Loading and Port Services

The Ship Support Facility at Newport has limited facilities for the reception, storage or staging of advance shipments of project materials. However, suitable, shared-use facilities are available within the Hatfield Marine Science Center complex at Newport. Any advance staging requirements should be coordinated with the Marine Superintendent, Marine Operations Coordinator, and Marine Technician well ahead of cruise departure. For your and our protection, we cannot be responsible or accountable for unannounced or unaccompanied shipments and may delay off loading pending contact with the shipper. Ship Support Facility weight handling equipment is limited to forklifts with a maximum capacity of 10,000 lbs. Advance shipments should be marked:

                  To:  David A. McWilliams
                       c/o Ship Support Facility
                       HMSC 2030 South Marine Science Drive
                       Newport, Oregon 97365 
                  WECOMA Cruise W94??A/B/C....

In Newport, unless you tell us otherwise, the ship will normally be loaded on the scheduled day of departure (beginning at 0800) and off loaded on the day of return. Cruise preparation requiring more port time, vessel services, or crew assistance will require careful planning to prevent mutual interference. Routine vessel maintenance and logistics can interfere with laboratory setup due to the congestion of conflicting traffic. Consult with the Marine Superintendent well in advance so we can plan for your loading and setup requirements. Crew rest must be provided for during in port periods at Newport. Crew rest also dictates that loading extending beyond 1630 may not permit the ship to depart until the next day.

In ports other than Newport the ship will usually be represented by an agent. Principal Investigators (P.I.'s) may find it convenient to use the same agent to simplify movement of scientific party members and equipment to or from the ship. Services are provided more smoothly if we are also informed of your requirements. Agents normally will not open separate accounts for P.I.'s. In order to reconcile services the agent is charging to our account, OSU will require the agent present a "Request for Port Services" which has been signed by an authorized OSU representative. The agent will be provided in advance with a list of authorized signatores. This will normally include the Captain, Marine Technician, Chief Scientist, and Ship Support Staff . The agent will be instructed OSU will not pay for any charges made by the ship or science party without a signed authorization. We will bill you for your share of services when the agent's invoice is received and reconciled. This may take up to three months after foreign cruises. OSU will bear all normal ship costs of the port visit. Consult well in advance with the Marine Superintendent if there will be a requirement for a particular pier or unusual port services. Time will normally be required at these ports for ship logistics (fuel, provisions, etc.). Please do not plan quick turnarounds as normal logistics usually require more than eight hours. Also, some crew rest must be allowed.

The use of the Deck Layout Plan is encouraged. Experience has shown that when a detailed deck loading plan has been prepared in advance, loadings proceeded much faster.

The Ship's Crane is normally available on scheduled days for loading (2 tons at maximum reach/minimum elevation), but requirements and maximum weights (Section B.4.) must be specified during Preliminary Cruise Planning.

Heavy loads (above 10,000 lbs.) require renting a commercial shore crane. The Ship Support Facility will provide such a crane, when necessary, to load WECOMA directly from trucks. Such a requirement should be included in the cruise plan. A shore crane will not be provided for staging operations. If such a situation arises, the Ship Support facility will arrange for a crane on your account. Commercial cranes are in heavy demand at Newport and must be scheduled well in advance. Cranes are rented on an hourly basis which includes travel, setup and waiting time. For these reasons we expect schedules to be met. Any unnecessary waiting time will be billed to the P.I.

For Foreign Cruises a listing of scientific instruments and major equipment (including serial or identifying numbers, or marks) should be provided to Master R/V WECOMA as far in advance as possible. This will simplify consular and U.S. customs clearances. Equipment not registered or manifested with customs could be subject to duty on reentry.

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