The new "Ocean Science Multimedia Exhibition" of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development was opened on the "Cap San Diego" at Überseebrücke eins in Hamburg. The exhibition is located in the former sweet oil tank and cargo hold five of the historic freighter. The exhibition, which is free to visitors, is set to remain open until 2030. Frank Schweikert, the founder and director of the German Ocean Foundation, welcomed numerous well-known guests to the opening.
The exhibition aims to increase engagement, awareness and enthusiasm for our most important ecosystem and support the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development" - Flyer German Ocean Foundation
At the beginning of his speech, Schweikert emphasised that he felt very honoured that so many decision-makers from politics and business had come. He also emphasised the slogan "The science we need for the ocean we want". After his brief opening speech, he gave the floor to H.E. Lorenzo Ravano, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco. He assured Schweikert of the greatest possible support for his project to protect the ocean. Ravano also emphasised that both climate change and plastic pollution are linked to the ocean. He addressed the audience with the well-known phrase: "There is no planet B!"
No water, no life, no blue, no green" - H.E. Lorenzo Ravano, Ambassador of Monaco
The keynote speech by H.E. Lorenzo Ravano was followed by the speech of H.E. Aishath Shaan Shakir, Ambassador of the Maldives. She began by saying that 99 per cent of the Maldives' territory is the Indian Ocean, so the ocean is the heartbeat of her country. But the paradise with its reefs and crystal-clear water is threatened by climate change. She emphasised the Maldives' efforts to tackle the immense plastic pollution. The island nation is an example of how climate change is changing people's lives.
The final speaker was Dorothea Sick-Thies, entrepreneur and founder of "Protect the Planet". She emphasised that last summer was the hottest since weather data began to be recorded and, with the catastrophes in Italy and Libya, was like a single disaster report. Sick-Thies was appalled that only four per cent of the foundation's global capital was being used to preserve the basis of life, and she also emphasised: "An energy transition without ifs and buts is necessary to preserve our basis of life."
We have to realise that it's five past twelve. Time is running out. We have to act now, as if we had to save a terminally ill child". Dorothea Sick-Thies, founder of "Protect the Planet"
The following exhibits can be seen in the exhibition on the "Cap San Diego":
- Underwater satellite, first diver-guided model of an underwater satellite (Planblue)
- Argo Float measuring buoymeasurement of temperature and salinity profiles in the ocean (OceanOPS)
- Sea mine (marine litter)anchor thaumine from Sweden, produced and used from 1918 to 1972 (Toxicological Institute of Kiel University, Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment, Digital Ocean Lab, Fraunhofer ICT, GEOMAR, HEL-COM, Aarhus University, IOPAN)
- Art from ghost nets, recovered abandoned fishing nets (Bracenet)
- Automated ocean laboratory "OceanPack"mobile automated laboratory for ships (SubCTech)
- Algae photobioreactortubular algae reactor for the production of algae biomass (University of Hamburg)
- Floating solar power plant (Premiere)floating wind and wave-resistant solar technology (HelioRec)
- MantaModel of an ocean-going catamaran that will be cleaning the oceans from 2026 (The SeaCleaners)
- Microplastic measuring deviceautomatic microplastic collector with ultrasonic pre-filter (PlamoWa, Nägele Mechanik, 4h Jena Engineering)
- Historical weather station, used on the sailing research and media ship mainly in shallow water areas (Aldebaran)
- Interactive touch tableExpedition films from the federal marine competition "Research at Sea" and information about the work of the German Marine Foundation
- Gannet, specimen of the seabird building a nest with plastic parts (Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum)
The seven goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development:
- A clean ocean in which sources of pollution are recognised and reduced or eliminated
- A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are understood, protected, restored and managed
- A productive ocean that supports a sustainable food supply and a sustainable ocean economy
- A projected ocean where society understands and can respond to changing ocean conditions
- A safe ocean where life and livelihoods are protected from ocean-related hazards
- An accessible ocean with open and equal access to data, information, technologies and innovations
- An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean in relation to human well-being and sustainable development
