The launch event for the BLACKBOX Project, which aims to develop real-time maritime monitoring capabilities in the Black Sea, was held in Istanbul.
The opening event for the BLACKBOX (FerryBox in the Black Sea) Project, was held at the MEXT Technology Center, hosted by the Turkish Metal Industries Association (MESS).
The event, which brought together project partners and relevant stakeholders from Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia, addressed innovative technologies for monitoring the environmental condition of the Black Sea, regional collaborations, and the future of marine observation systems.

Continuous and Real-Time Marine Monitoring in the Black Sea
The BLACKBOX Project aims to monitor environmental changes in the Black Sea more effectively by supplementing traditional point-sampling methods with continuous, high-temporal-resolution observations. As part of the project, the goal is to establish an integrated monitoring network consisting of FerryBox systems capable of measuring key environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll, and carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO₂).
Thanks to the network—which will consist of four fixed systems planned for Istanbul, Varna, Constanta, and Batumi, along with one mobile system—it is anticipated that continuous data generation and cross-border data sharing across the Black Sea region will be strengthened.
The goal is to support scientific research, foster a better understanding of environmental changes, and contribute to science-based decision-making processes by making the collected data accessible through a shared digital infrastructure.

Various Monitoring Initiatives Have Found Common Ground for the Future of the Black Sea
During the presentations and panel discussions held as part of the opening event, participants assessed current marine monitoring efforts in the Black Sea, innovative observation technologies, and opportunities for collaboration that could be developed through international projects.
The event also drew on experiences from various monitoring initiatives such as BRIDGE-BS, EfxINNOs, DEN-İZ (Integrated Marine Pollution Monitoring Program), and ANEMONE PLUS, and provided a detailed assessment of the sustainability of marine observation systems, data quality, data sharing, and the integration of scientific findings into decision-making processes.

An Innovative Monitoring Infrastructure Is Being Implemented Through a Project That Will Run Through 2028
Through the BLACKBOX Project and international partnerships, it aims to strengthen marine observation capabilities in the Black Sea and promote more effective use of environmental data.
The project, which will be carried out from March 2026 to July 2028, aims to contribute to the environmental sustainability of the Black Sea and to regional scientific cooperation through the development of a monitoring infrastructure and cross-border data-sharing mechanisms.