December 3, 2021
On Thursday December 2, the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl will call in port in Nassau Harbour. This voyage is part of the historic One Ocean Expedition that is circumnavigating the globe, sailing 55,000 nautical miles, and visiting 36 ports worldwide in 18 months.
“The expedition is a part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Its goal is to create attention and share knowledge about the crucial role of the ocean for a sustainable development in a global perspective”, says professor Sissel Rogne, CEO of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
Six Bahamians are participating the leg of the voyage from Havana to Nassau, including representatives from BREEF, PIMS, the Bahamas National Trust and the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation.
The Bahamas will host a One Ocean seminar on Ocean Health and Seafood on 3rd December in Nassau with the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) and the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Participants will also have an opportunity to snorkel at the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden and Coral Nursery off the west coast of New Providence.
A floating university and research vessel
Climate change, biodiversity, fisheries, pollution and ocean acidification are key topics for the seminar. The goal is to give us new and valuable information about the state of the ocean, how humans interact with the world oceans, and gain new insight on how we can take care of the ocean for future generations.
“One Ocean is a floating university that unites students, researchers and leaders around the world, and provides a platform for young people to play an active role in protecting our shared ocean. The ocean connects communities, perspectives and experiences and inspires people to engage collaboratively to create a clean and healthy future.” says Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, from The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation.
Floating ambassador in 36 ports
In the 36 ports worldwide there will be held conferences, seminars and other events on board, in close cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some of the embassies will use Lehmkuhl for high level meetings, others for workshops with schools and kids. Common to all the events is that they support the expedition’s most important goal: To build collaboration and awareness for a sustainable ocean.
“We also collaborate with a number of aquariums, museums and schools around the world and will be able to use the ship to gather, inspire and engage children and young people when we are docked.” says Rogne.
Top team of partners
The expedition has only been made possible through close cooperation with a number of partners in research, education, the public and commerce.
“Among the partners we have the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. We are fortunate to have with us the top team of Norwegian marine scientists, as well as solid partners in the public sector, graduates, academia and business. Without them, the voyage would not be possible.
For those not joining the voyage on board as a trainee, researcher or student, it is possible to experience the voyage online and on social media. On the expedition’s website (oneoceanexpedition.com) you can see where the ship is at any time and view real time research data from the ship.
