The University of Jordan News Swiss Research Sailboat Launched in Red Sea
  • 29 - Jun
  • 2021

Swiss Research Sailboat Launched in Red Sea

The Transnational Red Sea Center (TRSC), in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Marine Sciences Station (University of Jordan and Yarmouk University), and the Swiss Embassy in Amman, launched a research boat in the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba, named Fleur de Passion, with the aim of studying the marine life in the Red Sea and measuring pollution levels that threaten the world's last coral reefs.
 
The research boat, which will conduct a series of expeditions over the summers of 2021-2024, is a 33-meter Swiss sailboat that belongs to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne.
 
The project, led by researchers from the center, aims to conduct research and studies on the coral reefs along the 4500 km coastline of the Red Sea in partnership with research centers in the bordering countries, and to study its unique ability to resist climate change and rising sea temperatures. The Red Sea Center will also provide the Marine Science Station with special devices and sensors.
 
The center supported the station with devices and equipment worth JD 67.000 used to measure factors affecting the coral for scientific research purposes.
 
The launch of the project took place in the presence of the President of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Engineer Nayef Bakheet, President of the University of Jordan (UJ) Prof. Abdul karim Al Qudah, President of Yarmouk University Prof. Nabil Hailat, Vice President of the University of Jordan (UJ) Prof. Amer Al-Salman, as well as the Swiss Ambassador in Amman Lucas Jacir, President of the University of Jordan (UJ) in Aqaba Prof. Riyad Manasra, the Foreign Affairs Officer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) Oliver Kotell, Director of Transnational Red Sea Center (TRSC) Prof. Anders Meibom, Director of Marine Science Station (MSS) Dr. Ali Al-Sawalmeh, and representatives of the Ayla Oasis Development Company.