About the Marine National Facility

Voyages map for 2007/08
Tracks of research voyages during 2007/08

Australia’s Marine National Facility is a blue-water research capability, funded by the Australian Government and operated by CSIRO.

The Marine National Facility has been a key element of Australia’s national research infrastructure since 1984, enabling oceanographic, geo-scientific, fishery and ecosystem research.

The Facility is overseen by Steering Committee appointed by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, with representatives from academia, industry and government. It is available to all Australian scientists and their international collaborators, with access granted on the basis of proposals that are internationally peer reviewed and independently assessed for science quality and contribution to the national interest.

The Marine National Facility comprises of:

a Research Vessel for conducing scientific voyages, presently the RV Southern Surveyor
a package of scientific equipment and instrumentation
a collection of more than 25 years of marine data, and the scientific, technical and administrative systems and expertise required to safely, effectively and efficiently manage blue-water research and provide scientific, technical and administrative support to research vessel users
the Marine National Facility Steering Committee and Marine National Facility Scientific Advisory Committee.

Oceanographic sampling equipment being launched

The Marine National Facility enables and supports innovative world-class blue-water marine research through provision of:

Multi-capable, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment
Robust and accountable peer review of scientific applications for the use of the facility
Innovative knowledge management systems
Cost-effective management of infrastructure and facilities

Research voyages of the Marine National Facility Research Vessel Southern Surveyor have:

discovered massive submarine volcanoes between Fiji and Samoa offering evidence of mineral deposits such as copper, zinc and lead
examined climate records from ancient corals and produced a carbon chemistry map of the Great Barrier Reef region
investigated the dynamics of tuna fishery ecosystems and assessed the size and location of marine protected areas in the Great Australian Bight

Last updated: 7/01/11

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