Officially launched on June 13, 2025, at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, this initiative marks a major milestone for global ocean observation. Supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the event brought together international organizations, governments, scientists, and private sector leaders around a shared mission: to equip 10 000 commercial vessels with meteorological and oceanographic sensors to collect critical ocean data by 2035.
Held in the Blue Zone of the UNOC, the launch attracted over 150 participants and demonstrated strong interest from scientific and private sector stakeholders. The momentum reflects a global commitment to scaling up ship-based ocean observations through a broad and coordinated alliance.
