Catherine Connolly to attend launch of ‘floating classroom’ named after explorer

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The President is to officiate the launch of a yacht transformed into a “floating classroom” for young people to explore the ocean.

Catherine Connolly will attend the launch ceremony for the Spirit of Shackleton in Dun Laoghaire Plaza on Friday.

The 70ft clipper race yacht will take crews of young people to more than 20 destinations across the Caribbean as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

For each voyage, the yacht will carry a crew of 15-16, led by a professional skipper and mate alongside volunteer sailors and up to 12 trainees.

The Atlantic Shackleton Global Foundation said the international sailing programme will “educate the next generation of young oceangoing innovators” on the health of the seas.

The programme, named in honour of Co Kildare-born explorer Ernest Shackleton, will see more than 350 young people engage with scientists and maritime professionals as part of the experience.

Naomh McElhatton, executive director, Atlantic Shackleton Global Foundation, said: “This is the first step in the realisation of a broader vision to position Ireland as a leader in ocean education, exploration and the development of the blue economy.”

The Spirit of Shackleton has been purpose-designed as a multi-functional ocean lab and learning environment to facilitate youth development, marine research, blue tech integration and STEM education at sea.

The event will be held in Dun Laoghaire on Friday evening.

The Atlantic Shackleton Global Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which says it is dedicated to empowering young people to confront the world’s “greatest challenges”, with a focus on the oceans “in crisis”.