Training Given to RV Mtafiti Crew and Scientists Preparing for Indian Ocean Expedition
Scientists from the Western Indian Ocean region received training from VLIZ staff, in preparation for the second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE2). In this large-scale, long-term concerted research action several countries, from within and outside the region, cooperate under the umbrella of IOC/UNESCO, both for the preparatory phase and for the execution of the measuring campaigns.
The training was organised in Kenya from 18-27 April 2016 in the scientific institute KMFRI in Mombasa and aboard the RV Mtafiti, formerly RV Zeeleeuw – donated by Flanders to Kenya in 2012.
Multi-year Research Programme
With the organisation of the second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE2), a major multi-year concerted action of several countries from the region, and with the participation of experts from the IOC/UNESCO network, an attempt is made to improve the data available of the area.
In honor of World Ocean Day 8 June, IOC/UNESCO launched a documentary of 12 minutes highlighting the commitment of Kenya to the second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE2). The video below shows how important the ocean (and knowledge about it) is for life on Earth, as well as the close cooperation between the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
With the financial support of South-South action of VLIR-UOS, the two scientific institutes organised a workshop in April 2016 for the crew of the research vessel Mtafiti and scientists from the Western Indian Ocean region (WIO) preparing them for the oceanographic research that will be conducted within the framework of IIOE2. For VLIZ were present as trainers: Klaas Deneudt, Tjess Hernandez, Andre Cattrijsse and Delphine Vanhaecke.
