– Collaboration is the key to successful marine research. By sharing resources and expertise, we become more efficient in our respective operations. The grant also provides better opportunities for researchers to use Sweden's research ships, says Åsa Lindgren, head of ship-based research support at the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Within SWERVE, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat collaborates with six other owners and users of Swedish research and survey vessels: the Swedish University of Agriculture, the University of Gothenburg, the University of Stockholm, Umeå University, the Geological Survey of Sweden, and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). The collaboration includes, among other things:

• Exchange of techniques and skills between the ships
• Loan of sensors and other equipment between ships
• Coordinated procurement of helicopter services
• Economic cooperation.

As part of the approved application from the Swedish Research Council, the secretariat will hire a data coordinator. The data coordinator will work with the ship consortium's data collections and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat's marine data collections.

- The data coordinator will have an important role in ensuring that collected data is quality assured, reviewed and made available to the international research community, says Åsa Lindgren.