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Supplementary Applications typically require dedicated time and/or deployment of systems and may be multi-voyage. Due to their complexity and use of resources, Supplementary Applications undergo a Supplementary Scheduling Assessment and require integration into the Primary Voyage’s activities.

Application call details

The 2025 Supplementary Application call is OPEN.

Key dates

  • OPEN: 11 February 2025 at 12:01 am (AEDT)
  • CLOSE: 16 March 2025 at 11:59 pm (AEDT)*

* Close of application period has been extended by 5 days to provide applicants with additional time to complete their applications.

Supplementary Applications are now invited for fully funded grants of sea time on RV Investigator in the 2026-27 financial year. Several voyages in the schedule are available for Supplementary Applications.

Please refer to the 'Available voyages in 2026-27 schedule' summary below.

All applications are to be completed and submitted in our online application portal - MFP (Marine Facilities Planning) - by the application period close on 16 March 2025 at 11:59 pm (AEDT).

Late applications will not be accepted.

If you are interested in submitting a supplementary application, before applying, you should first discuss your project, including berths, ship time and equipment requirements, with the MNF. Please email mnf@csiro.au

Available voyages in 2026-27 schedule

The following voyages are open for Supplementary Applications:

-----------------------

IN2026_T03 - Transit: Hobart to Brisbane
MNF/CSIRO

Hobart 16/07/26 to Brisbane 21/07/26 (6 days)

Voyage to relocate RV Investigator in preparation for its next research voyage.

Up to 20 berths. Up to 24 hours of dedicated station and/or sampling time available.

-----------------------

IN2026_V05 - Next Generation of Ocean LiDAR for Australia
Prof Helen Pask, Macquarie University

Brisbane 30/08/26 to Brisbane 10/09/26 (12 days)

Project to advance development of a dual-use emerging technology, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for remote sensing of subsurface water properties in oceans and coastal waters.

Up to 3 berths. No dedicated sea time available; potential to undertake activities that fit in with Primary activities.

-----------------------

IN2027_V02 - Characterising the newly expanded Macquarie Island Marine Park
Dr Nicole Hill, University of Tasmania


Hobart 27/03/27 to Hobart 02/05/27 (37 days)

Project to fill key knowledge gaps identified by Parks Australia on the ocean environment, distribution and nature of seafloor features, and the habitats and natural values within the Macquarie Island MP.

Up to 2 berths. No dedicated sea time available; underway sampling only.

-----------------------

IN2027_V03 - IMOS Southern Ocean Time Series Strategic Partnership
Dr Elizabeth Shadwick, CSIRO/IMOS

Hobart 12/05/27 to Hobart 27/05/27 (16 days)

Voyage to maintain the Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) observatory operated by the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in the Subantarctic Zone southwest of Tasmania.

Up to 6 berths. Up to 24 hours available for station time in operational area.

-----------------------

Purpose of Supplementary Applications

Supplementary applications are invited for research, student training or equipment testing on board RV Investigator to maximise use of available capacity in the Primary Voyage Schedule.

Who can apply?

When a Supplementary call is open, applications for sea time on RV Investigator can be made by Australian researchers employed by an Australian research organisation and based in Australia. International collaborators and Australian researchers working overseas for Australian research organisations can be included as Co-Investigators on applications.

Applications can be made via our online application portal called MFP (Marine Facilities Planning). Each application must be made under one of five access Streams that encourage a broad range of research and national benefit.

To make a Supplementary Application in MFP:

  1. register for an account
  2. select 'New Application' >> 'Supplementary Application'
  3. select the voyage/s you are applying for
  4. complete and submit your application/s.

Further information

For enquiries about applying for sea time, please contact:

Additional information is available from the following documents:

Supplementary Applications typically require dedicated time and/or deployment of systems and may be multi-voyage. Due to their complexity and use of resources, Supplementary Applications undergo a Supplementary Scheduling Assessment and require integration into the Primary Voyage’s activities.

Application call details

The 2025 Supplementary Application call is OPEN.

Key dates

  • OPEN: 11 February 2025 at 12:01 am (AEDT)
  • CLOSE: 16 March 2025 at 11:59 pm (AEDT)*

* Close of application period has been extended by 5 days to provide applicants with additional time to complete their applications.

Supplementary Applications are now invited for fully funded grants of sea time on RV Investigator in the 2026-27 financial year. Several voyages in the schedule are available for Supplementary Applications.

Please refer to the 'Available voyages in 2026-27 schedule' summary below.

All applications are to be completed and submitted in our online application portal - MFP (Marine Facilities Planning) - by the application period close on 16 March 2025 at 11:59 pm (AEDT).

Late applications will not be accepted.

If you are interested in submitting a supplementary application, before applying, you should first discuss your project, including berths, ship time and equipment requirements, with the MNF. Please email mnf@csiro.au

Available voyages in 2026-27 schedule

The following voyages are open for Supplementary Applications:

-----------------------

IN2026_T03 - Transit: Hobart to Brisbane
MNF/CSIRO

Hobart 16/07/26 to Brisbane 21/07/26 (6 days)

Voyage to relocate RV Investigator in preparation for its next research voyage.

Up to 20 berths. Up to 24 hours of dedicated station and/or sampling time available.

-----------------------

IN2026_V05 - Next Generation of Ocean LiDAR for Australia
Prof Helen Pask, Macquarie University

Brisbane 30/08/26 to Brisbane 10/09/26 (12 days)

Project to advance development of a dual-use emerging technology, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for remote sensing of subsurface water properties in oceans and coastal waters.

Up to 3 berths. No dedicated sea time available; potential to undertake activities that fit in with Primary activities.

-----------------------

IN2027_V02 - Characterising the newly expanded Macquarie Island Marine Park
Dr Nicole Hill, University of Tasmania


Hobart 27/03/27 to Hobart 02/05/27 (37 days)

Project to fill key knowledge gaps identified by Parks Australia on the ocean environment, distribution and nature of seafloor features, and the habitats and natural values within the Macquarie Island MP.

Up to 2 berths. No dedicated sea time available; underway sampling only.

-----------------------

IN2027_V03 - IMOS Southern Ocean Time Series Strategic Partnership
Dr Elizabeth Shadwick, CSIRO/IMOS

Hobart 12/05/27 to Hobart 27/05/27 (16 days)

Voyage to maintain the Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) observatory operated by the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in the Subantarctic Zone southwest of Tasmania.

Up to 6 berths. Up to 24 hours available for station time in operational area.

-----------------------

Purpose of Supplementary Applications

Supplementary applications are invited for research, student training or equipment testing on board RV Investigator to maximise use of available capacity in the Primary Voyage Schedule.

Who can apply?

When a Supplementary call is open, applications for sea time on RV Investigator can be made by Australian researchers employed by an Australian research organisation and based in Australia. International collaborators and Australian researchers working overseas for Australian research organisations can be included as Co-Investigators on applications.

Applications can be made via our online application portal called MFP (Marine Facilities Planning). Each application must be made under one of five access Streams that encourage a broad range of research and national benefit.

To make a Supplementary Application in MFP:

  1. register for an account
  2. select 'New Application' >> 'Supplementary Application'
  3. select the voyage/s you are applying for
  4. complete and submit your application/s.

Further information

For enquiries about applying for sea time, please contact:

Additional information is available from the following documents:

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