Description of the french FerryBox systems :

The ferry box systems installed onboard MV “Armorique” and “Pont Aven” are commercially ferrybox systems from the 4H-Jena company which developped the german FerryBox with the german institute Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. Ferry box systems installed on the two french ferries are strictly identical and are operated by CNRS/INSU Station Biologique de Roscoff (MV “Armorique”) and Ifremer Brest (MV “Pont Aven”).

Principle:

Water is pumped into the ship from inlets in front of the ship propulsive (Armorique) or cooling (Pont Aven) systems. A debubbling unit removes air bubbles (which may enter the system during heavy seas) from entering subsurface seawater which circulates with a constant velocity of about 1 m/s in an internal water loop equipped with the different sensors. The system is run fully automatically and is controlled by a programmable logic control which can shut-off the system in case of very severe errors. Automatic cleaning cycles of the sensors with tap water and acidified water are systematically operated at the arrival of ships in harbours to prevent sensors from biofouling or clogging by particles. Currently the two french FerryBox systems have identical sensors for the following parameters:

• water temperature,
• salinity,
• dissolved oxygen,
• chlorophyll-a fluorescence,
• turbidity,
• CDOM;

In the next future the following expansion is planned:

• pCO2

Ship’s position and time are measured together with the other data collected from sensors. Once every minute, the Ferrybox systems measure the above different parameters at a depth of four meters along the routes of the vessels corresponding to about one measurement every 500 meters.