Cruise planning –
departure/arrival time policies

R/V Western Flyer

• Members of the science party should board the vessel at least one hour prior to departure.
• The R/V Western Flyer schedule tries to hold to a standard 0800 to 1700 schedule.  However, due to tidal restrictions, departure and arrival times may vary. Therefore, scientists should not plan to conduct a 12-hour science day on departure and arrival days.
• 2016 departure and arrival times based on tides.

R/V Rachel Carson

• Standard 10-hour day
  • Departure and arrival times:
    An average science day is 0700 to 1630. Please arrive at the dock by 0630.
• Extended 12-hour days
  An extended day is generally 0600 to 1730. Science personnel should be onboard by 0530.
• Night / 24-hour Operations
  • Must be requested and approved in advance via the project proposal process.
  • Extended operations need to be assigned to specific dates in the calendar year.
  • Departure and arrival times for night operations are typically determined by safety, scientific, weather, personnel, and transit time considerations.