World Oceans Day Programme 2016
In celebration of World Ocean Day, 8th June 2016, The Scientists and crew on board research vessel Angra Pequena will be presenting a talk and slide show, sharing with the public all the exciting discoveries found during this expedition. This event will be held in Richards’s bay, either at the Yacht club or NSRI building (venue to be confirmed) at 6pm.
The Angra Pequena team at the Small Craft Harbour: Henry Dowling (SeaQuest crew), Daphne Latropoulos (intern), Jonathan Clausen (crew),Thor Eriksen (crew), Dr Kerry Sink (scientist at South African National Biodiversity Institute), Norman Horner (Captain), Ryan Palmer (Remotely Operated Vehicle pilot and African Coelacanth ecosystem Program Manager) and Nick Riddin (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity).
RESEARCHERS have found a deep sea wonderland at the bottom of the ocean that will need all hands on deck to protect it from anchor damage and oil exploration.
Four magnificent reefs between Richards Bay and the Tugela River Mouth were discovered last week by the Angra Pequena crew using a remotely operated vehicle, during their quest to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the region.
Presentation
RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND TRAINING VESSEL
M.Y. ANGRA PEQUENA
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN & SOUTHERN AFRICA
M.Y. Angra Pequena is a 72 ft (99 ton) purpose-designed and equipped expedition ship offering a unique platform for marine research, scientific training and conservation.
M.Y. Angra Pequena has a proud history in the service of the oceans. Initially built and operated as a Fisheries Patrol vessel in Namibia, she then moved to the west coast of South Africa and served as a Sea Fisheries Research vessel sailing out of Cape Town. Most recently, she has been used in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in the Southern Indian Ocean, to deploy an ROV into offshore canyons to depths of over 100m, allowing successful filming of coelacanths. M.Y. Angra Pequena is currently based in Durban, South Africa.
M.Y. Angra Pequena is capable of deployment of standard marine research instruments and equipment such as ROVs, CTD, plankton nets, sonar and echo-sounders, BRUVS, and sediment grab samplers, as well as providing a good platform for diver surveys and deck-based observational studies. She is thus suitable for oceanographic and benthic research as well as training in offshore marine science techniques. She has a fuel range of over 3000 NM, and can stay at sea comfortably for 30 days. She is equipped with a 5 MT Palfinger crane, a water-maker, dive compressor, satellite communications, storage freezers and a semi-rigid inflatable boat with 2 x 40HP engines.
M.Y. Angra Pequena is operated by SEA QUESTS, a marine agency whose primary goal is to support research, training and conservation expeditions that build knowledge and awareness of our oceans and contribute to sound decision-making and to inform management policies.
Sea Quests is keen to partner with others to support our goal of helping to protect the oceans, including:
- Research Organisations
- NGO’s
- Ocean advocates
- Universities
- Government Agencies responsible for marine management
- Marine Explorers
- Film-makers
Sea Quests’ primary offering is for M.Y. Angra Pequena to provide a platform for:
- Research cruises
- oceanography
- benthic sampling (including sediment grabs and ROV surveys)
- depth sonar surveys
- seabird and large marine mammal surveys
- fish studies (including BRUVS)
- scientific diving surveys
- ROV surveys
- Conservation & ocean awareness and advocacy missions
- Marine science training
- Documentary film-making
- Other initiatives or projects that contribute to marine conservation and exploration
Partners associated
Wildlands, Grindrod, ACEP, SANBI, Ezemvelo, ORI
