INFORMATION ON BOOKING

The OIRS Booking Form can be viewed and printed from here.

OIRS RULES AND TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Thank you for visiting OIRS. We hope you have a safe, productive and enjoyable stay at the Station. Visitors are required to be familiar with and observe all applicable Federal and State regulations as well as OIRS and James Cook University (JCU) rules and procedures. It is the responsibility of visitors to inform themselves of these; OIRS and JCU rules are available at the Station. If the rules are not observed charges may be levied for cleaning, disposal of material, damage, loss or theft of Station property. Fees may also be levied for large-scale use of consumables, generally by prior agreement. The Station reserves the right to terminate activities judged to be unsafe, illegal or damaging.

It is greatly appreciated when JCU visitors bring mail and other items from JCU to the Station. Contact the Faculty of Science & Engineering (07 4781 6447) to see if there is anything to transport.

RESERVATION PROCEDURE:

Reservations are made by submitting a reservation form and are not taken by telephone. Completed forms should be faxed to OIRS (07-4777 7116) at least one week in advance. OIRS will then inform you of facilities availability, transfer times and estimated fees. If you do not receive a reply within 4 working days of faxing your form contact OIRS (07- 4777 7336). For JCU users a non-refundable booking fee of 10% of the estimated fees is charged to your account when the reservation is confirmed. For non-JCU users a 20% booking fee is required to hold facilities against competing requests.

USER CATEGORIES:

R - Research scientists (eg. academic and research staff); RA Research assistants (eg. staff, students & volunteers working on the projects of research scientists as defined above); PG Registered students working on their own research projects and their assistants; S Students and accompanying staff engaged in course work. Other; please explain briefly.

TRANSFERS TO AND FROM ORPHEUS ISLAND:

The Challenger III  times indicated on your confirmation form are departure times. You should arrive at Taylor's Beach at least 30 min. before departure to allow for loading and parking. When leaving the Station allow ample time for loading, and at low tide time for dinghy transfer to the ferry - the scheduled time refers to departure from the offshore mooring. You may be denied boarding if your late arrival will delay departure. If any members of your group will arrive by means other than the Challenger III you should indicate this on your reservation form.

You are responsible for loading and unloading your own gear, though OIRS staff will drive the front-end loader for transport of heavy gear.

STAFF WORKING HOURS:

Routine requests to Station staff should be made during standard JCU business hours (0090-1200, Mon-Fri). If you need assistance outside normal working hours please make prior arrangements. In an emergency, of course, contact staff immediately.

FIELD WORK:

Field work will be halted if Station management determines that conditions or operations are unsafe. Marine Park and National Park regulations apply to marine and terrestrial activities respectively. All visitors conducting research in the Marine Park must present a current GBRMPA Research Permit upon arrival.

BOAT USE AT THE STATION:

A Queensland Recreational Shipmaster's License (Speedboat License) is required to drive the Station's dinghies, and a Queensland Coxswain's Certificate to drive the barge. Users who wish to use Station boats but lack these qualifications should consult us well in advance. Regulations limit passenger numbers and areas of operation; consult us if you are uncertain whether these restrictions will affect you. The use from the Station of vessels not owned by JCU requires prior approval.

OIRS boating rules and procedures are posted at the Station and copies of JCU rules are available. Visitors who are assigned a boat are responsible for all aspects of its appropriate, safe operation during their stay, including ensuring that boats are afloat at low tide as needed. Bench fees include up to 24 l of fuel per boat per day. Dories are not included in the bench fees. Recreational use of Station vessels, including fishing, requires prior approval by Station management. Misuse of boats may result in the withdrawal of boating privileges, and you will be charged for damage.

DIVING:

JCU and OIRS rules and procedures apply to all SCUBA diving and snorkeling conducted from the Station. Visitors from JCU must present an approved Dive Plan upon arrival at the Station. Non-JCU users wishing to dive or snorkel should consult the Station well in advance. We supply air tanks and dive weights, but no other equipment including weight belts.

ACCOMMODATION:

Common areas (kitchens, lounge rooms, toilets, showers) should be kept clean and tidy, and your room should be left clean. A list of visitors' cleaning duties is posted in the residences. Room keys are available on request.

The Station's fresh water supply, derived entirely from stored rainwater, is very limited. Water should be conserved as much as possible. Restrictions may be imposed during prolonged dry periods.

LABORATORY AREAS:

Facilities and equipment other than those you have reserved may not be available. Please do not mark or modify any Station facilities without OIRS management approval.

Please leave all indoor and outdoor laboratory areas neat and tidy. Visitors' cleanup duties are posted in the laboratories, as are procedures for use of specific equipment items. When departing remove all items that you brought to the Station, except by arrangement with management in which case items should be neatly packed, labeled with your name and a date after which the items will be discarded (no more than 12 months from the storage date), and placed in an area designated by Station staff. Anything not stored in this manner may be discarded or appropriated by the Station after your departure. Appropriated items will not be returned.

Reagents, solutions, solvents, and other chemicals, including water, must at all times be kept in appropriate laboratory containers (not food, drink or other recycled containers). The container must be indelibly labeled with the contents (including concentration), date, and your name. Formalin and other persistent toxic chemicals may only be used in areas designated for formalin use. You are responsible for safely removing all chemicals from the island upon termination of your project. Under no circumstances are chemicals other than fresh or seawater to be disposed of down drains or elsewhere on the island.

All organisms should be removed from aquaria and seawater tanks before you depart except by arrangement with Station management, generally at least three days prior to departure.

The Station accepts no responsibility for organisms, experimental material, equipment, or supplies stored at the Station.

The OIRS Booking Form can be viewed and printed from here.