FerryBox

FerryBox is an operational method to continuously measure physical, chemical and biological parameters on board of ships-of-opportunity. FerryBox is a through-flow system installed on board of a ship-of-opportunity (ferry, cargo ship or research vessel) to measure automatically, continuously and unattended a series of important marine parameters. The sensors installed offer the opportunity to measure physical (salinity, temperature, turbidity, …), chemical (nutrients, pH, CO2, DOC –humic compounds, oxygen) and biological (chlorophyll, phytoplankton composition, dominant/harmful species) parameters.

A FerryBox system is triggered by the position of the ship, and closed just before harbor entrances to prevent pollution of the system. A flushing system enables cleaning of the system and prevents biofouling during stay in a harbor. Data obtained are stored in a computer whereas satellite connection enables sending data to the respective institute and control the management of the system.

First steps into a European system of FerryBox systems were taken during an EU-funded project (2002-2005). Since then a sustainable cooperation between the original and new partners has been established. Currently FerryBox systems are installed on a network of European FerryBox contributors, mainly coastal and marine research institutions and national environmental agencies.

Detailed information on all aspects of the system including technical details, sensor types, application, costs and maintenance were published in EuroGOOS publication No.25 , 2007: FerryBox: From on-line oceanographic observations to environmental information.

FerryBox network is operating as a EuroGOOS Task Team. The website is available at: www.ferrybox.org

List of Members

Co-chairs

Andrew King, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway
Anna Willstrand Wranne, Voice of the Ocean, Stockholm

Members

Andre Cattrijsse, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Belgium
Bengt Karlson, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Sweden
Costas Frangoulis, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece
Franciscus Colijn, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (Hereon)
George Petihakis, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece
Gonzalo Gonzales Nuevo, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Spain
Hedy Aardema, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany
Henning Wehde, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Jukka Seppälä, Finnish Environment, Finland
Kai Sorensen, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway
Kate Collingridge, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), UK
Ludovic Drouineau, French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), France
Manolis Ntoumas, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece
Miguel Piecho-Santos, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), Portugal
Patrick Gorringe, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Sweden
Roberto Crosti, Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Italy
Thanos Gkritzalis, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Belgium
Urmas Lips, Tallinn University of Technology, Marine Systems Institute (MSI), Estonia
Wilhelm (Willi) Petersen, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (Hereon)
Yoana G. Voynova, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany