Eyesea, a pollution mapping not-for-profit company, has signed up its first cruise ship.
Adventure Shipping’s small expedition ship, ‘Ocean Nova’ has joined the New Zealand-based concern that last year introduced an app to crowd source information on marine pollution.
This app allows users to load pictures of pollution, which are then marked and placed on maps and charts.
Richard Del Valle, Adventure Shipping President, said: “We’re very pleased to be leading the way on an environmental issue that is so important to everyone who sails – both crew and passengers.
“The case for Eyesea is compelling – very few people have access to the parts of the world we visit and any data we can collect is of critical importance. With ‘Ocean Nova’s’ ice class, manoeuvrability and highly experienced crew, she is often in waters rarely seen by other ships. We think we can help.
“We are seeing an increased demand from expedition passengers to be more directly involved in environmentally focused initiatives. Showing a video on recycling is no longer enough and, as an industry, we have been waiting for something to be involved in that takes advantage of the uniqueness of expedition cruising, “ he said..
Eyesea has partnered with a major tech company to post its more than 25,000 pollution images on a global database. The company also has volunteers and partners worldwide.
“Eyesea is at an early stage, but we are excited about the impact of the data gathering, the vast potential of the tech development and the way Eyesea is working with community groups all over the world to record and clean-up marine pollution. These are things we should all look to be involved in as much as possible,” Del Valle stressed.
‘Ocean Nova’ is an Ice Class expedition vessel built in Denmark in 1992. She can accommodate up to 84 passengers all in outside cabins and carries seven Zodiac boats for landings and wildlife watching.
Eyesea founder, Graeme Somerville-Ryan, added: “For Eyesea, getting the first cruise ship involved is a critically important milestone and we are grateful for Richard and Ocean Nova’s support. It is very easy to just talk about environmental care, but Richard clearly saw there was a very tangible role for the passengers and crew through Eyesea – at sea and onshore. It’s great to have them on board, I hope the ‘Ocean Nova’ finds nothing, but this is a problem that needs vigilance,” he said.
