The Marine Institute’s annual call for applications from researchers to use the Marine Institute’s research vessels Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager is now open.
The 65.5 meter RV Celtic Explorer and the 32 meter RV Celtic Voyager have been utilised to undertake a wide variety of research surveys and operations in Irish and international waters over the past 10 years. These have included expeditions mapping Ireland's 220 million acre marine resource to being chartered by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation for research in the the Lesser Antilles Pelagic Ecoysystem Project.
The Marine Institute now invites applications for ship time from the Marine research community for 2008.
Applicants applying for vessel charter should note that in some instances vessel charter can be funded, in part or in full, via the Marine Institute’s Integrated Marine Exploration Programme. This is part of Sea Change, A Marine Knowledge, Research & Innovation Strategy for Ireland 2007-2013, which has identified the need for a dedicated competitive R&D research vessel funding programme. The aim of such a programme, similar to that operated in other countries, is to make grant-aid available to researchers on a competitive (annual) basis, enabling them access to ship time as part of institutional and co-operative international marine research and training programmes.