Shipboard Policies and Information

The Miller Freeman is a self-contained community, operating in remote areas. The ship is often required to operate in extreme environmental conditions where people can be severely stressed accomplishing even basic tasks, and where logical conflict solving is impaired. In such situations, a clear and enforceable set of ground rules is advantageous to all hands.

A measure of consideration for one's shipmates is the single most important factor in maintaining shipboard harmony. No set of regulations can offset a lack of tolerance, patience, and common decency among the ship's population.

Adherence to Regulations: All persons boarding this ship give an "IMPLIED CONSENT" to conform to all safety and security policies and regulations which are administered by the Commanding Officer. All spaces and equipment on this ship are subject to inspection or search at any time. A simple summary of shipboard regulations is provided to all new personnel.

This policy applies to all ships in the NOAA fleet, see General Shipboard Policy Information.

Policy for the Miller Freeman:

Smoking is allowed on weather decks. Butts shall be extinguished and discarded in trash receptacles, NOT over the side.

Smoking is prohibited:

• in all interior spaces
• in the vicinity of any gasoline engine undergoing repair
• in the vicinity of stored flammable materials or fresh air intakes

Chewing tobacco: Chewing tobacco is permitted as long as spit is disposed of in a hygienic method. No spitting is permitted except into disposable cups. Contents will be washed down head before cup is disposed in trash.

This policy applies to all ships in the NOAA fleet, see General Shipboard Policy Information.

Working Hours: Working hours for day workers are 0730 to 1130 and 1200 to 1600. If sick and unable to report to work, personnel must contact their supervisor, the Executive Officer or Commanding Officer before 0800.

Overtime is paid in accordance with the various union agreements. All overtime work must be approved in advance by the XO.

Mess Deck Attire: No dirty or wet clothing, foul weather gear, or boots are allowed on the mess decks. No sleeveless shirts or hats are allowed during meal hours. Napping or sleeping is prohibited at all times on the Mess Decks.

Meal hours, at sea and in port, are as follows:

Avoid ordering food during the last 15 minutes of the meal period and notify the galley as far in advance as possible if a late meal is required. Early meals will be served to watch personnel. A night lunch is available for all hands in the crew's mess refrigerator. The galley refrigerator and cabinets are off-limits.

There are numerous first-aid kits distributed throughout the ship. Notify the Medical Officer if their use is required.

One of the least pleasant aspects of going to sea is the possibility of seasickness. Information concerning seasickness can be found in the General Shipboard Policy Information.

Visitors, as guests, are welcome aboard while the ship is alongside. Ship personnel (including the scientific party) shall be responsible for the conduct of their guests while aboard and in the event of a disturbance may be asked to escort their guests ashore. Underway passengers must be authorized by the Director, Marine Operations Center, Pacific (MOP).

Do not visit the engine room without permission of the engineer on watch; the OOD shall secure permission. Avoid the Bridge when the ship is maneuvering in restricted waters and when entering or leaving port. At night, avoid exposing the bridge watch to white light.

Avoid the weather decks during periods of heavy seas and/or ice accumulation. Contact the Bridge if you must work outside and exercise extreme caution.

Do not climb the forward or after masts, bipod, gantry, or other deck apparatus without permission of the OOD.

This policy applies to all ships in the NOAA fleet, see General Shipboard Policy Information.

Staterooms: Individual staterooms are considered restricted or private areas unless visitors are invited aboard or on official business. When a stateroom is visited for official business or socially, the stateroom door should be secured in an open position for the duration of the visit. Should the door be closed, all hands are reminded that all shipboard prohibited activities remain in effect regardless of the privacy afforded by one's stateroom. Disciplinary action for violations of any shipboard policies and regulations or behavior which negatively affects the ship's good order and discipline shall be swift and sure.

Berthing: Berthing assignments are based on the approved berthing plan and the Executive Officer's discretion. Each person is responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of their stateroom and the secure stowage of their belongings. The XO, together with the Chief Boatswain and Chief Engineer, make periodic, announced inspections of all quarters for the purpose of ensuring material maintenance and sanitation. The Commanding Officer makes monthly Command Inspections of all spaces.

Shipboard Communications

See the Ship Communication Systems Page.

Specific information on how to contact the Miller Freeman and all other fleet vessels can be found on the Fleet Telephone page.

Ship's Mail

A letter drop is located in the passageway outside of the Ship's Office. Mail is sent out at every opportunity. Use the following address for your mail:

Your Name
NOAA Ship Miller Freeman
1801 Fairview Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102-3767

Mail received at the Marine Center will be periodically forwarded to the ship's next port of call.

Bare/stocking feet are not allowed outside staterooms because of the risk of injury from slipping on wet decks, other hazards, and hygiene. Open-toed shoes, may be worn during off-duty hours ONLY and ONLY in non-working, interior spaces.

Work Clothing: When conducting operations, personnel involved with the deployment and recovery of scientific equipment, or the launching and recovery of small boats, are required to wear hard hats and flotation devices. All employees are encouraged to wear safety shoes or boots. Standard work clothing requirements for rated and nonrated vessel personnel are listed in the various union agreements and PMC Directive 91-30. No hats, and/or rain gear is permitted on the mess deck.

Laundry: The ship's laundry (including soap, bleach and fabric softener sheets) is available to all hands 24 hours a day, unless secured because of heavy weather, water restrictions or repairs. Please be considerate of your shipmates when doing laundry by removing clothing from the washers and dryers in a timely manner.

Linens: Clean linen (flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillow case) and towels will be provided to all embarked personnel upon their arrival. Linen call is once a week.

Marine Sanitation System

The vessel is equipped with a sewage treatment system. Only biodegradable waste should be discarded down any sink drain or toilet.

Computers are available throughout the ship for use by all embarked personnel. Remember, mission support is the computers' highest priority followed by personal use.

Any software that is brought on board for either mission use or personal use must be scanned for viruses prior to its use. Failure to do so may result in a virus being inadvertently introduced to the ship's computers with catastrophic results. Do not reconfigure any of the ship's computers or install any software on a computer without first checking with the LET or Chief Survey Technician. Copies of software licensing agreements must be available on board. All software installed on the ship's computers at the beginning of a project must be removed at the completion of that project unless authorization to the contrary has been obtained from the Command.

The ship's store is located just aft of the mess deck and will normally be open several times per week for small stores and special order sales.