German 4H-JENA engineering technicians completed the fitting of a FerryBox on PONANT’s ‘Le Commnadant Charcot’ during a stopover following her maiden voyage in Antarctica and prior to her first voyage to the North Pole.
Sea water sensor and measuring system manufacturer, 4H-JENA engineering’s FerryBox multi-parameter water measurement system, is now being used to evaluate the role of global warming and glacial meltwater on the rising level of oxygen in the oceans on board the hybrid expedition cruise vessel.
PONANT’s ‘Le Commandant Charcot’, is claimed to be the world’s only luxury icebreaker with a hybrid-electric propulsion system powered by LNG.
She is fitted with extensive facilities for scientific projects with two research laboratories, one of which is open to the sea.
Installed this Spring in Cherbourg, France, the measurement parameters for ‘Le Commandant Charcot’s’ FerryBox include basics such as temperature, salinity and sound velocity, in addition to measurements that determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen and CO2, which provides insight into bio productivity and the concentration distribution of CO2.
The latter is especially important to the study of global warming, ocean acidification and the CO2 absorption function of the oceans, 4H-JENA said.
While her guests get to reach the geographical North Pole and go kayaking on pristine waters, they can also participate through workshops and seminars hosted by the scientists on board conducting important research, which in addition to projects using FerryBox data, includes the study of ocean plastic pollution and analysis of humpback whale behaviour.
“There is relatively little ocean data from the Arctic and Antarctic available, but with FerryBox alongside the laboratory facilities and other scientific sensors and equipment aboard ‘Le
Commandant Charcot’, we plan to change that,” said PONANT Science Programme Co-ordinator, Vladislav Sidorenkov-Duprez.
“’Le Commandant Charcot’s’ itinerary takes FerryBox further North than the current highest FerryBox installation in Svalbard, allowing us to extend the geographical scope for autonomous water measurements even further using a solution that we can rely on to deliver accurate readings in any conditions,” he added.
