ONBOARD RESEARCH

Sailing through the ocean, for the ocean

With every mile sailed, Maccaferri Futura contributes to gathering essential data about the ocean, using and testing innovative environmental monitoring tools and citizen science projects.
The goal? To validate participatory tools tailored to offshore sailing, helping us better understand and protect the marine ecosystem.

onboard ocean monitoring set up

How Maccaferri Futura supports marine research at sea

Oceanographic data collection

The Sailing Box, developed by SOOP, measures physical parameters of seawater directly onboard:

Temperature

Salinity

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Navigation data sharing

Eddy by Oceano Vox logs and shares real-time data such as:

Wind speed and direction

Bathymetry and boat position

Potential wave height and period

Real-time visualization

With the support of NAVICO Group, scientific data is fully integrated into onboard equipment and visualized in real-time through:

  • Onboard screens and computers
  • Online live science dashboard
  • EMODnet Physics research platform

“Breath of the Sea” sampling tests

Together with the University of Milano-Bicocca, and thanks to innovative sampling systems by SRA Instruments and Chromline, we’re testing onboard sampling methods for air and water. The aim: to standardize protocols to detect:

  • Anthropogenic pollutants
  • Marine bio-organic molecules

Visual Census

The crew will monitor and log onboard sightings of:

  • Marine wildlife
  • Floating debris

SERVING THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

All data collected onboard is shared in real time with the LIVE SCIENCE TRACKING platform, with partner research institutes, and with EMODnet Physics, making it available to the global scientific community for ocean and climate studies.
The project is also officially supported by the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”, recognizing its key role in preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

RESEARCH GOALS

INNOVATION WITH NO LIMITS

Empower the sailing community to protect the ocean

Develop open-source, replicable protocols and tools

Enable sailors everywhere to contribute to ocean science

Share live navigation data with EMODnet

Foster international scientific collaboration

Improve climate change forecasting

Understand human impact on marine ecosystems to provide accurate data for predictive climate models

Track global oceanic trends to guide early action

Optimize conservation efforts

Support targeted policy-making on pollution, climate crisis and biodiversity loss

Identify vulnerable areas for focused protection

Inspire sustainable, tech-driven innovation

Enable the creation of eco-friendly products (cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals)

Discover unknown marine molecules

Create participatory tech solutions to monitor and safeguard the ocean

CORPORATE COMMITMENT

THE COMMITMENT OF MACCAFERRI

For over 140 years, Maccaferri has been a global leader in advanced solutions to protect the environment and communities. Today, it has become a key player in an innovative ocean research, helping build a more resilient future.

From coastal protection to fighting climate change, Maccaferri stands behind the mission and values of this project, proving that to understand and protect the ocean, you don’t need to be a scientist. Sometimes, all it takes is technology, a boat, and someone who loves the sea, like Luca.

PARTNERS

OUR SCIENTIFIC PARTNER

The strength of Maccaferri Futura lies in collaboration with people and organizations that share our vision of innovation, challenge, and sustainability. Partners who sail with us and make each new achievement possible.

RESEARCH TEAM

LEADING THE CHANGE

Arianna Liconti

Maccaferri Futura Ocean Science Coordinator, Marine Ecologist and Citizen Science Expert

Francesco Sailu

Environmental Chemist and researcher for University Milano- Bicocca

Matteo Fiorini

Sales Engineer for NAVICO GROUP

Antonio Novellino

Coordinator of EMODnet Physics

Michael Oellermann

SOOP Technology Transfer Manager at Alfred Wegener Institute

Stephan Deschner

Researcher at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon