On September 1, 2026, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere celebrated the 130th anniversary of the first Portuguese oceanographic campaign with a ceremony aboard the Research Vessel Mário Ruivo, in Lisbon. The event was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, and representatives of the Portuguese Royal House, highlighting the historical significance of this date.
The first oceanographic campaign, conceived by King D. Carlos I, began in 1896 and was marked by systematic studies of marine currents, plankton, and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean. These investigations established the foundations for the development of oceanography in Portugal.
During the ceremony, a new oceanographic campaign aligned with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive was also announced. The Mário Ruivo, which underwent a modernization process valued at seven million euros, now has advanced equipment such as sonar systems and echo sounders, which allow for the optimization of the study of ocean depths.
The ship recently returned from the AMPO2026 mission, focused on the Protected Marine Areas of Portugal's Extended Continental Shelf. José Guerreiro, President of IPMA, emphasized that this modernization increases the national capacity to study and protect the ocean, linking the legacy of D. Carlos I to contemporary challenges of environmental preservation.
