Expedition Yacht in Ecuador to Support Earthquake Relief Efforts
Ocean News
Muisne, Ecuador -- May 9, 2016 - The Motor Vessel Umbra is in Ecuador to assist in recovery efforts after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country on April 16. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (UNOCHA) 660 people were killed in the quake, thousands were injured and tens of thousands required emergency shelter.
Owned by the Dalio Foundation and managed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Umbra is partnering with Precision Helicopters, YachtAid Global, LIFT Non-Profit Logistics and a Disaster Assistance Relief Team (DART). Transportation of the DART was provided by United Airlines through their NGO partner AirLink. Upon arrival at Manta, the team worked with the Ecuadorian Navy and ShelterBox to deliver a thousand emergency shelter kits from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Panama. When assembled the kits provide temporary housing for about 4,000 people.
Umbra is a 54-meter steel/aluminum yacht built by Damen/Amels. She is equipped with a dive center and tenders, lab space for media and science, a large helicopter deck and an A-Star helicopter operated by Precision. The ship is configured to support diving, ocean science, media and helicopter operations.
Since arriving in Ecuador, Umbra has provided officials with helicopter support for aerial damage assessment and transfers of personnel and supplies. She has also been using her onboard water making capabilities to convert seawater to thousands of gallons of freshwater for delivery to those in need onshore.
Umbra previously supported disaster relief efforts last March in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu after that country was struck by category 5 Cyclone Pam. In addition to supporting relief operations Umbra provides diverse users with a platform for science expeditions, media operations and private charters.
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