Name

Mark Prater

Institution

Graduate School of Oceanography, URI

1. Discipline

Physical Oceanography

2. Field of Research

Mesoscale dynamics, Lagrangian (RAFOS) floats

3. Geographic Region(s) of work

mostly North Atlantic - subpolar regions, Labrador Sea, shelfbreak fronts,
overflows, North Atlantic Current

4. Endurance

35-42 days (5-6 weeks)

5. Accommodations

18-24

6. Ship Speed

12-15 knots cruising

7. Seakeeping

Mooring work at sea state 4-5, CTD operations at 5-low 6 (using Bowditch as guide for wind speed).

8. Station Keeping

9. Deck Area

Fantail large enough for tall mooring operations - 5-6 moorings

10. Laboratories

main science lab, 2 secondary science labs, wet lab, enclosed hanger space for equipment storage and preparation.

11. Science Storage

12. Winches

13. Wire

14. Towing

15. Crane

16. Over-the-side Handling

17. Navigation

18. Shipboard Communications

voice: phones and radio/walkie-talkies, computer: ethernet to all labs
(3 times as many ports as scientists), intra-ship email

19. External Communication

phone, fax, e-mail, electronic data transfer sufficent for (for example) satellite images

20. Vans

21. Other science requirements

Comments

Most of my responses ranged about 10-50% larger than the URI's current ship, the Endeavor.  A Knorr-class ship is typically too large for our needs, but often the Endeavor/Oceanus/Wecoma is too small.

Name

Joan Bernhard

Institution

University of South Carolina

1. Discipline

Biology

2. Field of Research

Benthic ecology and physiology of meiofauna and microorganisms. This necessitates collection and maintenance of live material (i.e., temperature sensitive).

3. Geographic Region(s) of work

Off southern California, off the Carolinas, off Venezuela, in the Black Sea

4. Endurance

10-16

5. Accommodations

14-24

6. Ship Speed

12-16 knots

7. Seakeeping

Coring typically ceases at 25 knots and I do not see this changing since it truly is dangerous to deploy / recover in high winds & heavy seas. In addition, for much of my work I require samples that are undisturbed. Thus, slow recovery and rough seas are incompatible with my needs (temperature sensitive, pristine sediment-water interface).

8. Station Keeping

Nothing out of the ordinary required (NOOTOR)

9. Deck Area

Enough space to move various pieces of equipment for deployment off the A frame without wasting too muh time.

10. Laboratories

Cold room WITH fume hood (environmental room that maintains to 4-5oC, that does not exceed 9oC during defrost!), including benches that are 36" high. Lab space with more sinks and more fume hoods, plus built in drawers as well as low and high benches (for sitting -- microscopy, require knee holes-- and standing).

11. Science Storage

Every ship should have two refrigerators and freezers, one each dedicated to live and dead specimens (one for non-toxic chemicals, the other for toxic chemicals). The ships' crew typically usurp much scientific refrigerator and freezer space for various items (food, fish, paint, etc). this is extremely irritating for people who have temperature sensitive materials and can't wait for these refrigerators / freezers to be cleaned out (or else told to find other accommodations).
As noted above, more built in cabinets so large shipping crates an be stowed.

12. Winches

NOOTOR

13. Wire

NOOTOR

14. Towing

To applicable to my work to date

15. Crane

NOOTOR

16. Over-the-side Handling

Existing A frames are often too small (narrow and / or throw-- angle of extension) to accommodate newer / larger sampling gear (e.g., MC800 multicorer). Width of A frame needs to be at least 15 feet.

17. Navigation

NOOTOR

18. Shipboard Communications

NOOTOR

19. External Communication

Each ship should be equipped with email that does not have to go through the captain; it has been known to happen that some captains are not particularly accommodating; the science party should be able to reliably contact their shore-based personnel.

20. Vans

If environmental rooms are not built into the ship, then new cold vans (environmental vans) must be built. This is especially necessary for Scripps, which has an aging reefer isotope van (the layout of this van is fabulous; it has a fume hood which is a huge plus for my work), and for Duke, which has a tiny new van that does not hold temperature in the heat of the southern summer where their ship typially works. It should be realized that high traffic flow occurs in/out of vans and that they typically are required to maintain 5oC in hot, humid regions. I heard that two new vans are being planned but I hope this does not preclude their integrated inclusion in ships. Having two reefer vans for the entire fleet is not nearly enough (obviously scheduling will be horrendous).

21. Other science requirements

Comments

Name

Bob Campbell

Institution

University of Rhode Island

1. Discipline

Biology

2. Field of Research

Zooplankton Ecology

3. Geographic Region(s) of work

Coastal to open ocean regions of the N. Atl and Arctic Oceans.

4. Endurance

40

5. Accommodations

25

6. Ship Speed

14 knots cruising

7. Seakeeping

6 knots thorugh SS6

8. Station Keeping

Maintain station and work in SS5; limited work through SS6

9. Deck Area

1500 - 2000 sq ft

10. Laboratories

Large open Main lab (approx. 1000 sq ft), Wet lab (200 sq ft), Hydro lab, Electronics/computer lab, and smaller separate lab spaces where e.g. light conditions can be controlled for certain types of analysis. Climate control chamber (100 sq ft) is a must for studying biological rate processes. A large walk-in freezer and large -80 C freezer are necessary for sample storage. Lab spaces should be flexible with ability to add/remove benches/shelves. Benches/shelves able to accommodate heavy scientific analytical equipment. Easy access to clean power throughout labs. A large permanent fume hood with large sink supplied with fresh and uncontaminated seawater should be installed in the wet lab. Other labs should have provision for temporary installation of fume hoods as well as sinks with both fresh and uncontaminated seawater.

11. Science Storage

Large storage area to accommodate several missions. Direct access to both weatherdeck hatches with cranes and Main lab with elevator. Hold should be equipped with shelves and racks for tying down equipment as well as have a large open area .

12. Winches

As in SMR for Intermediate General-purpose Ship

13. Wire

As in SMR for Intermediate General-purpose Ship

14. Towing

As in SMR for Intermediate General-purpose Ship

15. Crane

As in SMR for Intermediate General-purpose Ship

16. Over-the-side Handling</