LTER Request for January-February 1998 cruise contingency plans
due to new ship delivery delay:

On behalf of the LTER PIs, I would like to make a formal request for
contingency plans for our annual LTER cruise.  Please note that our
request is in addition to our planned use of L. M. Gould, not a substitute
for her.  Although we fully expect to use the L. M. Gould in the Jan-Feb
1998 period, as planned, we are concerned that with the delayed departure
from Port Fourchon it will be difficult to be in the penguin foraging area
by 16 Jan, for the start of the peak foraging activity.  With the ENSO
fully developed we run the risk of missing out on some invaluable data and
it is for that reason that we make this request.

We request that ASA extend the current Abel-J charter from 11 Jan, for a
period not to exceed 2-2.5 weeks.  If we meet the vessel in Puerto
Williams, we would be able to make it to Palmer Station in time to pick up
LTER personnel and materials and to be in the field by 16 Jan.  We
anticipate sending two individuals from CONUS to meet the ship in Puerto
Williams; the rest of the science party would board at Palmer Station. Dr.
Langdon Quetin would serve as expedition chief scientist.  If the L.  M. 
Gould sails from PA on or before 20 Jan, we would exchange personnel at
Palmer Station and continue on the previously scheduled LTER cruise.  In
the worse case, if the L. M. Gould is not able to support the LTER program
this season, at least we would have some data from this important and
potentially anomalous year.  

Please note that the personnel that we are planning to meet the Abel-J
under this proposal would be individuals already approved for the L. M.
Gould cruise so this would not involve any additional LTER personnel. 
David Karl would remain the point of contact for L. M. Gould field
activities and would sail as chief scientist.  Provided the L. M. Gould
sails from PA before 20 Jan, we may not require additional shiptime and
the remainder of the 1998 schedule would not be affected.  If the cruise
is delayed beyond a 20 Jan 1998 departure from PA (the LMG would need to
depart from Louisiana by about 20 Dec 1997 to make a 20 Jan 1998 departure
from PA), we would probably request that are cruise be extended
beyond the scheduled date of 14 Feb 1998.  

We do not want to be pessimistic about the outcome of the present L. M. 
Gould contract negotiations, but considering all options we have decided
that this contingency plan is in the best interest of our overall science
mission.  We hope you agree. 

Best regards,
Dave Karl