July 6, 2026

Background

FHL Marine Operations maintains a fleet of vessels to support FHL research and education. As University of Washington vessels, they operate in compliance with UW boating safety and insurance regulations. They belong to two self-sustaining centers (Small Boats and Kittiwake), for which user fee revenues are expected to cover the cost of vessel maintenance and use.

Non-UW vessels are occasionally used for FHL-related activities but in order to ensure that safety conditions are met and FHL centers are sustained, restrictions are placed on their use in this regard. 

Definitions

FHL personnel are those working in their capacity as University of Washington employees in a position within an FHL Supervisory Organization. FHL students are those enrolled in a program (e.g. course, workshop, internship, or apprenticeship) offered by FHL. FHL visitors are other users of FHL facilities, such as researchers utilizing FHL housing, lab space, equipment, or SCUBA fills.

Operations under FHL auspices are activities that are authorized, administered, facilitated or otherwise supported by FHL. Examples of such operations on vessels include FHL personnel or students engaging in research, receiving or providing instruction or, as employees, acting within the scope of their employment; also, FHL visitors using FHL equipment or facilities to support their vessel activities, e.g. a visiting researcher making use of the FHL dive locker or SCUBA bottles to go diving. The UW Boating Safety Manual applies to any vessel operating under University (including FHL) auspices.

Policy

Activities under FHL Auspices
FHL personnel, students, and visitors may conduct vessel activities under FHL auspices only on University of Washington vessels, with the exceptions noted below. For all exceptions, the organizer of said activities must receive advance permission from the FHL Director and the vessel must operate in compliance with UW boating safety and insurance requirements. When activities involve UW personnel, their direct managers (supervisors) are responsible for ensuring compliance.

Exceptions allowing the use of non-UW vessels to operate under FHL auspices with advance permission from the FHL Director:

1. A commercial or institutional vessel chartered by FHL when an FHL vessel is not available or not suitable for the purpose;
2. A privately owned vessel serving an FHL program when an FHL vessel is not available; the vessel owner must be on board the vessel at all times, and FHL will not administer any form of compensation (fuel, moorage, hours worked, etc) for use of the vessel;
3. A privately owned vessel, when the vessel owner is using it to conduct their own research; the vessel owner must be on board the vessel at all times, and FHL will not administer any form of compensation (for fuel, moorage, hours worked, etc.) for use of the vessel;
4. A vessel belonging to an organizational partner of FHL, when that organization requires use of their vessel for the activities.

Other Activities
Non-UW vessels being loaned or hired out to FHL visitors for research, educational, or outreach activities that are not conducted under FHL auspices are not permitted moorage at the FHL docks and FHL will not administer any form of compensation associated with the vessel’s use.