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Ireland’s Marine Research Vessels -

Introducing the 2015 Shiptime Call: A Targeted Approach

SMARTSkills Workshop 2014

27th August 2014

Aodhán FitzGerald

Research Vessel Program Co-ordinator

Marine Institute

Research Vessel Operations: Who We Are

A division within the Ocean Science & Information Services (OSIS) team in the Marine Institute.

Responsible for the management, development and promotion of the Irish state’s research vessels,

R.V Celtic Explorer, R.V. Celtic Voyager and deepwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Holland I.

Primary objectives include:

• Execute the national sea-going programme of strategic research and monitoring.

• Ensure the efficient operation and implementation of all survey programmes.

• To continually improve the range of research vessel facilities and instrumentation

available to the Irish research community.

• To pursue opportunities to charter the vessel to research institutes, government

departments and companies throughout Ireland and Europe.

Research Vessel Operations: Who We Are

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Research Vessel Operations (RVOps)

• RV Ops establish the vessel schedule annually (with maintenance and refit periods agreed with P&O).

• RV Ops run the annual shiptime call, with the funding programme operated by a separate funding office.

• RV Ops are responsible for securing external work for vessels and contract arrangements for charters as well as billing for external and internal surveys.

• RV Ops liaise with scientists, chair planning meetings, operate the survey planning system and the diplomatic clearance process.

RV Ops Team

Director Ocean Science & Information Services (OSIS) : Michael Gillooly

Research Vessel Program Co-ordinator: Aodhán Fitzgerald

RV Ops Administrator: Bernadette Ní Chonghaile

RV Ops Stagiaire: Paul Rush

Email: rv@marine.ie

Web: www.marine.ie

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2015 Shiptime Funding Call

• The shiptime funding call opened on June 27th 2014 and the closing date is 26th

September 2014. This is an opportunity to apply for Celtic Explorer, Celtic

Voyager (and ROV Holland 1) shiptime. All MI equipment described today is

also available.

• This year the call includes three funded targeted calls as well as the normal

annual shiptime availability

• All details on the Marine Institute website

http://www.marine.ie/home/services/researchvessels/ApplyforShiptime.htm

Upcoming Funding Opportunities

Targeted Calls 2015

Targeted Call 1: Transatlantic Survey

• The R.V. Celtic Explorer will once again be transiting to St. John’s,

Newfoundland in April 2015 to complete a fisheries acoustic program on behalf

of the Marine Institute of Memorial University and a 14 day funded survey

incorporating the transit to Newfoundland is being offered as part of the 2015

Call.

• The westbound transit typically takes 7-8 days to complete so 6-7 days for

onsite science can be incorporated into the leg as well as continuous

underway observations whilst in transit. Typical berth availability on the leg is

12-14 berths . Vessel can be mobilised with all available RV equipment and

users equipment. Equipment can be shipped home to Ireland on the vessel

when demobilising from the acoustic fisheries survey in late May.

• Applicants are encouraged to partner with the research team from Memorial

University, Newfoundland (contact RVOps for further details).

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Targeted Calls 2015

Targeted Call 2: Surveys led by early stage emerging marine researchers / scientists

• A total of 30 days will be made available on the R.V. Celtic Voyager in midsummer

2015 in two 15 day slots or three 10 day slots to enable early stage researchers to

gain access to the research vessels to pursue research in their area of speciality and

to gain experience in managing a scientific survey.

• Full funding for shiptime and logistical and instrumentation support for RV fixed

and mobile equipment will be provided.

• All listed fixed and mobile RV equipment will be made available .

• Key items: maximum 8 scientists, reducing to 6/7 depending on crew

requirements to support activities. All scientific personnel will require ENG 11 and

PST certificates.

Targeted Calls 2015

Targeted Call 3: Testing of Innovative Marine Technology

• A total of 8 funded days are available on either the R.V. Celtic Explorer (use of

the ROV if required) or the R.V. Celtic Voyager (depending on the

technology). The slots requested can be from 1 to 8 days. The Marine Institute

will provide engineering support for marinisation of the equipment if required,

and installation and testing of the technology on the vessel or ROV.

• ROV mounted equipment will be trialled on ROV shakedown/trials period in

Spring 2015.

• Vessel trialled equipment will be trialled on stand alone short surveys on R.V.

Celtic Voyager or incorporated into longer voyages on R.V. Celtic Explorer.

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Targeted Calls 2015 Questions?

The Shiptime Application Process

Applications must be submitted using the Research Vessel Operations' online 'Survey

Planning System' (SPS) - https://www.marine.ie/SPS/

Contact rv@marine.ie to get a username and password.

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The Shiptime Application Process Continued

The Shiptime Application Process Continued

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The Shiptime Application Process - Key Points

� Choice of Vessel – R.V. Celtic Explorer is very much in demand, applications

for R.V. Celtic Voyager have much higher chance of being scheduled

� Start /End Dates - difficult to offer exact dates due to vessels schedule

pressure - Just aim for optimal biological or weather window you require

� Outline of Work - Include the outline of work from the funding proposal

� 12/24 Hour Working/ Night Time Operations - This section is very important

from a planning perspective so please input a realistic activity plan here

� Foreign Waters - need to complete and submit any foreign waters

applications 6 months in advance of cruise

� Marine Special Area of Conservation - will require clearance for activities in

these regions from DAHLG.

• Survey Objectives - Note this section is used on the vessel tracker page and MI website to

describe surveys, so needs to be short and accurate.

• Locations - General area initially required to allow planning (insurance, charts, crewing).

Also include detailed track plan if available (will require this in different format if survey

accepted for upload to ships navigation system).

• Entering Estuaries or Bays - this section is solely concerned with marine mammal

regulations when using acoustic systems

• Equipment - Please select as accurately as possible the Pool equipment you require, note

space is limited on Explorer and even more so on Voyager. SPS contains details on capability

and specifications of equipment, please contact RVOps if you need any more detail on

information on requirements etc.

• User Equipment - information such as weights, deployment method and power/other

requirements are important.

• Technical support - This is a very important section for planning purposes, electronic /

instrumentation and gear/moorings support available. Consider if tech support is required

pre survey, at mobilisation or for duration of survey.

The Shiptime Application Process - Key Points

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The Shiptime Application Process

After you press the “submit

completed form” button your

application becomes an

“application” and you will be

assigned an application

number e.g. APP-CV14030.

You can access your list of

applications via SPS. SPS will

email you a pdf copy of your

application.

APP number is then required

for RIMS system for funding

application.

The Shiptime Application Process... Next Steps

• After a successful application for shiptime and funding, RVOps will add the

application to the ships schedule. Status changes to “for chief scientist approval”,

• SPS will send an email requesting you to approve or decline the proposed

allocated slot.

• Following acceptance the application changes to a survey and a survey code e.g.

CE15001 is assigned to the survey.

• The survey is then available through the list surveys tab....

• Next Steps - Diplomatic clearance.. (SPS prompts via email)

• Submit Survey Details - 6 weeks before cruise (sps prompts via email). At this

point the final definitive list of RV and users equipment, track plans and no of

personnel etc are required.

• Pre Cruise Meeting - 3-5 weeks before cruise (date/time agreed with RVOps and

SPS prompts via email). Need full list of personnel details at this point.

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Questions?