Apply now for fully funded grants of sea time on RV Investigator in 2027-28
Offering new horizons of research in our marine environment
Never has it been more important to conduct research into our marine environment than now.
Warming oceans, changing ecosystems and fisheries, shifting currents and species, and the protection of maritime territories all mean that accurate data is essential to furnish our understanding of the precious marine environment that surrounds us. This knowledge is essential to inform government, industry and the community to better ensure the sustainable management and prosperity of Australia’s vast marine estate and its resources.
Undertaking research in our marine environment presents unique challenges. Not the least of these comes from the sheer size of Australia’s marine estate, which is the third largest on the planet. Helping our researchers meet and overcome that challenge, and deliver vital research across our marine estate, is Australia’s dedicated ocean research vessel, RV Investigator.
A ship for all seasons and scientists
RV Investigator is an impressive 94-metre multidisciplinary ocean research vessel that offers researchers a flexible and capable platform to conduct marine and atmospheric research anywhere in our region. The vessel is part of the Marine National Facility (MNF), national collaborative research infrastructure operated by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, on behalf of the nation.
RV Investigator delivers endurance and capability. It can travel up to 10,000 nautical miles and stay at sea for 60 days to deliver atmospheric, biological, geoscience, oceanographic and underwater cultural heritage research. Augmenting the ship’s extensive capability, a suite of advanced scientific equipment is also available to researchers, as well as specialist support from CSIRO in the planning and delivery of voyage science.
An unrivalled record of marine research
Since commissioning in late 2014, the vessel has delivered more than 110 voyages and travelled to every corner of our marine estate. These voyages have taken over 1400 individual participants from more than 200 institutions and 20 countries on collaborative voyages of exploration and discovery. The research delivered has helped furnish our knowledge of the diversity of life in our oceans, our underwater cultural heritage, the health of marine ecosystems, the interactions between ocean and atmosphere, and the physical structure of our marine environment, from the seafloor and below to the atmosphere above.
The range of research delivered by RV Investigator is unparalleled and the vessel is one of Australia’s most productive pieces of national research infrastructure. Furthermore, the vessel’s capabilities are continually being enhanced to ensure they meet the diverse needs of the Australian research community. This includes a program of scientific upgrades and enhancements that’s currently underway as part of RV Investigator’s middle of life refit and capability enhancement.
Seas the opportunity for your research
Australian researchers can access sea time on the vessel through the Granted Voyage Program, which awards fully funded grants of sea time to conduct research for national benefit. This program is funded by the Australian Government, including through support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
Applications for sea time can be made by Australian researchers who are working for Australian research organisations and who are based in Australia. Australian researchers based overseas and international collaborators can be co-applicants on proposals. Applications are competitively assessed by expert independent committees and sea time is awarded based on criteria of research quality and national benefit.
Applicants for sea time are supported throughout the application and voyage planning process by specialists from the MNF team. This team also provides the expertise and support for the coordination and delivery of research onboard.
Apply now for sea time in 2027-28
The MNF invites researchers to apply for sea time through an annual Primary and Supplementary Application Call. Applications can be made through the Marine Facilities Planning (MFP) portal for CSIRO, which offers a single platform to submit applications and plan voyages. Applications are made under one of five access Streams. These Streams support the delivery of projects that align with national research priorities, as well as cater to the diverse needs of our research community. A separate Stream is also offered to support the award of sea time for technology and innovation projects that enhance our national research capabilities.
A Primary Application Call is currently open and applications are invited for fully funded grants of sea time to conduct research on RV Investigator in the 2027-28 financial year.
Apply now! Seas the opportunity for your research and help contribute to the protection and prosperity of Australia’s marine environment.
The application period closes on 20 May 2025.
For further information and to apply, visit mnf.csiro.au