Marine Lab Policies, Procedures and Protocols
Personnel -- Drug Testing Policy
8. MEMORANUM
TO: All Personnel Embarked on the R/V CAPE HATTERAS
FROM: Marine Superintendent - Duke/UNC Oceanographic Consortium
SUBJECT: Alcoholic Beverage and Illegal Drug Policy
on Board
R/V CAPE HATTERAS
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND DRUGS:
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on board ship. The following rules shall apply to all officers, crew, and scientists:
1) Personnel:
a) Shall not perform or attempt to perform any scheduled
duties within four (4) hours of consuming alcoholic beverages
b) Shall not be intoxicated
at any time
c) Shall not consume any
intoxicant while on watch or duty, and
d) "May consume a
legal non-prescription or prescription
drug provided the drug does not cause the
individual to be intoxicated"
(33 CFR 95. 045)
2) For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:
a) "Alcohol means any form or derivative of
ethyl alcohol (ethanol)"
b) "Alcohol concentration
means either grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters
of blood, or grams of alcohol per 210 liters
of breath"
c) "Drug means any
substance (other than alcohol) that has
known mind or function-altering effects
on a person, specifically including any
psychoactive substance and including, but
not limited to, controlled substances" d)
"Intoxicant means any form of alcohol, drug, or combination thereof" (33
CFR 95.010)
3) An individual is intoxicated when:
a) The individual has an alcohol concentration of
.04 percent by weight or more in their blood, or,
b) The effect of the intoxicant(s)
consumed by the individual on the person's
manner, disposition, speech, muscular movement,
general appearance or behavior is apparent
by observation (33 CFR 95.020)
4) If there is any doubt as to whether a prescription or non-prescription drug may cause intoxication, the individual shall contact the Master or Marine Superintendent prior to assuming his or her duties. The Master or Marine Superintendent will contact Duke Employee Occupational Health Service to obtain verbal and/or written approval in each individual case.
ILLEGAL DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES:
Duke University is committed to maintaining a drug free work place and a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. This policy applies to the R/V CAPE HATTERAS as well. Consequently, all employees or personnel embarked are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of drugs or controlled substances on board ship or in other University work places. The possession or use of all illegal drugs and substances is strictly prohibited on board ship. Not only is this a violation of U.S. law, but foreign law as well. Discovery of even trace amounts of illegal drugs by U.S. or foreign officials could result in the vessel being impounded, and some or all persons on board being arrested. Personnel impounded in foreign countries are subject to foreign law and may be held for years with or without trial and little hope of assistance from the U.S. Department of State. Because of the serious consequences of even minor drug violations, the following procedures shall be enforced:
a) The Master shall exert every effort to prevent illegal drugs or substances from being brought on board ship. Unannounced and thorough searches of the ship, including staterooms and personal effects, will be made when deemed necessary and the resutls of these inspections entered in the deck log book.
b) Any illegal drugs or substances discovered by the Master, Chief Scientist or other ship's officers will be confiscated and placed in the Master's safe. Complete details concerning the amount and type of drugs, how, when, and where they were discovered, together with the offender(s) name will be entered in the ship's log. Upon arrival in port, the offenders and drugs will be turned over to U.S. Customs.
c) All officers and crew members will be subject to random drug testing in accordance with existing laws. Anyone who fails to submit to a test or who takes action to invalidate the results of a test may be discharged immediately.