International Research Ship Operators' Meeting


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Meeting Minutes

Reports

Research ships info


Latest News
22nd ISOM, 19 - 23 January 2009, NIWA, Wellington, New Zealand
7th INMARTECH, 7 - 10 October 2008, Ifremer, Toulon, France
Code of Conduct for Marine Scientific Research Vessels - see Reports
Underwater Sound and Marine Life - Workshop Report - see Reports



The International Research Ship Operators' Meeting (ISOM) was founded in 1986, and is an informal annual meeting (September/October) of managers of ocean research ship fleets for the purpose of discussing subjects and solving problems of mutual interest. ISOM is attended voluntarily and is hosted by and in participating countries.

ISOM has close links with, and attendance from, the European Commission and UNOLS and welcomes links with other like bodies.

The purpose of ISOM through its discussions is to assist the marine scientific community in the provision of ever better support services for research at sea.

Main topics and objectives of the annual agenda are:

  • The exchange of ship time between countries
  • Co-operation in the support of marine research
  • Developments in national research fleets

This exchange of knowledge and experience at a strategic and technical level is of considerable importance in an era of decreasing budgets, whilst the requirement for knowledge of the coastal seas and oceans and their relationship with mankind is rapidly increasing.

ISOM initiates projects of common interest to its members. For example it has contributed to the founding of the OCEANIC research ships database at the University of Delaware. The database holds information on research ship characteristics and capabilities as well as cruise schedules; this will assist marine scientists to find appropriate platforms for their research world-wide. ISOM also sponsors workshops and working groups: for example the biannual International Marine Technicians' Workshops (INMARTECH).

 Proceedings of INMARTECH workshops:

 ISOM Chair:
    Per Wilhelm Nieuwejaar
    Institute of Marine Research
    Boks 1870 Nordnes
    N-5817 Bergen
    Norway
    Call: +47 55 23 68 49
    Fax: +47 55 23 85 32
    GSM: +47 91 31 74 65
    Email: pern@imr.no
    URL: www.imr.no
 ISOM Vice-Chair:
    Fred Smits
    National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd.
    P.O. box 14901
    310 Evans Bay Parade
    Greta Point
    Wellington
    New Zealand
    Call: +6 443860379
    Fax: +6 443861585
    GSM: +6 421300727



webmaster: dmg@nioz.nl