Francesco Ferretti faced a logistical crisis as his shark tracking expedition fell through amid pandemic disruptions. Turning to Yachts for Science, he secured a private yacht that, despite non-scientific design limitations, aided the research effort. The yacht's crew actively participated, reflecting a trend where marine researchers seek support from the underutilized luxury yacht industry to address resource constraints. As costs for conventional research vessels soar, organizations are emerging to connect affluent yacht owners with research initiatives, creating mutual benefits and opportunities for scientific exploration.
Whenever the crew was there, and we were actually doing science, they were available to help. Sometimes you need hands, or you need other people to do stuff for you, to facilitate even the most trivial things, like organizing buckets or helping with sampling.
Ferretti's experience represents a growing movement in marine research, where luxury meets necessity.
Renting one of those vessels for an oceanographic expedition like this can cost upwards of $50,000 per day, according to Ferretti, a huge sum to raise for many scientists facing budget constraints.
Organizations like Yachts for Science, the International SeaKeeper and others are working to bridge the gap between wealthy yacht owners and research needs.
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