Swan Hellenic has announced that its Cruising4Oceans initiative is now recognized as a pilot site within the GlobalCoast Network, a program endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade).
Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic, expressed pride in the initiative’s inclusion in such a significant program. He noted that their expedition ships travel to some of the world’s most remote locales, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with visiting these areas. Zito stated, "We want our ships not simply to visit these places but to contribute to their understanding and protection."
Cruising4Oceans is designed not only to carry guests on expeditions but also to gather valuable observations for the scientific community. Mario Dogliani, president of SDG4MED, which promotes maritime sustainability, highlighted that the initiative makes good use of existing ships that operate in hard-to-reach areas, collecting daily observations and sharing validated data through EMODnet.
The pilot project, the first of its kind in the Network, is centered around Deception Island in Antarctica. Swan Hellenic’s ships—Vega, Diana, and Minerva—collect environmental data during their Antarctic summer operations, effectively forming a mobile ocean observatory. They focus on data gathering in remote regions where consistent observations are challenging to obtain.
The Cruising4Oceans initiative not only concentrates on collecting environmental data but also involves guests in citizen science and ocean awareness activities. This may include marine litter and plastic removal efforts when conditions permit. While Deception Island represents the initial pilot site, Swan Hellenic’s vessels also function in other remote areas like Svalbard and Greenland, expanding data-collection efforts.
The versatile model of Cruising4Oceans has the potential to be replicated in other poor data marine areas where commercial vessels navigate.
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