Global Class Research Vessel
Community Input to Science Mission Requirement

Updated: September 22, 2006

Input received from the SMR on-line questionnaire form <http://www.unols.org/committees/fic/Global/GCSMR_Survey_Form.asp> will be posted at this site.


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Mark Prater / University of Rhode Island

1 & 2. Discipline & Field of Study: Physical Oceanography - Observational oceanography, primarily using lagrangian floats to understand current pathways and exchange.

3. Geographic Area of Interest: North Atlantic, North Atlantic High Latitude, Arctic - Previous and current research has been in the North Atlantic (Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Current, Subpolar Gyre, Labrador Sea, Nordic Seas).

4. Accommodations - medium

Minimum berths: 30

Maximum berths: 40

5. Range - high

13000 to 17280 nautical miles

6. Speed - high

Maximum sustained transit speed: twelve_to_fourteen knots

Station/Survey speed: zero knots

I'm not sure what "Normal" means here. Ship speed should be near zero for CTD stations, 2 knots for towyos, 5 knots for SeaSoar, etc. The Ship should be able to maintain any of these for days at a time.

7.  Seakeeping - high

What is the maximum Sea State through which you would normally expect to carry out the following representative operations:

CTD operations 90% of the time: Six

Mooring deployments 75% of the time: Six

Coring operations 50% of the time: None Selected

ROV or other sensitive deployment operations 50% of the time: None Selected

8Station Keeping Characteristics - medium

Using DP, how closely would you need a Global Class vessel to hold station in the Sea State you specified for ROV operations above:

9.  Deck Working Area - high

What is the total open working deck area that you would need on the aft working deck?

4000 square feet

10.  Laboratory - high

Choose lab space type and size you consider appropriate for a Global Class R/V:

Lab Type Size range Required? in a van?
Main (dry) lab 2000 Required  
Wet lab 400 Required  
Hydro lab (separate) 300 Required  
Computer lab 500 Required  
Analytical/Biochemical None Selected Optional/Desired  
Climate control chamber None Selected Optional/Desired yes
Walk in Freezer None Selected Optional/Desired  
Darkroom None Selected Optional/Desired  
Staging bay/ Hanger None Selected Required  
Science Office None Selected Optional/Desired  

11.  Science Storage Requirements - medium

10000 cubic feet

12.  Winch and Wire Requirements - high

Winch Type Usage
CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
2nd EM Cable/CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
Small diameter FO Cable winch  
Trawl/coring winch (large wire rope)  
Large diameter EM Cable winch  
Large diameter FO Cable winch  

13.  Towing Requirements - high

Towyos with CTD, towed fish (ScanFish, SeaSoar), towed acoustic hydrophones

14. Crane Requirements - high

15.  Over-the-side Handling Requirements - high

Deployment and recovery of lagrangian instruments

16.  Acoustic System Requirements - high

System Frequency(s) Type, model, etc.
Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler (ADCP) Two, 38, and 75 or 150kHz  
Precision Depth Sounder    

17.  Navigation - medium

18.  Shipboard Communication Needs - medium

Internal internet, email, printing, file sharing

19.  External Communication - medium

External internet (web browsing), continuous (or at least hourly) email to shore, occasional large file transfers (data, satellite images), voice (phone)

20.  Van Requirements - medium

Maximum number of vans you would need? 2

Do you think vans should be used for additional berthing? no

List the type of vans you might need? Storage Van, Equipment/Workshop van

21.  Other science requirements -

22.  Additional Comments:


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William Chadwick / Oregon State University

1 & 2. Discipline & Field of Study: Marine Geology and Geophysics - submarine volcanology in various tectonic environments

3. Geographic Area of Interest: N.E. Pacific, Western Pacific, Equatorial Pacific, South Pacific - Juan de Fuca and Gorda Ridges, Mariana and Kermadec arcs

4. Accommodations - medium

Minimum berths: 30

Maximum berths: 38

The whole isssue of berthing requirements might change in the future with the advent of global broadband access, i.e., more opportunity to take part in cruises in virtual mode. Also, the berthing numbers for these vessels are often not realistic, i.e., several of the berths are almost never used because of conflicts with marine tech berthing, etc.

5. Range - medium

10061 to 13,000 nautical miles

6. Speed - medium

Maximum sustained transit speed: twelve_to_fourteen knots

Station/Survey speed: zero knots

7.  Seakeeping - high

What is the maximum Sea State through which you would normally expect to carry out the following representative operations:

CTD operations 90% of the time: Six

Mooring deployments 75% of the time: Six

Coring operations 50% of the time: Six

ROV or other sensitive deployment operations 50% of the time: Five

8Station Keeping Characteristics - high

Using DP, how closely would you need a Global Class vessel to hold station in the Sea State you specified for ROV operations above: ten meters

9.  Deck Working Area - medium

What is the total open working deck area that you would need on the aft working deck?

4000 square feet

10.  Laboratory -

Choose lab space type and size you consider appropriate for a Global Class R/V:

Lab Type Size range Required? in a van?
Main (dry) lab 1700 Optional/Desired  
Wet lab 230 Optional/Desired  
Hydro lab (separate) 700 Optional/Desired  
Computer lab 600 Optional/Desired  
Analytical/Biochemical 300 Optional/Desired  
Climate control chamber none    
Walk in Freezer none    
Darkroom none    
Staging bay/ Hanger 350 Optional/Desired  
Science Office none    

11.  Science Storage Requirements - medium

20000 cubic feet

12.  Winch and Wire Requirements -

Winch Type Usage
CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Periodically
2nd EM Cable/CTD winch  
Small diameter FO Cable winch  
Trawl/coring winch (large wire rope) Needed On Occasional Cruises
Large diameter EM Cable winch  
Large diameter FO Cable winch  

13.  Towing Requirements - medium

14. Crane Requirements - medium

15.  Over-the-side Handling Requirements - high

16.  Acoustic System Requirements -

System Frequency(s) Type, model, etc.
Multi-Beam Swath Mapping 30-50 kHz, 12 kHz EM300, EM120
Acoustic Navigation System   LBL or USBL transducer

17.  Navigation - high

18.  Shipboard Communication Needs - high

19.  External Communication - high

20.  Van Requirements - low

Maximum number of vans you would need? na

Do you think vans should be used for additional berthing? ???

List the type of vans you might need?

21.  Other science requirements -

22.  Additional Comments:


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Ed Boyle / MIT

1 & 2. Discipline & Field of Study: Chemical Oceanography - Trace metal chemical oceanography and links to paleoclimate and biogeochemical cycles.

3. Geographic Area of Interest: North Atlantic, Mediterranean or Baltic Sea, South Atlantic, Hawaii Is. Chain, Antarctic -

4. Accommodations - medium

Minimum berths: none selected

Maximum berths: none selected

5. Range - medium

none selected to none selected nautical miles

6. Speed - medium

Maximum sustained transit speed: ten_to_twelve knots

Station/Survey speed: None Selected knots

7.  Seakeeping - high

What is the maximum Sea State through which you would normally expect to carry out the following representative operations:

CTD operations 90% of the time: None Selected

Mooring deployments 75% of the time: None Selected

Coring operations 50% of the time: None Selected

ROV or other sensitive deployment operations 50% of the time: None Selected

8Station Keeping Characteristics - medium

Using DP, how closely would you need a Global Class vessel to hold station in the Sea State you specified for ROV operations above: ten meters

9.  Deck Working Area - medium

What is the total open working deck area that you would need on the aft working deck?

None Selected square feet

10.  Laboratory - high

Choose lab space type and size you consider appropriate for a Global Class R/V:

Lab Type Size range Required? in a van?
Main (dry) lab None Selected    
Wet lab 500 Required  
Hydro lab (separate) 400 Required  
Computer lab None Selected    
Analytical/Biochemical 300 Required  
Climate control chamber None Selected    
Walk in Freezer None Selected    
Darkroom None Selected Not Required  
Staging bay/ Hanger None Selected    
Science Office None Selected    

11.  Science Storage Requirements - medium

5000 cubic feet

12.  Winch and Wire Requirements -

Winch Type Usage
CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
2nd EM Cable/CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
Small diameter FO Cable winch  
Trawl/coring winch (large wire rope) Needed On Occasional Cruises
Large diameter EM Cable winch  
Large diameter FO Cable winch  

13.  Towing Requirements -

14. Crane Requirements - medium

15.  Over-the-side Handling Requirements -

16.  Acoustic System Requirements - medium

System Frequency(s) Type, model, etc.
Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler (ADCP)    
Precision Depth Sounder 12, 3.5 kHz  
Sub-bottom profiler    

17.  Navigation - medium

18.  Shipboard Communication Needs - medium

19.  External Communication -

20.  Van Requirements -

Maximum number of vans you would need? 4

Do you think vans should be used for additional berthing? ???

List the type of vans you might need? Lab Van - general, Isotope Van

21.  Other science requirements -

22.  Additional Comments:


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Steven Haddock / MBARI

1 & 2. Discipline & Field of Study: Biological Oceanography - Deep-sea and blue-water plankton, bioluminescence

3. Geographic Area of Interest: North Atlantic, Mediterranean or Baltic Sea, Caribbean & Gulf, N.E. Pacific, EPR & Cent. Amer., Hawaii Is. Chain - Open ocean, deep sea, mostly in northern hemisphere, but with interest in going further afield

4. Accommodations - medium

Minimum berths: <30

Maximum berths: 37

5. Range - medium

<10000 to 15000 nautical miles

would depend on where ship was stationed - ability to comfortable go Calif to Hawaii

6. Speed - high

Maximum sustained transit speed: twelve_to_fourteen knots

Station/Survey speed: zero knots

7.  Seakeeping - high

What is the maximum Sea State through which you would normally expect to carry out the following representative operations:

CTD operations 90% of the time: Five

Mooring deployments 75% of the time: Five

Coring operations 50% of the time: None Selected

ROV or other sensitive deployment operations 50% of the time: Five

8Station Keeping Characteristics - high

Using DP, how closely would you need a Global Class vessel to hold station in the Sea State you specified for ROV operations above: twenty meters

9.  Deck Working Area - high

What is the total open working deck area that you would need on the aft working deck?

2000 square feet

10.  Laboratory - high

Choose lab space type and size you consider appropriate for a Global Class R/V:

Lab Type Size range Required? in a van?
Main (dry) lab 1500 Required  
Wet lab 400 Required  
Hydro lab (separate) None Selected Not Required  
Computer lab 300 Optional/Desired  
Analytical/Biochemical None Selected Not Required  
Climate control chamber 63 Required  
Walk in Freezer 63 Optional/Desired  
Darkroom 76 Required  
Staging bay/ Hanger 200 Optional/Desired  
Science Office 65 Optional/Desired  

11.  Science Storage Requirements - low

5000 cubic feet

12.  Winch and Wire Requirements - high

Winch Type Usage
CTD winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
2nd EM Cable/CTD winch  
Small diameter FO Cable winch  
Trawl/coring winch (large wire rope) Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
Large diameter EM Cable winch Need Every Cruise/Used Regularly
Large diameter FO Cable winch  

13.  Towing Requirements - low

14. Crane Requirements - high

vans, small boat, trawl gear

15.  Over-the-side Handling Requirements - medium

16.  Acoustic System Requirements - low

System Frequency(s) Type, model, etc.

17.  Navigation - low

18.  Shipboard Communication Needs - low

useful but not a show-stopper

19.  External Communication - medium

it can be a great luxury, but not truly necessary for most of my science

20.  Van Requirements - low

Maximum number of vans you would need? 1

Do you think vans should be used for additional berthing? no

List the type of vans you might need? Lab Van - general

21.  Other science requirements - medium

small boat launch and recovery in various sea states, blue-water diving support (compressors/nitrox), flexible trawl capabilities

22.  Additional Comments:


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James Bellingham / MBARI

1 & 2. Discipline & Field of Study: Other - Marine technology: AUVs and ocean observing systems

3. Geographic Area of Interest:North Atlantic, N.E. Pacific, Arctic - Primarily coastal environments and Arctic ocean.

4. Accommodations - medium

Minimum berths: <30

Maximum berths: <30

I usually do not fill all the berths. As communications with shore improves, my bunk requirements may drop further - e.g. it is wasteful to bring a software engineer if he/she can work remotely.

5. Range - medium

none selected to none selected nautical miles

6. Speed - medium

Maximum sustained transit speed: twelve_to_fourteen knots

Station/Survey speed: three knots

7.  Seakeeping - high

What is the maximum Sea State through which you would normally expect to carry out the following representative operations:

CTD operations 90% of the time: Six

Mooring deployments 75% of the time: four

Coring operations 50% of the time: None Selected

ROV or other sensitive deployment operations 50% of the time: Five

The ability to get equipment (e.g. 100-1000 kg AUVs) on and off the ship safely in high sea states is my top priority.

8Station Keeping Characteristics - low

Using DP, how closely would you need a Global Class vessel to hold station in the Sea State you specified for ROV operations above:

9.  Deck Working Area -

What is the total open working deck area that you would need on the aft working deck?

4000 square feet

Would like to be able to place a van, which would contain a ramp launch and recovery system, on the fan tail without precluding use of the A-frame and activities like mooring deployment & recovery.

10.  Laboratory - medium

Choose lab space type and size you consider appropriate for a Global Class R/V:

Lab Type Size range Required? in a van?
Main (dry) lab 1700 Required  
Wet lab None Selected    
Hydro lab (separate) None Selected    
Computer lab None Selected    
Analytical/Biochemical None Selected    
Climate control chamber None Selected    
Walk in Freezer None Selected    
Darkroom None Selected    
Staging bay/ Hanger 500 Required  
Science Office 100 Required  

The staging area is important for AUV operations. A system for moving heavy equipment (e.g. 1000 kg) from the hanger to laumch points on deck (probably under the A frame) is critical. If the staging bay/hanger is small, then the size of the main lab becomes more important, as it might be necessary to bring equipment into the lab. An office might be useful for setting up a tracking station for supporting vehicle ops, but not if the office is too small.

11.  Science Storage Requirements - medium

10000 cubic feet

Ship some hazardous chemicals with the ship that cannot be shipped by air. Possibly ship specialized handling equipment for launch and recovery of AUV.

12.  Winch and Wire Requirements -

Winch Type Usage
CTD winch  
2nd EM Cable/CTD winch  
Small diameter FO Cable winch  
Trawl/coring winch (large wire rope)  
Large diameter EM Cable winch  
Large diameter FO Cable winch  

13.  Towing Requirements -

14. Crane Requirements - high

See discussion of over-the-side handling requirements below.

15.  Over-the-side Handling Requirements - high

Improving the safety of launch and recovery of AUVs in high sea state is particularly important as it will improve the productivity of ships for AUV operations. Launch and recover of AUVs is a challenge on todays generation of oceanographic vessels. A number of different approaches are being used and/or tested, including stern ramps, specialized cranes, and use of the CTD station. Some AUV operations ship their specialized launch and recovery equipment as part of the work package, which means shipping by surface transport. An advantage to improving the launch and recovery capability of the ship is that many AUVs could be air shipped to oceanographic vessels operating in remote locations, in turn allowing AUVs to be used more effectively.

16.  Acoustic System Requirements -

System Frequency(s) Type, model, etc.

17.  Navigation -

18.  Shipboard Communication Needs -

19.  External Communication - high

High bandwidth satellite communications should enable shore-side experts to support and manage the operation of specialized computerized equipment at sea. Seagoing equipment will continue to increase in complexity. Bringing all the technical expertise to sea will be both expensive and wasteful. Consequently getting maximum productivity from the ship while controlling costs will require a combination of automation an experts on call. The latter will require high bandwidth computer networking. Also, transfer of large data files (eg. GB to 100 GB/day???) to shore would enable processing of specialized data products (e.g. mapping data) on shore also, as well as remote interaction of shore-side science teams. While I am reluctant to put numbers on communications requirements as the cost/benefits are not clear, continuous satellite communications could transform the next generation oceanographic vessels. There certainly are plenty of examples of the power of connectivity (the JASON project, etc. etc.).

20.  Van Requirements - medium

Maximum number of vans you would need? 2

Do you think vans should be used for additional berthing? ???

List the type of vans you might need? Storage Van, Equipment/Workshop van

21.  Other science requirements - high

The two biggest challenges in operating AUVs from UNOLS ships are 1) getting acoustic systems to work, and 2) launch and recovery. Ive already hit on launch and recovery above, so I will touch on the importance of various acoustic systems here. Today a significant amount of ship-time is used installing and testing the performance of acoustic systems in support of activities like AUV and ROV operations. Often the resulting performance is poor. Sometimes compromises in temporary installation (e.g. use of over-the-side poles) can reduce the effectiveness of the ship in substantial ways. The ideal oceanographic vessel would have a low-frequency (7.5-15kHz) and mid-frequency (18-36kHz) ranging and ultra-short baseline systems. It would also have transducers available for acoustic coms in the same frequency ranges suitable for connection to commercial acoustic communication systems. The USBL system would have an integrated AHRS and be coupled with the ships navigation system so that USBL fixes could be georeferenced. The entire system would use some industry standard navigation software package for logging, calibrating transponder arrays, and tracking submerged systems. The acoustic heads for the systems would be mounted in such a way as to allow operation up to a speed of at least 5 kts (but more would be better). There would be a method to quickly raise and lower the acoustic heads to allow the ship to 'sprint' to new locations then revert to acoustic operations. The acoustic characteristics of the ship would be such that performance of the acoustic systems would not be impaired. A less ideal oceanographic vessel would have wells with integral poles onto which scientists could mount their acoustic system transducers. The acoustics of the ship would be well characterized and comparatively quiet in the frequency ranges of interest (LF and MF). Perhaps some acoustic baffling would cover the hull in the vicinity of the transducer wells to minimize reflections off the hull.

22.  Additional Comments:


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