Day: 13 July 2018

The Minister of State has visited, in preview, the new space of the Oceanographic Museum dedicated to the commitment of the Princes of Monaco to the knowledge and the protection of the marine world.

The tour took place on Wednesday, July 11, in the presence of Mrs Marie -Pierre Gamaglia, Minister of Infrastructure, Environment and Urbanism and representatives of various institutions.

This immersive 700-square-metre space is a major addition to the museum’s visitor experience, combining optical theatre, multimedia devices and other features, all focussed on a 27 metre-long scenic ship.

The experience revisits more than 100 years of history and offers a panorama of the current challenges in the protection of the Ocean, while highlighting the Sovereigns’ passion for the sea.

Albert I, the humanist prince, pioneered modern oceanography; Rainier III took the first measures to protect the Mediterranean, based on the explorations of Commander Cousteau; while HSH Prince Albert II mobilises experts and decision-makers to protect the oceans.

The Oceanographic Museum has 650,000 annual visitors.

The Solar & Energy Boat Challenge dedicated to the latest innovations in propulsion has taken to the water again. Since its launch in 2014 by the Monaco Yacht Club, the solar-powered event continues to develop and this year for the first time is open to all clean energy sources, according to powerboat-world.com.

Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Hydros Foundation and the Monaco-based International Powerboating Federation (UIM), this competition is unique in the world, giving young engineers an opportunity to reinvent boating to meet future energy and environmental standards. Thirty teams are taking part, an increase of 25 percent over last year.

“It is part of the Principality’s commitment to the environment led by our President HSH Prince Albert II. If we want to position Monaco as Capital of Yachting, we need to play a part in these technologies,” MYC General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri told powerboat-world.com.

Bertrand Piccard, the man behind Solar Impulse, the first fuel-less zero-emissions plane with limitless autonomy in which he flew round the world, is sponsoring this fifth edition: “‘Im delighted to see what can be achieved with clean energy sources. These boats can compete in races full of suspense and all without any noise or pollution. It really is something that needs to be encouraged,” he said.

The fifth Solar & Energy Boat Challenge takes place from July 12 to 14, centred on Monaco Yacht Club and Port Hercule.

Monaco’s Ambassador to Spain, Jean-Luc Van Klaveren, took the opportunity of the reception offered to celebrate the anniversary of the enthronement of Prince Albert II to emphasise the commitment of the Principality to the preservation of the marine environment.

“The preservation of marine ecosystems has been part of our history since 1911, when Prince Albert I created the Oceanographic Institute,” thediplomatinspain.com webste reported the ambassador as saying.

Toasting the close ties between Monaco and Spain and their respective royal families, Mr Van Klaveren announced that, as of 2020, Monaco will forbid kitchen utensils made of plastic, as it did on January 1, 2017, with plastic bags.

He added out that Monaco – whose sovereign waters are 36 times more extensive than its territory and whose coast has two protected areas – “always looks to the sea as part of its historical and cultural tradition”.

Monaco has been cited as having the most expensive overnight stays for uninsured foreign patients. A study carried out by finder.com put the Principality at the top of the list, with an overnight stay costing 2,924 euros per night – almost seven times the price of a five-star hotel in Monaco, which is 436 euros per night on average.

The personal finance website also claimed that a hospital bed in Norway costs 1,140 euros, while an overnight hospital stay costs 1,062 euros in Qatar.

Jon Ostler, UK CEO at finder.com, said: “An uninsured stay in a foreign hospital can have a financial impact that could take years to recover from.”

On top of the accommodation bill, medicine and specialist treatment must also be considered.