• Objective
• Description
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Research security
• Eligibility
• Application procedures
• Review procedures and selection criteria (weighted scoring)

The Ship Time program allows those holding an NSERC Discovery Grant (DG) to apply for additional funds to access vessels in support of their research programs.

This Ship Time program is aimed at all NSERC-funded researchers who intend to use a vessel for their DG-supported research in the coming years. It applies to the following: Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) vessels or other Departments of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) platforms, undersea vehicles operated by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility or other similar research platforms, and any other vessels crewed in conformance with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (or similar, for foreign vessels).

Ship Time grants support ongoing DG research programs. These grants recognize the high costs associated with chartering research vessels in Canada and abroad. Recipients of Ship Time grants must use the funds as described in the application. Requests to use an alternate vessel will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Ship Time applicants may apply for more than one vessel at a time. Should the two vessels be part of the same project (e.g., a remotely operated vehicle and a support vessel), only one application is to be submitted.

The normal duration of Ship Time grants is one year. Two-year grants will be considered in exceptional circumstances, where the project completion requires a firm commitment of funding for more than one year. Applicants who need to confirm funding for expeditions taking place well into the future should contact NSERC to discuss.

NSERC is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Considering equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the research process promotes research excellence by making research outcomes more ethically sound, rigorous, reproducible, and useful. It is important to consider EDI through each stage of the research process, including, but not limited to, the research questions, design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of results, and integrate these considerations where relevant. Consult Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process for more information.

Researchers who support and meaningfully act to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in their research teams and their research environments enhance the potential for innovation and research excellence. By integrating EDI considerations in research teams and in research environments, teams are more likely to benefit from greater access to talent, a broader range of ways of knowing and knowledge systems, enhanced collaboration, greater creativity, and more effective problem solving, resulting in improved performance, more rigorous results and greater impact.

For more information, refer to the NSERC guide on Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations for research teams.

To ensure that the Canadian research ecosystem is as open as possible and as safeguarded as necessary, the Government of Canada has introduced the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy). For more information about research security at the granting agencies, refer to the Tri-agency guidance on research security.

Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern

The STRAC Policy addresses risks related to Sensitive Technology Research Areas performed with research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security. The STRAC Policy applies to this funding opportunity as of May 1, 2024.

To comply with this policy, applicants must identify whether the grant application aims to advance a Sensitive Technology Research Area. If so, the submission of attestation forms will be required from researchers with named roles (for this funding opportunity, these are the applicants and co-applicants) to certify that they are not currently affiliated with, nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from, a Named Research Organization (NRO).

Researchers should review the list of Sensitive Technology Research Areas and the list of Named Research Organizations carefully to understand which versions of the lists apply to this competition.

The Tri-agency guidance on the STRAC Policy provides more information on new applicable procedures and requirements, including responsibilities of researchers and institutions.

Applicants (including co-applicants) must hold a Discovery Grant (or be successful in the current DG competition) to be eligible to receive a Ship Time grant.

Applicants and co-applicants to the Ship Time program must meet NSERC’s Eligibility requirements for faculty to apply for or hold grant funds (consult Sections 1.1, 2.1, 3 and 4 for university faculty) to ensure that you can participate in this grant program. If you are an adjunct professor, see the Note on adjunct professors section.

Applicants whose research is, or will be, supported under the DG program must submit their completed Ship Time application by the application deadline date. Applicants who intend to access a Canadian Coast Guard vessel also need to contact DFO science staff directly for their full application requirements.

For each project requiring a vessel, submit the following documents (except in cases where the vessel is combined with a remotely operated vehicle):

• Application for a Discovery Grant – Ship Time (Form 101)
• Canadian Common CV (CCV) for the applicant and each co-applicant
• Quotation for all vessels to be used
• Impact Assessment Form (Appendix A)
• Additional material (e.g., letters of support), as required

Please consult the Instructions for completing an application for more detailed guidance.

The onus is on the applicant to submit a complete application that conforms to the presentation standards requested by NSERC. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected or disadvantaged.

Applications are evaluated by the Ship Time Allocations Committee (STAC) according to the following weighted selection criteria, which are based on the information provided in the Ship Time application materials. As part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that a wide range of contributions are considered and valued in the merit review, the Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring will support the evaluation of NSERC applications.

Scientific or engineering excellence (40%)

• Demonstrate the scientific or engineering excellence of the proposed project(s)
• Highlight the significance and expected contributions to Discovery-research, including potential for major advances and impacts
• Show the feasibility of the plan(s) to use the research vessel or platform, and demonstrate that the proposed methods are the best approach to answering research questions
• Illustrate the complementarity of expertise and the synergy of group members
• Consider EDI in the rationale of the team composition (if applicable)^{Footnote 1}
• Summarize the effective use of previous ship-based experience (NSERC-funded or otherwise)

Need and urgency for ship time (40%)

• Highlight the urgency and justify the timing of the expedition
• Justify the research platform or vessel chosen, as opposed to using other (less costly) methods to obtain data
• Detail the availability of the equipment required to undertake the research
• Discuss the provision of technical support
• Illustrate attempts to maximize existing resources (extent to which the required platform may be shared with others)

Contribution to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) (20%)

• Describe the quality and extent of the HQP training environment
• Demonstrate the opportunities for hands-on training
• Consider EDI in the training of HQP
• Highlight the outcomes and skills to be gained by HQP

Note: It is the responsibility of the grant holder to ensure that any vessel being used for NSERC-supported research is crewed in conformance with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (or similar, for foreign vessels).

Demographic data is not requested or required to assess any impacts resulting from the consideration of EDI in the research team and training environment.