Employing Ships That Aren't affiliated with UNOLS
At Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), UC San Diego, the safety and health of researchers and students is a top priority. This is particularly important when it comes to vessels used in research and education activities. While the exact standards for vessels used at SIO are not publicly detailed, general best practices involve adherence to U.S. Coast Guard regulations and compliance with organizational safety protocols relevant to research vessels.
For non-UNOLS vessels (those not part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System), the following steps are recommended to ensure compliance with SIO and UCSD's safety standards:
- Understand Regulatory Requirements: Ensure the vessel meets federal and state safety standards, such as U.S. Coast Guard regulations covering life-saving equipment, emergency procedures, communication devices, and vessel stability.
- Institutional Safety Policies: Follow SIO and UCSD internal safety requirements, which likely include documented safety plans, crew training, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and emergency response protocols.
- Safety Inspections and Certifications: Arrange for regular vessel inspections and certifications by appropriate authorities or qualified marine safety professionals to verify operational integrity and compliance.
- Training and Documentation: Maintain comprehensive training records for vessel operators and crew, including certifications in marine safety and health standards relevant to research and educational objectives.
- Risk Management: Implement and document risk assessments for specific research activities conducted on the vessel, including environmental conditions, equipment hazards, and personnel safety.
To facilitate this process, SIO's shoreside support personnel are available to assist in ensuring SIO/UCSD standards are met for any use of non-UNOLS vessels. If chartering a non-UNOLS vessel, the UCSD Purchasing department will guide you through the steps of ensuring all requirements are met. These steps are posted online on BLINK: How to Procure a Vessel Charter.
For smaller boats (less than 50 feet), contact the SIO Small Boating Program directly. For larger boats and ships, the SIO Ship Operations department or the SIO Small Boating Program will assist, depending on the vessel's size. If you board a vessel as part of your work, the vessel must meet SIO/UCSD's minimum standards, regardless of the chartering method or the organization that operates the vessel.
These standards were developed by maritime professionals and risk managers to protect researchers, their work, and the institution. Compliance with these standards is required regardless of where in the world you are. The safety and health of scientists and students while underway aboard ships and boats is important to SIO/UCSD.
- To guarantee adherence to SIO's and UCSD's health-and-wellness standards when using non-UNOLS vessels, implement comprehensive safety plans, provide crew training, enforce usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and adhere to emergency response protocols in fitness-and-exercise activities.
- As a researcher or student at SIO, science narratives should prioritize the health-and-wellness of all personnel on board, which can be achieved by ensuring vessels meet federal and state safety requirements, participating in safety inspections, maintaining proper documentation, and implementing risk management strategies focused on personnel and environmental safety.
