Berlin / Lorient / Monaco, May 2025
As Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia unveiled the Malizia Explorer at the German Ocean Conference, a bold new chapter in ocean science began — with SOOP – Shaping an Ocean Of Possibilities at its heart to support and equip this state-of-the-art sailing research vessel, built to push the boundaries of climate science, outreach, and global awareness.
Marking an evolution of Team Malizia’s mission “A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!”, the Malizia Explorerwill operate independently from racing, undertaking focused research expeditions to some of the most remote and climate-critical regions of our planet.
SOOP has played a vital role in making this vision a reality. In addition to contributing to the ship’s scientific infrastructure, SOOP is equipping the vessel with a comprehensive suite of advanced measurement technologies, including:
PlanktoScope – for plankton imaging and biodiversity tracking
OASIS – Open-source Automated Sea Imaging System – a flow through imaging system to monitor plankton and particulate carbon
Metbox – for meteorological data collection
Drifter – lagrangian drifting sensors
Sailingbox – a compact all-in-one solution developed by SOOP for seamless environmental data capture
“The launch of Malizia Explorer is a wonderful follow-up to seven years of cooperation with Team Malizia,” says Toste Tanhua, SOOP Coordinator at GEOMAR. “Together, we’ve collected valuable ocean CO₂, salinity and temperature data during three around-the-world races and numerous offshore events—delivering datasets from remote and otherwise unmeasured parts of the global ocean. Now, with a dedicated low-emission research vessel, this partnership takes a big leap forward for sustainable ocean observation.”
Team Malizia’s long-standing collaboration with scientific institutions like AWI, GEOMAR, and Hereon now expands with the inclusion of SOOP, a partner uniquely positioned to drive ocean observation forward through innovation and accessibility. The data generated through this mission will contribute to global climate models, biodiversity assessments, and ocean health monitoring.
“Teaming up with the Malizia Explorer offers a unique opportunity to test new instruments in real-world conditions,” adds Klas Ove Möller, SOOP Coordinator at Hereon. “This collaboration enhances our outreach, supports high-profile science, and strengthens our mission to improve ocean observing and deliver data for a sustainable blue economy.”
The Malizia Explorer will be officially christened in Monaco on 6 June 2025 by world-renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. Its inaugural voyages will include Mediterranean field missions followed by Antarctic expeditions as part of the global Antarctica InSync and Danger Islands projects.
As climate urgency grows, partnerships like this between scientists, sailors, and innovators offer a powerful blueprint for international cooperation. We are proud to give the ocean a stronger voice—one data point at a time.
Media Contact SOOP:
Myriam Dutzi
mdutzi@geomar.de
Media Contact Malizia Explorer:
Hélène Katz
helene@borisherrmannracing.com
