A marine observation device known as Sailbuoy is scheduled to tackle a scientific mission to monitor a set of meteorological and bio-chemical variables over the almost nine hundred nautical miles that separate the island of Gran Canaria from the island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde.

he mission forms part of the AtlantOS and MARCET projects, under the technical and operational supervision of the Canary Island Oceanic Platform. Sailbuoy will be sailing for several weeks, depending on the surface currents and winds that it encounters on its voyage through the waters of Macaronesia between the Canary Islands and Cape Verde.

Sailbuoy, designed by Offshore Sensing, consists of a small-sized, autonomous platform that has the look and the components of a sail boat, allowing it to harness the wind as a source of propulsion, and it can cover long distances over the ocean, thanks to a precise positioning and navigation system. It is fitted with a set of sensors to measure both atmospheric variables (wind, air temperature, humidity and air pressure) and oceanographic variables (water temperature, conductivity, pigments, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and hydrocarbons) that are transmitted in real time by a two-way, satellite telemetry system, which is also used by the pilot to send the device instructions when needed and to monitor the operational status of the vessel at all times.

AtlantOS and MARCET are projects in which PLOCAN plays and active part in the field of oceanic observation of meteorological and oceanographic variables using efficient, sustainable, cutting-edge technology, such as gliders or ASVs (Autonomous Surface Vehicle).

The AtlantOS Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research programme by virtue of Grant Agreement nº 633211. The MARCET Project is co-funded by the INTERREG V Spain-Portugal Territorial Co-operation Programme (MAC 2014-2020) / Trans-border Co-operation.