The German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) started the pilot project "underway" - ​​research data within the main topic "Data Management and Digitization" in September 2019.

This involves the systematic recording, transmission on land, quality assurance and publication of "underway" data according to the well-known FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable). As part of the project, data from CTD, ADCP, bathymetry, TSG, FerryBox and bio-optical sensors are used. In the beginning the focus is set on the four big German research vessels MARIA S. MERIAN, METEOR, POLARSTERN and SONNE and will be extended to other smaller research vessels as the project continues. The term “Underway” data is the used to refer to data that is measured by on-board, marine-science-relevant sensors and that is not part of the main scientific work program. The focus of the ICBM is on bio-optical sensors.