RV Investigator Darwin Open Day

Take a free tour of Australia's national blue-water research vessel – the 94-metre long, 7-storey high, $120 million RV Investigator. Investigator is a multi-purpose research vessel built to meet the diverse needs of Australian marine researchers. The ship is equipped with a wide range of scientific equipment to undertake geoscience, atmospheric, biological and oceanographic research. Investigator can travel up to 10,800 nautical miles in a single voyage, carrying up to 60 scientists, technicians and crew from the equator to the Antarctic ice-edge on voyages lasting up to 60 days.

RV Investigator is operated by the CSIRO Marine National Facility. This will be the ship’s first visit to Darwin.

Dates and Times

More information

Activities

• Take the rare opportunity to tour RV Investigator. Tours will be self-guided at your own pace and will take approximately 45 minutes. Tours are free.
• Discover the latest in Australian marine research and technology.
• Talk with researchers, technicians and crew about their work.

Getting there

RV Investigator will be docked at Fort Hill Wharf, Darwin.

Ship tours will depart from Darwin Cruise Ship Terminal at Fort Hill Wharf.

Parking

Public car parking facilities are available nearby at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct.

Last entry

The last entry for visitors to the ship will be at 5:15pm. Visitors are asked to depart the ship by 6:00pm.

Accessibility

Please note that Investigator is a working vessel that has not been designed for visitors. As such, the vessel is not wheelchair accessible and physical access may be challenging for some. You must have a reasonable level of mobility and take responsibility for your own safety. The tour will require you to go up and down steep stairs and be able to step over high door sills.

Important information

This is a working vessel and there are requirements for coming on board:

• Children must be 8 years or older. To ensure the safety of everyone, tours are not suitable for young children. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
• Enclosed (both heel and toe) footwear is required.
• No strollers, prams or pets are permitted on board.
• Visitors (excluding children) must carry photo ID and provide their names on entry.
• There are no public toilet facilities on board.
• Smoking and drinking is not permitted.
• RV Investigator is a dry ship. All visitors must have a blood alcohol reading of zero.
• The tour is not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia.
• Tours are offered on a first come, first served basis and no bookings are being taken. Depending on visitor numbers, you may be required to wait before coming on board. We aim to ensure any wait time is minimised and thank you for your patience.

Tour enquiries:

Dr Ben Arthur, CSIRO Marine National Facility
M: 0428 072 174 | E: Ben.Arthur@csiro.au