Congresswoman Jenniffer González and Norwegian Ambassador promote the study of the oceans
Ponce, Puerto Rico –Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón and the Ambassador of Norway to the United States, Anniken Ramberg Krutnes, are on the island promoting oceanography. Today, they met with students in the municipality of Villalba and also toured the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Training Ship, which is docked at the Port of Ponce.
This vessel is traveling around the world equipped as a scientific research vessel, collecting meteorological and hydrographic data along with samples of fish, microplastics, zooplankton, eDNA and carbon dioxide in the water.
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl is Norway's oldest and largest square-rigged sailing ship and also the oldest among the large square rigs in operation today.
The ship is currently sailed by first-year cadets from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, who participate in leadership training and team building as part of the Norwegian Navy's basic training program.
“Norway is a natural ally of the United States, economically and in the terms of national security, the environment, and others. This visit has a very important role because it is scientific. This ship was sailing the world and doing valuable research so we can learn about how each country can work to support and improve the conditions of our oceans . Now this ship is returning to Norway, and the fact that they would have chosen Puerto Rico as the final stop in the US is be a privilege for us,” said the Congresswoman.
“This vessel has been sailing the world for 19 months for a scientific research project on the ocean, something that is very important for us and for Puerto Rico, to increase the knowledge of the oceans. We need to know more about the sea, which is so important to us. This visit from that ship is also very important. It is officially a visit from the Norwegian Navy and it is a sign of the significance of our military cooperation between Norway, a member of NATO from the beginning. The United States is our most important ally and our political, but also military, relations are very, very good and this visit is proof of this,” said Ambassador Ramberg.
The Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, Rep. González Colón, also took Ambassador Ramberg to the Center for Educational Opportunities in Villalba (CROEV in Spanish), a school that specializes in science and mathematics, where they met with students of specialized programs in oceans and other initiatives.
“It has been a great pleasure working with Ambassador Anniken, with whom I share similarities. Just as I am the first woman to represent Puerto Rico in Congress, she is a pioneer in her country by being the first woman to hold the position of Ambassador to the United States. Likewise, we share the mission of promoting STEM education and the conservation of the oceans. I took the ambassador to CROEV where she was shown what public school students do, and their research with underwater equipment and robotic designs. The students had the opportunity to meet the Ambassador and learn about initiatives that are being carried out in Norway for these same purposes. Likewise, the Ambassador was able to see the caliber of talented students on the Island and the projects they work on from an early age.
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