25 November 2022

The Argo float given by the Principality to Mauritius deployed at sea

A launch at 053°00.0' long. East - 25°00.0' lat. South

After the arrival of the S.A. Agulhas II on her second stopover in Mauritius on 22 November in the early morning, Monaco Explorations team organized a reception in the early evening which brought together H.E. Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon, Vice-President of the Republic, Acting President, and Sudheer Maudhoo, Minister for the Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Maritime Transport. Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon, Vice-President of the Republic, Acting President, and Sudheer Maudhoo, Minister for the Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Maritime Transport, around forty participants who were presented with an initial assessment of the operations conducted on the Saya de Malha Bank. Prior to this reception, the whole day was devoted to welcoming numerous schoolchildren. Scientists from Mauritius and Seychelles were present to explain their research work to them and to awaken their interest. The Argo float adopted in the morning by the representatives of seven schools in Mauritius, was handed over by Gilles Bessero, Director of Explorations of Monaco and Hervé Claustre, co-manager of the international BGC Argo programme, to Dr Rezah Badal, Director General of the Department of Administration and Exploration of the Continental Shelf and Maritime Zones, reporting to the Prime Minister. This float, decorated by Rémi Leroy, one of the two artists in residence on board during the expedition, was deployed on 25 November 2022 at 16:30 along with a second float, during the first hydrology station of the return transit to Cape Town, South Africa, 24 hours after the ship left Mauritius for its home port.

The deployment of the Mauritian float

The float handed over to Mauritius by the Principality of Monaco was deployed at the end of the afternoon of 25 November 2022 by Céline Dimier and Vincent Taillandier, the two members of Hervé Claustre’s BGC Argo team, who remained on board to carry out the final deployment operations planned for the return journey to Cape Town. In total, six more floats will be deployed on the journey and three Rosettes/CTDs will be carried out. Around thirty floats will thus have reached the Indian Ocean and will allow a much more efficient surveillance and monitoring of this area, which was under-equipped before the expedition.
The position of the last three operations conducted during the return of the S.A. Agulhas II to Cape Town©MonacoExplorations
The Mauritius float just before its launch. 25_11_2022. Indian Ocean Expedition©Didier Théron_MonacoExplorations
The dodo, the emblematic extinct species of Mauritius, was chosen by the artist Rémi Leroy to decorate the float©Didier Théron_MonacoExplorations
Hooking the float to the winch cable before launching©Didier Théron_MonacoEplorations
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The day of 22 November 2022 in pictures

Gilles Bessero, Director of Monaco Explorations and Head of the Indian Ocean Expedition, welcomes on board Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon, Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius and Acting President of the Republic. 22_11_2022©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
From left to right, Francis Marsac, coordinator of scientific operations on the Saya de Malha bank, in conversation with Rezah Badal, centre, and Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon, right. 22_11_2022. Port-Louis©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
Mauritian scientists were involved throughout the day in welcoming classes to explain their research and transmit their passion. Here, Dr. Ranjeet Bhagooli. 22_11_2022©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
The Vice-President and Acting President of the Republic of Mauritius Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon, left, and the Minister for the Blue Economy Sudheer Maudhoo, centre, listen attentively to the explanations of Knowledge Bengu, Captain of the S.A. Agulhas II. 22_11_2022©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
The representatives of the 7 Mauritian classes involved in the adoption of the BGC Argo float with the scientists and representatives of the Mauritian National Education. 22_11_2022©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
Dr Rezah Badal signs the Mauritian float, with Marie Cyril Eddy Boissezon in the centre and Sudheer Maudhoo on his right.22_11_2022. Port-Louis©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
Presentation of the first results of the operations on Saya de Malha to the Mauritian representatives in the helicopter hangar on deck 5 of the ship S.A. Agulhas II. 22_11_2022©Melissa Habbas_MonacoExplorations
Mrs Aneeta Ghoorha, Director of Education in Mauritius, interviewed by Stéphane Dugast, from the Zeppelin agency. 22_11_2022©Nicolas mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
Hervé Claustre presents to the Mauritian students the functioning of a float and its role. 22_11_2022©Nicolas Mathys_Zeppelin_MonacoExplorations
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