**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 sailing time from home, or 6 total days underway in a single
    mission.

-   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 the 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 OIC, 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 composed of 2 new 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.**

**Resources:**

**Environment:**

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

**Team Selection:**

**Fitness:**

**Weather:**

**Mission Complexity:**

**Step 3: Asses Risks.** Fill in the GAR Model (next page).

![](media/image1.png){width="6.720833333333333in" height="8.5in"}

**NOAA Risk Assessment Considerations**

**1. RESOURCES: Boat and Equipment, Supervision, Communications, and
Support.** Is the boat adequate for the mission? Is it properly equipped
with operational and safety equipment? Are the boat and equipment
functional and up-to-date? Is there adequate oversight and supervision
for this kind of boat, mission, and mission equipment? Is there
sufficient administrative and practical support (like fuel and food) for
the mission? Is a communications plan in place? Is back-up or rescue
available?

**2. ENVIRONMENT:** Is the mission environment inherently hazardous
(like a surf zone, ice, rocks, uncharted or shallow water, etc.)? Is it
remote or inaccessible to the USCG or EMS? Is it a new environment for
this kind of mission, or for the crew? Will boat traffic, debris, or
current impact operations?

**3. TEAM SELECTION: Experience, Training, and Familiarity.** Have the
crew and mission personnel performed this kind operation before with
this kind of boat and equipment, and with each other? Have they operated
in this environment before? Is the mission or mission equipment new or
un-tested? Is everyone properly trained for this mission?

**4. FITNESS: Physical and Mental.** Is the team well rested and ready
to work? (Confirm verbally) Does everyone understand the mission, and
are they capable of performing it? (Confirm verbally) For multiple-day
missions, are there enough crewmembers to allow adequate rest periods
and safe manning? Will weather, stress, or living conditions pose
mission, safety, or crew exposure/fatigue problems?

**5. WEATHER:** Are current and expected weather conditions acceptable?
What are the likely affects of the expected weather on the mission and
safety? Does it pose a problem to the gear that will be used? Is there a
plan to mitigate hazards or mission failure, or safely cancel, if the
weather is worse than expected?

**6. MISSION COMPLEXITY:** Is the mission or mission equipment
complicated, difficult, new or experimental? Is it a multi-unit
operation or dependent on other agencies? Is it high profile, stressful,
or time sensitive? Will mission equipment restrict the boat's
maneuverability, affect stability, or pose a hazard to other traffic?
Does the operation carry inherent risks (like towing divers behind a
boat, or going into the surf)?

**(These are only guidelines. Actual considerations under each category
should be adapted to meet the operational requirements of each region or
line office.)**

**Step 4: Manage Risks (reduce or eliminate).** Briefly describe how
identified risks could be reduced or eliminated by category:

**Step 5: Evaluate Risk versus Gain.** Does the Gain justify the Risk?
Why?

**Step 6: Execute Decision.** Does PUFFIN get underway? If so, briefly
describe any concurrent risk mitigation measures that might be part of
putting the decisions into action.

**Step 7: Monitor the Situation.** What, if anything, should the SBO and
crew do to monitor identified risks while underway?

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