%0 journal article %@ 0093-3651 %A Petersen, W.,Schroeder, F.,Engelke, C. %D 2006 %J Sea Technology %N 1 %P 53 %T FerryBox - A “Mature” System for Operational Monitoring - Automated Observations of Coastal Waters and Estuaries by Ships of Opportunity %U 1 %X Operational monitoring of coastal waters and shelf seas is mainly carried out by manual sampling and analysis during ship cruises. In addition, in situ sensors on buoys allow routine measurement of parameters such as temperature, salinity, currents, turbidity, oxygen and chlorophyll fluorescence. However, these systems are strongly affected by biofouling and the maintenance/operation costs are high, mainly due to ship costs.,In order to overcome these restrictions a new automated system (“FerryBox-Module”) has been,developed by the GKSS Research Centre, Institute for Coastal Research, and the company -4HJENA engineering GmbH which allows unattended operation over long periods on ships of,opportunities or coastal/riverine structures (stationary application).