The Secretary of State for the North Sea, Bart Tommelein, visited the oceanographic vessel RV Belgica, on the 10th of July 2015. He wanted to see how research is done during a scientific campaign.
Researchers of three institutes (RBINS, Laboratoire Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, Joint Research Center (EC)) took water samples and performed optical measurements on a trip near the wind farm C-Power for the project HIGHROC. These data are necessary to improve the use of satellite images (of ESA) for marine research with applications as the monitoring of chlorophyll and the turbidity in the framework of the Eurorpean Marine Strategy and for the monitoring of suspended matter associated with dredging activities or the construction of windmills.
The Secretary of State was happy to see the excellent corporation between Defence, Science Policy and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, because it is necessary for the good management of the North Sea. He will talk to the Secretary of State for Science Policy, Mrs Sleurs, to convince her of the necessity for a new oceanographic research vessel.
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