The MEDESS-GIB Marine Exercise – Sep 09, 2014
The oceanographic campaign MEDESS-GIB was organized in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, between the 9 and 11 of September 2014, within the framework of the EU MED Programme MEDESS-4MS Project. The area of the exercise is known for its intense maritime traffic, its unique environmental value, as well as its scientific interest, making it a hot spot in the Mediterranean.
This exercise aimed at:
- gaining knowledge on the dynamics of the waters of the area;
- testing the drifting prediction model capabilities in terms of oil spill, objects or life at sea in a complex and relevant socio-economic area;
- strengthening preparedness and maritime security in relation to oil spills in the Mediterranean
- improving the competitiveness and territorial cohesion in the Mediterranean regions according to a logic of sustainable development; and
- testing for the developments of the MEDESS-4MS service.
A team of experts coming from different partner institutions released 36 drifter buoys in an unprecedented exercise in Spanish waters. Four boats (three units of SASEMAR and a ship provided by the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras) were made available, and the buoy platforms were provided by IMEDEA, ICM-CSIC and Puertos del Estado.
The team resorted to real-time measurements along with other existing information provided by other operational oceanographic services existing in the area (i.e. the HF-Radar and the measurement and forecast local services from the SAMPA Project of the Port of Authority of Algeciras Bay and Puertos del Estado).
More information can be found on the MEDESS-4MS website on the following link.