Jetsettersblog

New Environmental Research And Educational Marine Programme On Board Royal Clipper

Guests on board the magnificent Royal Clipper, one of the three tall ships in the Star Clippers fleet, can now take part in marine research and learn about the marine biology and ecology of the area in which the ship is sailing.

Star Clippers’ Swedish owner and founder, Mikael Krafft, himself a fervent environmentalist, has appointed Italian Marine Biologist Dr. Mariano Peruzzo, as the resident marine expert on board Royal Clipper for its summer 2009 season of Mediterranean sailings.

Royal Clipper will then cross the Atlantic in October 2009 for the Caribbean season, where the project will continue.

At no charge to guests, Dr Peruzzo, a graduate in biological sciences of the University of Genoa, is giving passengers daily talks on marine biology, relevant to the area in which the ship is sailing at the time.

He also offers entertaining and informative presentations on the history of oceanography, coral reefs, cetaceans (whales and dolphins), marine reptiles such as turtles and geology.

The lectures encompass the issue of climate change, its causes and contributing factors.

In addition to the educational programme, Mariano Peruzzo is available to guests throughout each day as he continues his research into the environments in which the ship is sailing. Enthusiasts can join him at dawn on deck to look for and log whales and dolphins, or join him on dives and snorkelling trips, or for beach walks in areas of ecological interest.

The daily finds are logged and will be used in Peruzzo’s collaborations with various environmental projects worldwide.

Mikael Krafft said “We at Star Clippers are passionately committed to preserving the environment and by having Dr Peruzzo on board, we hope to pass on our enthusiasm to our guests, many of whom have already taken advantage of his fascinating talks, beach walks and dives.”

Mariano Peruzzo added “Star Clippers’ owner Mikael Krafft is deeply interested and concerned by environmental issues and the problems of ocean pollution and the effects of climate change. I am very keen to achieve worthwhile results in my role as Star Clippers’ scientific consultant.

The fact that we regularly sail for six months in the Caribbean and six months in the Mediterranean, two distinct environmental areas, is ideal for cooperation with research projects of many kinds.”

With the assistance of Star Clippers’ founder and owner Mikael Krafft, he is also in the process of setting up a small laboratory on board Royal Clipper, to show guests the technical workings of a marine biology research project and to achieve a heightened awareness of the importance of environmental issues.

Royal Clipper will operate sailings from four to 11 nights in duration in the Mediterranean until October, calling at ports in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta and for the first time, Libya.