Since the successful Third Eurofleets General Assembly held in Brussels on 9 December 2025, Eurofleets continues to strengthen its network of European marine research infrastructure with the welcoming of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
AFBI, based in Northern Ireland, brings further expertise and capability to the Eurofleets community. As part of its expanding contribution to marine science, AFBI has recently launched its new research vessel, the RV Jocelyn Bell Burnell, being built at the Astilleros Armón shipyard in Vigo, Spain. Named in honour of the pioneering astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and supported by significant investment from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), this state-of-the-art vessel will enhance AFBI’s capacity for fisheries, oceanographic and ecosystem research.
The addition of AFBI marks a key moment in the continued development of Eurofleets’ network, reinforcing our shared goals of advancing marine science, enabling transnational access, and promoting sustainable use of research infrastructure across Europe.
Eurofleets members and partners are now preparing for the Fourth General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Brussels on 6 March 2026 at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). This meeting will facilitate key discussions on the organisation’s strategic priorities, membership developments and collaborative activities to maximise the scientific impact of the distributed European research fleet.
Further details about the Fourth General Assembly to follow. In the meantime, we invite all stakeholders to engage with Eurofleets as we continue to build a strong, cooperative future for marine research in Europe.
