Summary of Cruise Description and Objectives:

The NOAA/OGP Aerosols Project seeks to provide improved information about the radiative forcing of human-influenced particles on the climate system in order to (i) aid the detection and attribution of climate change, in particular, the estimation of the offset that anthropogenic aerosols may be providing to the greenhouse-gas induced warming and the regional forcing induced by inhomogeneous aerosol distributions and (ii) improve the prediction of future climate changes for various radiative-forcing scenarios. This cruise is designed to measure the chemical, physical, optical and cloud-nucleating properties of aerosols in the marine boundary layer of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Aerosol data in these regions are extremely sparse which currently limits our ability to constrain chemical transport and radiative transfer models. The data obtained on this cruise will provide regional means and variability of aerosol precursor gases and aerosol properties as a function of airmass origin. The data will ultimately yield more realistic estimates of the forcing of climate by aerosols relative to recent estimates (e.g., IPCC(1995)) which rely for the most part on estimated global mean aerosol optical properties.

Measurements will be conducted continuously while the ship is in transit from the US to the Indian Ocean. The ship will stop daily during the SeaWiFS overpass (approximately noon) and every third day during the AVHRR overpass (mid-afternoon) to sample the upper water column. Many of the same measurements will continue in the Indian Ocean as part of INDOEX. Measurements include:

Aerosols and Climate -- Atmospheric aerosol particles affect the Earth's radiative balance both directly through the upward scatter of solar radiation and indirectly as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). The natural aerosol derived from biogenic sulfur emissions has been substantially perturbed by anthropogenic aerosols, particularly sulfates from SO2 emissions and organic condensates and soot from biomass and fossil fuel combustion. The global mean radiative forcing due to the direct effect of anthropogenic sulfate aerosol particles is calculated to be of comparable magnitude but opposite in sign to the forcing due to anthropogenic CO2 and the other greenhouse gases. More uncertain is the radiative forcing due to the indirect cloud-mediated effects of aerosol particles. Although aerosol particles have a potential climatic importance over and down wind of industrial regions that is equal to that of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, they are still poorly characterized in global climate models. This is a result of a lack of both globally distributed data and a clear understanding of the processes linking gaseous precursor emissions, atmospheric aerosol properties, and the spectra of aerosol optical depth and cloud reflectivity. At this time, tropospheric aerosols pose one of the largest uncertainties in model calculations of the climate forcing due to anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere. Clearly, considerable attention must be focused on quantifying the processes controlling the natural and anthropogenic aerosol and on defining and minimizing the uncertainties in the calculated climate forcings.

The primary goal of this cruise is to make in-situ measurements of the chemical, physical, optical and cloud-nucleating properties of aerosols in the marine boundary layer of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Total column aerosol properties will be assessed remotely using shipboard sunphotometers and LIDAR and satellite observations (SeaWiFS and AVHRR). Aerosol data in these regions of the ocean are extremely sparse which currently limits our ability to constrain chemical transport and radiative transfer models. The data obtained on this cruise will provide regional means and variability of aerosol precursor gases and aerosol properties as a function of airmass origin. The data will ultimately yield more realistic estimates of the forcing of climate by aerosols relative to recent estimates (e.g., IPCC(1995)) which rely for the most part on estimated global mean aerosol optical properties.

Trace Gases and Climate -- Trace gases in the marine boundary layer affect the Earth’s radiative and chemical balance by absorbing the long-wave radiation leaving the Earth (green-house gases) and by altering the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. The concentrations of these chemically reactive and infrared-active trace gases are increasing in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities. There is considerable scientific evidence that the increasing atmospheric concentrations of these gases will lead to a global warming which could have disruptive consequences world-wide. Predicting future concentrations of these gases and their potential climatic effects requires an improved understanding of their atmospheric sources and sinks and the processes controlling their concentrations. The goals of the trace gas programs participating in this cruise are:

1. to assess the oceanic sources and sinks of the radiatively and reactively important trace species,
2. assess the oceanic and atmospheric distributions and properties of the key species, and
3. to understand the processes controlling the oceanic and atmospheric concentrations and assess the sensitivity of these systems to anthropogenic and natural perturbations.

Ozonesondes profiles will comprise unique data; such launches have been performed previously on Europe-to-South America cruises but not from North America to southern Africa and thence to the Indian Ocean. The mid-latitude-sub-tropical-tropical transition in ozone profiles is of interest to researchers using global and regional models to study ozone transport and for development of aerosol and tropospheric ozone satellite products from TOMS (see http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov for aerosol products). New tropical tropospheric ozone maps (TTO; http://metosrv2.umd.edu/~tropo) will be validated with the daily ozone profile data to be collected on the cruise. The MicroTOPS record of total column ozone and the ozonesonde data set will be part of the SHADOZ (Southern Hemisphere ADditional OZonesondes) TOMS validation project. SHADOZ ground sites at Natal (Brazil, 6° S, 35° W), Ascension Island (8S, 15° W), and Reunion Island (21° S, 55° E) are very close to the cruise track.

Additional SHADOZ data to be taken during the cruise will be at Kashidoo Observatory in the Maldives, at Watukosek (Indonesia, 7° S, 112° E), and at Fiji, Tahiti, American Samoa, Galapagos and Easter Island. The latter five sites are part of the NASA PEM-Tropics B DC-8 campaign which will coincide with the either the latter part of this cruise and the INDOEX cruise. The Japanese SOWER project is supplying ozone launches at Galapagos and hopes to launch in the January-March time frame on Christmas Island as well. These ozone profiles, with the complete SHADOZ data set, and the unique contribution of the ozonesondes launched on this cruise, will make the January-February 1999 period unprecedented in longitudinal and latitudinal ozonesonde coverage in the southern hemisphere tropics and sub-tropics.

2.0 PERSONNEL

2.1 Participating Organizations:
 

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab., Seattle, WA	(PMEL)
University of Washington, Seattle, WA	(UW)
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA	(NPGS)
Joint Institute Study Atmosphere Ocean, Seattle, WA	(JISAO)
Inst. for Tropospheric Research, Leipzig, Germany	(IfT)
Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden	(MISU)
University of Maryland, College Park, MD	(UMD)
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ	(PU)
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD	(NASA)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA	(SIO)
NOAA Climate Mon. & Diag. Lab., Boulder, CO	(CMDL)
NOAA Atlantic Ocean. & Met. Lab., Miami, FL	(AOML)
Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany	(MPI)
NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, Silver Springs, MD	(ARL)
University of Miami, Miami, FL	(UM)
University of Bremen, Germany	(IUP)
Brookhaven National Laboratory	(BNL)

 
 
 

2.2 Participating Scientists
 

Name	Gender	Nationality	Affiliation	Leg 1	Leg 2
Dr. Timothy Bates	M	USA	PMEL	X	X
Dr. James Johnson	M	USA	JISAO/PMEL	X	X
Mr. Derek Coffman	M	USA	JISAO/PMEL	X	X
Dr. Theresa Miller	F	USA	JISAO/PMEL	X	X
Mr. Drew Hamilton	M	USA	JISAO/PMEL	X	X
Dr. Zhen Yang	M	China	NRC/PMEL	X	X
Dr. Anne Thompson	F	USA	NASA	X
Dr. Martina Schmeling	F	Germany	PU	X
Mr. Andreas Massling	M	Germany	IfT	X	X
Mr. Andreas Nowak	M	Germany	IfT	X	X
Mr. Stephan Leinert	M	Germany	IfT	X	X
Mr. Michael Norman	M	Sweden	MISU	X	X
Dr. Anders Karlsson	M	Sweden	MISU	X	X
Dr. Bruce Doddridge	M	Australia	UMD	X	X
Dr. Russell Dickerson	M	USA	UMD		X
Dr. Winston Luke	M	USA	ARL	X
Ms. Wilnetta Ball	F	USA	UMD		X
Mr. Charles Piety	M	USA	UMD	X	X
Dr. Robert Frouin	M	USA	SIO	X	X
Mr. Alexandre Paci	M	France	SIO	X	X
Dr. Greg Mitchell	M	USA	SIO		X
Dr. Tom Carsey	M	USA	AOML		X
Mr. Mike Shoemaker	M	USA	AOML	X
Mr. Mike Farmer	M	USA	AOML		X
Dr. Volker Wagner	M	Germany	MPI		X
Dr. Corinne Schiller	F	Canada	MPI		X
Dr. Uwe Parchatka	M	Germany	MPI		X
Dr. Andreas Zahn	M	Germany	MPI		X
Dr. Mike Reynolds	M	USA	BLN	X
Dr. Ken Voss	M	USA	UM	X
Dr. Ellsworth Welton	M	USA	UM		X
Mr. Bob Castle	M	USA	AOML	X	X
Dr. Lola Hernandez	F	Spanish	IUP	X	X
Mr. Lars Reichert	M	German	IUP		X
Mr. Jorn Burkert	M	German	IUP		X
total scientists				23	29

 

3.0 SCHEDULE
 

	Depart	Arrive
Leg 1 (26 days)	Norfolk, Virginia 14 January 1999	Cape Town, South Africa 8 February 1999
Leg 2 (10 days)	Cape Town, South Africa 11 February 1999	Port Louis, Mauritius 20 February 1999

total sea/ship days 36 (+ 2 days in South Africa)
 
 

4.0 OPERATIONS

4.1 Underway Measurements

The following continuous measurements will be made aboard RONALD H. BROWN during transit and while on station:

Atmospheric Chemical Measurements

Atmospheric samples will also be collected from the AOML bow tower. The tower will be installed on the ship before departure from the U.S.

Ship and scientific personnel must constantly be aware of potential sample contamination. Work activities forward of the main stack must be secured during sampling operations. This includes the bow, boat deck forward of the stack, bridge deck and flying bridge. The scientists on watch must be notified of any change in ship course or speed that will move the relative wind abaft the ship's beam or if anyone needs access to the bow. The scientists on watch should also be notified when the ship enters a rain squall and when the rain subsides.

Continuous water sampling will be made from the ship's bow intake system. This system must be capable of delivering 75 liters per minute through the main deck piping. Seawater will be drawn off this line to the Al Van on 01 level port side and the sea/air CO2 equilibrator in the hydro lab. Care must be taken to prevent contamination from smoke, solvent, cleaning solutions, etc.

4.2 Station Operations

A CTD/optics (SIO CTD deployed from stern A-frame) and a CTD/rosette (ship’s system deployed from starboard side) cast will be made each day at the time of the SeaWiFS satellite overpass. On clear days an in-water radiance distribution camera system will be deployed from the stern. This package is placed in the water and floated away, while tethered, from the ship. Atmospheric and surface seawater sampling will continue while on station. The ship will remain headed into the wind to prevent contamination from the ship's exhaust and vents. Again, extreme care must be exercised to prevent contamination of the air samples. The scientists on watch must be notified of any ship operation that will move the relative wind abaft the ship's beam.

CTD operations will be conducted by the survey department and scientists from SIO. Maximum cast depth for the CTD/rosette cast will be 300m with most samples collected in the photic zone (6-8 depths). Water from the rosette cast will be sampled for chlorophyll, HPLC pigments, and absorption by total suspended matter.

An additional station will occur every third day during the AVHRR overpass (mid-afternoon). A CTD/optics and CTD/rosette cast will be performed if the sky is clear.

4.3 Balloon Launches

Atmospheric temperature, humidity and wind profiles will be obtained from rawindsondes released from the ASAP van twice per day at 1100 and 2300 UCT. The data from these launches will be sent by the ship to the national weather service. An ozonesonde will be launched from the ship’s fantail once per day by NASA personnel.
 
 

5.0 FACILITIES

5.1 Equipment and capabilities to be provided by ship

The following systems and their associated support services are essential to the cruise. Sufficient consumables, back-up units, and on-site spare parts and technical support must be in place to assure that operational interruptions are minimal. All measurement instruments are expected to have current calibrations and all pertinent calibration information shall be included in the data package.

(a) Navigational systems including high resolution GPS.

• Box 1 is the transmitter/receiver. Its dimensions are 35" tall, with a required base area 24" by 17". (weight about 100 lbs.)
• Box 2 is contains the control equipment. Its dimensions are 27" tall, with a required base area 30" by 23". (weight about 150 lbs.)
• Power required 700watts of 110v on two separate circuits.

1. Nephelometer/PSAP (PMEL)
2. DMPS Number sizing system (UW/PMEL)
3. APS (PMEL) and APS (IfT)
4. DMPS/ Tandem DMAs (IFT)
5. Sodium number size distribution (PU) and CN counters (PMEL)
6. 7-stage impactor for trace metals (PU)
7. 2-stage impactor for organic and elemental carbon (IFT)
8. 2-stage impactor for organic carbon speciation (IfT)
9. 2-stage impactor for organic and elemental carbon (PMEL)
10. 2-stage impactor for gravimetric analysis (PMEL)
11. 7-stage impactor for gravimetric analysis (PMEL)
12. 2-stage impactor for ions (PMEL)
13. 7-stage impactor for ions (PMEL)
14. 2- stage impactor for mineral dust (PMEL)
15. 2-stage impactor for SEM XRF (PMEL)

10. Rawindesondes, ozonesondes, balloons and helium (60 tanks)
11. PREDE radiometer to be mounted on 03 level forward.

• table mount about 2 x 3 x 1 m (1 m high)
• power 110v, 200 watts

10. Gimbal mounted whole sky camera (RADS) system to be mounted on 03 level forward.

• Dimensions about 2 feet square.
• Power 110V, 10 amps.
• Data cable: 50 foot which needs to run to a computer.

10. Motor generator to produce 50 Hz power for MPI
11. Liquid nitrogen generator (MPI)
12. Spare CTD/rosette/niskin bottles (SIO)

6.1 Data responsibilities

The Chief Scientist is responsible for the disposition, feedback on data quality, and archiving of data and specimens collected on board the ship for the primary project. The Chief Scientist is also responsible for the dissemination of copies of these data to participants on the cruise and to any other requesters. The ship will assist in copying data and reports insofar as facilities allow. The ship will provide the Chief Scientist copies of the following data:

Sightings log (position, speed, course, distance upwind) of other vessels

Autosal salinity analysis logs

Navigational log sheets (MOAs)

Weather observation sheets

Autosal calibration reports

Thermosalinograph calibration reports

CTD cast logs

CTD calibration reports

CTD data in ASCII format

Weather maps

SCS data tapes

The Chief Scientist will receive all original data gathered by the ship for the primary and piggy-back projects, and this data transfer will be documented on NOAA form 61-29 "Letter Transmitting Data". The Chief Scientist in turn will furnish the ship a complete inventory listing of all data gathered by the scientific party, detailing types and quantities of data.

The Commanding Officer is responsible for all data collected for ancillary projects until those data have been transferred to the projects' principal investigators or their designees. Data transfers will be documented on NOAA Form 61-29. Copies of ancillary project data will be provided to the Chief Scientist when requested. Reporting and sending copies of ancillary data to NESDIS (ROSCOP) is the responsibility of the program office sponsoring those projects.

6.2 Ship operation evaluation report

A Ship Operations Evaluation Report will be completed by the Chief Scientist and given to the Director, PMEL, for review and then forwarded to NC3.

6.3 Foreign research clearance reports

A request for research clearance in foreign waters (United Kingdom for Ascension Island and St. Helena, Nambia, S. Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Madagascar, France for Reunion Island and Mauritius) has been submitted by PMEL. Copies of clearances received will be provided to the FOO before departure. The Chief Scientist is responsible for satisfying the post-cruise obligations associated with diplomatic clearances to conduct research operations in foreign waters. These obligations consist of (1) submitting a "Preliminary Cruise Report" immediately following the completion of the cruise involving the research in foreign waters (due at ONCO within 30 days); and (2) ultimately meeting the commitments to submit data copies of the primary project to the host foreign countries.
 
 

7.0 ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS

Any additional work will be subordinate to the primary project and will be accomplished only with the concurrence of the Chief Scientist and Commanding Officer on a not-to-interfere basis.

The following ancillary projects will be conducted by ship's personnel in accordance with general instructions contained in the PMC OPORDER:
 

(a) SEAS Data Collection and Transmission	(PMC OPORDER 1.2.1)
(b) Marine Mammal Reporting	(PMC OPORDER 1.2.2)
(c) Sea Turtle Observations	(SP-PMC-2-89)
(d) Bathymetric Trackline	(PMC OPORDER 1.2.5)

7.1 No ancillary projects are assigned.

8.0 COMMUNICATIONS

The ship is equipped with INMARSAT, a telephone / teletype satellite communication system. If the scientific staff uses this system, they will be obligated to pay for their calls, which are estimated at $6.02 per minute for voice or rapid fax and $4.00 per minute for Telex. The Chief Scientist or designee will have access to and assistance provided for transmitting and receiving communications through INMARSAT as needed during the cruise. The ship’s INMARSAT number is 011-sat-154-2643 (voice) 011-sat-154-2644 (fax) where sat is the satellite = 872 (Pacific West), 871 (Atlantic East), or 873 (Indian).

The ship has recently been equipped with INMARSAT M capabilities. The cost is estimated at $2.99 per minute. The INMARSAT M telephone number is 011-sat-761-266-581.

An account for ccmail for embarked personnel will be established by the RONALD H. BROWN Electronics Technician; the general format is first_last%brown@ccmail.rdc.noaa.gov. Ccmail will be sent and received two times per day.

9.0 HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

The RONALD H BROWN will operate in full compliance with all environmental compliance requirements imposed by NOAA. All hazardous materials/substances needed to carry out the objectives of the embarked science mission, including ancillary tasks, are the direct responsibility of the embarked designated Chief Scientist, whether or not that Chief Scientist is using them directly. The RONALD H BROWN Environmental Compliance Officer will work with the Chief Scientist to ensure that this management policy is properly executed, and that any problems are brought promptly to the attention of the Commanding Officer.

All hazardous materials require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Copies of all MSDSs shall be forwarded to the ship at least two weeks prior to sailing. The Chief Scientist shall have copies of each MSDS available when the hazardous materials are loaded aboard. Hazardous material for which the MSDS is not provided will not be loaded aboard.

The Chief Scientist will complete a local inventory form, provided by the Commanding Officer, indicating the amount of each material brought onboard, and for which the Chief Scientist is responsible. This inventory shall be updated at departure, accounting for the amount of material being removed, as well as the amount consumed in science operations and the amount being removed in the form of waste. A list of chemicals and gases that will be brought onboard the ship for this cruise is listed in B. PMEL gases and chemicals will be loaded in Seattle; CO2-AOML, AOML, UMD, MISU, PU gases and chemicals will be loaded in Norfolk; MPI gases and chemicals will be loaded in Cape Town.

The ship’s dedicated HAZMAT Locker contains two 45-gallon capacity flam cabinets and one 22-gallon capacity flam material cabinet, plus some available storage on the deck. Unless there are dedicated storage lockers (meeting OSHA/NFPA standards) in each van, all HAZMAT, except small amounts for ready use, must be stored in the HAZMAT Locker.

The scientific party, under the supervision of the Chief Scientist, shall be prepared to respond fully to emergencies involving spills of any mission HAZMAT. This includes providing properly-trained personnel for response, as well as the necessary neutralizing chemicals and clean-up materials. Ship’s personnel are not first responders and will act in a support role only, in the event of a spill. Drew Hamilton, Derek Coffman, and Theresa Miller have been trained in hazardous material response.

The Chief Scientist is directly responsible for the proper handling, both administrative and physical, of all scientific party hazardous wastes. No liquid wastes shall be introduced into the ship’s drainage system. No solid waste material shall be placed in the ship’s garbage.

10.0 RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE POLICY

1. The BROWN has no specially designated lab space for working with isotopes. We will therefore require that all radioisotope work be done in a dedicated van with its own storage area and separate waste discharge. The policy is consistent with that of the UNOLS fleet. All of the waste should remain segregated from the ship's waste and be packed out by the investigator;

2. Each scientist working with these materials will be required to wear a lab coat and disposable booties to reduce the likelihood of tracking the substance out of the van into the ship;

3. It will be the responsibility of the investigator to conduct pre-cruise (for background) and post-cruise wipe tests (regardless of whether a spill occurred or not). Wipe tests should also be conducted in the event of a spill, as well as periodically while underway.

4. A detailed procedural methodology describing the use of these materials should be provided to the ship for review at least one month prior to bringing them aboard. A spill contingency plan should also be provided at that time. Please note that ship's personnel will not be a cleanup resource in the event of a spill;

5. A log detailing the type and amount of materials brought aboard and taken off the ship should be maintained, along with a record of any spills that occurred;

6. All radioisotope work will be conducted by NRC or State licensed investigators only, and copies of these licenses shall be provided to the ship at least one month prior to bringing any materials onboard.
 
 

11.0 MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Radio interference

Radio transmission can interfere with several of the continuous data streams. If this becomes a problem, the Commanding Officer and Chief Scientist will work out a transmission schedule to minimize data interferences to the extent that vessel communication needs allow.

11.2 Pre & post-cruise meetings

A pre-cruise meeting between the Commanding Officer and the Chief Scientist will be conducted either the day before or the day of departure, with the express purpose of identifying day-to-day project requirements, in order to best use shipboard resources and identify overtime needs.

A post-cruise debriefing will be held between the Chief Scientist and the Commanding Officer.

11.3 Scientific berthing

The Chief Scientist is responsible for assigning berthing for the scientific party within the spaces approved as dedicated scientific berthing. The ship will send stateroom diagrams to the Chief Scientist showing authorized berthing spaces. The Chief Scientist is responsible for returning the scientific berthing spaces back over to the ship in the condition in which they were received; for stripping bedding and for linen return; and for the return of any room keys which were issued.

The Chief Scientist is also responsible for the cleanliness of the laboratory spaces and storage areas used by the science party, both during the cruise and at its conclusion prior to departing the ship.

In accordance with NC Instruction 5255.0, Controlled Substances Aboard NOAA Vessels, dated 06 August 1985, all persons boarding NOAA vessels give implied consent to conform with all safety and security policies and regulations which are administered by the Commanding Officer. All spaces and equipment on the vessel are subject to inspection or search at any time.

11.4 Emergency contacts

Prior to departure, the Chief Scientist must provide a listing of emergency contacts to the Executive Officer for all members of the scientific party, with the following information: name, address, relationship to member, and telephone number. These can be combined with the NOAA Health Services Questionnaire on the forms provided.

11.5 Weather deck Safety

Wearing open-toed footwear (such as sandals) on the weather decks is unsafe and is not permitted. This shipboard safety regulation is included in the Commanding Officer’s Standing Orders, and will be enforced. All members of the scientific party are expected to be aware of this regulation and to comply with it.

11.6 Wage marine dayworker working hours and rest periods

Chief Scientists shall be cognizant of the reduced capability of the RONALD H BROWN’s operating crew to support 24-hour mission activities with a high tempo of deck operations at all hours. Wage marine employees are subject to negotiated work rules contained in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Dayworkers’ hours of duty are a continuous eight-hour period, beginning no earlier than 0600 and ending no later than 1800. It is not permissible to separate such an employee’s workday into several short work periods with interspersed nonwork periods. Dayworkers called out to work between the hours of 0000 and 0600 are entitled to a rest period of one hour for each such hour worked. Such rest periods begin at 0800 and will result in no dayworkers being available to support science operations until the rest period has been observed. All wage marine employees are supervised and assigned work only by the Commanding Officer or designee. The Chief Scientist and the Commanding Officer shall consult regularly to ensure that the shipboard resources available to support the embarked mission are utilized safely, efficiently and with due economy.

12.0 APPENDICES

(A) Cruise track

(B) List of chemicals onboard

(C) Van locations

13.0 APPROVAL OF INSTRUCTIONS

Approval of the final instructions shall be acknowledged in writing:
 
 

___________________________________________________

Rear Admiral John C. Albright, NOAA (date)

Director, Atlantic and Pacific Marine Centers
 
 

___________________________________________________

Dr. Eddie N. Bernard, NOAA (data)

Director, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
 
 

Appendix A. Cruise Track
 
 

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Cruise Track

C. Van locations