A PIONEERING four-month expedition spearheaded by OceanX in collaboration with OceanQuest is set to push the boundaries of ocean exploration and scientific research along Africa’s coastline.

The "Around Africa Expedition", aboard the state-of-the-art research and media vessel OceanXplorer, launched today.

The expedition will explore the vast, understudied oceans surrounding Africa, shedding light on critical ocean ecosystems, enhancing understanding of biodiversity, and conservation opportunities essential for sustainable development and local livelihoods.

Using innovative methodologies and technologies, the expedition aims to provide invaluable insights and guide data-driven decisions to support conservation policy, sustainable resource management, local capacity building and training, and marine protected area planning.

“Fostering innovation and creating a lasting knowledge base ensures that this expedition drives meaningful impact,” says Vincent Pieribone, co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of OceanX. “This collaboration underscores our collective determination to explore, understand, and conserve the marine environment through bold science and a spirit of partnership.”

The expedition - an endorsed action programme of the United Nations Ocean Decade framework (2021-2030) for its contributions to capacity building and scientific understanding of the ocean - will traverse destinations including Gran Canaria, Canary Islands; Mindelo, Cape Verde; Moroni, Comoros; Walters Shoal, Madagascar; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Agulhas Plateau and Cape Town, South Africa.

It will focus on:

Deep-Sea Ecosystem and Seamount Exploration: Mapping unknown regions of the ocean floor, studying seamount ecosystems, and documenting biodiversity hotspots in areas such as the Agulhas Plateau and Madagascar Ridge.

Ocean Biodiversity: Generating comprehensive datasets on ocean biodiversity patterns, bacterioplankton diversity, and aerosols.

Both are key elements of the ocean environment which support ocean health and biodiversity.

“OceanQuest’s collaboration with OceanX underscores the power of partnerships in advancing ocean science and discovery,” says Dr. Martin Visbeck, CEO of OceanQuest. “By working with local partners, such as KAUST and several African and international science networks we are connecting regional expertise to ensure that the knowledge and benefits generated by this expedition create lasting impacts, both for the people who depend on these waters and for the global community committed to sustainable deep ocean stewardship.”

Working with the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) and other organisations, the expedition will also provide hands-on training for early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs) and engage students through educational outreach programmes. Initiatives include:

Beyond its immediate scientific objectives, the expedition will also foster international collaboration and advance ocean research and data collection across Africa, laying the groundwork for sustained regional and global impact.

For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn, and www.OQFoundation.org

Independent on Saturday