The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) is the state (national) research centre of Greece carrying out multi and interdisciplinary oceanographic research including operational oceanography, marine technology, genetics, fisheries, inland waters and limnology. Linked to the Ministry of Education through the “General Secretariat of Research and Technology”, HCMR comprises three institutes and two aquariums with 180 research staff, 200 technicians and 60 administrative and secretarial staff. HCMR is also linked to the University of Crete, as well as to other Universities in Greece, providing lectures and training courses for students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. The Centre has participated in over 100 EU-funded RTD projects (ESF, EC-Environment, MAST II, III, FP 5 & 6) and is fully equipped with state of the art laboratories and field equipment including two multipurpose research vessels, a manned submersible, and two ROV's.