REPCET: protecting cetaceans

During the crossing between Marseille and the Island of Beauty, the officer or deckhand on watch monitors the navigation and keeps an eye on the water surface from the command bridge.

This watch enables him, when a marine mammal is spotted, to take the coordinates of its position and record them in the REPCET scientific database.

The information is transmitted to all vessels in the area using the program, which are thus alerted to avoid a collision that is most often fatal for cetaceans.

In 2022, a total of 1,300 sightings have been made by the 120 sailors (41 deckhands + 79 officers) specifically trained since 2007 to observe and spot cetaceans.

The Piana and the Girolata cross the Pelagos Sanctuary every day, a maritime area with a rich and remarkable heritage. Our boats bound for Corsica cohabit there with the whale populations present.

Our commitment to the protection of cetaceans during crossings between Corsica and the Continent, is part of a responsible management of our activities. Since 2005, La Méridionale has adopted a policy aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its boats to Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio.

Where is the pelagos sanctuary located?

The Pelagos Sanctuary, is an 87,500 km² Mediterranean maritime area. It is the subject of an agreement between Italy, Monaco and France for the protection of the marine mammals that live in it. Thanks to REPCET, La Méridionale contributes to the preservation of cetaceans during its crossings between the Isle of Beauty and the Continent.