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Cooperative Research Ships

It has no office.
It has no personnel.
It has no director.
But it exists and it has flourished for 50 years: The Cooperative Research Ships (CRS). Here we present its simple secret: cooperation by committed people.

Research of the members, by the members, for the members

Public-Private Partnership (PPS) is popular nowadays. But it often means a lot of talking, paperwork and complex governance. It seems to require directors and offices. CRS is different. For 50 years now, 20-25 maritime organisations perform research in the maritime field together for a yearly budget of around € 1.5 million Euros. Typically 10 working groups investigate topics that are of common interest to its members.

A simple organisation for complex research

CRS brings together shipyards, ship owners, navies, equipment suppliers, classification societies and research organisations. All just based on a gentlemen’s agreement (the ‘CRS Guidelines’) and joint decision-making at the Open Meeting and Annual General Meeting. A simple organisation to stimulate complex research.

Active participation by all members

The CRS is real cooperative research. Members are not just paying their yearly fee: they are expected to be actively involved in the research work itself. So all the CRS members perform tasks in research projects, participate actively in working groups and form a network of specialists. An open network, where competitors are willing to share knowledge and experience.

Sharing, cooperation, commitment

For its members CRS provides a maritime knowledge base, practical tools and improved insight into design technology and operational performance. Over the years, CRS has become a unique community, in which sharing and cooperation are normal. It has created friendships based on the large commitment of the people and companies involved.