The Bermuda Biological Station will establish a program for shipboard technician activities associated with the R/V WEATHERBIRD, an 85-foot research vessel that is owned and operated by the Station. A significant portion of the ship's operating schedule during 1988 is in support of NSF-sponsored research projects. The Shipboard Technician Program has two components: an at-sea component and an ashore component. The at-sea component consists of instructing scientific personnel in the use of shared shipboard equipment; maintenance, repair, and calibration of scientific instrumentation; instruction and supervision of deck operations; and providing logistics assistance to on-coming and off-going scientific parties. On shore activities include the maintenance, repair, and calibration of shared use seagoing equipment and assisting scientific personnel in preparing for field work on the vessel. NSF-sponsored shipboard technicians have broad responsibilities for providing the coordination and assistance needed for the successful completion of research projects at sea. The level of activity and amount of support are closely related to the size and capability of the vessel, and its scientific outfit and capability.
