INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: FPT INDUSTRIAL SUPPORTS THE TETHYS RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN SPEARHEADING THE CONSERVATION OF MEDITERRANEAN CETACEANS AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, FPT Industrial, the Iveco Group brand dedicated to the design, production, and sale of low-environmental impact powertrains and a global leader in the sector, contributes to the conservation of marine ecosystems by assisting in the delicate challenge of safeguarding the Mediterranean Sea’s biodiversity. In fact, the brand has supported the activities of the Tethys Research Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and conserving the marine environment, especially within the Pelagos Sanctuary, a protected area of about 90,000 km² in the territorial waters of Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas.
Within the Pelagos Sanctuary, established in 1999 on the proposal of Tethys itself, the Institute has conducted research that has now yielded the largest dataset and the longest historic series of scientific data on cetaceans anywhere in the Mediterranean. This priceless asset has been crucial in increasing understanding of population trends over time and thus supporting international strategies for the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean.
The research findings enable the optimal design of targeted strategies to protect the populations of the eight species of cetaceans found in the Pelagos Sanctuary, five of them currently at risk of extinction. Sperm whales are the most vulnerable of these species, with a declining population in the Mediterranean and just a few dozen individuals estimated to be present in the western part of the Sanctuary. Tethys’s work has made, and continues to make, a fundamental contribution to the study of these creatures, some of our planet’s most fascinating and mysterious inhabitants.
Sperm whales do not have any predators in the Mediterranean, and the only threat comes from man: noise and chemical pollution, collisions with boats, bycatch and entanglement and climate change are some of the biggest threats to the survival of this species and the others found in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Therefore, after 40 years in operation, Tethys’s mission is becoming more and more urgent. Aware of the responsibilities implied by global leadership within its sector, FPT Industrial has decided to take on an active role in this challenge, extending the scope of the commitment it shares with Iveco Group to issues of sustainability, an integral part of a development strategy based on scientific research, technological innovation and the effective management of all social and ethical principles related to the company and local communities.
Therefore, FPT Industrial has contributed by supplying two N67 engines, installed on the vessel that bears the Sanctuary’s name, Pelagos. This 21-meter motorsailer, built as a private yacht, is now the operational fulcrum and hub of Tethys’s monitoring activities, carried out regularly every summer. Upgrading this craft’s powertrain has given it fresh energy and revitalized its potential, opening out new prospects for the Tethys team.
In particular the N67 engines’ durability is essential for the continuous, intensive operation required for non-stop monitoring, as is their reliability, which enables simple servicing with oil and filter change intervals of up to 600 hours to minimize downtimes and costs. Another characteristic particularly ideal for this application is the unit’s low noise, a feature of all FPT Industrial marine engines. What’s more, the range of related solutions offered by FPT Industrial Customer Service permits proactive assistance, guaranteeing the engine’s performance and uninterrupted operation.
In the year that marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of their market launch, with more than two million units sold during this time, NEF series engines rank amongst the most impressive achievements of FPT Industrial, which has been serving the marine sector for more than sixty years. Today, the NEF engines constitute the brand’s largest range for pleasure and professional marine duties, available with four different displacements and in mechanical and electronic versions. Thanks to a tailor-made approach, the lines at the Industrial & Marine plant in Turin where the engines are marinized can respond to all personalization needs from customers all over the world, for both commercial and pleasure applications, guaranteeing compliance with international emissions standards and homologation in accordance with classification requirements.
Egle Panzella, Brand Equity and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for FPT Industrial, commented: “We established a strong understanding with Tethys from the outset as we share their goals and their approach to sustainability issues. The Pelagos Sanctuary is a unique place, which must be safeguarded and promoted. We wanted our contribution to this cause to be as effective as possible, so we immediately decided to provide two NEF series engines, to ensure reliability and performance for Tethys’s monitoring work.”
Caterina Lanfredi, Member of the Board of Directors of the Tethys Research Institute and Vice Manager of the Tethys Cetacean Sanctuary Research (CSR) project in the Pelagos Sanctuary, stated: “We were struck at once by FPT Industrial’s strong interest in sustainability and the conservation of biodiversity. Their support for our project and the reliability of their N67 engines enable us to continue our monitoring work in the Sanctuary, in order to increase our knowledge, raise public awareness and help to conserve the cetaceans and their habitat.”
N67 for Tethys – Technical Specifications
Cylinder layout: 6L
Turbocharger: TCA
Displacement [liters]: 6.7
Injection system: MPI
Max power [hp @ rpm]: 280 @ 2800
Max Torque [Nm @ rpm]: 970 @ 1600
Certification: IMO Marpol Tier 2
Dry weight [kg]: 605
Full specifications are available on the FPT Industrial website.
Within the Pelagos Sanctuary, established in 1999 on the proposal of Tethys itself, the Institute has conducted research that has now yielded the largest dataset and the longest historic series of scientific data on cetaceans anywhere in the Mediterranean. This priceless asset has been crucial in increasing understanding of population trends over time and thus supporting international strategies for the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean.
The research findings enable the optimal design of targeted strategies to protect the populations of the eight species of cetaceans found in the Pelagos Sanctuary, five of them currently at risk of extinction. Sperm whales are the most vulnerable of these species, with a declining population in the Mediterranean and just a few dozen individuals estimated to be present in the western part of the Sanctuary. Tethys’s work has made, and continues to make, a fundamental contribution to the study of these creatures, some of our planet’s most fascinating and mysterious inhabitants.
Sperm whales do not have any predators in the Mediterranean, and the only threat comes from man: noise and chemical pollution, collisions with boats, bycatch and entanglement and climate change are some of the biggest threats to the survival of this species and the others found in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Therefore, after 40 years in operation, Tethys’s mission is becoming more and more urgent. Aware of the responsibilities implied by global leadership within its sector, FPT Industrial has decided to take on an active role in this challenge, extending the scope of the commitment it shares with Iveco Group to issues of sustainability, an integral part of a development strategy based on scientific research, technological innovation and the effective management of all social and ethical principles related to the company and local communities.
Therefore, FPT Industrial has contributed by supplying two N67 engines, installed on the vessel that bears the Sanctuary’s name, Pelagos. This 21-meter motorsailer, built as a private yacht, is now the operational fulcrum and hub of Tethys’s monitoring activities, carried out regularly every summer. Upgrading this craft’s powertrain has given it fresh energy and revitalized its potential, opening out new prospects for the Tethys team.
In particular the N67 engines’ durability is essential for the continuous, intensive operation required for non-stop monitoring, as is their reliability, which enables simple servicing with oil and filter change intervals of up to 600 hours to minimize downtimes and costs. Another characteristic particularly ideal for this application is the unit’s low noise, a feature of all FPT Industrial marine engines. What’s more, the range of related solutions offered by FPT Industrial Customer Service permits proactive assistance, guaranteeing the engine’s performance and uninterrupted operation.
In the year that marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of their market launch, with more than two million units sold during this time, NEF series engines rank amongst the most impressive achievements of FPT Industrial, which has been serving the marine sector for more than sixty years. Today, the NEF engines constitute the brand’s largest range for pleasure and professional marine duties, available with four different displacements and in mechanical and electronic versions. Thanks to a tailor-made approach, the lines at the Industrial & Marine plant in Turin where the engines are marinized can respond to all personalization needs from customers all over the world, for both commercial and pleasure applications, guaranteeing compliance with international emissions standards and homologation in accordance with classification requirements.
Egle Panzella, Brand Equity and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for FPT Industrial, commented: “We established a strong understanding with Tethys from the outset as we share their goals and their approach to sustainability issues. The Pelagos Sanctuary is a unique place, which must be safeguarded and promoted. We wanted our contribution to this cause to be as effective as possible, so we immediately decided to provide two NEF series engines, to ensure reliability and performance for Tethys’s monitoring work.”
Caterina Lanfredi, Member of the Board of Directors of the Tethys Research Institute and Vice Manager of the Tethys Cetacean Sanctuary Research (CSR) project in the Pelagos Sanctuary, stated: “We were struck at once by FPT Industrial’s strong interest in sustainability and the conservation of biodiversity. Their support for our project and the reliability of their N67 engines enable us to continue our monitoring work in the Sanctuary, in order to increase our knowledge, raise public awareness and help to conserve the cetaceans and their habitat.”
N67 for Tethys – Technical Specifications