| Reasons for the course
Importance of the course for navigation companies
Importance of the course for ports
Importance of the course for the marine ecosystem, cetacean populations and environmental management
Programme and speakers
Dates and Enrolment 2010 Expansion
Key figures
Further information
Reasons for the course
Since 2000, navigation companies and researchers have been working towards a common goal: to limit the risks of collision between large cetaceans and commercial vessels, a frequent event in the Mediterranean. Since 2005, amongst a range of other programmes this alliance has been developing a training course for watchkeeping personnel (active or in training) operating in the Mediterranean. This course is free and takes place every year at the École Nationale de la Marine Marchande de Marseille (French National Merchant Marine School of Marseille). It is based on the following observations:
- Watchkeeping personnel aware of the issue of collisions display better performance in large cetacean detection,
- Measures aimed at reducing the risks of collision exist (eg. REPCET) but require a means of being more widely recognised,
- There is a high demand for information from navigation companies who are preoccupied with the ecological impacts of their activities, concerning these issues as well as the functioning of the marine ecosystem,
- New unifying approaches must be implemented in order to develop or revitalise relations between commercial navigation and environmental management in the Mediterranean.
Other important ecological issues are also addressed during this course, and in particular acoustic impacts of commercial navigation and the issue of dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.
Importance of the course for navigation companies
- Improvement of security on board high speed vessels (known cases of leakage following collisions in the Mediterranean, numerous passengers injured around the world including at least two known fatalities)
- Study of the limitation of dependence on fossil fuels,
- The training course may be integrated into the ecological responsibility policy of participating companies.
Importance of the course for ports
- Limitation of health risks (e.g. with a 40 tonne carcass) and the costs involved in disposal of the dead animal (explosives for a whale carcass in general cost between 11 000 and 25 000 euros, and can have serious ecological consequences).
Importance of the course for the marine ecosystem, cetacean populations and environmental management
Collisions represent a major cause of mortality for fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Mediterranean. Ecologists are worried about the impacts of these accidents on the populations of these species which are essential to the marine ecosystem, but which are also extremely fragile (being restricted to the Mediterranean and weak in numbers due to slow reproduction rates), and are already subject to many anthropogenic disturbances.
In response to the major concerns of the Pelagos Sanctuary and ACCOBAMS, this training course contributes to the preservation of large cetaceans in the Mediterranean. In addition, the course reinforces and develops collaborations between navigation companies and environmental administrators. It promotes in particular population monitoring from commercial vessels, as well as reporting of scientific data on cetaceans encountered by watchkeeping personnel. The training course is also designed to develop concrete solutions to limit acoustic impacts and greenhouse gases emitted by participating navigation companies.
2009 programme and speakers (2010 programme under development) :
Recognition:
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An official certificate is issued to each participant by the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. |
Dates and Enrolment 2010:
Session 1: Watchkeeping personnel currently in activity | Details: |
- 9:00am – Welcome / coffee (room A 207)
- 9:30am – Teaching begins
- 12:30pm – Lunch
- 2:30pm – Teaching resumes
- 5:30pm – Drinks
| | Conditions of participation: | | The course is financed by the French sector of the Pelagos Sanctuary, PACA Regional Council, Var General Council, the Nature et Découvertes Foundation, and the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, with the logistical contribution of the ENMM of Marseille. It is offered free of charge to watchkeeping personnel in all commercial navigation companies, giving priority to companies frequently in the French sector of the Pelagos Sanctuary. Lunch is provided. The number of participants being limited (8 per company), enrolment is essential (deadline: 15 March 2010. Extended to 24 March). |
Session 2: ENMM cadets | Date: | 2010 (to be determined) |
| Details: | - 2 hour conference / debate, in the amphitheatre
| | Conditions of participation: | | This module is financed by PACA Regional Council, Var General Council, the Nature et Découvertes Foundation, and the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, specifically for 5th year ENMM Marseille cadets. |
Expansion
In 2010, an agreement was made between Souffleurs d'Ecume and Tethys Research Institute to establish a similar course in Italy, as part of Pelagos Sanctuary activities.
Key figures
Since 2005, the following have taken part in the course: |
