International SeaKeepers Society

The International SeaKeepers Society
The International SeaKeepers Society: Research. Educate. Protect and Restore.
Founded 1998
Founders Alexander Dreyfoos, Alfred H. Balm, Richard DeVos, Jan Moran, Bruce McCaw
Type 501(c)(3)
Focus International Ocean Conservation
Location
Method Research, Data Collection, Advocacy
Members
 600+
Key people
 Paul Allen
Employees
 5
Volunteers
 2
Slogan "Research. Educate. Protect and Restore."
Website

The International SeaKeepers Society was founded in 1998 by a small group of yacht owners who were alarmed by the deterioration of our natural environment. The organization’s initial focus was on the development and use of instrumentation on yachts to monitor marine conditions throughout the world’s oceans. Today, The International SeaKeepers Society continues to work with yachts as a vital part of its programming. The International SeaKeepers Society is a 501 (c) 3 organization of opinion leaders, scientists, businessmen and environmental advocates who have the passion and capabilities to impact ocean research, conservation and policy decisions. Working with governments, educational institutions, private foundations and non-profit organizations provides SeaKeepers and its members the opportunity to fulfill its mission. SeaKeepers long-established relationship with the yachting community creates an optimal platform to support oceanographic research while simultaneously engaging and educating yacht owners and professionals and the general public.

In 2014, The International SeaKeepers Society received the Fabien Cousteau Blue Award, an award given out by the International Superyacht Society to honor stewardship of the marine environment.

In 2011, the International SeaKeepers Society was featured by Mega Yacht News as one of six ocean-oriented charities to support within the yachting community.[1]

Mission and Vision

SeaKeepers mission is to increase current knowledge about the oceans, promote and facilitate scientific discovery and raise awareness about critical ocean issues by working directly with the yachting community as an essential component and contributor to ocean research, education and conservation efforts. As a Private/Public collaborative effort, SeaKeepers focus on critical ocean issues in cooperation with government agencies, other like minded organizations, the academic community, and the public.

History

Founding members of the International SeaKeepers Society include Alexander Dreyfoos, Alfred H. Balm, Richard DeVos, Jan Moran and Bruce McCaw. These Founding Members wanted to raise awareness regarding critical ocean issues and encourage ocean preservation. Their mission was to construct a monitoring unit that would provide data to scientists about the conditions of the seas. The resulting unit was called the SeaKeeper 1000. The SeaKeeper 1000 was deployed on more than 90 platforms across the globe including yachts, cruise ships, buoys, and piers. While the SeaKeeper 1000 was active, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. National Weather Service utilized the SeaKeeper 1000 on many of their NOAA vessels to better monitor oceanographic changes.[2] The International SeaKeepers Society discontinued the SeaKeeper 1000 in October 2013.

SeaKeeper 1000

The SeaKeeper 1000 unit was designed to record weather and near surface oceanographic data automatically. It then transmitted the data via NOAA satellites and through the Global Telecommunication System (GTS). The SeaKeeper 1000 unit won the 2002 Environment Award from The Tech Museum of Innovation.[3] [4] In 2002, 61 society members and 4 cruise lines had installed SeaKeeper 1000, and 14 yacht manufacturers had agreed to include the technology on their boats/ships.[3]

BP oil spill

In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Society with the assistance of researchers at the University of South Florida and environmental sensor company YSI were able to attach and interface a hydrocarbon sensor to the SeaKeeper 1000 environmental monitor in June 2010.[5] SeaKeepers continues to focus on oil spill prevention and works with organizations like CARTHE, Consortium for Advanced Research on the Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment, is a research team dedicated to predicting the fate of oil released into our environment to help inform and guide response teams, thereby protecting and minimizing damage to human health, the economy, and the environment, research team dedicated to predicting the fate of oil released into the environment.

Programs and Policies

Yacht Donation Program

In later 2011, SeaKeepers began accepting donations in the form of superyachts and megayachts.[6]

DISCOVERY Yachts Program

The DISCOVERY Yachts Program is SeaKeepers foremost initiative in accomplishing its mission and goals. The program is composed of scientific expeditions, instrument deployments and educational outreach events. SeaKeepers collaborates with numerous organizations, academic institutions and government agencies in order to accomplish its DISCOVERY Yacht missions. SeaKeepers staff work closely with yacht owners and crew to coordinate research and outreach activities that reflect the yacht owner’s ocean-related interests. Vessel owners who generously donate time on their yachts to the SeaKeepers DISCOVERY Yachts Program may qualify for tax benefits to the extent of the law.

Scientific Expeditions

Scientific expeditions provide yacht owners, guests and crew the opportunity to participate in ongoing research while engaging with influential, well-known marine scientists. The largest expense, and often limiting factor, in ocean research is access to an at-sea research platform. Using member yachts, SeaKeepers works with experts in the marine science and oceanography fields to promote and facilitate groundbreaking research. Each scientific expedition is unique, and is organized with both the science and yacht in mind. A list of proposed expeditions is kept up to date on the SeaKeepers website at: www.seakeepers.org/ProgramsPolicies/DiscoveryYachts/InterestedVessels.

Instrument Deployments

SeaKeepers works with a number of institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Argo, to make ongoing oceanographic measurements. The collection of consistent and accurate data is extremely important for oil spill and marine debris accumulation analyses; weather and hurricane prediction models; quality control tests on satellites; and an overall better understanding of the marine environment. It is vital that the global instrument arrays are well distributed; private vessels achieve this along routes which are not typically travelled. Currently SeaKeepers employs the use of two types of devices: SeaKeepers Drifters and Argo Floats

SeaKeepers Drifters The SeaKeepers Drifter is an environmental monitoring device that sits on the ocean surface and extends 15 meters deep into the water column. As the drifter floats along local and global currents, the instrument measures sea surface temperature, current velocity, latitude and longitude, and time. This data is transmitted directly to NOAA and WMO databases and made publicly available.

Argo Floats Argo Floats are technologically advanced water monitoring devices that are programmed to move up and down through the water column while traveling with the ocean currents. These floats sink down to 2000 meters and then rise to the surface, recording salinity, temperature, current velocity, and pressure/depth profiles. Data is sent directly to the Argo database and is made publicly available at www.argo.ucsd.edu. Having this type of data is vital to studying heat transport, ocean-atmosphere relationships, and climate variability. The lifespan of these floats is 5 years or more.

Outreach Programs

SeaKeepers outreach events have focused around marine wildlife, drift-er deployments, plastic pollution, sustainability practices and more. SeaKeepers staff works closely with the yacht owner to determine what type of outreach and with what group will be most appropriate. SeaKeepers have organized outreach trips with local schools, community organizations and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Partnerships

On March 26, 2010 SeaKeepers formed an alliance with Yachts International Magazine to expand the Society's mission and to expand science-based understanding and analysis of global climate change.[7]

In 2012, SeaKeepers partnered with the Volvo Ocean Race.[8]

Leadership

The Scientific Advisory Council

SeaKeepers Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is composed of eminent scientists and ocean advocates who advise staff regarding critical ocean issues. Members of the include:

Board of Directors

Staff

As of December, 2012 - Richard Snow has replaced Dean Klevan as President and CEO. Patty Elkus, Vee King Shaw, and Brian E. Cobb have resigned from the Board of Directors.

The SeaKeeper Award

The SeaKeeper Award is an annual presentation during the Bal de la Mer charity event in Monaco. The honor is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to marine conservation, according to the organization's website. The commendation originated in 1996, and the artwork symbolizes the award and was designed by Dale Evers.[9]

Notable members

References

  1. ↑ Bryne, Diane M. (February 5, 2011). "The Superyacht 6: 6 Ocean-Oriented Charities to Support". Mega Yacht News. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "International Seakeepers Society" Marine Fuel Company. August 18, 2009
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "2002 Environment Award Laureate" The Tech Awards
  4. ↑ "Dockwise Yacht Transport Supports the International SeaKeepers Society" Dockwise Yacht Transport
  5. ↑ Byrne, Diane M.: "International SeaKeepers Society Responding to BP Spill" MegaYacht News, July 1, 2010
  6. ↑ Mathieson, William.:"Yacht Donation Program" Super Yacht News. September 26, 2011
  7. ↑ "SeaKeepers Forms Alliance with Yachts International" Press Release. March 26, 2010
  8. ↑ Byrne, Diane M. "Seeking Superyachts of Opportunity" Mega Yacht News. March 30, 2012
  9. ↑ "SeaKeeper Award" International SeaKeepers Society
  10. ↑ "Walter Cronkite Receives Prestigious SeaKeeper Award" Press Release. July, 2006
  11. ↑ Reed, Lucy Chabot: "SeaKeepers honors Prince Albert II" The Triton, September 25, 2010

External links