Marseille, Departure Point for Posidonia Connect Italy mission
It is in the Phocaean city, the historic cradle of Posidonia protection, that the Ocean & Climate Odyssey of the Race for Water Foundation makes another major stop. From May 5 to 7, 2026, the zero-emission catamaran MODX 70 will dock at the Ponton d’Honneur of Marseille’s Old Port to officially launch the Posidonia Connect project.
This initiative extends the lessons learned from the Posidonia Mission 2025, conducted along the PACA coast, and marks the beginning of a strengthened collaboration with the GIS Posidonie.
Why Marseille?
A city whose history has always been intertwined with the sea, Marseille demonstrates a renewed commitment to safeguarding this marine heritage, particularly through the Posidonia Plan, which works to better conserve and restore seagrass meadows. It is within this dynamic that we choose to launch Posidonia Connect, a major initiative aimed at improving the monitoring and protection of Posidonia meadows throughout the Mediterranean.
Stopover Program: Three Days of Commitment
📅 Tuesday, May 5
- 11:00 AM Launch Press Conference
- 1:30 PM – 5:15 PM Educational Tour: Middle and high school students discover the ship and zero-emission technologies, featuring a dedicated Posidonia activity in collaboration with Ocean Academy.
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Public Lecture: "Race for Water Odysseys & Posidonia Connect Project" at Marseille City Hall (Salle Bailli de Suffren).
- 🎟️ Free registration mandatory: urlr.me/8RftDu
- 🎟️ Free registration mandatory: urlr.me/8RftDu
📅 Wednesday, May 6
- 8:30 AM – 12:15 PM & 1:30 PM – 5:15 PM Educational Tours (continuous sessions)
- 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Workshop: "Sail & Decarbonation: From Technical Innovation to Training Future Officers" in collaboration with ENSM.
- Limited spaces, by invitation only.
📅 Thursday, May 7
- Morning: Boarding and Departure – The MODX 70 leaves Marseille heading for Porto Torres (Sardinia).
Beyond Marseille: The Complete Itinerary
After this stop in Marseille, the MODX 70 will continue its mission through several strategic zones:
- Sardinia: Asinara, Capo Testa, and Tavolara sites (preserved areas serving as laboratories).
- Gulf of Naples: Ischia (natural acidification), Sorrento (tourist pressure), Bacoli (degraded site).
- Return: Stop in Naples on May 22, then Toulon on May 28 for the closing conference.
GIS Posidonie Expertise and the EBQI Indicator
A central element of Posidonia Connect is the use of the EBQI indicator (Ecosystem-based Quality Index), developed by GIS Posidonie under the Marha project supported by the European LIFE program.
Unlike traditional monitoring that focuses solely on the plant, the EBQI evaluates the ecosystem in its entirety: plant vitality, invertebrate communities, fish, birds, and ecological processes. This holistic approach is essential to obtain a true picture of marine health and guide conservation policies.
Join the Movement
Posidonia is not an algae, but a marine plant that plays a crucial role in climate resilience: a carbon sink, coastal protection against erosion, and an essential habitat for biodiversity. Facing anthropogenic and climatic pressures, Posidonia Connect aims to develop a common and robust protocol for the entire Mediterranean basin.
Want to know more?
- Follow the adventure on our social media
- Register for the May 5th conference
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