Ship time funding for 2026

One of SWERVE's key objectives is to increase access to ship-time opportunities for researchers and technicians. This objective is the focus of the Ship Time Funding initiative. By coordinating and pooling Sweden’s research vessel capacity, SWERVE enables more efficient use of the infrastructure – and makes it accessible to more users. 

Read the reports from recent expeditions with researchers from Stockholm University who received funding in the last application round:

Francisco Nascimento on KBV 181 in the Bothnian Bay

As the world turns to the sea for critical minerals needed in the green transition, understanding the environmental risks of seabed mining becomes urgent. On the first SWERVE expedition, Francisco Nascimento and his team worked long days aboard KBV 181 to collect baseline data on biodiversity and ecosystem processes before mining begins. 

Clare Bradshaw on R/V Electra in the southern Baltic Sea

Tracking Change Beneath the Waves. What happens to the seafloor when trawling stops? The recent SWERVE funded research cruise on R/V Electra set out to find out. Focusing on changes in the southern Baltic Sea since the 2019 trawling ban. By repeating earlier surveys, Clare Bradshaw’s team gathered data on sediments and benthic life to track ecosystem recovery.

The application process

The funds apply to research on one of five large Swedish research vessels; Ocean Surveyor, KBV181, Svea, Skagerak and Electra.

Full information about the application process and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Swerve webbsite or you can also contact Lovisa Thoursie (lovisa.thoursie@gu.se) if you have any questions. 

Extended deadline for Ship Time Application to the 11th of August, 2025

About SWERVE

The Swedish Research Vessel Infrastructure of Marine Research (SWERVE) is a Swedish National Infrastructure funded by the Swedish Research Council. SWERVE aims to provide enhanced access to vessel and data infrastructure for Swedish marine researchers and to support the training of a national network of marine technicians.