30 November 2007 Captain A. D. Colburn, III R/V Atlantis, Voyage #15, Leg XXVII Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mail Stop #27 Woods Hole, MA 02543 Dear Captain Colburn: On or about 8 December 2007, your vessel being ready for sea and weather permitting, you will depart Manzanillo, Mexico, on Leg XXVII of Voyage #15. Upon completion of the science activities the vessel shall return to Manzanillo, Mexico, on 22 December 2007. The main scientific research objective is to study temporal variations in hydrothermal fluid chemistry at 9-10N East Pacific Rise to clarify ties to crustal and biological processes. The planned activities are Alvin dives, CTD casts and tow camera surveys. The operations area will be the East Pacific Rise in the vicinity of 9 30-56'N, 104 12-20'W. Scientific marine research within the exclusive economic zone of any foreign nation is strictly prohibited. The scientific personnel participating on this voyage under the direction of Dr. Karen Von Damm, Chief Scientist, University of New Hampshire, are: R/V Atlantis Voyage #15, Leg XXVII 8 December 2007 – 22 December 2007 Manzanillo, Mexico – Manzanillo, Mexico Dr. Karen Von Damm, Chief Scientist, University of New Hampshire Ms. Jill McDermott, University of New Hampshire Ms. Maria Florencia Meana-Prado, University of New Hampshire Ms. Valerie Stucker, University of New Hampshire Mr. Stephen Phillips, University of New Hampshire Dr. Marvin Lilley, University of Washington Mr. Eric Olson, University of Washington Dr. Crispin Little, University of Leeds Dr. Isabel Ferrara Ceada, Portland State University Mr. Gilberto Flores, Portland State University Ms. Elizabeth Goehring, Pennsylvania State University Ms. Jill Grace, Pennsylvania State University Mr. Howard Marshall Swartz, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ms. Allison Fundis, University of Florida Ms. Kate Buckman, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mr. David Sims, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mr. Thomas Orvosh, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution The ship’s agent in Manzanillo, Mexico, will be: Primary Agent: Vasile Tudoran Transport 819 Ohio Ave. Long Beach, CA 90804 Contact: Vasile Tudoran tel. (562) 882-5590 fax: (562) 434-9800 email : vtudoran@aol.com Subagent: Continental Maritime SA 83 Calle Colhuas, Centro 28200 Manzanillo, Colima MEXICO Contact: Daniel Arias Romo Phone/Fax: 011 52 314 33 21223 Cell: 011 52 314 100 8862 Email: danielromo2003@yahoo.com.mx Please note: At the completion of this voyage, both the Captain and Chief Scientist should fill out a Post-Cruise Assessment form. The form is on-line at the following web site: http://www.gso.uri.edu/unols/pcarform.htm Please advise the Port Office of all personnel changes prior to departure and maintain the daily SITREP via INMARSAT C or other means as required. Please advise the Port Office of all significant expenses incurred, particularly the quantity, price and source of fuel oil. Also, at each port stop, please advise the Port Office the gallons of fuel on board, stating the date the inventory was taken. I wish you a pleasant and successful voyage. Very truly yours, Approved and Signed by Robert S. Detrick Vice President for Marine Facilities and Operations