Coordinating EU marine research
The world's oceans are an important field of study, though generally difficult and expensive to access. EUROFLEETS2 (New operational steps towards an alliance of European research fleets) aims to consolidate an alliance of European marine research centres and to bring together research fleet owners and operators in order to enhance operational coordination between RVs and embarked equipment, and to promote their cost-effective use. Funded by the EU, the project is an extension and expansion of a previous European venture (EUROFLEETS, 2009-2013). EUROFLEETS2 aims to develop a pan-European distributed infrastructure, including coordinated access to RVs, to efficiently meet increasing scientific demands. The 31-member consortium also plans to foster industrial linkages and participation. The three main activities include developing TNA, networking and JRAs. EUROFLEETS2 will conclude in February 2017. Partners prioritised opening ship and equipment time for TNA. During the first 18-month reporting period, 4 international calls were successfully launched. A total of 33 scientific proposals were submitted from 130 European and other institutions. The European evaluation process coordinated by the project enabled to fund 12 (36%) of the highest ranked proposals on board 11 RVs. The JRA focused on establishing roadmaps for the project's planned developments, including guidelines for reduction of ship noise and vibration, bubble sweep down avoidance plus work-deck installations. To develop generic designs for regional RVs, the project circulated a questionnaire among European RV operators. Another group made progress on an optical 3D-based dynamic positioning system for underwater vehicles, while developing and testing a visual-based hovering system. Good progress was made furthermore on optimising innovative batteries for underwater use. A further sub-project has completed development of software for automated reporting and data acquisition systems based on use of common vocabularies and standards. Networking activities include a workshop to promote participation of young marine scientists in TNA calls, plus two training courses held aboard RVs. The achievements of EUROFLEETS were maintained, including the European Fleet Evolution Group, which met and discussed the future of both equipment and research fleets, including polar components. The project has also made steps towards implementing Virtual Fleets to foster cooperation at regional level, and other core project resource-sharing efforts. During the first 18 months of EUROFLEETS2, three TNA cruises were carried out, giving on board access to more than 30 scientists from 8 European and other countries. Almost 20 additional scientists participated to these cruises as remote users.
Keywords
Marine research, research vessels and equipment, transnational access, joint research activities, research fleets, training
