It is named after a stingray, is 12 m long and sails on the waters of the Gulf of Lions.
In recent days, the first marine natural park in the Mediterranean (and third in France) has had a new star: Mobula.
A state-of-the-art craft, tailor-made for the coastal science team.
Being able to take eight people on board, Mobula has many advantages.
Starting with its field of action: “This vessel allows us to go much further than before to carry out our missions,” says Romain Hubert, operational manager of the scientific service.
We can now sail up to 20 nautical miles offshore, the equivalent of about 37 km.
That's four times more than our two old boats!
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Many high-tech tools
For research, the boat is equipped with a diving platform, a winch that can lift up to 150 kg at a depth of 60 m, underwater robots, a 180-degree observation system with sonars for mapping the seabed ... "A very precise specification, with many high-tech tools, to facilitate and improve our analysis and environmental protection work", emphasizes Romain Hubert.
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Other new features incorporated into this unique model: a cabin to shelter from bad weather and a first aid station to intervene in case of need.
Designed in Lorient by SAS Pêch'Alu International, for a budget of € 500,000, Mobula was put in water at the beginning of November at the port of Argelès-sur-Mer, for the tenth anniversary of the Gulf of Lion Marine Nature Park.
Its missions will allow the twenty scientists of the park to explore an area of 4000 km2, between Leucate and Spain… “At least for the next twenty years!
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