Until the 15^th of January marine researchers at European universities of institutes can express their interest in funded ship time onboard of numerous European research vessels.

The EUROFLEETS FP-7 project ‘Towards an alliance of European research fleets’ started in September 2009. The 24 partners (marine research institutes, universities and private companies) from 16 European countries want to promote and realize a more efficient use of European research vessels. EUROFLEETS will a.o. also cope with the development of environmental standards for research vessels, new instruments for planning ship time and hardware for underwater robots (see also: former news item).

The project now offers fully sponsored ship time for research that will be performed in the period 2011-2013. The call is open for all marine scientists working at European universities and institutes. Boarding will be possible on numerous vessels: global/ocean going vessels as well as regional vessels (except for those active in the applicants home country).

Completed ‘expression of interest’-forms can be send at the latest till the 15th of January 2010 to eurofleets@awi.de. A more complete application request follows thereafter.

More information is available in the enclosed folder or on www.eurofleets.eu/rvs.html.