Customs and Immigration

Cruises, all or part of which will be in Canadian waters, require advance clearance. Requests for clearance must be submitted to the Manager of Marine Operations on a UNOLS Foreign Clearance Request form at least 180 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

 

Normally, in order to avoid customs and immigration problems, all personnel and equipment for Canadian cruises will embark and debark at the University of Washington.

 

In clearing U.S. and Canadian customs, various forms are required to be filed by the Master. One of these is a Complement List indicating the names, addresses, nationality, and next of kin for everyone on board. The Master states under oath that this list is complete and accurate. Last minute changes cannot be made after the clearance has been filed except in extremely unusual or emergency circumstances and with a resulting ship delay to refile clearances.

 

The ship's Master is the sole authority in entering and clearing the ship and all onboard personnel through U.S. and Canadian customs and immigration. No member of the scientific party or crew may leave the ship prior to the completion of customs and immigration clearance.

Passports

On cruises to Canadian waters, the Cruise Leader will ensure that all members of the scientific party have valid identification. A driver's license will suffice for this purpose for U.S. citizens. Those who are not U.S. citizens will require a passport with a multi-entry U.S. visa.

Foreign Clearance

 

Cruises, all or part of which will be in Canadian waters, require advance clearance. Requests for clearance must be submitted to the Manager of Marine Operations on a UNOLS Foreign Clearance Request form at least 180 days (i.e., six months) prior to the scheduled departure date.

Diving Operations

If SCUBA or other diving operations are planned, this must be so noted on the Small Vessel Operating Plan and be approved in advance. Divers must either hold a current University of Washington diving qualification or must receive prior approval from the University of Washington Diving Safety Officer.

Forms

University of Washington students who do not carry student insurance, and other persons who are not in the employ of the University of Washington or otherwise insured, must take out Field Trip Insurance before embarking on a cruise. This insurance can be arranged through the Marine Operations Office.

 

The Cruise Leader must fill out an online ship requst form, available at Ship Request Form, as easly as one year before the cruise.

 

The Cruise Leader must also prepare a Small Vessel Operating Plan and submit it to the Port Captain. This should be done no later than five working days prior to the scheduled departure. Any unusual or complex operations should be discussed beforehand with the crew and Port Captain.

Specific Sailing Orders will be issued to the Master of R/V Clifford A Barnes for any cruise involving a near coastal ocean transit. These Sailing Orders may include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

1. Requirements for daily communication schedules

2. Scientific deck load limitations

3. Limitations on the number of personnel in the science party

4. Maximum allowable operating hours per day, and overtime limits for crew members

5. Maximum distance permitted from a harbor of refuge

6. Operational restrictions based on weather, visibility, and/or sea state conditions

Only those persons whose names appear on the approved Small Vessel Operating Plan or in Sailing Orders will be embarked in the vessel at any time during the cruise.

Reports

The Small Vessel Operating Report is the formal record of the scientific cruise. It is to be jointly prepared by the Master and the Cruise Leader. The Master enters operational information including extracts from the log book as necessary. The Cruise Leader summarizes the scientific program and signs the report before leaving the vessel.