The US$80 million research vessel, Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, will employ sonar equipment to map fish distribution, a remotely-operated underwater vehicle to photograph the ocean floor and seven laboratories to collect data on marine ecosystems, climate change and pollution. It will fly the UN flag, which will allow it to carry out research activities across jurisdictional boundaries.

The Dr. Fridtjof Nansen will replace an older vessel with the same name that has navigated the African coast since 1993, contributing to in-depth research on Africa’s marine ecosystems as part of the 40-year EAF-Nansen Project

Available at: http://africasd.iisd.org/news/fao-and-norway-will-launch-vessel-to-study-marine-ecosystems-climate-change/