Voyage Number
IN2026_T03
Voyage Dates
Voyage Location
Chief Scientist
Dr Robin Beaman AM
Institution
James Cook University
Voyage livestream
Follow our 7-day voyage as RV Investigator transits from Hobart to Brisbane, mapping the seafloor along the way.
Voyage summary
This is a transit voyage from Hobart to Brisbane relocate RV Investigator in preparation for its next research voyage IN2026_V04.
The MNF seeks to maximise the benefit and use of sea time whenever the vessel is at sea. Transit voyages are commonly used for vessel maintenance activities, education and outreach activities, and staff familiarisation and training. Science projects compatible with the voyage duration and track may also be included on transit voyages, noting that limited time is generally available during a transit for projects that require time on station.
During every voyage, underway data streams - ocean and atmosphere observations - are collected continuously by RV Investigator from an array of distributed sensors on board. These data streams are made freely accessible to all researchers and contribute to national and international programs, helping monitor and increase our understanding of the marine environment.
There are 5 projects on this voyage:
- Improving the national bathymetry grid from Hobart to Brisbane - Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity (Dr Robin Beaman, James Cook University): high resolution seabed mapping survey to improve a strip of low quality seabed data along eastern Australia and in the Tasman Sea basin.
- The influence of marine heatwaves on seafloor biodiversity of the Hunter Marine Park outer shelf (Dr Joel Williams, University of Tasmania): investigating how climate change and marine heatwaves will impact shelf rocky reefs in the Temperate East Marine Parks Network.
- Tracing carbon transfer from coastal vegetated habitats to the deep ocean (Dr Albert Pessarrodona, University of Western Australia): investigating coastal carbon cycle by quantifying the quantity, identity and sequestration potential of coastal-derived carbon in continental shelf sediments and the deep sea.
- Trials of Krill Observational Mooring for Benthic Investigation - KOMBI (Dr Rob King, Australian Antarctic Division): commissioning of a modified seafloor lander for monitoring Antarctic krill biomass and vocalising krill predators.
- Developing Jonathan: an on-vessel automated seabird detector (Carlie Devine and Dr Rich Little, CSIRO): collection of seabird counts in coastal and open ocean environments using an automated on-vessel seabird detector called ‘Jonathan’.
The voyage has 25 participants from 7 institutions and 21 ship crew from Cyan Vessel Operations.
Voyage outcomes
Voyage outcomes will be published approximately 3-6 months after the completion of the voyage.