitors will be available. Survey technicians and scientists will keep the "CTD Cast Information/Rosette Log" in addition to the wire usage log. The CTD should descend at a rate of 30m/min for the first 200m and 45m/min below that. The ascent rate should be 50m/min. The FOCI fluorometer, light meter, and chlorophyll absorbance meter (ChlAM) should be mounted on the rosette for all casts where possible. However, the ChlAM can not exceed 300m and the fluorometer and light meter cannot exceed 500 m. Water samples will be collected with 10-l Niskin bottles. Depth, fluorescence and light levels will be recorded on the "CTD Cast Information/Rosette Log" for all water bottle samples.

CTD Calibration: Salinity comparisons will be conducted on every cast (or as specified by the Chief Scientist). No reversing thermometers will be required. However, the PMEL, as well as the PMC, CTD systems will each have two thermistors. A survey technician will run the AutoSal analysis during the cruise and record the readings on an AutoSal log.

MARMAP bongo tows
A 60-cm bongo net with 505 mm nets, (or .333 mm before mid May) hard lastic codends and a 40 kg lead weight for a depressor will be used in standard MARMAP tows. The nets will be deployed at a constant wire speed of 40 m/min to a maximum depth of 100 m (or 200 m before mid May) or 10 m off bottom in shallower waters. However, at stations on lines 8, 16 and 17 nets will be towed from 10 m off bottom to surface. In addition one side of the 60 cm bongo will be changed to 333 mm mesh. Furthermore the 20 cm bongo with .150 mm mesh nets will be attached to the wire 1 m above the 60 cm bongo frame at line 8, and at selected other stations. A CTD (Seacat) or electronic BKG will be attached to the wire to provide real-time tow data. The depth of the nets will be monitored from DataPlot and commands given to stop the winch. The winch will be stopped and the nets allowed to stabilize for up to 30 sec. The nets are then retrieved at a wire speed of 20 m/min. The ship speed is adjusted to maintain a wire angle of 45 degrees during the entire tow. When the nets reach the surface, they are brought aboard and hosed down to wash the sample into the codend. Larvae are sorted and preserved appropriately. Flow meters in the nets record the amount of water filtered and an electronic CTD or bathykymograph records the depth history of the tow. The scientists on watch are responsible for recording times and maximum depth obtained in the Seacat logbook. Tows not meeting specifications may be repeated at the discretion of the scientific watch.

Bongo Larval Condition Tows:
A live tow for larval pollock uses the 60cm bongo with 0.333mm or 0.505mm net mesh with taped codends. The selection of the mesh size will depend on the time of field collections, larval size, amount of algae, etc. This is meant to be a vertical tow with ship speed used only to maintain a zero wire angle. The bongo is lowered at 50 m/min to a gear depth of 70 meters. The wire in speed should be 10 m/min, begin timing tow when net starts up. Do not rinse down the nets when they return to the deck, but do open the codends immediately into clean (live) 5 gallon buckets. The samples are carefully transferred into a bowl over ice and due to time restrictions are sorted quickly for live larvae.

CalCOFI Vertical Egg Tow (CalVET)
Vertical tows to collect microzooplankton and free-floating copepod eggs will be conducted during patch studies, sometimes in conjunction with CTD/bottle casts. When done in conjunction with a CTD cast, the CTD will be stopped at 15 m during its descent, and the net frame's top and bottom will be attached to the wire so that the net flushes during its descent while the ship stands hove to. After standard descent to desired depth (usually 60 m), the net will then be retrieved at a rate of 60 m/min. The samples will be washed into the cod ends, then preserved in 32 oz. jars with formalin for later analysis. Once the net frame has been removed from the wire, then the CTD/bottle cast can begin. The CalVET net can also be deployed from the starboard quarterdeck.

Chlorophyll Samples
Chlorophyll samples will be taken from the 10-l Niskin bottles. Sampling depths depend on the fluorescence profile. A typical strategy would be samples at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 or 60 m depending upon which is closest to the fluorescence maximum. If the maximum is deeper, sampling should be moved deeper with less samples in the mixed layer. When microzooplankton samples are to be collected from the same Niskin bottle, 500 ml of water is first removed from the water bottle using a graduated cylinder. Chlorophyll and nutrient samples are obtained from the 500 ml in the graduated cylinder. See the FOCI Field manual for sampling collection filtration and preserving details. The -70 degree C freezer is required for sample storage.

Seachest and Uncontaminated Seawater
Sea surface temperature, conductivity and fluorescence will be monitored continuously. A Sea-Bird thermosalinograph will be mounted in the sonar void amidships and will send its data to the SCS. In addition, the uncontaminated seawater from this chest will be pumped to the Chemistry Laboratory and through a fluorometer. The scientists will be responsible for regularly cleaning the cuvette inside the fluorometer and obtaining and processing the calibration samples. Calibration samples will be taken at each bongo station or one hour apart, whichever is more frequent. At the beginning of the cruise, the ship's chief survey technician will be responsible for ensuring that the data streams from the instruments are correctly logged by the SCS. During the cruise, the survey technicians are responsible for checking the logger once per watch to determine that the instruments are functioning, and for taking salinity calibration samples every other day. After the cruise, the chief survey technician should prepare an ASCII dos formatted diskette that contains 1 minute averages of time, position, T, S, F and water depth.

ADCP

ADCP Observations:
The purpose of the Vessel-Mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (VM-ADCP) is to measure the ocean current velocity continuously over the upper 300 m of the water column, usually in 8 m depth increments. Current velocities relative to the earth at this spatial and temporal resolution cannot be measured by other methods: CTD sections, current meter moorings, or drifting buoys.

ADCP data is also used to estimate the abundance and distribution of biological scatterers over the same depth range and in the same depth increments.

ADCP Data Collection:
ADCP measurement requires four instruments working in concert: the ADCP, the ship's gyrocompass, a GPS receiver, and a GPS Attitude Determination Unit (ADU). The ADCP is connected to a dedicated PC and controlled by RD Instruments' Data Acquisition System (DAS) software. Version 2.48 of DAS software will be used as the controlling software. The DAS software shall be configured to use the user-exit programs AGCAVE.COM and UE4.EXE.. Separate written instructions detailing the ADCP setup and configuration files are kept in the ADCP notebook in the DataPlot compartment.

The ADCP PC is interfaced to the ship's gyrocompass, to the primary scientific GPS receiver, and to the GPS Attitude Determination Unit. The navigation GPS shall be configured to send only NMEA-0183 messages $GPGGA and $GPVTG at the maximum fix update rate for the receiver (usually 1 or 2 second rate), and with the maximum number of digits of precision (optimally 4). The Ashtech 3DF Attitude Determination Unit shall be configured to send the $PASHR,ATT message at least once, preferably twice, per second, and the NMEA-0183 message $GPGGA once each second. The user-exit program UE4.EXE shall be configured to control acquisition and processing of GPS and ADU messages, and to synchronize the PC clock with the time reported by the primary GPS.

The ADCP PC logs data from the profiler to SyQuest disks and optionally sends a complete data structure to SCS for logging on that system. This redundancy in data logging is desirable for post-cruise processing flexibility. The user-exit progam UE4.EXE should be configured to send an "RDI-style" ensemble to SCS.

PMEL supplies the SyQuest disks for FOCI projects. No more than one SyQuest disk will be required for the cruise. At the end of the cruise, a backup of the SyQuest should be made to a unique subdirectory of another disk maintained by the ship for this purpose until the original data is certified at PMEL.

Detailed, post-cruise processing of ADCP data is designed to take advantage of a higher quantity of navigation data than is retained by the ADCP acquisition software. Thus, the ship's SCS is relied on to log GPS navigation data at maximum available rates. The SCS system shall log output from the best two navigation receivers at all times during a cruise. For the purpose of designating a primary and secondary GPS system, precedence shall be assigned according to the following list of GPS receivers available on the Miller Freeman:

1. Trimble Centurion with encryption key installed and enabled (PPS-GPS)
2. Northstar 941X receiving differential corrections from radiobeacon (DGPS)
3. Trimble Centurion operating without encryption key (SPS-GPS)
4. Northstar 941X without differential corrections (SPS-GPS)
5. Magnavox MX-200 (SPS-GPS)
6. Ashtech 3DF ADU (SPS-GPS)

Changes in the availability of GPS equipment shall be communicated to PMEL to allow the above list to remain current. It is the responsibility of the ship to install and enable the appropriate encryption key for use of a PPS-GPS receiver.

The SCS file SENSOR.DAT should be configured to enable logging only of the NMEA-0183 format messages $GPGGA and $GPVTG from navigation sources; derived sensor messages are not desirable for post-cruise processing.

Similarly, only raw messages from the gyrocompass ($HEHDT) and GPS ADU ($PASHR,ATT) are desirable for logging.

SCS should log the primary GPS data at 1 second intervals, the secondary GPS data at 10 second intervals, gyro data at 10 second intervals, GPS ADU messages at 10 second intervals, and the temperature and input voltage of the ADCP electronics (deck unit) at 60 second intervals. The latter are used for adjusting the acoustic backscattered signal strength to absolute levels and relating the signal to biological scatterers.

ADCP Underway Operations:
The ADCP operates continuously during the entire cruise. At the start of a cruise, the system shall be configured and started according to the provided checklists "Before Leaving Port" and "Underway to Operations Area". The ADCP and its interface to the gyro and navigation must be checked daily by completing the "ADCP Daily Log" and also at the end of the cruise with the ship tied to the pier. The centerboard height affects the depth of sampling. The centerboard shall be lowered as soon as practical upon leaving port and remain lowered throughout the cruise. If it is necessary to raise the centerboard during the cruise, the times of raising and lowering must be logged in the Marine Operations Abstract (MOA).

In case of problems please describe the problem, error message numbers, flashing lights, etc. on the log sheets. Also contact Dan Dougherty (206-526-6844; e-mail DOUGHERTY@PMEL.NOAA.GOV) or Ned Cokelet (206-526-6820; e-mail COKELET@PMEL.NOAA.GOV) at PMEL as soon as possible.

Dedicated ADCP transects should be run at constant heading (not constant course-over-ground) if practicable, thus minimizing gyro lag. However, transects along lines of current-meter moorings should remain on the line with the ship's heading gradually adjusted to accomplish this. Sharp turns should be avoided. The ship's speed should be constant. 12 kts is often satisfactory, but the ship may have to slow down if the ADCP's percent good pings decreases below 75% in the upper 200-250 m due to sea state.

The ADCP should operate in bottom track mode when the water depth is less than about 500 m for more than a few hours. This gives currents better-compensated for transducer misalignment but somewhat lower in statistical significance because the number of pings is reduced. For extended periods in deeper water, an ADCP configuration without bottom tracking should be used.

ADCP Backtrack-L Calibration:
At least one backtrack-L calibration maneuver per cruise should be executed to test the instruments and to calibrate the transducer misalignment angle for which a 0.5 error can seriously bias the measurements. The "misalignment angle" may change with the ship's trim as well as with remounting the ADCP transducers. The basic idea is to measure the current twice on closely spaced parallel tracks of opposite heading when the ADCP and GPS are working well. The maneuver consists of 4 legs (N, S, E and W headings) connected by simple U-turns forming an L shape. Each leg should be 30 minutes long - the first 10 minutes are to allow the ship and instruments to stabilize on the new heading. The entire calibration should require about 2 1/2 hours with 5 minutes allowed for each turn. The following should be considered:

1. Negligible currents are best, but stronger currents are acceptable as long as they are reasonably uniform and steady. Avoid regions of strong horizontal shear due to topography, flow through passes, eddies and current boundaries. In tidal currents measure when the current is steadiest, often at maximum flood and ebb rather than at slack water.

2. Calibration legs can be done in any order provided opposite-headed legs are sequential.

3. Opposite-headed legs should be parallel and closely spaced, but not retraced. Use U-turns to minimize gyro oscillations. Avoid Williamson and hairpin turns.

4. The ADCP's PC screen should show at least 75%-good pings down to 250 m.

5. The ship should go fast enough to detect a misalignment error (over 5 kts), but slow enough to satisfy condition 4. This depends on sea conditions. 10-12 kts is often satisfactory.

6. Choose a time when GPS is navigating and is expected to remain so over the next 2 hours.

ADCP Absolute Backscatter Calibration:
A test to calibrate the absolute backscatter strength and to determine the background noise level of the ship-ADCP system may be performed once per cruise at the discretion of the Chief Scientist. Specific instructions in such event will be provided by PMEL personnel aboard, and cannot be anticipated in advance of the cruise.

Typically, such a test will be attempted in conditions when weather is relatively calm, and the water depth exceeds 250 m. This test may require that the main power plant, pumps, sonars, and other sources of acoustic and electronic noise be shut down. If conducted in the course of normal operations, the work will require about 1 hour. There may be opportunities for variations of the test any time the ship is at anchor, requiring the cooperation of the ship's officers and engineering watch.


Radiometer
The ship will be equipped with a radiometer to measure solar energy. The scientists will supply the calibrated instrument, mounting hardware and cable to run to DataPlot. We will need the assistance of the ship's Electronic Technician and SCS Manager to correctly install the instrument and make sure that the data stream is being logged by the SCS.



3.0. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
The following systems and their associated support services are essential to the cruise. Sufficient consumables, back-up units, and on-site spares and technical support must be in place to assure that operational interruptions are minimal. All measurement instruments are expected to have current calibrations, and all pertinent calibration information shall be included in the data package.


3.1 Equipment and Capabilities to be Provided by the Ship:

  1. Oceanographic winch with slip rings and 3-conductor cable terminated for CTD.
  2. Oceanographic winch for bongo net sampling with slip rings and 3-conductor cable terminated for electronic Time-Depth recorder. Wire should be capable of 1200 lb loading.
  3. Meter block for plankton tows.
  4. Laboratory space with exhaust hood, sink, lab tables and storage space.
  5. Sea-water hoses and nozzles to wash down nets.
  6. Adequate deck lighting for night-time operations.
  7. Rosette sampler for 10-liter bottles (1) as a backup.
  8. 10-liter sampling bottles for use with rosette (10 plus spares).
  9. Navigational equipment, including GPS and radar .
  10. For CTD field corrections: IAPSO water and AUTOSAL salinometer.
  11. Wire-angle indicator and readout for oceanographic winch to be used with bongo and tucker trawl.
  12. Wire speed indicator and readout.
  13. For meteorological observations: 2 anemometers (one the R. M. Young system interfaced to the SCS), calibrated air thermometer (wet-and dry-bulb) and a calibrated barometer and/or barograph.
  14. Freezer space for storage of fish samples (blast and storage freezers).
  15. Radar tracked drifter buoys
  16. Bench space in DataPlot for PCs, monitor, printer and VCR to fly MOCNESS
  17. Use of 386 PC in DataPlot for data analysis
  18. SCS (Shipboard Computer System)
  19. Safety harnesses for working on quarter deck and fantail.

3.2 Equipment to be Provided by the Project (if required)

  1. 60-cm bongo sampling arrays
  2. 20 cm bongo arrays
  3. Spare wire angle indicator
  4. Electronic BKG
  5. Seabird SeaCat
  6. PMEL Seabird CTD system (primary system)
  7. Miscellaneous scientific sampling and processing equipment
  8. CalVET net array
  9. cientific ultra-cold freezer
  10. Holy sock drogue for ship's drifting buoy
  11. Argos tracked drifter buoys, with optical sensors

3.3. Ultra-cold Freezer Requirements

The scientific ultra-cold freezer will remain on the ship in operating condition from the beginning of the first FOCI cruise until the ship returns to Seattle and the samples within can be unloaded. Since valuable samples will be in the unit, operation must be continuous without interruption. Therefore, the unit should be hardwired into the ships electrical system or connected with a threaded plug. The unit must be securely fastened to a bulkhead or counter, easily accessible, with a minimum of 4" on each side around the bottom. The location, fastening and wiring should be similar to last year. In addition, a weight should be taped to the top of the unit to prevent the lid from lifting in heavy seas.
The freezer has an alarm, but the ship's personnel are requested to check the digital temperature display twice daily to insure that the operating temperature is below -60 degrees C. The unit will be locked between cruises, and a key left with the Chief Survey Tech. In the event that the unit fails, the temperature will maintain for about 12 hours if the lid isn't opened. If the unit fails and cannot be fixed on the ship, the scientific blast freezer should be pre-cooled to its minimum (-38 degrees C), and all frozen specimens should be transferred to it immediately, without thawing. Kevin Bailey (206/526-4243, 4239) must be notified. A daily record of the temperature (digital readout) on the scientific ultra-cold freezer will be submitted to K. Bailey (AFSC) upon the ship's return to Seattle.


3.4. Scientific Computer System (SCS)

The ship's Scientific Computer System (SCS) shall operate throughout the cruise, acquiring and logging data from navigation, meteorological, oceanographic, and fisheries sensors.

The SCS data acquisition node will provide project scientists with the capability of monitoring sensor acquisition via text and graphic displays. A data processing node will be available to project scientists throughout the cruise, configured according to the specifications of the FOCI SCS administrators.

Sensor identification, and data acquistion and logging parameters are specified in the system file SENSOR.DAT (Appendix C). This file shall be maintained in a current state by the ship's SCS manager. Specific FOCI requirements for the content of the SENSOR.DAT file were provided by the FOCI SCS administrators at the start of the 1996 field operations season. A listing of the sensor specifications is attached as an appendix to these instructions. Changes to the SENSOR.DAT specifications may be made by the ship's SCS manager on a cruise-by-cruise basis, at the request of the chief scientist. All changes in content of the SENSOR.DAT file shall be communicated to the FOCI SCS administrators.

SCS sensor data logged to disk files are organized into several logical groupings according to intended post-cruise processing. These logical groupings were specified by the FOCI SCS administrators at the start of the 1996 field operations season. The ship's SCS manager will assign data elements from newly-installed sensors to the appropriate logical group(s), and inform the FOCI SCS administrators of such changes.

At regular intervals, not to exceed every 5 days, SCS ship's manager will archive data from disk files to 8-mm tape cartridge for delivery to the project representative at the end of the cruise. To ensure compatibility with the laboratory tape drive mechanisms, backup 8-mm tapes shall not be recorded with hardware compression options.

Real-time data will also be logged to QIC tapes to provide additional data security in the event of disk failure; these tapes will be archived by the ship until project data tapes have been received and verified by the laboratories.

The ship's SCS manager will ensure data quality through the administration of standard SCS protocols for data monitoring. If requested by the chief scientist, standard SCS daily quality assurance summaries will be prepared for review.

Additional recording of processed data may be requested of the ship's SCS manager; if so, specific instructions will be found elsewhere in this document. During the cruise, the scientific party may require the assistance of the ship's SCS manager to determine if all sensors are functioning properly and to monitor some of the collected data in real time to make sampling strategy decisions.


The FOCI SCS co-administrators are:

Tiffany Vance: (206)526-6767; e-mail: VANCE@PMEL.NOAA.GOV
Dan Dougherty: (206)526-6844; e-mail: DOUGHERTY@PMEL.NOAA.GOV

4.0. DATA AND REPORTS

4.1. Data Disposition and Responsibilities:

The Chief Scientist is responsible for the disposition, feedback on data quality, and archiving of data and specimens collected on board the ship for the primary project. The Chief Scientist will be considered to be the representative of the AFSC/PMEL Lab Director for purpose of data disposition. A single copy of all data gathered by the vessel will be elivered to the Chief Scientist upon request for forwarding to the Lab Director, who in turn will be responsible for distribution of data to other investigators desiring copies.

4.2. Data requirements

The following data products will be included in the cruise data package:

Marine operations abstracts,

Marine weather observation logs,

PMEL CTD weather observation logs,

CTD audio cassettes,

CTD Cast Information/Rosette Log,

Calibration sheets for all ship's instruments used,

Autosalinometer logs,

ADCP daily log sheets,

ADCP SyQuest 105 MB disks,

SCS 8 mm backup tapes,

SeaPlot Files, disk and hard copy. NOS chart or overlay not required,

Ultra-cold freezer temperature daily log, (end of field season).


4.2.1. Marine Observation Log: A Marine Operations Abstract (MOA) form will be maintained by the ship's officers during the cruise. The Chief Scientist and the Commanding Officer or designee will negotiate the details regarding forms required by the project for each operation.


4.2.2. Station Plot: The position of each operation and station will be aintained in a SeaPlot file. A diskette and hard copy of the file will be given to the chief scienist. The requirement to plot on NOS nautical charts and provide the chief scientist with the chart or mylar overlay has been temporarily waived.

4.2.3. Navigation: Observations and reliable fixes shall be plotted and identified by date/time group or equivalent. Fixes shall be evaluated for course and/or speed made good. Primary navigational control shall be provided by GPS satellite, radar range and bearing, and visual fixes.

4.2.4. Synoptic Weather Reports: In accordance with OMO Instruction 3142 dated December 5, 1985 and Amendment 3142B dated August 4, 1986, a weather log of NOAA Form 72-1A will be maintained by ships personnel, and data will be transmitted via SEAS. The completed logs will be forwarded to NWS port meteorologists.

Complete meteorological observations will be logged on the NOAA Form 77-13d at hourly intervals for scientific data purposes.

4.2.5. Scientific Ultra-cold Freezer Log: A daily record of the temperature (digital readout) on the scientific ultra-cold freezer will be submitted to K. Bailey (AFSC) upon the ship's return to Seattle.

4.3. Cruise Reports
The Chief Scientist and Commanding Officer will jointly prepare a cruise report for submission to the Director, PMC, as required NOAA Directives Manual 17-17. The Commanding Officer's report will follow formats and reporting requirements prescribed in PMC Oporder 1.3.6.

4.4. Evaluation Report
One Ship Operations Evaluation Report is required for each leg of the primary project only, using the form provided for that purpose.

5.0. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS

5.1. Additional Investigations
Any other work done during the cruise period will be subordinate to the main project and performed so as not to interfere with that outlined in these instructions. The Chief Scientist will be responsible for determining the priority of additional work relative to the main project.

5.2. Ancillary Projects:

1. SEAS Data Collecting and Transmission (PMC OPORDER 1.2.1.)

2. Marine Mammal Reporting (PMC OPORDER RP-12-94)

3. Nautical Charting (PMC OPORDER 1.2.6.)

4. Bathymetric Trackline (PMC OPORDER 1.2.5.)

5. Alaska Weather Reporting (PMC OPORDER 1.2.7.)

6. Sea Turtle Observations (SP-PMC-2-95, Sea Turtle Observation Program, 1995)


5.3. Piggyback Projects:

None at this time


6.0. MISCELLANEOUS

6.1. Radio Interference
Some scientific equipment is sensitive to radio frequency interference. If interference occurs, it may be necessary to adjust operations and communications schedules if efforts to electronically isolate the equipment are unsuccessful.


6.2. Pre-cruise and Post cruise Meetings

A precruise meeting between the Commanding Officer and the Chief Scientist will be held prior to the start of the cruise. Its purpose is to identify the day-to-day requirements of the project in order to best utilize shipboard personnel resources and to identify overtime requirements. A brief meeting of all scientific personnel, the Field Operations Officer, Chief Boatswain, survey department, and other relevant ship's personnel should be held before the vessel reaches the experiment area for the purposes of:

a) introducing new scientific personnel to ship's procedures, proper channels, etc.;

b) discussing operating procedures for deploying various pieces of sampling equipment; and

c) coordinating scientific watch assignments.

A post-cruise debriefing will be held between the Chief Scientist and the Commanding Officer. If serious problems are identified, the Commanding Officer shall notify the marine center by the most direct means available. The Chief Scientist shall document identified problems in the Ship Operations Evaluation Form.

6.3. Meals
All scientists (passengers) will pay for their meals at a rate of $8.20 per day for two or more meals and $4.10 a day for one meal, in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 203-100, and PMC Directive 87-04. The Commanding Officer will furnish NOAA Form 75-90, Authorization of Mess Obligation, for the Chief Scientist's and Commanding Officer's signature for all the scientists' meals.

6.3.1. Midnight Lunches:
The scientific staff will work 12 hour watches (12 to 12). A microwave oven will be available to reheat meals requested to be set aside for the watch.

6.4. Hazardous Materials The Chief Scientist shall be responsible for complying with NC Instruction 6280A, Hazardous Waste; policy, guidance, and training, dated February 4, 1991, paragraph 7.g and paragraph 9. By federal law, the ship may not sail without a complete inventory of MSDS, and appropriate neutralizing agents, uffers, and/or absorbents in amounts adequate to address spills of a size equal to the amount aboard. The following hazardous materials will be provided and controlled by the scientists with the Chief Scientist assuming responsibility for the safe handling of such substances:

-Formalin (37% and less concentrations)
-70% Ethanol (ETOH)

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for these materials were presented to the Chief Survey Technicial prior to the ship's departure in February, 1996.

7.0. COMMUNICATIONS

7.1. A daily JFT schedule will be maintained between KVJ and the MILLER FREEMAN Monday through Friday. Radio contact will be maintained when possible. A scientific progress report will be sent to AFSC via INMARSAT voice, Fax, or JFT at least once a week.

7.2. Since it is sometimes necessary for the scientific staff to communicate with other research vessels, commercial vessels, and shore based NOAA facilities, the Chief Scientist or designee may request the use of radio transceivers aboard the vessel.

7.3. The Chief Scientist anticipates the possible need for daily reports on the position of satellite-drifters in the study area and the health of the biophysical mooring(s). These will be sent either by Fax from PMEL over INMARSAT or over Internet from PMEL to the PMC radio room and forwarded to the ship via JFT

7.4 Important phone numbers:

PMEL/CARD Fax: (206) 526-6485
PMEL/ADMIN Fax: (206) 526-6815
AFSC/RACE Fax: (206) 526-6723
MILLER FREEMAN INMARSAT: 011-872-150-4406
MILLER FREEMAN INMARSAT FAX: 011-872-150-4421

Program contacts: Phyllis Stabeno -PMEL- (206) 526-6453
Kevin Bailey -AFSC- (206) 526-4243

Important Internet e-mail addresses are:
PMEL person: PERSON@PMEL.NOAA.GOV
AFSC person: APerson@afsc.noaa.gov
PMC radio room: RadioRoom@rdc.noaa.gov"
Direct to ship: person@freeman.pmel.noaa.gov

7.4. The MILLER FREEMAN is equipped with INMARSAT, a telephone/teletype satellite communication system. If the scientific staff uses this system, they will be obligated to pay for their calls, which are estimated at $6.02 per minute. The Chief Scientist, or designee will have access to, and assistance provided for transmitting and receiving communications through INMARSAT as needed during the cruise.

7.5 The MILLER FREEMAN is equipped with a cellular telephone. If the Scientific Party uses this system, they will pay for incoming and outgoing calls. Cost is approximately $0.90 per minute, plus applicable long distance fees charged to the ship's number.

8.0. APPENDICES

A. Locations of potential larval survey stations.
B. List of extended FOCI grid station locations
C. SCS Sensor Specification


EcoFOCI Project Office
NOAA/PMEL and NOAA/AFSC
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98115
Comments and information:
  EcoFOCI Coordinator

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