Rates reviewed annually
*Rates are subject to change without notice.
- Standard daily charter rate for a full day charter (12 hours) - $2,000
- Cost for charter over 12 hours (24-hour operations) - $2,800
- Half-day charter rate for up to 6 hours (6 hours or less) - $1,000
- Lay day rate (includes weather and other non-operational days when away from home port & any non-operational day caused by scientific party. See note 6.) - $400
- Service rate for providing a third crewmember during charters less than 13 hours (Standard rate includes captain and mate/engineer) - $125
- Service fee for a crewmember working on a holiday or weekend day (as requested by the PI) for which one of the day rates listed above is not being charged - $100
The Total Charter Cost will include the above rates and the cost of fuel used. (See note 7.)
Notes:
- Since oceanographic research missions must be planned far in advance, and since the demand for vessel time, especially during the period from May through September, is high, a deposit of 25% of the estimated Total Charter Cost (charter rates plus fuel), or a purchase order for the total estimated charges, is required to schedule days on the R/V Cape Fear. The Assistant Director for Marine Operations can provide an estimate of the total Charter Cost. Deposit checks should be made out to the University of North Carolina Wilmington and sent to:
Assistant Director for Marine Operations
Center for Marine Science
5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane
Wilmington, NC 28409
- UNCW must receive a purchase order (PO) at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the charter period. The PO should be in the amount of the total estimated charges (based on the above rates), including fuel, less the deposit (if already paid), for the number of days to be chartered (see note 7). In the event the PO is not received on time, the charter days may be offered to other users and the deposit forfeited (see note 5). If scheduling conflicts cannot be resolved by other means, priority may be determined by which deposit is received first. Fees are subject to change without notice.
- The charter period begins when vessel operations such as loading, departure or other operations requiring crew to be present are SCHEDULED TO BEGIN by the Chartering Party. The charter period ends when the vessel returns to its slip and off-loading operations are completed. The vessel should be left in the same condition in which it was found. Overnight operations may run no more than four nights and five days (ex. 0700 Monday - 1700 Friday).
- UNCW will bill the chartering party after completion of the scheduled charter. Invoices itemizing the costs of the charter will be provided. Full payment of the charter lease is required within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice.
- Cancellation Policy: A scheduled mission may be canceled up to ten days prior to the scheduled start of the mission. If the mission is canceled ten (10) days prior to first departure date, ten percent (10%) of the charter cost is non-refundable.
- If the vessel is forced to have a non-operational day during a charter period, the chartering party will not be charged if the cause of the non-operational day is vessel related (ex. mechanical problems). However, if the cause of the non-operational day lies with the chartering party (ex. equipment problems), lay days will be billed at $400/day.
- Total cost for charter fees will be calculated using the above listed rates and the cost of fuel actually consumed. The Vessel Captain will gauge all fuel tanks (port, starboard, and generator) each day and record the levels in the fuel log. Expected fuel consumption at a cruising speed of 15 knots (under fair weather conditions) is 40 gallons per hour. Fuel consumption at idle speed (ex. survey work) is about 10 gallons per hour. These estimates include fuel for the 20 kW Northern Light generator.
- Expenses incurred when away from homeport (such as dockage, crew per diem, transportation, etc.) will be charged to the Chartering Party.
- On all charters, the R/V Cape Fear crew will operate all shipboard machinery. The chartering party will provide sufficient personnel for loading and unloading scientific equipment and supplies and for carrying out the planned project. Drinks, food, and snacks will be the responsibility of the chartering party for day trips (<12hrs). For overnight trips, meals will be planned with the chartering party, and purchased by UNCW. The chartering party will take responsibility for meal preparation and clean-up.
- Zero tolerance is a condition for charter of the R/V Cape Fear.
