Shipboard Information

Deck Operations

You must get permission from the Bridge
before putting ANYTHING over the side!

• Work vests must be worn when working near the edge of the ship or when equipment is deployed/recovered.

• Hard hats must be worn in designated HARD HAT AREAS.

• Steel-toed shoes are not a requirement but shoes with good traction are required. DO NOT wear sandals or flip-flops while working on deck.

• The Chief Mate or a designated person will be in charge of all deck operations and will oversee the launch and retrieval of all equipment going over the side or stern of the vessel.

• If you don't have any business in the immediate area of operations then stay out of the way. The top of the staging bay is an excellent vantage point.

Shipboard Safety

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Fire & Boat Drills

The Coast Guard requires the ship to have a monthly fire and boat drill. For Fire drill, muster in the main lab, bring your survival suit and wear your life jacket. Muster on the fantail for Abandon ship drill, like fire drills, bring your survival suit and wear your life jacket. Wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt and a hat for all drills. Alarms are sounded on both the General alarm system and the Ship's whistle.

 

• The alarm for Fire is one continuous bell or whistle blast lasting at least one minute.

• The Abandon ship alarm is a series (6 or more) short bells or whistle blasts followed by a prolonged bell or whistle blast.

Heavy Weather

When the captain decides that heavy weather procedures are warranted, warning signs will be posted as reminders that no one is allowed outside without permission from the bridge. If it is absolutely necessary that you go outside, obtain permission from the bridge, wear a work vest or life jacket and have a partner to monitor your activity. When you have finished your outside business notify the bridge that you are safely back inside.

General Safety

• There are a many ways to bump your head, stub your toes or smash your fingers on a ship. Pay attention to what you are doing at all times.

• Be very careful with heavy watertight doors. It is easy to lose control when passing through and be sure you properly dog the door shut once you have passed through.

• Make sure all your equipment is secured before the ship leaves the dock. It doesn't take very long to find out what you forgot to tie down so double check everything. Expensive equipment can be damaged beyond your ability to repair it in a matter of seconds. For the success of your scientific cruise ensure that you take the extra time to SECURE EVERYTHING properly.

• Get permission from the bridge before putting ANYTHING over the side.

• Smoking is NOT permitted in the interior of the ship. Smoking is allowed outside on the weather decks and in the staging bay.

Ship's Communications

E-mail

E-mail is the least expensive of all ship to shore communications. It is transferred four times per day Monday-Friday and three times per day on weekends. For details, see the E-mail tab.

Telephone & FAX

A copier/FAX machine is located in the aft end of the main lab. The marine tech will help you send your FAX. Faxes go out over Inmarsat B and are charged at rate of $3.00 per attempted FAX page. Please fill out a FAX report form prior to sending a FAX. The form serves as a receipt for your expense reporting as well as for our records.

Download a copy of the FAX Report Form (Adobe PDF format)

Download a copy of the Thompson FAX Cover Sheet (Adobe PDF format)

 

VOICE calls can be made over the SeaWave Communication system. The Seawave system consists of a GSM cell phone and Iridium satellite phone (as well as email services). The system automatically selects the "least cost" method of voice communication for you. The current rates are 45 cents per minute over GSM cell and $1.50 per minute over Iridium. In order to use the SeaWave phone you must set up an account with SeaWave LLC using a major credit card or automatic checking account withdrawal. To see instructions for creating a SeaWave account click here.

The SeaWave telephone is located in the computer lab. If you need assistance ask the Marine Tech on duty for help.

Note: The GSM cell range is limited, usually less than 100 miles offshore coverage, so most calls will be placed via the Iridium satellite phone.

An Inmarsat-B Telephone is also available but at a higher rate.

Ship to shore rates over Inmarsat-B are $3.10 US per minute during peak hours and $2.90 US during off-peak hours.
Ship to ship rates over the Inmarsat-B are $6.20 US per minute during peak hours and $5.80 during off-peak hours.

Note: These rates only apply to Zone 1 (United States and Canada). Please contact the Inmarsat operator for rates pertaining to Zones 2, 3 & 4 (See Zone information below).

Off-peak hours are as follows:

• AOR-E, AOR-W &IOR: 19:31-05:30 GMT

• POR: 10:01-20:00 GMT

 

Inmarsat Zone Information:

• Zone 1: United States and Canada.

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  Zone 2: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Faeroe Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City.

• Zone 3: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, French Antilles, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Nevis, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paragua, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, St. Helena, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, Taiwan, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

• Zone 4: All the countries not listed in Zones 1, 2, or 3 above.

Contacting the Ship

Unless you are calling the ships cell phone, then calling the ship from the United States is considered an international phone call. Please be aware that the Inmarsat-B rates still apply.

Ships numbers:

Voice: 011-(ORC*)-33-663-4510 (Inmarsat B) or 1 (206) 799-6547 (Cellular - when in range)

Fax: 011(ORC*)-33-663-4511 (Inmarsat B – on the bridge) or 011-(ORC*)-33-663-4512 (Inmarsat B – in the main lab)

Telex: (ORC**) 430311610 TGIN (Inmarsat C)

  * Ocean Region Code (See the direct dialing procedure below)
** ORC's vary depending on Telex carrier and ocean area. Too many to list here.

Direct Dialing:

• Dial the international access code 011 (from the U.S.).

• Dial three digit Ocean Region Code.

871 = Atlantic Ocean East
872 = Pacific Ocean
873 = Indian Ocean
874 = Atlantic Ocean West

• Dial ship ID (telephone) number. See example described below.

Example:

Calling the R/V Thompson in the Pacific Ocean (from the U.S): 1-011-872-33-663-4510 (Inmarsat B)

If problems are encountered:

• Contact the International Operator.

• Tell the operator you wish to place an International maritime satellite (Inmarsat) call to the appropriate Ocean Area.

• Give the operator the Ocean Region Code and the number of the R/V Thompson.

Meal Hours

	Meal Hours in Port	Meal Hours at Sea
Breakfast	0715 - 0800	0715 - 0800
Lunch	1130 - 1200	1130 - 1215
Dinner	1700 - 1800	1700 - 1800

 

Note: A midnight meal is not provided aboard.

 

While underway science activities will sometimes interfere with meals. If you are not able to eat during regular meal hours ask the Chief Steward or Cook to "hold a plate" for you. If you have to maintain a special diet please discuss it with the Chief Steward.

 

Leftovers are available in the Mess Deck refrigerators that can be reheated in the microwave. Also, meats and cheeses for sandwiches, cereals and snacks are available on the mess decks. While underway science activities will sometimes interfere with meals. If you are not able to eat during regular meal hours ask the Chief Steward or Cook to "hold a plate" for you. If you have to maintain a special diet please discuss it with the Chief Steward.

 

Leftovers are available in the Mess Deck refrigerators that can be reheated in the microwave. Also, meats and cheeses for sandwiches, cereals and snacks are available on the mess decks.

Ship's Berthing Plan - Click on image for interactive form

Ship's Laundry Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Master Ch. Mate 2nd Mate 3rd Mate MT/ET #1	AB's OS's	Ch. Engineer 1st Engineer 2nd Engineer 3rd Engineer Ch. Steward MT/ET #2	2nd Cook Mess person Oiler's Wiper's	Rm #2 Rm #17 Rm #18 Rm #19 Rm #20 Rm #21	Rm #23 Rm #24 Rm #25 Rm #27 Rm #28 Rm #29	Rm #30 Rm #31 Rm #32 Rm #33 Rm #34 Rm #35

 

• Please use the facilities only on your assigned day.

• Laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener can be found in the linen locker located in the laundry room.

• Laundry days for the science party are Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please attend to your laundry and don't tie up the machines, you may find your laundry in a basket still wet!

• If you have emergency laundry needs arrange usage of the facilities with the Captain.

• The Thompson DOES NOT have a weekly linen service. If you want clean bedding during the cruise you must wash your bedding on your designated laundry day.

 

Waste Disposal

Always Recycle whenever possible

While In Port

Please use the shoreside disposal containers and recycling containers because the ship can not incinerate garbage while in port.

Prior to Departure

Dispose of ALL waste in shoreside containers prior to the ships departure. We like to keep our waste disposal to a minimum while out at sea!

Make sure that boxes and shipping containers you will need for your trip home are properly stored. If you don't, you may find that they have been recycled when you look for them at the end of the cruise. Storage areas are located in the forward and aft science holds.

When Underway

During the course of a normal cruise waste is separated into burnable, wet garbage, aluminum cans, tin cans and glass bottles. On the mess decks you will find marked containers for each type of waste. In the labs you will also find containers for burnables and cans. When your trash cans are full bag the trash and take the burnable trash to the incinerator room (01 level aft), aluminum and tin cans to the scullery.

WARNING

You may injure someone if you put combustible items, chemical waste or sharp objects into the burnable trash containers.

 

BURNABLE items include: Paper, cardboard, and plastic items, NOT Aerosol cans, oily rags, containers of flammables, razor blades, hypodermic needles, broken glass or used batteries.

 

• Deposit oily rags and combustibles in the containers outside the incinerator room.

• Take your used batteries to the ET shop and put them in the used battery container by the door.

• Razor blades, broken glassware and other sharp objects go over the side when the ship is outside of 50 miles from land. Otherwise dispose of then in the container labeled SHARPS in the ET shop.

• Dispose of Hazardous Materials in accordance with guidelines in the Haz Mat Web Page.

 

If the ship is working near shore (less than 50 miles) or in an area where waste disposal is not allowed, arrangements will be made to place a garbage dumpster of adequate size onboard. Under these circumstances use the dumpster for disposal of waste materials.

Recreation

TV Lounge

The television lounge is open 24 hrs a day for video viewing. The "Feature Movie" begins at 2000 hrs local when at sea. This movie takes precedence over all other movies playing at this time so be sure to schedule your movie viewing with this in mind. Remember, the ship operates 24 hrs a day which means watch standers are trying to sleep throughout the day. Keep the volume down so you don't disturb those individuals trying to sleep. Thank You!

Library

The ships library has a good selection of reading material. Please bring back the books that you borrow when you have finished so that others can enjoy them. Magazines are located in the TV Lounge magazine rack. Board games are available in the library for your entertainment. Computer games may be found on some of the library computers, these computer games are not provided by the UW or the ship so don't bother the marine techs with software problems you may encounter.

Ping Pong

The ship has a ping pong table. If space is available in the main lab you may set up the table and enjoy a good game of ping pong with your shipmates.

Fishing

Fishing is a favorite past time on the T. G. Thompson. Trolling is scheduled whenever possible on a NOT TO INTERFERE basis with scientific activities.

Exercise Room

Located in the aft berthing area is the exercise room. Stationary bicycles, a treadmill,  and small weight lifting equipment are there for all to use. Once again people may be sleeping in the area so please be quiet and DO NOT slam weights down on the deck!

Hazardous Materials

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STORAGE AND HANDLING

1. It is very important that all hazardous materials (HM) are properly stored. Store flammables in flammable lockers and acids in acid lockers. Please DO NOT store flammables and acids together. Lockers for stowage are located in the forward science hold and the hazardous materials locker is located on the starboard side just aft of the main lab. When HM's are used in the lab spaces keep the amounts to a minimum. Only break out the amount you will be using and Do Not leave the unused portions laying around. See the marine techs if you're unsure where to store your HM.

2. Keep compressed gas cylinders properly secured in an upright position. Only cylinders in use should be in the labs, others should be properly stored in the outside storage racks.

3. Preservatives are NOT allowed in the Climate Control Chamber or Walk-In Freezer at any time.

4. The only sink that drains directly overboard is in the wet lab. Be careful to dilute waste HM when you pour them down any sink. NEVER pour concentrated acid in a metal sink.

SAFETY LIBRARY

1. There is a safety library in the Conference Room with references such as emergency response guidelines, procedures manuals, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), etc. Feel free to look through this material but keep it in the safety library.

2. All scientists are required to carry MSDSs for the materials they bring aboard. If you have not provided the proper MSDSs, check our notebooks in the library to see if we have the correct data sheet.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SPILL STATIONS

1. Be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers, chemical spill stations, eye wash stations located in your immediate work area. If you have a fire or see a fire call the bridge first. If you use chemical spill station supplies be sure to tell a marine tech. All the labs have small spill kits, the main lab has spill pillows as well as a mercury spill kit.

2. All scientists should know the procedures for spill cleanup of the chemicals they have brought onboard. Make sure the proper spill cleaning materials are onboard.

RECORD KEEPING

1. Each scientist must fill out a "Research Vessel Hazardous Materials Inventory" form with the inventory of all the HMs they bring aboard. HM's include compressed gases, cryogens and just about everything except distilled water. To obtain a inventory sheet click here

2. At the end of the cruise, ALL hazardous materials must be removed from the ship and disposed of properly. If any material is left onboard or is not disposed of properly there will be charge to the owner of the material for disposal. A minimum fee of $150.00 will be imposed but the total cost could exceed this minimum amount.

CONTAINER DISPOSAL

1. Each scientist is responsible for disposal of the waste they generate.

2. The ship's crew is very good about burning normal plastic and paper garbage. Since the burnable garbage must be loaded into the incinerator by hand DO NOT put razor blades, hypodermic needles, or broken glass in the trash. Also, DO NOT dispose of radioactive containers, aerosol cans, oily rags or other HM waste in the burnable trash containers.

3. Please do your part to ensure these objects are not found in burnable waste containers. Dispose of these items as outlined in the guidelines on the Waste Disposal tab.

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

On March 22, 2001, the School of Oceanography, with the assistance of the University of Washington Radiation Safety Office, updated the "Policy and Procedures for Isotope usage Onboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson." Please print and read these procedures fully to ensure you comply with authorized procedures while onboard. Click here to view a printable version of the new policy and procedures.

 

After reading the above procedures, there are a number of forms that are required for application to use RAM, training and experience, usage while onboard and end of cruise finalization. Below is a list of these forms. You can print individual forms or the final link contains all four required forms in one file.

Form 13 Application for Authorization to Use Radioactive Isotopes

Form 20 Training and Experience In Use of Radiation

Form 160 Radioactive Material Delivery and Use Record

Form 180 End of Cruise Report of Use of Radioactive Material Onboard R/V Thomas G. Thompson

All the forms in one file

Please keep your Isotope Waste to a minimum!

E-Mail Information

In January, 2004, the Road NET system installed on the R/V Thompson became active. This system provides a constant 24/7 link with the internet via satellite. At the moment this connection is funded by an NSF grant. In the future that may change but until then we are able to send/receive email free of charge when the link is up. There will be times when the antenna is obscured by the mast or stack. During those times it may be necessary to transfer email the old way, over Inmarsat B. If mail is transferred via Inmarsat B there will be a charge of $0.30 per kilobyte or roughly 30 cents per thousand characters. To avoid being charged for email transferred over Inmarsat B just keep your user size limit sent to 1. By doing so your email will only be transferred when the Road NET link is up.

 

To register and activate your account, first determine your science account number from the list below. Your sci-xx assignment is by room number and bunk (upper or lower). Telnet to our server 'indian' and login using sci-xx (where: xx = your number) as the user name and thompson for the password. Next, answer all the questions to activate your e-mail account. During the registration process you will be prompted to enter an alias. This will be your e-mail name and your login name for the rest of the current cruise. If you select a name that is already in use you will be prompted to re-enter another alias. Once you have completed the registration questions you must logout and login as the user name you just selected in order to send e-mail as an authorized user.

 

PC's and MAC's are located in the labs, the science office and in the ships library. You may use any one of them to send e-mail. The computers in the computer lab are used for data storage and acquisition and we ask that you DO NOT USE them for e-mail.

 

Your email address onboard is:

It's a good idea to change your account password after registering. The command to do that is yppasswd. Follow the prompts and type carefully. Make sure the system accepts your new password. And most of all, Please try to remember your new password because the techs have better things to do than reset your account password.

 

NOTE: When the Road NET link is up email is transferred ashore within seconds after it is sent. When the link is down email is queued until the link becomes active again. When the link is down email may be transferred via Inmarsat B but not on a regular schedule.