1995-2025
30 Years of Operational Oceanography
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Celebrating three decades
Since 1995, Mercator Ocean has been at the heart of Europe’s efforts to understand, predict, and protect the Ocean. What began as a bold scientific vision has grown into a collective European and international movement, delivering operational ocean forecasts and open ocean knowledge to users worldwide.
In 2025, we celebrate this journey with our shareholders, partners, and the wider Ocean community, marking 30 years of collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise.
Key Highlights
1995-2010
Building the foundations of global Ocean forecasting
2010-2020
From research to daily operational services, delivering reliable forecasts for users worldwide
2020-2030
Entering the digital era with the European Digital Twin Ocean, supporting science, policy, industry, and society
Throughout these decades, collaboration, open data, and operational excellence have been at the core of everything we do.
30-Year Anniversary Video
Retrace the journey from the first forecasts to today’s Digital Ocean, and the collective effort behind it.
Full video coming January 2026
Voices from Our Shareholders
Hear perspectives from our European and international partners. Explore 10 short videos highlighting what collaboration in operational oceanography means—and how working together makes us stronger.
CMCC is a leading Italian research center focused on understanding climate change and its societal impacts.
CNRS is the French National Centre for Scientific Research - the only French organisation active in all scientific fields.
CNR is the largest Italian public research institution, performing multidisciplinary activities under the Research Ministry.
Ifremer is the only French public research institute entirely dedicated to the Ocean, exploring every frontier of marine science.
IRD is the French research institute for sustainable development, partnering with the Global South and French overseas territories.
Meteo-France is the French national meteorological and climate service.
The Met Office is the United Kingdom’s national weather forecasting service.
The Nansen Center is a Norwegian environmental institute, organised as an independent foundation.
Puertos del Estado is a Spanish public body responsible for coordinating the state-owned port system.
SHOM is the French Hydrography and Oceanography Service.
Next chapter
As we celebrate 30 years of operational oceanography, our mission continues. Together with our community, we are shaping the next generation of Europe’s Digital Ocean Systems—including the Copernicus Marine Service and the EU Digital Twin Ocean.
We aim to enhance observation networks, leverage innovative modelling and artificial intelligence, and strengthen connections between local, national, and global ocean applications. By doing so, we continue to support resilient coastal communities, sustainable ocean management, and the European Commission’s priorities, such as the EU Ocean Pact.
The next chapter is about collaboration, co-design, and action, ensuring operational oceanography remains a public good, delivering accessible and actionable ocean knowledge for science, policy, and society.
Join the conversation
At the upcoming European Digital Ocean Systems Evolution event to explore how we will shape the future of Europe’s digital ocean.
Further Reading
Learn more about the three decades of operational oceanography
At the upcoming European Digital Ocean Systems Evolution event to explore how we will shape the future of Europe’s digital ocean.
Celebrating together at UNOC
Our 30th anniversary was also celebrated during UNOC, gathering the global ocean community to reflect on achievements and look ahead to the future of ocean prediction.
Credit: ©Mercator Ocean, Philippe Fitte