Applications for ship time require the submission of cruise proposals. When compiling a cruise proposal, applicants must account for a lead time until realization of one to four years, depending on the size of the vessel. Furthermore, for logistical reasons, the research vessels have specific large-scale working areas, which must also be considered in the planning.
Detailed instructions on compiling research cruise proposals are provided in the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions.
Cruise proposals are to be submitted via this portal's online submission system. To do so, you must register for the system and log in on the ‘Submission’ page. To submit a proposal in the system, you must fill in project data (1.0 Cover Page), upload a map of the proposed working area as a JPG, PNG or GIF (with a maximum resolution of 600 px x 600 px and maximum file size of 2 MB), and upload the complete cruise proposal document as a PDF file.
The submission system is open.
The Review Panel German Research Vessels meets twice a year in winter (January/February) and summer (June/July). If a cruise proposal should be discussed on a specific GPF meeting, please take a lead time for submission of approx. 5 months into account for regular cruise proposals. Cruise proposals that do not undergo external review (preregistered cruises in context with coordinated programs, cruises financed by other departments than the BMBF, equipment tests, and educational cruises) should be submitted with a lead time of at least 3 months.
Desired GPF meeting for discussion of a cruise proposal | Recommended latest submissions date of regular cruise proposals | Recommended latest submission date of cruise proposals that do not undergo external review |
Winter (January/February) | By July of the preceding year | By September of the preceding year |
Summer (June/July) | By January of the same year | By March of the same year |
All proponents are kindly requested to utilize the flexible year-round standing open call, and to submit, if feasible, completed cruise proposals also distinctly earlier than at the submission dates listed above.
The submission system has been open permanently since December 2021. Next planned maintenance closure: December 05, 2023. Please note: During maintenance, all proposals in "work" status that are not finally submitted will be deleted.