In 2012 the CSIRO is set to benefit from a $150m Commonwealth Government investment into ocean climate and geoscience research through the purchase of a new 85 metre research vessel for the country's Marine National Facility.  

The $120m boat, along with $30m allocated for operation and maintenance costs, will help expand the opportunities for the sustainable development and management of ocean resources.  

Additional to that is the fact that while 60 percent of Oz territory is ocean, but only 12 percent of that has been mapped, there's still plenty of discovering to take place.  

For an online tour of the new vessel, the Southern Surveyor, visit the National Marine Facility.

Photo: CSIRO