2025 RVTEC Meeting

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Date:
November 3rd, 2025 to November 7th, 2025
Category:
Meeting
Location:

Scripps, La Jolla, CA

Description:

2025 UNOLS RVTEC Meeting

November 3–7, 2025 | Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA

The University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) invites you to the annual Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee (RVTEC) Meeting, hosted at the esteemed Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. This key gathering will take place Monday, November 3 through Friday, November 7, 2025 .

Purpose & Highlights

The RVTEC (Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee) Meeting brings together marine technicians, engineers, and vessel operators from the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF) to share knowledge, advance best practices, and collaborate on technical solutions. The meeting focuses on vessel operations, instrumentation, troubleshooting, and innovation, providing workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities to support safe and efficient oceanographic research.

This week-long event will likely include:

  • Plenary sessions presenting updates on UNOLS and affiliated programs, facilities, committees and initiatives.
  • Technical breakout sessions, panels, workshops and trainings focused on areas such as instrumentation troubleshooting, vessel cybersecurity, multibeam systems, deployment reliability and so much more.
  • Opportunities to engage in hands-on training, peer networking, and exchange operational insights and strategies.

Held at Scripps, the meeting will benefit from the venue’s world-leading marine research infrastructure, facilitating both formal sessions and informal collaboration in a scenic research environment.

Audience

This meeting is ideal for:

  • Marine technicians, engineers, and technical staff supporting research vessels and oceanographic platforms.
  • Fleet operations managers and policy-makers within UNOLS and associated institutions.
  • Researchers and technical leads interested in vessel operations, instrumentation, and emerging best practices.

Meeting Overview

 

Monday (Nov 3) – Kickoff with “Cyber Monday” or  Multibeam Training (Optional)
Launch the week with your choice of two deep-dive tracks: a full day of dynamic sessions on cybersecurity across the UNOLS fleet, or a hands-on multibeam training workshop (limited to 35 participants).
 

Tuesday–Thursday (Nov 4 - 6) – Core RVTEC Program
Immerse yourself in the heart of RVTEC with plenary sessions, technical breakouts, and interactive discussions designed to spark collaboration and share best practices.

Special Highlights:

  • Tuesday Evening (Nov 4, 6:00-8:00PM) – Icebreaker Reception - Birch Aquarium at Scripps
  • Wednesday Evening (Nov 5, 6:00-9:00PM) – Networking Dinner & Gala - Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club
  • Thursday Afternoon (Nov 6, 2:00-5:00PM) – Exclusive Tour of the Scripps Nimitz Facility

 

Friday (Nov 7) – Hands-On Training Opportunities (Optional)
Close out the week by sharpening your skills through one of three specialized training sessions:

  1. Rigging Gear Inspection & Basic Rigging Training (Full Day) – Learn practical techniques to ensure safe, efficient operations at sea (limited to 35 participants).
  2. Kongsberg SIS Workshop (Half Day) – Gain expert instruction on advanced Kongsberg systems.
  3. Fortigate Workshop (Half Day) – Build confidence in Constructing a Secure SD-WAN Architecture.

Training Options

Monday November 3, 2025

Title: Crash Course on Multibeam Echosounders (limited to 35 participants; 8 hours)

 

Presenter: Jonathan Beaudoin (HydroOctave) 

 

Description: Join Dr. Jonathan “JB” Beaudoin for a day-long Crash Course about Multibeam Echosounders. This course is tailored directly towards the needs of UNOLS Marine Technicians, focusing on the knowledge and skills necessary for you to be the best multibeam operator you can be. The course is intended for those that have had field experience with multibeam systems already.

It will be a workshop style event with time for Q&A and knowledge sharing and we will be gathering input from registrants on topics they’d like to have covered. Examples of possible topics from previous training from Dr. Beaudoin ranges from acoustics theory, calibration, real-time QA best-practices, survey planning, sonar optimization and even an intro to post-processing.

 

Friday November 7, 2025

Option 1:

Title: Rigging Gear Inspection & Basic Rigging Training – National Rigging and Crane Training LLC (limited to 35 participants; 8 hours)

Presenter: Peter Cooke

Description: RVTEC is pleased to offer an on-site Rigging Training Workshop led by Peter Cooke, owner of National Rigging and Crane Training LLC. With over 20 years of industry experience as an engineer, trainer, and certification program developer, Peter brings first-hand expertise in rigging, hoist and crane operations, and equipment inspection. He currently serves on the ASME B30.9 Slings subcommittee and is a recognized leader in rigging certification development.

This full-day training will combine classroom instruction with hands-on practice to prepare participants to meet OSHA and ASME requirements for rigging gear use and inspection.

Course Highlights:

  • Rigging Gear Inspection: Learn OSHA and ASME requirements for inspection and documentation of shackles, turnbuckles, swivel rings, lift points, and various sling types (chain, wire rope, synthetics, metal mesh). Hands-on inspection exercises will be included.
     
  • Basic Rigging: Understand proper sling and rigging equipment selection and use in compliance with OSHA 1926.1400, OSHA 1910.184, ASME B30.9, and ASME B30.26. Topics include hitches, working load limits, rigging limitations, sling tension calculations, chart interpretation, and case studies of actual research vessel lifts.

Participants will leave with practical knowledge, a certificate, and applied skills to be deemed “competent” by their employers for rigging gear inspection and safe rigging practices.

 

Option 2:

Title: Constructing a Secure SD-WAN Architecture  (3.5 hours)

Presenter: Ajinkya Joshi, Systems Engineer (Fortinet)

Objective: Provide a compelling hands-on learning experience about SD-WAN and teach participants to understand an agile and cost-effective architectural network solution.

Description: As businesses rely more on cloud-based applications, organizations with remote offices and distributed workforces must adapt their network infrastructure. Traditional WANs, often using costly MPLS or leased lines, route all traffic through centralized data centers, creating latency, performance bottlenecks, and operational complexity. Managing multiple point products adds to the challenge, increasing visibility gaps and troubleshooting difficulties.

This workshop explores how SD-WAN offers a dynamic, cost-effective alternative to static WAN architectures. Participants will learn how Fortinet’s Secure SD-WAN enhances performance, reduces costs, and integrates security directly into the network. Through centralized management and advanced traffic optimization, organizations can improve cloud application access, streamline operations, and maintain robust security across their distributed environments.

Participants who attend this workshop will learn how to:

  • Apply software-defined networking (SDN) to wide-area networks in an enterprise environment.
  • Implement ADVPN v1.0 using FortiManager SD-WAN Overlay Orchestration for failover, failback, and packet duplication scenarios.
  • Take control of critical DIA and measure voice quality with Mean Opinion Score (MOS).
  • Employ FortiAI Assistant.

 

Option 3: 

Title: Kongsberg SIS Workshop (3.5 hours)

 

Presenter: Colleen Peters (Kongsberg)

 

Description: This session will be used to review the latest release of SIS, a new product called Kongsberg Record Viewer and to review best practices when conducting mapping surveys with Kongsberg multibeam echosounders.  

 

Hotel Information

Hotel blocks have been arranged at the per diem rate ($199 per night) at two local hotels. The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club will have rooms available on Nov. 3, 4, and 5. The La Jolla Shores Hotel will have rooms available Nov. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Please ensure that the room you choose is listed at the per diem rate! The cut-off date is Oct. 3, 2025. Please do not hesitate to make your reservations!!!

You can make reservations as the hotels using these links or by following the telephone instructions. 

 

Telephone Instructions: 

The telephone number is (866-976-6659). When calling reference “UNOLS RVTEC 2025 Meeting” and the hotel will tell you what is available.

It is important to call during the designate hours as the people that answer then are the only ones who can access the per diem rate:

Monday-Friday 7 AM-7 PM PST

Sat and Sun 8 AM-5:30 PM PST

If you have any questions or problems please contact Bridget Harrell-Donze at bridget@unols.org or 425-772-9159. 


Meeting Locations 

SIO Campus Map

Scripps Seaside Forum 

Date(s): Monday, Nov 3 – Wednesday, Nov 6; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Address: 8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Notes: Located right on the beach next to Scripps Pier. About a 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive from La Jolla Shores hotels.

 

Icebreaker Reception - Birch Aquarium at Scripps 

Date: Tuesday, Nov 4; 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Address: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037

Notes: The Birch Aquarium is approximately 1.5 miles from the La Jolla Shores Hotel. Walking takes about 25–30 minutes, mostly uphill on the way to the Aquarium. By car or ride share, it’s about a 5-minute drive. The SIO Campus Shuttle is also available for transport, but please note that shuttle service ends at 6:00 PM.

 

Networking Dinner and Gala - Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club 

Date: Wednesday, Nov 5; 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Address: 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0121, 3035 Muir Ln, La Jolla, CA 92093

Notes: The Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club at UC San Diego is about 2 miles from the La Jolla Shores Hotel. Driving or taking a ride share takes roughly 7–10 minutes: head south on El Paseo Grande, turn left onto La Jolla Shores Drive, then right onto Expedition Way, and follow signs onto the UCSD campus to 9500 Gilman Drive. Walking takes about 35–40 minutes, mostly uphill, and campus shuttles are also available for those who prefer not to walk, but please note that shuttle service ends at 6:00 PM.

 

Sumner Auditorium 

Date: Thursday Morning, Nov 6; 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Address: 8625 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Notes: About a 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive from La Jolla Shores hotels.

 

Scripps Nimitz Facility    

Date: Thursday Afternoon, Nov 6; 2:00 - 5:00 PM                                     

Address: 8297 Rosecrans Street San Diego, CA 92106
Notes: Buses will be provided for the 30-minute ride from Sumner Auditorium to the Scripps Nimitz Facility. Return buses will depart the Nimitz Facility at 5:00 PM, heading back to the La Jolla Shores Hotel.

 

TBD 

Date: Friday, Nov 7

Address: TBD

Notes: Self transportation, please coordinate taxi rides and car pools.

 

Transportation

Getting to San Diego, California

Nearest Airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN) (~13 miles / 20–30 minutes by car to La Jolla).

From Airport to La Jolla Hotels

Easiest Options:

  • Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): ~$40–60, 25–35 minutes. Pick-up zones are clearly marked at SAN.
  • Taxi: Similar cost, stands available at both terminals.

Budget Option:

Getting around locally

Service area: Connects the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium and the beach at Scripps Seaside Forum to the Central Campus at the Gilman Transit Center with a walking connection to the UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley at the Central Campus Station

Operates (excluding university holidays):

Every 30 minutes weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Times in red indicate weekdays only.)

Every 30 minutes weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shuttle tracking: Live map – Toggle SIO Shuttle on to view the route map; hover over vehicles and stops to see more information.