UEO SEAQUEST
DSV 4600

SHIP'S SERVICE AND ORGANIZATION MANUAL
SHIPBOARD LIFE

Checking in When you arrive at the dock with one duffle of personal gear, check with the Officer of the Deck (OOD) for your stateroom assignment. Do not bring a suitcase, as there is minimum storage space available, duffle, or sea bags, can be rolled up and stowed in odd corners of your space allotment. Get your gear settled and secured so that it will not be subjected to disturbance during ship maneuvering. Find the station card next to your bunk and familiarize yourself with it, locating each emergency station by going there. ATTENTION SCIENCE STAFF If you are responsible for any scientific gear, see that it is aboard and secured. Seek the advice of the Chief Scientist if you have any questions.

Emergency Procedures Fire and boat drills are held at least once a week. Each must be reacted to as if it were the real thing. Since they are unannounced, it might be. When the emergency signal if given, report to the station shown on the station card next to your bunk. Possible drills include: Fire and Emergency drills Flooding drill Boat Drill (Abandon Ship) Reactor Malfunction Drill Terrorist Action Drill

Off-Hours Routines The Supply Department provides food, linen, and other basic items. Serving hours for meals are: 0530 to 0630 1130 to 1230 1730 to 1830 2330 to 0030 Coffee and tea are available in the galley at all times and snacks in the middle of each watch (1000, 1500, 2100 and 0300). In port, meal hours may be different. SeaQuest has a common mess for officers, enlisted and scientists. While there is no established seating protocol, one table is reserved for the Captain, high ranking officers, and the Chief Scientist. The rest use the remaining tables. (Check with someone experienced to learn which table is so reserved.) Be on time for meals, be patient when service it temporarily slowed due to traffic jams as everyone tries to eat at the same time, and stay clear when a food service attendant is cleaning the messdeck; remember, it could be you. When finished eating, return your plates and silverware quickly, even if you are planning to linger and talk. When ship is in port, eat as early as possible to give the food service attendants time to clean up so they can enjoy the port of call as well. When fixing a snack for yourself, clean up any messes you make. Loading food stores in port is an all-hands job; pitch in and help. Clean linen is provided each week. You are responsible for changing your own bunk and keeping your quarters clean and ready for inspection. Clothes washers and dryers are available for general use, with soap and bleach provided. Fresh water should always be used sparingly. If you have less than a full load, share with someone else. Do not put sneakers in the dryers. Service-style showers are good practice: Wet yourself, turn off the water to soap down, then rinse. Do not leave faucets dripping. Whenever possible, take an ion shower instead of a regular one. These conserve water while getting the bather just as clean. Movie vids are available for general entertainment. A wide variety of reading material is available in the library, including reference and technical manuals for those seeking advancement. Be considerate and return all borrowed books, vids, etc. to the library on time and before leaving the ship. But those are not the only means of entertainment aboard. Exchanging scuttlebutt, chewing the fat, philosophizing and card playing are all time honored sea-going past-times and suitable company can be found in the Mess or the Off Duty Lounge. Always wear shoes, preferably ones with non-skid soles. Sandals of any kind are not safe, and NEVER go bare-footed. Loose or floppy clothing, long hair, and jewelry can all be safety hazards. You must provide all personal use items during the cruise with the exception of linen, soap and food. If you have any medical needs, see the Medical Officer and inform him of your special needs. Exercise equipment is available in the gym. Use only as directed and return the gear to a secured position when through with it.

Shipboard Behavior Guidelines Social conditions at sea are very different from those on land. The close quarters require extreme consideration for others at all times. Privacy is virtually non-existent, with the potential for intense inter-personal interactions occurring. With a mixed crew, this forced intimacy can lead to exaggerated romantic feelings. Be on guard against such 'shipboard romances', they can result in one or both parties being disciplined and separated from the service. When someone of the opposite gender is visiting your quarters, keep the door open to minimize gossip. You will be sharing quarters with at least one other person. It is best to get off on as good a start as possible. These guidelines will help. Keep your personal things neat and contained Change your linen regularly and keep your bunk made Keep your quarters clean and in order (cleaning materials are available from Supply Department) Before inviting a guest in, make sure your cabinmates have no objections Keep yourself and your clothing presentable, especially when socializing with others. This is especially important in the Mess. Be considerate of the belongings of others. Things can not be easily replaced while underway, so always ask permission before borrowing anything; be it equipment, tools or personal use items. During informal gatherings, be aware of those who might be studying or sleeping. It is permitted to bring your own snack food aboard, particularly those items which are individually wrapped. It will, however, be counted as part of your space allotment. Clothing should be comfortable and sturdy. For work, uniforms or blue work jumpers (the ubiquitous 'poop suits') are appropriate. Off duty, shorts and tee-shirts or tank-tops are appropriate, but avoid abbreviated, immodest or badly torn garments, except in the privacy of your cabin. For sleeping purposes, stick with two piece pyjamas or tee-shirts and shorts. Revealing nightwear is not recommended due to the frequency and unexpected drills. Nudity is also discouraged. In a foreign port, your appearance and behavior reflect on your vessel and confederation . This is the time for appropriate shore clothing and restrained behavior. Keep in mind that foreign laws and customs vary and are different from what you expect. We want to make a good impression so this and future visits are welcome. SeaQuest is a submarine, dependent on the strategy of silence. With so many people living in close quarters, it can be difficult to keep the noise down. Some guidelines to remember: No loud music - use headphones Keep your voice down in passageways - others may be sleeping and you would want the same consideration when you are asleep Hold onto doors and hatches as you shut them. Make sure that they are completely closed or secured before taking your hand away. Wear soft soled shoes and don't run Close quarters living demands consideration of others at all times. Off-shift personnel are on different 'clocks' and someone will always be sleeping or studying, out of phase with your personal schedule. The personal freedoms of off-duty ashore can not be assumed. Harassment Anyone may be subjected to intense or excessive attention, welcome or not, which may escalate to the point of harassment. Sexual Harassment is defined as 'unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and/or any printed, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, whether on or off the vessel, which has the intent or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's or group's academic or work performance, or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational or work environment". As an assault upon an individual's rights and dignity, harassment in any form is unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fully intent of the law. In order to reduce the possibility of a situation arising, everyone should modify behavior and attire accordingly. Realizing that a sense of isolation from shore while underway may result in a sense that ordinary obligations are temporarily suspended, you are urged to recognize and avoid any infringements on your personal rights and those of others. If you believe that you have witnessed or been subjected to harassment, do not hesitate to speak up. Often a situation can be averted or resolved by speaking directly and promptly to the offending party, in private if at all possible. In addition, you have a responsibility to to report any definite incidents of harassment to the XO, COB or Chief Scientist, depending on your rank and position.   Alcohol and Controlled Substances UEO policy is firm that no alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted on any UEO vessel except under the direct supervision of the ship's Captain. Neither crew, nor science personnel may bring on board alcoholic beverages of any kind, nor may any be distilled while underway or in port. The Captain may issue wine or beer or soft drinks upon occasion as appropriate. Possession or use of any controlled substance, including tobacco, will not be tolerated aboard any ship operated by the UEO. Regardless of your philosophical persuasion, it is not worth the grief that will ensue if you are caught using or holding any controlled substance, be it of a pharmaceutical, herbal or liquid nature.

Customs, Regulations and Requirements Rules and regulations pertaining to each port of call will be made available before shore leave is granted. Awareness of these must be demonstrated before a crewperson will be permitted to leave the ship. Foreign-made personal items, such as camera, radios, etc. should be registered with the Supply and Morale Officer before leaving the ship, preferably when you first join the ship. A customs declaration must be filled out at every port of call and when returning to UEO territory. The XO or COB will advise you about declarations concering items acquired abroad. Check that all innoculations, visas and passport are current and up-to-date well before boarding the ship. If you are joining the ship at a foreign port, check with the embassy or consulate of that country to inquire about paperwork and customs regulations. If carrying scientific material or gear, be sure to have all required documentation available on demand.

Science Personnel The smooth operation of the science program requires good communications between the science and ship's crews. Most science personnel are at sea for only short periods, whereas the ship is home to the crew. Their quarters may be visited at invitation only. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough. The regular crew quarters are more cramped and more people are sharing less space than the science personnel space allotment. Your uninvited presence could lead to increased tensions and hostility. Occasional visits to the bridge are permitted, but do not abuse the priviledge and remember not to initiate conversation with a watch-stander on duty. Physical mail will be delivered, a scheduled drops, and e-mail will be available, subject to censorship by Operations. Contact with shore is limited and monitored. Face to face communications is subject to the approval of the Captain. Remember that sat-link communications are expensive and may represent a danger to the security of the ship. It is important to keep in mind that the Captain is responsible for all communications originating from the ship. Any transmissions considered inimical to safety, good order, discipline or morale will not be allowed. The Chief Scientist should be provided with a complete and accurate inventroy of all science gear and materials brought aboard. The Captain handles clearance of the ship in all foreign ports. Only after that is arranged are you free to leave the ship. inform the Captain in advance if you plan to separate in a foreign port, leaving the ship permanently to return home. You may not leave personal items aboard unless granted specific permission. Dutiable goods may not be left on the vessel. You may be required by customs to produce a valid prescription for any drugs or pharmaceuticals in your possession. Warning: Be careful that your customs declaration is complete and accurate. Smuggling is a serious charge adn both you and the Captain can be subjected to fines and/or imprisonment.

 

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Based on the Science Personnel Manual available from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
Modified for seaQuest by K.I. Wolfe, July 2002.

© 2002 K.I. Wolfe