Qatar University’s new marine research vessel Janan was the centre of attraction at a reception held yesterday at Doha Port in the presence of three ministers and other dignitaries.Janan is a major donation to the national university from HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani who is also the chairperson of its Board of Regents.It is for use by QU’s Environmental Studies Centre to advance marine environmental studies and research in Qatar and the Gulf region. The vessel had arrived in Qatar on January 15 this year at the end of a month-long journey crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Suez Cannel, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and through the Arabian Gulf. Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa al-Thani, Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and Minister of Environment HE Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aaboud al-Midhadhi were present.QU president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad, members of the diplomatic corps, QU vice-presidents and officials from academic institutions in Qatar were also present.In her opening remarks, Prof al-Misnad described the occasion as a historic moment for Qatar University and observed that Janan is a dream that has become reality for Qatari researchers in the field of environment and marine studies.“Janan is not just a vessel, it launches a new area of research that is expected to attract Qatari scholars who will conduct advanced studies in Qatar’s waters and those of the Gulf.”Prof al-Misnad explained that students and faculty would also benefit from the vessel’s modern technologies and laboratories. “Students will have invaluable opportunities to have training and practical sessions using the state-of-the art equipment the vessel possesses,” she said.
“We are proud of the future and potential of Janan in supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 which holds preservation of the environment as a priority,” she added. QU vice-president for research Dr Hassan al-Derham stated that through Janan and other research initiatives, QU would continue to affirm its leading role in research with the ultimate objective to become a reputable institution for education and research. Referring to QU’s unique and vigorous efforts on environmental issues, he cited the establishment of a Master’s in Environmental Sciences at College of Arts & Sciences and Master’s in Environmental Engineering at College of Engineering. Dr al-Derham highlighted the work of the ESC which includes marine environmental surveys and the establishment of a comprehensive database that help researchers identify and follow prevailing conditions in the marine environment. ESC director Dr Mohsin al-Ansi observed that Janan was expected to make a remarkable improvement in the field of environmental studies in Qatar. Janan replaces the vessel Mukhtabar Al-Bihar which was the first initiative aimed at maintaining and preserving Qatar’s marine environment. “For more than three decades, it was an effective mobile laboratory serving various areas of marine science and used to perform a range of marine research such as fisheries, marine biology, physical, chemical and geological oceanography,” al-Ansi pointed out. Prof al-Misnad distributed recognition certificates to those from outside QU who contributed to promoting and developing marine research initiatives and activities for 30 years. Marine Brigadier-General Saeed Mohamed al-Swaidi was recognised for his contribution to supervising QU’s first marine research vessel Mukhtabar Al Bihar, as was Marine Colonel Yousef Ahmed al-Malki who participated, along with the QU team, in designing and following up the building process of Janan. Also recognised were Marine Brigadier-General Ahmed Mohamed Abdul Jabbar who sailed Mukhtabar Al Bihar from Norway and was its first Captain; and Brigadier-Generals Hasan Saad al-Kubaisi, Ali Salem al-Jaber, Khaled Saif al-Nasser, Ibrahim Saad al-Kubaisi, Ahmed Mohamed al-Obaidli, and Yousef Sultan al-Jaber.Appreciation was extended to the Coasts and Border Security Department under Brigadier Ali Ahmad Saif al-Bedaid al-Mannai and First Lieutenants Fahed Abdulla al-Meslimani, Rashed Issa al-Swaidi, Mohamed Hammad al-Mansoori, Ali Hesham al-Mannai, and Abdulla Khaled al-Mraikhi, for facilitating the arrival of Janan into Doha Port. Janan, which has an overall length of 42.8m, breadth of 10m, and gross registered tonnage of more than 1,000 tonnes, can sail non-stop for 21 days or about 4,500km, and accommodate a total of 30 technical, administrative and research staff.