News published in Jornal da Madeira - paper edition September 9^th - file attached

«IPMA promotes oceanographic study in Madeira

The ship 'Noruega', of the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), will sail of from the port of Funchal towards Lisbon between this friday and saturday at the scope of a new oceanographic research campaign, informed the institution yesterday. The IPMA's researcher Antonina Santos explained, in press conference on board of 'Noruega', that the initiative is inserted in the project 'Biometore', that gathers all the national institutions involved in marine investigation in continental Portugal, Madeira and Azores. "The project aims to study the submarine mounts [mountains that rise from the sea bottom without reaching surface] that exist between the three regions and involves eight oceanographic campaigns", pointed out, highlighting that the budget is 2.5 million euros, supported by an European program financed by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The campaign from Madeira to Lisbon will be lead by the director of the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira, Rui Caldeira, and will last 20 days, focussing on the study of the pelagic environment (organisms that live in the water column) of the Madeira-Tore Complex mounts. The campaign, in which will be travelled 1.000 nautical miles, involves scientists from four nationalities (Portugal, Spain, Italy and Germany), in a total of 13 elements. Antonina Santos reminded that the country has ambitions to extended its continental platform, in a process that is pending in the United Nations, and that extension will allow that the Exclusive Economical Areas of continental Portugal, Madeira and Azores connect, becoming one of the biggest spaces in Europe regarding sea. "Portugal also has ambitions regarding the implementation of protected marine areas in these spaces", pointed out, highlighting the importance of scientific research to go along with the country's goals. Regarding 'Noruega', the research vessel was built in Bergen, in the country that is named for, more specifically in the shipyards Mjellem & Karlsen, on the 1st of September of 1978 (38 years) and was offered to Portugal, with ability to research in the coast and in the ocean. It is 47.5 m long, with a 13.75 m beam, gross weight of 495 tons and reaches a maximum speed of 13 knots, achieving 7.700 miles of autonomy and 1.500 HP of power.»

Ficheiro anexado 8560pdfsam_1013_001.pdf