R/V Point Lobos
- Preparing for a cruise
- Departure and arrival times
An average science day is 0700 to 1630. Please arrive at the dock by 0630. - Extended days
An extended day is generally 0600 to 1730. Science personnel should be onboard by 0530.
Extended days may be requested when scientific operations require long transit times to remote sites in the Monterey-Carmel Bay region. These lengthened days are configured as 12 hour day operations, typically associated with approximately 2 hours of transit time to the dive site. These extra hours assure that the ROV will be afforded a reasonable amount of working time at these distant sites. Guidelines for their use:- Must be requested and approved in advance via the project proposal process.
- These extended days need to be assigned to specific dates in the calendar year.
- Departure and arrival times for extended days are typically set by safety, weather, personnel, and transit time considerations.
- A standard extended cruise without daylight restrictions will be scheduled for departure at 0600 and returning by 1730. Personnel are expected onboard no later than 0530.
- Standard winter season extended cruises with daylight restrictions will be scheduled for departure at 0630, returning by 1800. Personnel are expected onboard no later than 0600.
- The Captain and Chief Pilot may use their discretion to modify these standard guidelines to match weather, tidal or daylight patterns.
Night Operations
A night dive is 1730 to 0400.
Adjusted departure/arrival times are published in the cruise plan.The R/V Point Lobos and ROV Ventana are primarily configured to function as a day boat system utilizing daylight hours for operations. Night operations may be requested when the scientific mission requires this type capability. However, night operations present a number of issues that must be addressed: a.) additional equipment is loaded onto the vessel to enhance the visibility on the working deck and ROV tether, b.) the methods for scheduling the transition period of the ROV/vessel crew from day to night work hours requires advanced planning, in order to comply with USCG regulations which we have adopted for the R/V Point Lobos, and c.) we must provide an adequate time period for scientific and vessel mobilizations. Guidelines for their use:
- Must be requested and approved in advance via the project proposal process.
- Night operations need to be assigned to specific dates in the calendar year.
- Departure and arrival times for night operations days are typically set by safety, scientific, weather, personnel, and transit time considerations.
Standard restrictions for configuration of night dives include:
- They do not transition into the weekend.
- They do not shift from day to night with out an onshore day in-between.
- Minimum 12-hour break between cruises.
- The Captain and Chief Pilot may use their discretion to modify these standard guidelines when reacting to changing environmental conditions.
- Food is available in the galley.
- Science party size is six, including the chief scientist. On occasion, one or two additional participants can be accommodated with the captain's permission.
- Checklist for cruises.
- Data and video.
- Precruise and postcruise reports.
- Hazardous materials.
- Departure and arrival times