Abstract | EUROFLEETS+ brings together a significant group of key marine research actors (in particular research vessel operators) in Europe,
North America and Oceania – 42 marine institutes, universities, foundations and SMEs from 24 countries. The project facilitates open free of charge access to an integrated and advanced research vessel fleet, designed to meet the evolving and challenging needs of the user community. European and international researchers from academia and industry can apply for several access programmes, through a single-entry system. EUROFLEETS+ prioritises support for research on sustainable, clean and healthy oceans, linking with existing ocean observation infrastructures, and it supports innovation through working closely with industry. The project enables access to a unique fleet of 27 state-of-the-art research vessels from European and international partners. Through competitive Calls, researchers are able to access the entire North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black Sea,
North Sea, Baltic Sea, Pacific Southern Ocean and Ross Sea. In addition to ship time, researchers will also have access to new AUVs and ROVs. A unique portable telepresence system will enable remote access by researchers and diverse end users including the public; a first for Europe. In addition to comprehensive transnational access activities, the project will undertake joint research in challenging and highly relevant areas, including deep ocean research and exploration, data management, and enabling future virtual access. EUROFLEETS+ has an open data management strategy and includes several activities to ensure that the research data collected during the funded cruises, and the en-route data collected by the vessels
are made widely available in line with FAIR and Open Research Data principles. The metadata and data will be published on the EVIOR platform (European Virtual Infrastructure in Ocean Research – embedded in EEROFLEETS+ website), in cooperation and making use of SeaDataNet and EMODnet.
One element in the Data Management Workflow is advancing the shipboard data management system (EARS) for registering underway and events data and (near) real-time transfer to shore and EVIOR. |