2. The place of Europe in the world research vessel fleet and data management Per W Nieuwejaar Director RV Department Institute of Marine Research Bergen, Norway

3. Topics Global RV fleet European RV fleet Large instruments and equipment Data management Web portals European cooperation Global cooperation Challenges and opportunities

4. Global RV fleet Local RVs (L < 40 m ) 346 Regional RVs (40m< L< 55m) 125 Ocean RVs (55m< L <70 m)141 Global RVs ( L > 70m)173 Total world-wide (www.researchvessels.org) 785www.researchvessels.org Total European RV fleet (www.eurocean.org) 249www.eurocean.org How many of these are truly research vessels or vessels used in support of research? No formal definition of ”research vessel” exists

5. European RV fleet Characteristics of European Academic RV fleet: - RVs unevenly distributed among nations - Average age is high - Long replacement intervals - Large vessels well utilized, smaller vessels underutilized

6. Examples European new builds Emma Bardan (SP) Callista (UK) Gunnerus (NO)

7. Examples European new builds Sarmiento de Gamboa (SP) Porquis Pas? (FR) James Cook (UK)Maria S. Merian (GE)

8. Large instruments and equipment - Availability of the sophisticated instruments is very limited and unevenly distributed ; a limited number of nations own most of the large and exchangeable instruments - Lending, leasing and/or exchange of instruments between European institutions do happen, but still and most often on a bilateral case by case basis - Potential for a improved utilisation of large and exchangeable instruments in Europe is considerable. Nevertheless many issues have to be taken into account : Inter operability Technical support Annual programming Cooperation outside Europe Insurance Transport and customs

9. Data management More than 36 European marine data and information centres (www.sea-search.net/mdic)www.sea-search.net/mdic These data centers have built a network for dissemination of data, best practices, and development of new tools and products.

10. EurOcean web portal www.eurocean.org Located in Lisbon, Portugal. Hosted by FCT (Fundação para Ciência e a Tecnologia) 10 institutions in 9 European countries are members, and there are room for more members! EurOcean is a focal point for information on marine science and technology in Europe Databases for RVs, underwater vehicles and Large Exchangeable Instruments (LEXI)

11. European cooperation European Research Vessel Operator (ERVO) group consisting of European RV operators. Established in 1999. Ocean Facilities Exhange Group (OFEG) for RV and instrument bartering. Established in 1996. Six member countries (UK, FR, GE, NL, SP, NO) OFEG-TECH. OFEG technicians network established 2007. A number of bilateral agreements between European research institutions

12. Global cooperation International Ship Operator Meeting (ISOM) since 1986 (www.isom-info.org) Global network of RV operatorswww.isom-info.org INMARTECH. Bi-annual marine tech conference RVOC in the USA invites European partners to its annual meeting US/NSF observers in OFEG US webportal OCEANIC cooperates with EurOcean

13. Challenges and opportunities Challenges - Better utilization of existing RVs and equipment - Joint investment and ownership of vessels and equipment? Opportunities - The networks are established - Cooperation agreements are in place on ”working level” - Mutual trust and understanding is established

14. Summary Research vessels Instruments Data centers Web portals Technicians Working groups The infrastructure is in place and is working every day!