|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Welcome aboard! LCDR Brian Lake,
TAO Operations Manager General Information:The NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA is a research vessel specifically designed and dedicated to maintaining the TAO buoy array. Throughout the year, she crosses the equator back and forth; recovering, deploying, and repairing TAO moorings.Staterooms aboard KA'IMIMOANA accomodate two scientists, with two staterooms sharing a common "head" with shower. Linens (sheets, pillowcase, soap, towels, face cloths, pillows and blankets), are provided. Each room has a refrigerator and TV. There is a large inventory of movies aboard. Rules to follow on
the ship will be briefly addressed in a short meeting once the ship is
underway, and are also available in the vessel's standing orders included
in each stateroom. As a government vessel, The KA'IMIMOANA conducts emergency drills once a week. You must report to your life boat or fire station (the location is posted in your stateroom) wearing sturdy footwear, a hat, and your life jacket; and carrying your exposure suit, long pants, and long-sleeved shirt. All cruise participants will don their exposure suits during the first "abandon ship" drill. If you have any questions about shipboard regulations or protocol, ask your chief scientist.
Sailing Day:All personnel are required to be on board one hour prior to sailing. Report to the chief scientist once aboard.The People:The KA'IMIMOANA is commanded by NOAA Corp officers, and crewed by civilians. The scientific party is usually comprised of two or three TAO project scientists and/or technicians who spend one to two months at sea a year; as well as additional scientists from institutions around the world that may do a variety of "piggyback" (not to interfere) operations. The chief scientist is responsible for scientific operations. The Captain or Commanding Officer is responsible for safely operating and navigating the vessel. All other NOAA officers and civilians are under his command. On deck, the Bosun is in charge of the deck crew and mooring operations.E-mail:You will be able to set up a personal e-mail account on the KA' once you arrive. You will have to pay for any messages you receive or send. Cost depends on size of message, as it is transmitted via inmarsat. Most people spend between 50 and 100 dollars per month on email. Presently the vessel covers the first $50.00 of email usage per person per cruise, after that, the cost of email is the individual's responsibility.Leisure Time:Off-watch time is your own; people read, write, exercise, sunbathe, sleep, or do laundry. The KA'IMIMOANA has exercise equipment (weight machine, rowing machine, bicycle, treadmill) as well as a lounge containing numerous books and magazines. Color televisions are connected to a central VCR and movies are shown daily.Seasickness:One of the least pleasant aspects of going to sea is the possibility of seasickness. An individual's susceptibility to seasickness is highly variable. If you've experienced motion sickness in cars, planes, or amusement park rides, you may experience seasickness during the cruise. Regardless, most people feel some level of illness or discomfort when they first go to sea.Seasickness is a result of a conflict in the inner ear (where the human balance mechanism resides) caused by the erratic motion of the ship through the water. Inside the cabin of a rocking boat, for example, the inner ear detects changes in linear and angular acceleration as the body bobs with the boat. But since the cabin moves with the passenger, the eyes register a relatively stable scene. Agitated by this perceptual incongruity, the brain responds with a cascade of stress-related hormones that can ultimately lead to nausea and vomiting. Its effect can be magnified by strong smells (like diesel fumes or fish, which are part of daily life at sea). It usually occurs in the first 12-24 hours after sailing, and dissipates when the body becomes acclimated to the ship's motion (getting one's "sea-legs"). Rarely does anyone stay ill beyond the first couple of days at sea, regardless of sea state. There are several over-the-counter medications available to prevent or minimize motion sickness. These are usually taken about an hour before sailing and as needed at sea; you should of course follow the instructions for the particular medication you are taking. All of these medications tend to dehydrate the body, so fluid intake is important. If you should get seasick, take comfort in the fact that recovery is only a matter of time, and the survival rate is 100%. The ship has a trained medical officer who can treat severe cases of sea-sickness. However, all that is usually required for a complete recovery is some sensible eating/drinking and some patience. Here are a few tips and considerations regarding seasickness:
What to bring to sea:Laundry facilities and detergent are provided on the KA'IMIMOANA, so there is no need to bring 30 days worth of clothes. Keep in mind that mooring work can be very dirty - so you will want to bring some shorts/t-shirts that you don't mind getting permanently stained. Also, ship laundry facilities
are notorious for ruining clothes with rust stains. Good clothes should
be reserved for port calls. On the tropical cruises, you will want several
t-shirts, shorts, and probably 1 or 2 long sleeved t-shirts or sweatshirts
and a pair of long pants or sweats (it can get cool in the air-conditioning).
Other necessities include a rain jacket, a hat or ball cap for sun protection,
sunscreen, 2 pair of sunglasses, camera (optional), knife, at least one
extra pair of shoes. No open-toed shoes (sandals) are allowed on deck. Some
people like to bring their own towel.
Music/books/cards or other personal projects are recommended. There can be a lot of 'dead time', especially if your cruise has a long transit. There is a library on the Kaimi. If desired, you will have to bring a personal sound system for your music. There is a ship's store which sells candy, tshirts, coffee cups, toothpaste, etc. It is fairly small and the inventory may be limited, so don't count on the store for your needs! You should bring at least 2 checks or cash to cover your ship's store bill and cost of personal email transmission. For more information
about the TAO project and the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA, see the TAO
project home page. |
|
|
TAO
Project Office |
gambling,
use of alcohol and illegal drugs, and sexual liaison are prohibited.