Research outside Panama - permits and visas

Research cruises in countries other than the Republic of Panama require special permission from authorities in those countries well in advance of the cruise date.

Typically three types of permits are involved:

1. A general permission to use the Urraca for research in that country's waters.
2. Permission to conduct your specified research in that country and export any specimens.
3. Visas for individual members of the scientific party to visit that country.
• Vessel Permission: This is handled through the STRI Vessel Superintendent's office, which channels the request through the US Embassy in the appropriate country. The materials needed for such a request must be presented by the Chief Scientist to the Vessel Superintendent's office 9 months prior to the cruise.
  Materials needed by the Vessel Superintendent for that application are indicated here
• Research and Specimen-export Permits: Arranging such permits is the responsibility of the Chief Scientist, who must present the approved permits to the Vessel Superintendent two months before the cruise.
• Individual visas: Arrangements for these are the responsibility of the individual members of the science party .