USCG IceBreakers Science Operations: Links to Home Page

Foreign Clearances - Advance Notice Requirements

Date Last Modified: October 20, 2010

NOTICE TO RESEARCH VESSEL OPERATORS NO. 68 (Rev. 5)

SUBJECT:
Advance Notice Requirements for Foreign Research Clearance Requests. Released by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, October 4, 1994.

It is essential to ensure that research vessel clearance requests for marine scientific research in foreign coastal states meet stated leadtime requirements, which may vary. All requests should be submitted to the Department of State in compliance with the "UNOLS Handbook for International Operations of U.S. Scientific Research Vessels", and should reach the Office of Ocean Affairs (OES/OA) at least one month earlier than the stated prior notice requirements of the foreign coastal state. This is to allow time for Department of State processing of the request through the U.S. Embassy to reach the foreign ministry in compliance with foreign requirements. The following are stated lead-times (plus one month processing) for various coastal states:

7 months: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Turkey

5 months: Ecuador, France, Peru, Venezuela

4 months: Belize, Denmark, Guyana, Honduras, Netherlands, Oman, Panama, United Kingdom

2 months: Canada, Sweden

All other requests for foreign coastal states which have not stated lead-time requirements should reach the Department of State no later than 3 months prior to the start of the research.

Although it is recommended that all requests be submitted to the Department of State for processing, the following coastal states have stated that requests must be submitted through official channels:

 
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Fiji
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Mexico
  • Morocco
  • Netherlands
  • Russia
  • Senegal
  • Spain
  • Trinidad/Tobago
  • United Kingdom
  • Venezuela
 

This page was reformatted from the State Departement’s Web page for Pub 68 Rev 5
Please contact Research Vessel Clearance Officer at the address below if you have any questions:

Liz Tirpak / Roberta Barnes
U.S. Department of State
OES/OA, Room 5805
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Tel: 202-647-0238/0240
Fax: 202-647-1106
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/ocns/opa/rvc/index.htm