After setting sail on the 7th of January 2026, the crew onboard the Malizia Explorer headed south, the bow of the vessel pointed toward the Western Antarctic Peninsula. While some team members were still tucked away below deck, recovering from their first days of finding their sea legs, Dr. Lea Olivier from the Alfred Wegener Institute was keeping a close watch on the horizon. She was looking for fog, which often accompanies the “Antarctic Convergence” and signals the transition into polar  waters.

In collaboration with the Blue Marine Foundation and Instituto Vida no Oceano, the Malizia Explorer will embark on a mission to Fernando de Noronha to document and share the importance of safeguarding Ocean biodiversity. The expedition will support research for the creation of a new Marine Protected Area around nearby deep-sea seamounts, which are ecosystems rich in marine life but increasingly impacted by human activities.

Vital biodiversity data will be collected using BRUVs (Baited Remote Underwater Video), acoustic receivers, plankton sampling, diving surveys and our OceanPack. This research will guide protection measures for sharks, whales and other key species, aiming to ensure the long-term preservation of this unique ecosystem.