FerryBox systems for monitoring coastal waters

Abstract A new operational tool which uses ferryboats as the carrier system for automated monitoring equipment has been developed. Such systems can be operated with lower costs than automatic buoys and have better performance with regard to biofouling. Currently the system is being tested in a EU project in which eight ferry routes are used for comparison of different European “FerryBoxes” in different European waters. The “German FerryBox” consists of a fully automated flow-through system with sensors and automatic analysers for the measurement of physical, biological and chemical parameters (T, salinity, turbidity, pH, oxygen, chlorophyll-a, nutrients). It provides automatic cleaning cycles and position-controlled sampling (GPS). Data are transferred to shore and the system can be remotely operated via mobile phone. The system has been installed on the ferry Cuxhaven (DE)-Harwich (UK) and has been in operation since November 2001. Results from the experiences of the first year demonstrate the function- ality and applicability of the ferry system.