This exercise will be performed individually by the students; time
allowed is around 10 minutes. Following are suggested results and
conclusions.

**Excerpt from SBOM (VOM) Operational Risk Assessment on this vessel:**

NOAA SRV PUFFIN is a 67' diesel boat. It is authorized for use in the
protected waters of Southeast Alaska with incidental transits of open
water. The vessel should not operate in waters greater than 5 miles from
the nearest land. If the boat is operated in unprotected water, special
attention should be given to weather forecasts and the nearest safe
harbor. Additionally:

-   PUFFIN shall not operate in seas greater than 8 feet, sustained
    winds of 25 knots, nor in gusts over 30 knots

-   The vessel can carry up to 5 persons for voyages not to exceed 3
    days duration

-   Before nightfall, PUFFIN shall cease operations and seek refuge in
    protected water or dock at small villages.

**Step 1: Define Mission or Task.**

PUFFIN is tasked with recovering multiple moored instrument arrays
requiring the use of boat's A-frame and winch. The operational area is
two days from home port. The mission is time critical for economic and
scientific reasons, and because of the approach of winter and the
attendant possibility of ice formation.

Including the SBO, the crew for the mission is composed of 5 persons.
The OIC and senior crewman (also an SBO) are very capable and
experienced in these waters and with this kind of mission. The mission
personnel are 2 new qualified employees with very limited basic
seamanship experience, and one well experienced scientist.

The weather forecast is for cloudy skies, 20% chance of rain, and winds
of 20 knots for the next 3 days.

**Step 2: Identify Hazards.**

The GAR Model should reveal potential hazards in 5 of the 6 categories:

**Resources.** No appreciable risk.

**Environment.** Slightly remote without immediate access to the EMS
except by helicopter and new to the mission personnel.

**Team Selection.** Some mission personnel are new employees with
limited seamanship experience, and are new to the boat and the
environment.

**Fitness.** Although everyone is well rested and ready to go, the new
employees have not gone on multi-day missions in Alaska in an SRV with
this many people aboard before.

**Step 2: Identify Hazards (continued).**

**Weather.** The weather forecast is near the upper ranges of PUFFIN's
operational parameters.

**Mission Complexity.** This mission is both high profile and time
sensitive.

**Step 3: Asses Risks.**

Suggested numbers for the GAR Model are:

RESOURCES: 2

ENVIRONMENT: 4

TEAM SELECTION: 5

FITNESS: 5

WEATHER: 6

MISSION COMPLEXITY: 5

TOTAL: 27

These results are at the low end of the "Amber" range.

**Step 4: Manage Risks (reduce or eliminate).**

Suggested methods for reducing the risks:

Environment, Team Selection, Fitness, and Mission Complexity values can
all be mitigated by:

-   Pre-mission boat, equipment, and emergency procedures training

-   Mission briefing that includes area familiarization

-   Social interaction (personal introduction) between the boat crew and
    the mission crew

-   OJT exercises and open communication during the early stages of the
    voyage.

Weather mitigation:

-   Exercise heightened vigilance and situational awareness concerning
    weather forecasts and by observation.

**Step 5: Evaluate Risk versus Gain.**

The risk was reasonably low to begin with, and can be reduced by the
measures in Step 4. The mission is important from a time and data
standpoint.

The expected outcome from the students is that the Gains justify the
Risks.

**Step 6: Execute Decision.**

This involves:

-   Conducting the proposed training and familiarization

-   Considering how to monitor the weather more carefully than normal

-   Getting underway.

**Step 7: Monitor the Situation.**

Key points here would be:

-   Follow the weather monitoring plan

-   Encourage Team Coordination

-   Consider conducting formal or informal OJT for new crew members
    while underway.

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