16 December 2008 Captain A. D. Colburn R/V Atlantis, Voyage #15, Leg XLI Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mail Stop #27 Woods Hole, MA 02543 Dear Captain Colburn: On or about 23 December 2008, your vessel being ready for sea and weather permitting, you will depart Guaymas, Mexico on Leg XLI of Voyage 15. Upon completion of the science activities the vessel shall call at the port of Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador on or about 6 January 2009. The research objective is a Seabeam/magnetics survey. The planned activities are: 1) to collect 100% coverage with multibeam bathymetry data in two boxes extending respectively WSW and ESE from 2˙˙N, 101˙˙W near the Galapagos triple junction. Box 1 (25 nm x 90 nm) is focused on Dietz Deep Rift, the southern boundary of the rotating Galapagos microplate. Box 2 (30 nm x 120 nm) is focused on the predicted southern trace of multiple jumping rifts, similar to those observed to the north of the Cocos-Nazca Rift, and 2) to collect magnetic field data along the multibeam tracks and a few long tracks that run perpendicular to the axis of Dietz Deep Rift. The operations area will be the Galapagos Triple Junction at 2 N, 101 W at a depth range of 2000-6000 meters. 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. Jan Arnold Schouten, Chief Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are: R/V Atlantis Voyage #15, Leg XLI 23 December 2008 ˙˙ 6 January 2009 Guaymas, Mexico ˙˙ Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador Dr. Jan Arnold Schouten, Chief Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dr. Johnson Cann, University of Leeds Dr. Wenlu Zhu, University of Maryland Dr. Deborah Smith, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mr. Garrett Mitchell, University of Maryland Mr. Peter Lemmond, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Mr. David Sims, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ms. Allison Heater, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution The ship˙˙s agent in Guaymas, Mexico is: Vasile Tudoran Transport Calle 23 y Ave. Abelardo L. Rodriguez Guaymas, Sonora MEXICO 85400 Contacts: Rodolfo Vejar, Vasile Tudoran Phone: 52-622-20092 Fax: 52-622-20611 Telex: 57241 Email: VTudoran@aol.com The ship˙˙s agent in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador will be: Primary Agent: Vasile Tudoran Transport 819 Ohio Ave. Long Beach, CA 90804 Contact: Vasile Tudoran Phone: (562) 882-5590 Fax: (562) 434-9800 Email : vtudoran@aol.com Subagent: Naugala Yacht Services Bario El Eden Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos ECUADOR Contact: Johnny Romero Phone: 011 593 525 27403 Cell: 011 593 99 339494 Email: nautigal@interactive.net.ec 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, Dr. Susan Humphris, Acting Vice President for Marine Facilities and Operations -- *************************************** Barbara Costello Senior Administrative Assistant II Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Marine Operations Department 38 Water Street MS#37 Woods Hole, MA 02543 Email: bcostello@whoi.edu Website: www.whoi.edu Tel: 508-289-3581 Fax: 508-457-2185 ***************************************