Demonstration of the system efficiency
- 25 potential collisions avoided during 18 months thanks to the installation of the sensor system onboard two ferries cruising in Pelagos Sanctuary, representing the vessel type most commonly involved in collisions (50%)
- 50 avoidance alerts reported by the infrastructure of acoustic buoys alerts within a high-risk area in the Pelagos Sanctuary
- 39 vessels will receive the real-time detection and statistics of cetacean presence within the Pelagos Sanctuary
- Very good efficiency of the systems (less than 2% false alarm for the systems at the end of the project)
- Save at least 3 cetaceans during the project (onboard system + buoy network system + data sharing). 5 years after the project, at least 25 of them will be saved each year in the Pelagos Sanctuary thanks to SeaDetect
Diffusion of the systems: dissemination, transferability, deployment
- Transferability and demonstration study onboard RBINS’ vessel in the North Sea in order to adapt the anti-collision system to other European Seas and to 15 more species. 17 potential types of whale-vessel collision can therefore be reduced.
- Adaptation of the onboard system to other type of vessels with other partners: container vessels – CMACGM, offshore racing sailboats – ULTIM, pile driving, seismic prospection vessels, sailing cargo ships (other vessels) and UXO Clearance (other protection needs)
- Close-to-market project: marketing of the onboard system to shipowners and buoy network system to states/EU and REPCET system to save more than 25 cetaceans/year from collision 5 years after the end of the project.
Developing scientific knowledge
Developing scientific knowledge on the behaviour of cetaceans in the presence of ships and collecting information on animals distribution and occurrence.
- The scientific data collected with regards to the cetacean’s biology and ecology will feed into the growing knowledge on the two species distribution and natural behaviour in the Mediterranean Sea
- The scientific data collected with regards to the cetacean’s behaviour in presence of vessels will provide essential knowledge in understanding the interaction between marine mammals and anthropogenic activities with the aim to reduce the animal stress, and avoid injuries and fatalities linked to collisions
Knowledge diffusion & dissemination: stakeholders, authorities
- Promoting awareness of stakeholders in the maritime sector, boat loaders, environmental protection entities and the general public regarding ship strikes collisions and their huge impacts.
- Awareness of the scientific community (6 published papers / 1,500 researchers awared)
- Awareness of the general public (200,000 people minimum). Propagate the importance of taking into account the need to save cetaceans
- Awareness of 80 organizations (mostly shipowners)