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RV Investigator

Expressions of Interest for RV Investigator 2013–14 and 2014–15

Update – December 2011

RV Investigator Documents Summary of Expressions of Interest for RV Investigator sea time [Excel] Download this page as PDF Further questions Please direct all enquiries relating to the expression of interest process to Ron Plaschke, Director, CSIRO Marine National Facility, on phone (03) 6232 5205.

The Marine National Facility Steering Committee (MNF SC) is pleased to announce an excellent response from the Australian marine science community to the call for  Expressions of Interest (EOI) for RV Investigator in 2013–14 and 2014–15. Thirty-six EOI were received for over 1150 project-days at sea. The purpose of this update is to inform EOI applicants of the process ahead.

In summary, the MNF SC will develop a commissioning year schedule for RV Investigator in 2013–14 from the list of EOI received.  For 2014–15, a full call for applications will be made around mid 2012, which will include multi-year applications and expanded guidance on the interpretation of the national benefit assessment criteria (in addition to the usual scientific excellence and track record criteria).

RV Investigator’s commissioning year in 2013–14 will be scheduled in two stages; a testing stage and a more research focussed stage defined by accepted EOI (hereafter referred to as the EOI stage).  Conditional on the vessel arriving in Hobart by 30 June 2013, the testing period is expected to require around five months from July through November 2013. The aim of the testing period is to familiarise marine crew and selected scientists with the vessel and scientific equipment in a controlled manner, as well as checking scientific instrument data for quality assurance purposes. Developing safe working procedures onboard the vessel is a priority during this period and additional time will be allowed for unanticipated problems and any warranty issues which may emerge. Some of the “EOI voyages” are likely to run during this period to enable testing certain equipment and/or the servicing of deep sea moorings which cannot be achieved using another vessel. It is expected that the testing period will help prepare the vessel, scientific equipment and people involved to maximise outcomes of the EOI stage which follows.

The commissioning year EOI period is expected to be scheduled between December 2013 and June 2014. The purpose of the EOI period is to more fully test the vessel and equipment under normal operating conditions and the achievement of scientific objectives, although desirable, is not guaranteed. To maximise the commissioning opportunities for EOI applicants during this period, the MNF SC will seek to combine several EOI proposals on voyages where this is feasible. As a first step, a list of all EOI received is available to download Summary of EOIs [Excel]. EOI proponents are encouraged to review this list, which can be grouped by scientific discipline, to identify any synergies which may exist between EOI to maximise the scientific value and the number of berths filled on the vessel. Any such synergies identified by proponents can be emailed to Linda.Gaskell@csiro.au.

The Marine National Facility (MNF) may also contact individual proponents to further discuss their EOI and potential for collaborations. Following this process, a call will be made in January 2012 to shortlisted EOI proponents, who will be requested to submit an expanded voyage application which will be due in March 2012. These expanded applications will be reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) only, i.e. they will not be subject to external national and international review as is the usual process, before being approved at the next MNF SC meeting which is scheduled for late April 2012.

Please direct all enquiries relating to the EOI process to Ron Plaschke, Director, CSIRO Marine National Facility, on phone (03) 6232 5205.

Last updated: 8/12/11