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European Research Vessel Working Group Kicks Off

The EMB Working Group on "Next Generation European Research Vessels" formally kicked off activities on 15-16 May 2018 at a meeting kindly hosted by Chair Per Nieuwjaar at the Havforskningsinstituttet (Institute of Marine Research, IMR) in Bergen, Norway. This activity is a collaboration with the European Research Vessel Operators (ERVO), who are also a former Marine Board panel.

In March 2007, the Marine Board - ESF Position Paper 10 European Ocean Research Fleets – Towards a Common Strategy and Enhanced Use" was published. This Position Paper included an inventory and description of the existing fleets, and recommendations on their enhanced use and management at pan-European level. Ten years on, the research landscape has evolved and there have been significant technological advancements adding new methods for autonomous sampling and observing our ocean. This also includes the Deep Sea and Polar frontiers. It is therefore timely and opportune for a EMB Working Group to produce an updated foresight report on European Research Vessels, assessing the progress made towards collaboration and interoperability and taking into account the latest technology and emerging areas of activity.

You can find more information on the Working Group and it's activities here. A position paper is expected to be published in 2019.