The scientific research vessel Sir David Attenborough, one of the most advanced floating polar research platforms in the world, has moored in the port of Funchal, after leaving Port Foster, Antarctica, on the 19th of June.
Speaking to JM, Captain Bruno Ferreira Teles, commander of the Madeira Maritime Zone, clarified that this will be “a routine visit after 22 days at sea.” Taking into account the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere, at the end of June, and the difficult weather conditions characteristic of the region, which create very marginal conditions for scientific operations at sea,” he explained. d
This is not the first time that the British ship has docked in Funchal. It’s last visit was in 2023.
Built as part of a major investment by the British government in polar infrastructure, the Sir David Attenborough is considered a centrepiece of the UK’s strategy for scientific research in Antarctica and the Arctic. The ship is equipped with specialized scientific facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratories and instruments that allow it to carry out multidisciplinary studies on the ocean, the seabed, the ice, and the atmosphere.
Among its advanced features are remotely operated vehicles and marine robotics systems, capable of collecting data from the deep ocean, essential for understanding the effects of climate change and other environmental phenomena.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM
