Royal Caribbean Group has announced a four-year extension of its
collaboration with the University of Miami, NASA, and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the OceanScope
programme. The renewal of this partnership was announced on World Oceans
Day, underscoring the company's long-standing commitment to ocean
conservation and environmental research.
OceanScope leverages Royal Caribbean Group's ships to collect vital
data for climate and ocean conservation studies. By collaborating with
esteemed institutions like the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of
Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, NASA, and NOAA, the programme
aims to enhance understanding of ocean health and drive conservation
efforts.
Equipped with a comprehensive suite of oceanographic and
meteorological instruments, Royal Caribbean Group's ships continuously
gather data on sea surface temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations,
currents, and salinity. This valuable information enables scientists to
monitor changes in the ocean on various timescales.
The OceanScope programme has achieved significant milestones,
including the verification of ocean acidification in the Caribbean Sea,
emphasising the detrimental impact of long-term carbon dioxide uptake on
marine life. This finding highlights the importance of addressing ocean
acidification to protect vulnerable organisms and maintain the delicate
balance of marine ecosystems.
The extension of OceanScope on Royal Caribbean Group's ships ensures
the ongoing collection of critical data on key oceanic and atmospheric
processes in crucial ecosystems. The programme's open-source database is
accessible to the international scientific research community,
fostering collaboration and informing policy decisions related to ocean
and conservation issues.
Royal Caribbean Group's commitment to sustainable practices and
responsible tourism is further exemplified through its efforts to
decarbonise operations, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by
2050 and developing a net-zero emissions cruise ship by 2035.