The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands, Plocan, joined the EU-backed SATURN project whose focus is on the reduction and mitigation of underwater noise from shipping that threatens marine life.
Plocan develops a Virtual Research Environment that collects and allows external users to access to the progress and to the results of the project. Thus, Plocan’s Virtual Research Environment will consist in a resource hub for researchers (bio-acousticians, biologists, marine R&D engineers, etc.) to access SATURN results in an interactive way.
The research includes technical and analytical tools for processing, analysis and visualization of underwater noise from ships and boats produced by SATURN technical activities, according to Plocan.
Following the global environmental efforts to change the declining health of the oceans, the €8.96 million Horizon 2020 funded SATURN project, due to start in 2021, represents a significant EU investment that directly supports attainment of targets for a cleaner, quieter maritime sector.
SATURN benefits from an integrated and interdisciplinary approach with acousticians, marine biologists, maritime engineers and standards bodies working side-by-side and in tandem with a large well-structured group of international stakeholders to create and test innovative solutions for reducing the most harmful effects of underwater noise.
Ιt is noted that the project is being led by MaREI, Science Foundation Ireland’s Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine and hosted by University College Cork, involves a large consortium of EU participants which includes 20 project partners from 10 European countries.
Concluding, Gerry Sutton, Project lead and MaREI Research Fellow, stated that
It is an absolute privilege to be leading such a talented and committed group of scientists and engineers. Everyone put 100% into the proposal, finding common ground by bridging traditional boundaries between their respective disciplines. This means we are now all very much looking forward to the new year when will jointly embark on our exciting four-year work programme.