Revision: 2020-06-25

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet has established a consistent fleetwide policy for managing access to limited Internet resource on board UNOLS vessels. This policy aims to facilitate the functional, equitable and fair use of the Internet for all persons on board while ensuring the successful delivery of services necessary for science missions.

The primary purpose of Internet resources provided on board Academic Research Fleet vessels is:

• In support of the Funded Science Mission
• In support of Vessel Operations

All other uses, including personal use, is permitted on a non-interference basis with the primary purpose and within agreed upon Terms of Service as stated below.

Questions regarding this policy should be sent to: satnag@unols.org

Persons onboard UNOLS Academic Research Fleet vessels agree to the UNOLS Internet Use Policy and Acceptable Use and Terms of Service prior to using Internet resources.

In addition to UNOLS policies, institutions operating Academic Research Fleet vessels may have additional terms of service and acceptable use policies.

By using Academic Research Fleet network resources you agree to the terms of service of the UNOLS Internet Use Policy.

Abuse of the UNOLS Internet Use Policy may result in revoking Internet access and reporting abuses to parent institutions.

Internet access accounts are allocated on a per-person basis

• Persons are accountable for the use of their accounts
• Sharing account passwords or using another person's account is not permitted
• Attempting to create multiple accounts is not permitted
• Attempting to by-pass or exceed allocated quotas is not permitted
• Unauthorized access of network resources is not permitted

• Internet access is limited to one device per user at a time
• Devices must be patched and updated with an up-to-date vendor supported operating system prior to putting devices on vessel networks. There is insufficient bandwidth to update devices once on vessel networks.
• Devices must have updated virus protection software and/or device firewall protection prior to putting devices on vessel networks
• Out-of-date, or end of life devices and operating systems should not be placed on vessel networks
• Please emails exceptions to satnag@unols.org

For the purposes of managing limited Internet capacity, it is necessary to monitor network usage to identify inefficiencies and high resource consumers. Academic Research Fleet Internet Traffic Reports are provided to UNOLS by SatNAG on a regular basis.

A Captive Portal is a means by which users are required to login with a username and password prior to granting Internet access. Captive portal access is the primary mode of Internet access for personal devices brought on board.

• Access is limited to one device per user at a time
• Remember to keep your login window open while using the Internet
• Remember to logoff when you are done using the Internet

• Internet access is limited to 200 MB total per person per day
• As projects are sailing with reduced science parties as a result of COVID-19 mitigation practices, the limit maybe set to 400 MB total per person per day
• User daily quotas reset at 00:00 UTC each day

It is the users responsibility to manage how they choose to use their quota.

Captive Portal Accounts are managed by each vessel operator. Please contact the respective vessel operator for Internet access accounts

Exceeding Quotas

If you exceed your daily quota you may still use the Internet at designated kiosks computers.

Vessels commonly have public, science or operational kiosk systems configured with unrestricted Internet access from which users can browse the Internet without impacting personal quotas.

Kiosk and clientless hosts should be limited to ~6 systems per vessel.

Shared login computers in open public spaces for use by anyone science or crew on a first come first served basis.

Typically a short list of transient science operations systems which are key to the mission and designated by the P.I. for a given cruise with less restricted Internet Access.

Typically these are permanently installed computers on vessels in locations like the bridge, and engineering. Use of operational kiosk for personal Internet Access should be minimized in favor of Captive Portal Access or Public Kiosks.

Several high bandwidth and/or high risk service are blocked from Internet access regardless of Captive Portal or Kiosk systems. Some of these systems include:

• Updates for Windows, Apple, and Android Devices
• Cloud Storage and Backups: like Dropbox, iCloud, Crashplan, etc.
• Disruptive services which negatively impact Internet service for science and vessel operations.

Exceptions for Science: Please contact the operating institution for your vessel to coordinate Science mission related video streaming services such as outreach activities.

How fast is the Internet onboard vessels?

Typical at sea bandwidth is limited to 512 kbps shore to ship and 256 kbps ship to shore. This bandwidth must be shared with 40+ persons. A typical home DSL connection has 20-40 times this capacity for 1-4 persons and costs 100 times less.

I exceeded my quota, when will my quota reset?

Quotas reset at 00:00 UTC, which is typically around 4pm Pacific or 7pm Atlantic.

I exceeded my quota and I need the Internet to get my job done, what should I do?

Find a public Kiosk for Internet access.

I need to download a big file larger than my quota, what can I do?

Use a public Kiosk to download the file.

Who pays for the Internet on Academic Research Fleet vessels?

The National Science Foundation funds satellite based Internet services for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet

Who is SatNAG?

SatNAG is the Satellite Network Advisory Group who is charged with identifying fleet wide solutions for Internet access on UNOLS vessels.

https://satnag.unols.org