FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Night Vision company helps eco-conscious sailor find her way in the dark.

Alexia Barrier, 29, has just set sail on her Scientific World Solo Tour called “4MyPlanet”. Her voyage, which started just after lunch on January 11, 2010, will take her from Monaco to Africa via Cape Town, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the eastern seaboard of the US, and back to Monaco by mid-May 2010.  The purpose of her trip is to collect water and atmospheric data as part of a global survey on climatic change and to raise awareness about the state of the world’s oceans.

Her home for this voyage is a 60' Jeanneau sailboat, specially outfitted as an energy-conserving marine laboratory: no onboard fuel or gasoline, the boat is powered by wind, electric engine and batteries. The scientific equipment on board is a thermosalinograph, which is powered by these eco-friendly, low carbon footprint power systems. The temperature and the salinity of the water are transmitted on a regular basis to researchers in the USA through the International Seakeepers Society and in France at IFREMER (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer).

“It gets very dark on the open ocean and there are hazards, even for a large, experienced crew. The ability to see navigational hazards is especially crucial for a sailor travelling solo. Current Corporation’s mandate is saving lives, so to help keep Alexia safe, we are donating our Night Navigator™ system” says Douglas Houghton, President of Current Corporation. Mr. Houghton was present in Monaco this January for the gala send-off, which was attended by a number of dignitaries including His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The system will reduce the stress of her solo voyage by allowing her to see obstructions such as other ships, buoys and even floating ice chunks called bergy bits, that conventional radar wouldn’t pick up. It will also allow her to track whale movement at night, an activity normally limited to daytime using conventional optics.

“This is a very new, very exciting opportunity to both study and protect whales,” continues Doug. “Every marine research vessel, every ferry that travels at night needs a Night Navigator™. It reduces the stress of night-watches for people and its safer for the marine mammals.” In November 2008, Current Corporation installed the world's first-ever whale spout detection system to help Hawaiian Superferries “see” the marine mammals on their night trips. Their success was highlighted in an April 2009 Discovery Channel segment of Daily Planet.

Current Corporation is proud to support Alexia Barrier of 4MyPlanet and her goals of raising awareness and learning more about our world’s vital ocean resources. For more information please visit www.currentcorp.com and www.4myplanet.eu