The Marine National Facility Steering Committee has concluded its selection process for sea time onboard Investigator, for both the Commissioning Year September 2013 to August 2014 and for voyages from September 2014 to June 2015. Commissioning year and research voyages have been offered and accepted within the necessary constraints of the new vessel’s build schedule, commissioning schedule and future operating model.

Investigator’s new research schedules can be found on the MNF website. The 2014-2015 schedule voyage dates are currently subject to the supplementary applications process and will be confirmed later.

The Marine National Facility supports Australian researchers and their international collaborators in carrying out research in Australia’s regional seas and oceans, 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 MNF operates Australia’s only dedicated blue-water research vessel available to the marine science community, which is capable of operating in Australia’s vast ocean territories. Under the direction of an independent Steering Committee, the Marine National Facility is owned and operated by CSIRO on behalf of Australia.