Ship and Equipment

Introduction

Please start by familiarizing yourself with the ship by visiting the About Falkor (too) page and the virtual tour of the ship's work areas.  When you have a sense of the ship's layout, the (critical) Falkor (too) Equipment and Facilities document will aid you with details and technical specifications.

Falkor (too)

Falkor (too) may differ from other ships on which you have sailed in terms of space, facilities, equipment and policies.  Please take the time to review all information on this planning website and in the Falkor (too) Equipment and Facilities document, including over-the-side operation limitations and the available winches and wires which may be different than other vessels.  Note that laboratories and work spaces are provided empty and do not include laboratory equipment or consumables such as disposable gloves.  The science party is responsible for all shipping, agent and import/export arrangements and costs and must remove all materials, including hazardous waste, at the end of the cruise.

Please contact the Science Systems Senior Manager, Stian Alesandrini, with any questions as early as possible.  Requirements for major equipment or operations not usually supported are very difficult to accommodate if they weren't included in the original proposal.

Falkor (too) does not have a home port and carries most of the science gear aboard.  Procedures for scheduling, planning, loading, provisioning, etc. are very different when a ship works in various coastal states waters or is on a multi-leg cruise.   Chief Scientists whose entire past experience has been on one-leg cruises and who expect to find an “empty ship” will find that it is critical to clearly outline their needs from the very beginning of the proposal process.  A member of the science party who has obtained time on one of Schmidt Ocean Institute’s ship has not “rented the whole ship”, and there may be other items on the vessel pertaining to previous or subsequent trips.  Good planning and communications are essential.

Storage on Falkor (too) is very limited.  Please consider packing equipment in weatherproof cases and crates to allow for storage outside, on the storage deck.  Doing so will greatly increase your storage options and reduce pressure on space in your labs and work areas.  The science party is responsible for providing all securing materials (straps, bungee cords, grip mat, etc.) for securing items in the labs and other interior areas.  Falkor will provide straps for items stored outside.

• Download the full general arrangement for the R/V Falkor (too) (.pdf)

• About Falkor (too)

• Falkor (too) Virtual Tour

• Falkor (too) Equipment and Facilities Document (Critical Complement to This Website)

ROV SuBastian

SuBastian is a custom built work class ROV capable of conducting scientific work down to 4500m and must be requested in your original proposal.  Detailed information about the vehicle and operations may be found in the Falkor (too) Equipment and Facilities document.