FOREL: At the Innovative Crossroads of Science, Culture, and Education

Returning to Tadoussac for a crew change, the ship anchored in the middle of the bay of this coastal village. It will later continue its expedition to Greenland. There, scientists will notably study the impact of melting glaciers on the ecosystems of Greenland’s fjords, methane emissions released by subglacial flows, and local perceptions of these changing fjords.

With its 28-metre-long hull topped by two immense masts, FOREL is in a league of its own. General Manager Stéphane Aebischer welcomes us for on board for a visit. On the vast aft platform is the rosette, a piece of equipment weighing over 100 kg that is used to collect water samples at specific depths. The heavy winch  on the deck, together with its 1,500-metre cable, allows researchers to collect water in the desired conditions and at the desired depths.

In terms of energy, the boat runs primarily on diesel. A necessary concession for the crew, as the winch  and the desalinator (or “watermaker”) have significant energy requirements. Solar panels line one of the aft deck platforms and power other less energy-intensive equipment, including washing machines, refrigerators and freezers.

FOREL and her crew have a collaborative vision for research. In their contracts, scientists have a maximum two-year embargo on their data before they become publicly accessible. The crew is also collaborating with the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO), whose navigation tool (consisting of wind and current modelling down to the hour) they have found particularly useful! Surface water data collected using the “FerryBox” will be shared free of charge with SLGO. A fine example of collaboration!

In addition to these technological features, FOREL’s mission goes beyond pure research. During its ports of call, the association places a strong emphasis on bolstering its ties with Indigenous communities in the regions it studies. During their next stop in Uummannaq, Greenland, sailors and scientists will meet with community members and the Uummannaq Polar Institute to explain their research projects and organize tours of the boat. The organization notifies communities when it is due to arrive and is active on social media to share the results of its work.

The association certainly has a Nordic flair. Director Stéphane Aebischer has worked in Quebec at the Centre for Northern Studies, as well as with the organizations Takuvik,  , and  . He has also participated in polar expeditions on the research sailing vessels ATKA and  TARA.

Will FOREL ever return to our waters? In any case, “There is interest from Canadian researchers,” notes Stéphane Aebischer, and a need to study this still little-known ecosystem. How can we explain this data gap in the Saguenay Fjord? Hard to say, but he notes that there is “a real lack of this type of mobile research platform in the region.” The research interest is certainly there, and, for the association’s director, there is currently a real awareness: “People are increasingly interested in the fjord and realize what a beautiful ecosystem it is.” The association is apparently ready to conduct research on marine mammals, and the vessel’s low noise emissions bode well for the use of hydrophones.