SeaCras, in partnership with Smeco AS, is currently conducting a bilateral project titled ‘Feasibility Study for SeaCras’s Earth Observation-Enabled Products to Foster Sustainable Blue Growth and Norway’s Coastal Tourism’. This project is funded by Innovation Norway under the name ‘Bilateral Cooperation in Green and Blue Sectors Between Croatia and Norway’.
The project’s goal is not only to test the value proposition of SeaCras products, designed and developed for stakeholders in the cruising industry, maritime transport, and coastal tourism, but also to complement it with an actual demonstration study of marine emissions across a network of locations, including ports, fjords, and protected marine areas.
Through the implementation of the SeaCras system across multiple locations in Norway, along with Smeco AS’s network connections and dissemination activities, a groundbreaking large-scale study of marine emissions from cruise ships and port operators across entire destinations is being developed and articulated among stakeholders. The new era of sustainable business demands that environmental assessments be integrated into business models. Consequently, feasibility studies as strategic documents must evolve to reflect this shift.
SeaCras’s unique value lies in its ability to monitor dozens of locations simultaneously. This capability provides an unparalleled perspective on the interplay between cruising and tourism business operations and their impact on the marine environment in Norwegian fjords, bays, and coastlines.
Studies like this will be crucial for the sustainable development of the cruising industry. Future projects will expand to large-scale studies in the Adriatic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Red Sea, and beyond.
As promised, part of the results will be published in the UN Ocean Prediction Atlas to encourage community involvement in conservation and restoration projects, as well as to promote open data and open science practices.
We extend our gratitude to Innovation Norway for their support through grants, mentorship, and continuous collaboration.