UN: 10,000 Ships to Monitor Ocean Health
The UN is launching a bold “10,000 Ships for the ocean” initiative, a crucial step to boost ocean health monitoring. This program will enlist 10,000 commercial vessels to collect and transmit vital ocean and weather data by 2035, substantially enhancing the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Backed by the WMO and major shipping players, this collaborative effort aims to improve weather forecasting and climate models while optimizing shipping routes. News Directory 3 reports on this initiative that addresses critical data gaps. What impacts will this have on coastal communities and our understanding of climate change? Discover what’s next.
UN Ocean Conference Launches “10,000 Ships” Initiative for Ocean Data
Updated June 10, 2025
Ocean Observing System (GOOS) through maritime industry collaboration for data collection. (Credit: kizito Makoye/IPS)
NICE,France—A new initiative to transform global ocean observation was unveiled this week at the UN Ocean Conference. The
“10,000 ships for the Ocean” program aims to recruit 10,000 commercial vessels to gather and transmit crucial ocean and
weather data by 2035, significantly expanding the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).
The program will collaborate with the maritime industry to install advanced automated sensors on ships worldwide.
“Ships have observed the ocean for centuries, but today we are scaling up with purpose,” said Joanna Post, director of the
Global Ocean Observing system at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). She added the initiative aims to
create a “win-win” model, providing data for forecasting and resilience while optimizing shipping routes and reducing risks.
The initiative,supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO),France,and major shipping companies,comes as
climate-related disasters increasingly impact coastal communities. Ocean surface observations are vital for weather forecasts,
early warning systems, climate models, and maritime safety.
post emphasized the critical role of ocean observations, stating, “Ocean observations are not just a scientific endeavor. They
are critical infrastructure for society.We need this data to understand climate change, predict extreme weather events, and
respond to disasters. Yet the ocean remains vastly under-observed.”
Currently, only about 1,000 ships regularly share data with scientific networks. The “10,000 Ships” initiative seeks to
increase this tenfold, providing near real-time data to support the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, the Global
Greenhouse Gas Watch, and the UN Ocean Decade goals.
Mathieu Belbéoch, Manager of OceanOPS, described the system as a “complex infrastructure” of satellites, buoys, and ships.”If you want to make any prediction,you need observation,” Belbéoch said. “Commercial vessels are the missing link in helping
us build a more complete picture of what is happening at sea.”
Belbéoch noted that while maritime observation has a long history, notable data gaps remain. “This initiative is about
making use of the ships already out there. The ocean is our blind spot, and yet it drives our climate.”
Shipping companies are invited to voluntarily join the program by installing standardized observation equipment. Post noted, “It’s
a smart business move as along with serving the common good, it helps the industry reduce fuel costs, increase safety,
and meet sustainability goals.”
When asked about participation from developing countries, Post explained that partnership is crucial. “Even if countries don’t
have large commercial fleets, they can benefit from the data and engage through science, policy, or by hosting data centers.
Inclusivity is key to making this a truly global system.”
The launch of the 10,000 Ships initiative coincides with growing momentum around the Agreement on the Conservation and
Enduring Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the High Seas
Treaty.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called the BBNJ a “historic step” and urged nations to ratify it quickly.
The conference’s joint declaration calls for concrete commitments by 2030 and 2035, aligning the 10,000 Ships program with
broader Sustainable Growth Goals and the UN Ocean Decade’s Challenge 7: expanding the Global Ocean Observing System.
Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, stated, “The ocean has long given to us. It’s
time we give back—through action, technology, and partnerships. 10,000 ships is not a dream. It’s an imperative.”
“Ocean observations are not just a scientific endeavor. They are critical infrastructure for society,” said Post.
What’s next
As oceans warm and extreme weather intensifies, this initiative marks a critical step toward a more informed and cooperative
global response. With the right tools and partnerships, the vastness of the sea need not mean it remains unknown.