Charter of a Vessel to support turtle research trips

⁠⁠⁠The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) based in Townsville, in collaboration with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service & Partnerships (QPWS&P) and Traditional Owners, are undertaking research on the northern Great Barrier Reef (nGBR) green turtles.

A suitable live-aboard charter vessel, with crew, capable of accommodating up to twelve (12) field staff (QPWS&P staff, GBRMPA staff, contractors and Traditional Owners), is required to support field trips to the northern GBR and the Torres Strait.

The charter vessel will be required to transport field research equipment and personnel, and serve as a live-aboard platform to support the capture and tag of turtles around reefs and islands for periods of up to at least fourteen (14) days.

The charter vessel is required for up to five (5) trips per calendar year. Each trip will either be to the nGBR (including Raine Island) or the Torres Strait.

Departure points for the trips can be negotiated, however, trips to the nGBR will most likely depart from Cairns and may include a stopover at Lockhart River or Portland Roads to pick up/ drop off several research team members from the Lockhart community. Trips to the Torres Strait would likely depart from Horn Island.

The area of operation in the nGBR are reefs/islands offshore between Portland Roads and Captain Billy Landing. In the Torres Strait operations will primarily be in (but not limited to) the eastern Torres Strait.

Departure dates will be negotiated once the supplier has been selected.