KBIN-OD Natuurlijk Milieu (MUMM) and VLIZ co-ordinate the operations of the research vessels BELGICA and SIMON STEVIN in order to maximise their availability to the marine science community. Therefore MUMM and VLIZ each year launch a common call for ship time for the following year.

With the 'Super Integration Call' and the 'Embarked equipment Call' the EU FP7 project offers ship-time on board of EUROFLEETS-research vessels and the use of large marine equipment. The RV Simon Stevin is operational within EUROFLEETS2.

In 2012, the VLIZ Annual Report was thoroughly redesigned: next to a printed report, in which a selection of the most striking new initiatives and highlights are shown, the more detailed figures and extensive information on the numerous internal and external projects are made available in a digital annex. We hope you enjoy reading the first Annual report 'new style'!

On the 3rd of May, 2013, the handover of the RV Zeeleeuw to the Republic of Kenya became a fact. The oceanographic research vessel of the Flemish Government will now sail under the Kenyan flag and will be named RV Mtafiti, Swahili for ‘researcher’. An appropriate name, since RV Zeeleeuw has served Belgian and international marine researchers in the southern bight of the North Sea, for thirteen...

This expo - from 15 May till 9 June in Fort Napoleon, Oostende - shows a selection of the art works created by the students of the Visual Arts Academy in Ghent after having followed workshops given by marine scientists from the University of Ghent and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). In the week before the World Ocean Day we organise several ocean science ateliers (for schools) and evening...

The introduction of non-indigenous animals and plants are a hot topic for policy makers. Intentionally or unintentionally imported foreign organisms can have a big impact on the ecosystem and its functioning. Around this theme and with a focus on the North East Atlantic Ocean, ILVO, VLIZ, MUMM and UGent organize a conference on 20-22 november 2013 in Ostend. Not to be missed!

MARID stands for 'Marine and River Dune Dynamics', a series of international conferences on the research and expertise exchange on seabed form structures, geomorphology, sedimentology and hydrodynamics in the marine environment and rivers. The 4 th editions of the conference is held the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium), on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 April 2013, with a field trip on Wednesday 17...

With 303 participants this thirtheenth edition of the VLIZ Young Marine Scientists Day - held on Friday 15 February in KHBO, Bruges - was a top event! The floor was given to near a hundred young researchers to show their scientific results, covering the full range of marine disciplines. The public voted the best speaker and poster. The prizes of the VLIZ Thesis Awards and the North Sea Award were...

For assistance in the implementation of the SPINCAM project, aiming to establish an Integrated Coastal Area Management indicator framework in each country of the Southeast Pacific region (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru). The assistent is based in the Paris office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

What are the most important recent and ongoing Marine Biotechnology research projects and initiatives? What is the status of the future Europese Research Area (ERA-NET) in MARINEBIOTECH? What are the critical needs, gaps and challenges to inform future Marine Biotechnology policy and coordination efforts? During the final conference of the project CSA MARINEBIOTECH (Brussels, 11-12 March 2013) all...

With a total of 80 abstracts submitted, we are sure the VLIZ young scientists' day 2013 on Friday 15 February is again a must to attend in order to know the latest marine research in our region. Registration is open now. NEW: this year the young scientists' day is preceded on Thursday afternoon (14 February) by the VLIZ mini-symposium 'Marine Observations in the Southern Bight of the North Sea '...

From now on it is a piece of cake to locate Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and marine geographic names worldwide by means of the website Marineregions.org.

The 'VLIZ Young Marine Scientists' Day' 2013 invites all marine scientists in Flanders and around. On Friday 15 February you can discover the quality, diversity and relevance of the multidsiciplinaire marine research in Bruges. Submit your abstract by 14 December 2012 and present your research in a clear, concise and attractive way.

Are you or your research team the next laureat of the ‘VLIZ North Sea Award’? Subscriptions are accepted until the 30th of November 2012.

Did you recently graduate at a Flemish university or technical college (HOBU-type)? Is your thesis on a marine or coastal subject and are you proud on it? Then you should apply for the VLIZ Thesis Awards for Marine Sciences 2011! Subscribing is possible before the 30th of November 2012.

Several Belgians were awarded during the second open call "Regional 2-2011" within the FP7-Eurofleets project. In this call European marine researchers could compete for ship time on 12 regional research vessels.

The annual report 2011 of the Flanders Marine Institute gives an overview of our activities in the calendar year 2011. A year where we especially will recall the construction of the Simon Stevin, many communication actions around the effects of climate change in the seas and oceans, the recognition of the VLIZ as ICSU data centre and the startup of the Compendium for coast and sea. At the last...

Ship time for the oceanographic research vessel Simon Stevin can be booked for the period August – December 2012. The Simon Stevin can be used in the Belgian and adjacent coastal waters as well as in the Scheldt estuary. Normally day trips are scheduled but multi-day campaigns are possible on request.