MNF Operations 
Rolling Plan 2024

Covering schedules 2023–24 to 2027–28

Operated by CSIRO,
Australia’s National Science Agency,
on behalf of the nation



Acknowledgments 

The Marine National Facility (MNF) is a national facility for 
marine research funded by the Australian Government and 
owned and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.

This activity is funded by CSIRO and receives additional 
grant funding from the Australian Government through 
the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure 
Strategy (NCRIS).

Image (cover): Tauri Minogue



Contents

1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................22 Call for applications 2024.................................................................................................................43 Streams of access ...............................................................................................................................5Application assessment .....................................................................................................................................................5Stream 1 – Policy‑driven research ....................................................................................................................................6Stream 2 – Discipline‑driven proposals ...........................................................................................................................6Stream 3 – Strategic Partnerships .....................................................................................................................................7Stream 4 – Technology and Innovation proposals ..........................................................................................................8Stream 5 – User‑funded research ......................................................................................................................................94 MNF policy‑driven priorities for Stream 1 ...........................................................................10Stream 1 policy‑driven priorities for 2024 applications ...............................................................................................10Policy‑driven priority: Biodiversity discovery, baselines and monitoring and management effectiveness ............11MNF advice to Stream 1 applicants ................................................................................................................................145 Key research capabilities ..............................................................................................................166 Capability investment, technology and innovation .........................................................197 Operations calendar 2024–27.....................................................................................................208 Performance targets 2024–25.....................................................................................................22

1 Introduction 

The Marine National Facility (MNF) 
released its decadal strategy, MNF 2030, 
to ensure that access to Australia’s 
dedicated marine research capability 
is broad and equitable, and that the 
research it enables is aligned with 
Australia’s national research priorities 
and in support of its mission: 

To deliver safe, efficient and excellent 
marine and atmospheric research aligned 
with national priorities, to address 
Australia’s grand challenges for society, 
the economy and the environment.

The primary vehicle for MNF 2030 implementation is the 
annual MNF Operations Rolling Plan (the Plan) updated 
each year and released at the time of the annual call 
for applications.

The primary objective of the Plan is to help prospective 
users effectively engage in MNF processes, including 
developing and submitting applications for sea time that 
are aligned with Australia’s national research priorities 
(Figure 1).

The plan will outline for each schedule: 

• Streams for which applications are sought and any 
associated allocation targets to guide granting of sea 
time across the streams
• MNF policy‑driven priorities to define the focus for 
Stream 1 applications
• overview of operations, capability maintenance 
activities, and media, education and outreach 
events over the coming schedules
• annual operational performance targets. 




Figure 1: MNF Operations Rolling Plan in action 

Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
Figure depicting MNF Operations Rolling Plan 
MNF Operations 
Rolling Plan 

MNF policy‑driven priorities 

3–5‑year deployment schedules 

Annual Performance Targets 

Review MNF 
policy‑driven 
priorities 
with Government, 
Researchers, 
Industry 

Every 3 years 
(or more 
frequently 
if needed) 

Review and 
report on MNF 
performance 

Annual 
reporting 
cycle 

Call for 
applications 

Policy‑driven, 
discipline‑driven, 
technology and 
innovation‑driven 

Assess 
applications 

Develop 
schedule 

Annual 
application and 
scheduling cycle



2 Call for applications 2024

Applications in this round are for projects to be undertaken 
between July 2026 and June 2027. Allocation of sea time 
is subject to operational and funding availability.

In some cases, sea time additional to these days might 
be offered on another fit‑for‑purpose platform.

Image: Frederique Olivier



3Streams of access

Under theMNF 2030 strategy, the 
MNF introduced multiple Streamsof applications to better reflect the 
breadth of needs and demands of 
the Australian research communityand to encourage new users. 

In 2024, the MNF invites applications for sea time 
under five Streams: 

Stream 1: Policy‑driven researchStream 2: Discipline‑driven proposalsStream 3: Strategic PartnershipsStream 4: Technology and Innovation proposalsStream 5: User‑funded research

Application assessment

All applications, irrespective of Stream, are assessed 
against the same two merit principles: 

•Research Quality (assessed by the 
MNF Research Advisory Committee)
•Research Benefit (assessed by the 
MNF National Benefit Advisory Committee). 
The MNF Steering Committee will take advice from the 
two advisory committees and ultimately strike a balance 
across the Streams for access to MNF capabilities for 
each schedule. 

Full details of the MNF assessment criteria and process, 
and guidance for filling out applications, can be found at 
csiro.au/about/facilities‑collections/MNF/Apply‑for‑sea‑time. 

Figure depicting Annual MNF Operation Rolling Plan
12345 
Policy‑driven Discipline‑StrategicTechnologyUser‑fundedresearchdrivenPartnershipsand Innovation researchproposalsproposals

Figure depicting Annual MNF Operation Rolling Plan
Figure depicting Annual MNF Operation Rolling Plan

Stream 1 – Policy‑driven research 

Stream 1 was created to address critical policy needs for 
Australia. Accordingly, Stream 1 is for research projects 
that directly address a Policy‑driven Priority (policy‑driven 
priorities are articulated in this plan in section 4).

Successful projects in this Stream will directly inform and 
influence important public policies and programs, whilst 
still demonstrating great strength in research quality.

It is intended to promote a co-conception/co‑design 
approach to the development of project proposals. 
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have 
engaged the end‑user and worked with them to ensure 
the project will deliver against their needs to fill gaps in 
the knowledge base relevant to those needs.

In choosing to apply for Stream 1, you must make explicit 
what is possible (and not possible) for you to deliver, what 
outputs from your research will be used and how, how 
uptake will be facilitated, and the timeframe for delivery 
of benefits to nominated end‑users.

With the primary objective of MNF 2030 being to 
facilitate research that delivers impact to areas of priority 
for government and the nation, the MNF Steering 
Committee has set an aspirational target for Stream 1 to 
encourage uptake of this dedicated avenue for sea‑time 
on RV Investigator by the research community, and 
participation of end‑users.

Subject to merit assessment (Research Quality and Research 
Benefit), the MNF Steering Committee will make available 
up to 40 per cent of available days in the 2026–27 schedule 
noting that this target is not intended to be prescriptive 
and whether it is achieved will depend on the response 
from the research community and the quality of the 
proposals received.

The Policy foci for Stream 1 may change year‑on‑year, 
and applicants are expected to address the priority 
areas. If you are intending to apply for Stream 1 access 
in 2026–27 you are strongly encouraged to read 
Section 4 of this plan and approach the end‑users at 
an early stage of proposal development. 

Stream 2 – Discipline‑driven 
proposals 

Stream 2 is to advance scientific knowledge and promote 
Australia’s science excellence. Accordingly, Stream 2 is 
for research projects that address important disciplinary, 
or multi‑disciplinary, research questions of national or 
international standing that do not directly address priorities 
specified in other Streams but are directly or indirectly in 
Australia’s national interest.

Successful projects in Stream 2 are expected to significantly 
advance the understanding of key features or processes 
in the ocean or atmosphere or Earth system, including 
human interactions.

Research undertaken through this Stream must be relevant 
to Australia or address key questions that are in Australia’s 
national interest. Applicants should identify the national 
information need, policy area, or public interests that their 
research is expected to inform, whether directly or through 
contributions to global knowledge on which Australia 
draws for its national interests.

You should identify agencies or sectors, including any 
relevant international research program in which Australia 
participates, which you expect to benefit from the research 
products you will produce. Specific links between your 
research and priorities as identified in national strategies 
(which may include but are not limited to the Stream 1 
Policy‑driven Priorities in section 4) should be identified.

Frontier/fundamental/basic research proposals fall under 
Stream 2. While the benefit delivered and the application of 
outputs from these types of proposals may be more difficult 
to articulate, the applicant should still identify potential 
next and end‑users and justify outputs. These proposals 
will need to be highly innovative and have objectives that, 
if achieved, may radically change the way we think about 
something important. Proponents must articulate how the 
results may potentially influence changes to society, the 
economy or the environment if hypotheses are proven.

If you are intending to apply for Stream 2 access in 
2026–27 you are strongly encouraged to include 
evidence of how your discipline‑driven research 
will be useful for your end‑users.



Stream 3 – Strategic Partnerships 

Stream 3 was created to support publicly funded national 
programs that rely on regular access to MNF capabilities 
to support data and sample collection and for which 
deployment of a national research facility is appropriate. 
It is expected that Stream 3 research will involve recurrent 
deployments over multiple years through formal 
partnership arrangements between the MNF and other 
publicly funded programs.

Stream 3 research will need to have demonstrably credible 
prospects of delivering the outcomes nominated by partner 
programs directly reflecting the national interests for which 
they were funded.

Prospective partners should discuss their research 
requirements with the MNF at an early stage and ahead of 
merit assessment, to verify that the research is appropriate 
for a partnership arrangement with the MNF. Part of the 
consideration will be the degree of reliance by the program 
on MNF capabilities.

Stream 3 partnership agreements will be reviewed against 
delivered benefits and merit criteria every three to five years.

A notional cap of 20 per cent of total available days for 
the 2026–27 application round will apply to Strategic 
Partnerships. While this cap has some flexibility to 
accommodate variability in demand from schedule to 
schedule, it is intended to ensure that such national 
programs do not limit access options to the broader 
science community.

If you are intending to apply for Stream 3 access in 
2026–27 you are strongly encouraged to contact the 
MNF Group Leader, Engagement and Risk for an initial 
discussion on eligibility and feasibility discussion: 

Matt Kimber
MNF Group Leader, Engagement and Risk
+61 3 6232 5186
matt.kimber@csiro.au

Image: David Dieckfoss



Stream 4 – Technology and 
Innovation proposals 

Stream 4 was created to promote development and 
innovation in marine research and industry technology.

This Stream is for projects that propose to undertake 
development and testing of technology that will advance 
Australia’s capability or capacity for research and 
understanding of its marine environment, atmosphere, 
or the Earth System, and may include societal dimensions.

Successful projects in this Stream will directly address areas 
in which development of new technologies or improvement 
of existing technologies will enhance the collection or 
delivery of research and data or build on Australia’s 
reputation for innovation through contribution to marine 
industries of national interest.

Stream 4 proposals should clearly identify the technological 
opportunity that is being addressed and demonstrate 
how delivering the proposed technology innovation or 
improvement will be in Australia’s national interest.

You must demonstrate the Technology Readiness Level 
of your project to allow for an assessment of the risk 
associated with approving your project, noting that projects 
that have not reached TRL 4 (Trial or Validated in Laboratory) 
would generally not be considered for granting of sea time 
on RV Investigator.

You should discuss your technology research with 
those who you expect to use the resulting technology 
improvements or innovations and verify that the research is 
likely to fill important technology gaps in their operations, 
whether in research, government or industry. You also 
should discuss how your results will be applied to develop 
or improve new research products and/or technologies for 
future use. 

The MNF may seek to incorporate successful Stream 4 
applications into a range of ship activities, such as a partner 
project on a multi-project voyage, or within MNF trial and 
calibrations activities to ensure efficient and effective use 
of the platform.

If you are intending to apply for Stream 4 access in 
2026–27 you are strongly encouraged to contact 
the MNF Group Leader, Engagement and Risk for 
an initial operational feasibility discussion: 

Matt Kimber
MNF Group Leader, Engagement and Risk
+61 3 6232 5186
matt.kimber@csiro.au

Image: Frederique Olivier



Stream 5 – User‑funded research 

Stream 5 applies to user‑funded applicants to support 
industry and other entities that require MNF capabilities 
and that deliver data and research of national interest.

Projects under this Stream will be funded by the applicant, 
or supporting end‑users, and will be considered for MNF 
support only if it is demonstrated in advance that the 
proposed work relies on specific capabilities of the MNF 
that are not reasonably available otherwise in Australia.

Ahead of submitting your proposal for merit assessment, 
you will need to satisfy the MNF that the research depends 
on the use of RV Investigator and could not be done from 
a reasonable available alternative platform and that you 
have the funding to pay for the use of RV Investigator 
to the extent agreed with the MNF.

The work will need to be of a research nature, meet MNF 
research quality expectations, and be demonstrably in 
Australia’s national interest, directly or indirectly.

If you are intending to apply for Stream 5 access in 
2026–27 you are strongly encouraged to contact the 
MNF for an initial eligibility and feasibility discussion: 

Sam Hinton
MNF Ship Management Program Director 
+61 3 6232 5328
sam.hinton@csiro.au

Image: Frederique Olivier



4 MNF policy‑driven priorities 
for Stream 1 

Stream 1 policy‑driven priorities for 2024 applications 

Stream 1 is for access to sea time on RV Investigator for 
research projects that directly address the Policy‑driven 
priorities specified in MNF Operations Rolling Plans.

Successful Stream 1 projects are expected to directly 
inform and influence critical public policies and programs.

This Stream seeks to promote a co‑design approach to 
the development of project proposals. Proponents must 
demonstrate that they have engaged relevant end‑users 
and worked with them to ensure the project will deliver 
against their needs and will fill gaps in the knowledge 
base relevant to those needs.

Stream 1 priorities for the 2024 Primary Application call, 
for voyages to be undertaken between July 2026 and June 
2027, are outlined in the following pages.

Stream 1 priorities are responsive to government policy 
and plans. They are selected from different policy domains 
to address key data and science gaps critical to supporting 
Australia’s marine research impact economically, 
environmentally and socially. Supporting end-users in Parks 
Australia continues to be a research priority area. 

Recognising the on-going development of government 
policies and plans, for the 2024 call, applicants could 
also choose to address other government policy-driven 
priorities. This will require you to identify the policy driver 
and an appropriate end-user with which to co-design the 
project, including identifying the pathways to impact. 

Image: Linda Gaskell



POLICY‑DRIVEN PRIORITY: 
Biodiversity discovery, baselines and monitoring 
and management effectiveness 

Background 

The Australian Government has established 62 marine 
parks around the country to help conserve marine habitats 
and the marine species that live within and rely on 
these habitats.

Parks Australia manages 60 of these parks. Covering 
3.8 million square kilometres or 43 per cent of our oceans, 
Australian Marine Parks make up one of the largest 
networks of marine protected areas in the world.

Located in Commonwealth Waters – those over 5.5 km 
from the coast – they encompass waters that are largely 
remote and deep – over 85 per cent of the parks are 
deeper than 100 m.

Parks Australia’s ability to manage marine parks is impacted 
by the low levels of knowledge of many of them.

To undertake research in many Australian Marine Parks 
therefore requires a well‑equipped blue‑water research 
vessel capable of extended voyages, like RV Investigator.

Areas of focus 

Under Stream 1, the MNF invites applications for sea time 
to undertake – between July 2026 and June 2027 – research 
projects that explicitly address areas that are a priority for 
the management and protection of Australian Marine Parks 
and are dependent on the multidisciplinary blue‑water 
research capabilities provided by the MNF.

Priorities to support evidence‑based 
adaptive management of, and 
decision making for, Australian Marine 
Parks include: 

• research that addresses policy priorities, including: 
– Assess vulnerability and risks regarding climate 
change-related impacts and pressures from new 
ocean industries.
– Inform the 2028 reviews of management plans.
– Embed First Nations’ knowledge in management.



• improve understanding of the type and distribution 
of seafloor features and associated biodiversity 
(habitats, associated communities and species) 
in Australian Marine Parks subject to higher levels 
of pressures in the past, now or expected in the 
foreseeable future.
• improve understanding of the effects of pressures and 
drivers on benthic habitats and associated communities 
and species within Australian Marine Parks, and ways to 
mitigate impacts of pressures on, or build resilience of, 
these habitats and species.
• improve understanding of species ecology and 
population dynamics for threatened species which 
reside or have breeding or feeding aggregation areas 
in Australian Marine Parks.




Partnerships with Parks Australia for 
Stream 1 projects will require: 

• Co‑design of projects with Parks Australia – genuine 
co‑design is encouraged to target priorities of 
importance to Australian Marine Park managers and 
to ensure that research proposed aligns with activities 
allowed within the parks (some extractive and/or 
destructive methods may not be permitted in Australian 
Marine Park areas).
• Collaboration among researchers – ideally individual 
proposals will include several priorities for Parks 
Australia and involve multiple research groups.
• Multidisciplinary needs – Primary and supplementary 
projects that address multiple needs within the same 
Park are encouraged as well as linkages between 
separate projects. This may include oceanographic 
process data and bathymetry mapping being combined 
with species specific data collection and habitat/species 
distribution modelling.
• End‑user specific outputs/deliverables – ideally reports 
will be lodged with Parks Australia at the conclusion 
of the research project and research highlight articles 
and imagery for Australian Marine Park websites and 
communication products will be collaborative outcomes 
of the project. Please note that it is an expectation 
that media releases and social media articles are to be 
approved by Parks Australia prior to release.
• Resources/funding – it is expected that funding to 
support activities and post‑voyage analysis and reporting 
comes primarily from research partners in the form 
of in‑kind or cash contributions. Parks Australia may 
contribute a small amount of funding towards outputs 
that support park management but if a project is reliant 
on any funding contribution from Parks Australia, it must 
be agreed by their Branch Head prior to submission of 
the MNF application.
• Indigenous engagement – Parks Australia’s Indigenous 
engagement program recognises and respects the 
ongoing cultural rights and responsibilities of Indigenous 
people to care for sea country and support social, 
cultural and economic benefits for Traditional Owners. 
As such, early in planning, Parks Australia engages 
with relevant Indigenous Corporations that represent. 
Traditional Owners when the research will occur in 
Sea Country in Australian Marine Parks. Whenever 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are engaged 
on research it is also critical their rights to Indigenous 
Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) be respected, 
including by ensuring that Indigenous Knowledge is 
only recorded, used or shared with the free, prior and 
informed consent of Traditional Owners.
• Permits – An authorisation is required to undertake 
research in Australian Marine Parks. Authorisation 
applications generally take eight weeks to assess 
so applications must be submitted within a suitable 
timeframe and will be the responsibility of the 
Principal Investigator of the project.




Paths to impact 

Science and data delivered through the applications should 
directly inform any of the following: 

• digital catalogue of natural values within Australian 
Marine Parks, e.g., Australian Marine Parks Science Atlas
• assessment of environmental impacts of activities and 
pressures within Australian Marine Parks
• evidence about effectiveness of zoning and 
management arrangements
• decadal reviews of management plans for Australian 
Marine Parks
• strategic prioritisation of investment in management 
and further research.


Further information 

Australian Marine Parks Management Plans 
are available at: parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/
management/plans/ 

Australian Marine Park Science plans are planned 
for release in early 2024, providing further details 
of science priorities: parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/
science/

Dave Logan 
david.logan@dcceew.gov.au 
+61 2 6208 2917 

Interested in applying? 

The MNF will hold a Q&A session in 2024, to bring 
together interested scientists and relevant end‑users 
to discuss research needs and opportunities. If you are 
interested in undertaking research that addresses the 
priority above and are planning to apply for sea time 
on RV Investigator, you are strongly encouraged to 
attend this session.

Please register your interest at mnf@csiro.au 

Keep up to date with MNF news and announcements 
by subscribing to the MNF mailing list: csiro.au/
about/facilities-collections/MNF/About/Subscribe



MNF advice to Stream 1 applicants 

MNF policy‑driven priorities are set through consultation 
with key government and industry end‑users to define 
critical needs for data, knowledge and research, such as: 

• big‑picture research questions to underpin national 
policy development
• a focus on an oceanic region to support sustainable 
growth of new and emerging industries
• contributions to global research programs of strategic 
national importance
• establishment of baselines and ongoing monitoring to 
directly inform government programs and regulation.


The objective of Stream 1 access is to catalyse the co‑design 
of large, multidisciplinary high‑impact projects that 
deliver research clearly aligned with national priorities. 
Accordingly, applications for Stream 1 access will need 
to ensure that they: 

• provide strong evidence of project co‑design with the 
end‑user
• clearly demonstrate the multidisciplinarity of the 
proposed research
• clearly articulate the rationale for location‑based or 
regionally‑focused proposals
• clearly articulate the impact pathway of the research 
to the end‑user
• clearly articulate plans for Indigenous engagement in 
the project design if the proposal includes research 
on sea country.




5 Key research capabilities 

Through access to RV Investigator’s 
advanced multidisciplinary scientific 
equipment and instrumentation, 
along with expert operational and 
technical support personnel, MNF can 
flexibly and safely cater for diverse 
and multi‑disciplinary oceanographic, 
geological and atmospheric 
research needs. 

The MNF Capability Prospectus provides and overview of 
available MNF vessel, equipment and instruments, technical 
expertise and data capability.

The Prospectus provides a valuable planning tool and 
resource for prospective and current ship users. It includes 
an overview of available capabilities and equipment within 
the main science disciplines of atmospheric, biological, 
geoscience and oceanographic research. It also has 
useful detail about vessel information technology (IT) 
and data capabilities.

The MNF Capability Prospectus is available at 
csiro.au/about/facilities-collections/MNF/Research-
vessel‑Equipment-Data/MNF-Capability-Prospectus. 



Key research support currently includes:

• A team of dedicated, highly skilled and experienced 
hydrochemists, geophysical and survey mapping experts, 
instrumentation, calibration and engineered systems 
experts, data acquisition and processing and information 
and data centre staff to ensure sample, mapping, 
technical services and data integrity is delivered from 
collection through to analysis and data processing.
• A suite of policies and information to ensure users are 
informed of their obligations, including the collection 
and management of samples and data, use of MNF 
supplied resources and acknowledging MNF support, 
and health, safety and wellbeing at sea.


 

Access to MNF’s unique and advanced capabilities and 
expert support personnel is a significant investment in 
marine science for the benefit of the nation and a key 
principle remains MNF’s commitment to continually 
evolving as new equipment is added and technology 
is upgraded.

Image: Frederique Olivier



6 Capability investment, 
technology and innovation 

The MNF is responsible for maintaining 
and upgrading its key research 
capabilities, and for expanding 
capabilities in response to new and 
emerging technologies and needs. 
The MNF also offers significant 
opportunities for advancing technology 
development for novel marine 
research systems and, more broadly, 
technological solutions that can 
support the growing blue economy.

To ensure the MNF keeps pace with emerging capabilities, 
technologies and key research needs, and that it plays an 
active role in promoting and adopting marine technology 
innovation, it has:

• provided a dedicated technology and innovation access 
Stream (Stream 4) to foster the development of new 
marine technologies and innovation in marine systems
• developed a 25‑year capability investment framework 
to identify, prioritise and review MNF capital investment 
on key research capabilities
• instigated a Technology and Innovation Advisory 
Group (TIAG), with membership from the research and 
technology development communities, to advise MNF 
on strategic capability investment.


Each of these activities will ensure the MNF continues 
to provide capability and equipment that best fits the 
needs of Australia’s marine and atmosphere research 
users and is interoperable across the national research 
fleet where possible.

Image: Frederique Olivier



7 Operations calendar 
2024–27

The Operations Calendar for 2023–28 provided below is for general guidance 
only and is current only at time of publication of this document. 

Prospective ship users should use the published Voyage Schedules for their application planning. 
These are available from MFP, our online application and voyage planning portal: mfp.csiro.au/programme. 

MNF operations calendar 2023-28
IN
_V
IN
_T
IN
_T
IN_V
MULTIYEARLMP IN_V
IN_VIN_V
MULTIYEARIN_V
IN_V
LMPLMPPPPPLMPINLMPLMPIN_V
DRY DOCK  MIDLIFE REFITMIDLIFE REFITTRIALSLMP 
– 
RV InvestigatorOperations – 
RV InvestigatorOperations – 
RV Investigator2025–262023–242024–25LMP= long maintenance period 
TC= trial and calibration voyagePP= port periodOperations – 
RV Investigator2026–27Operations – 
RV Investigator2027–28JULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUN

8 Performance targets 
2024–25

The strategic objectives and key actions under each of 
the strategic pillars in MNF 2030 are intended to keep us 
on course to fulfil our mission to facilitate safe, efficient 
and excellent marine and atmospheric research that 
is well aligned with strategic priorities and addresses 
Australia’s grand challenges for society, the economy 
and the environment.

Alongside those, and to check our progress along the way, 
we will monitor and report on key operational performance 
targets under each pillar.

Operational performance targets for 2024–25 are listed below. 

PILLAR

MEASURES

TARGETS FOR 2024–25

Protecting our people 
and the environment

Demonstrated by an increased focus on prevention 
through lead indicators, such as hazard reporting 
and compliance with timeframes for incident 
reporting, investigation and closure

• 10 per cent increase in hazard reporting
• 98 per cent of incidents closed within timeframe


Demonstrated by a decrease in MNF 
environmental footprint

• Removal of single use plastics from 
MNF procurement


Maximum impact

Demonstrated by reaching threshold rates 
of successful usage

• Minimum of 90 per cent of planned science days 
for the 2024–25 voyage schedule successfully 
delivered


Demonstrated by the level of allocation to 
meritorious research directly addressing identified 
policy‑driven priorities (Stream 1)

• At least 30 per cent of sea time allocated 
to Stream 1 projects


Broad access

Demonstrated by level and diversity of demand

• Applications for sea time under at least 3 of the 5 
Streams utilised in each call 


Streamlined operations 
and optimal use

Demonstrated by increased streamlining of processes 
and coordination across facilities

• Online MFP portal for applications and voyage 
planning is being utilised for all aspects of 
application, planning and delivery cycle


Advanced capabilities 
and innovation

Demonstrated by progress towards enhancing 
science capabilities on RV Investigator to meet 
ongoing and emerging research needs

• Hold inaugural TIAG meeting with research 
community representatives present


Training future 
generations

Demonstrated through delivery and evaluation 
of education and training programs and through 
extension of offerings to include seagoing 
technical training

• Deliver MNF Education and Training Strategy


Connecting with 
Australians and 
the world

Demonstrated by coverage of key science activities

• At least two high‑profile voyages successfully 
promoted through multiple channels


Demonstrated by engagement with user community

• Undertake an annual Stakeholder Survey to seek 
feedback on the platform and inform future needs








Image: Frederique Olivier



Contact us

1300 363 400
csiro.au/contact
csiro.au

For further information

Marine National Facility general enquiries

+61 3 6232 5222

mnf@csiro.au 

mnf.csiro.au

As Australia’s national science 
agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest 
challenges through innovative 
science and technology.

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for everyone.