The scope of the upcoming edition of Monaco Ocean Week is as wide as the world’s oceans themselves. 

From shipping and its impact on marine ecosystems around the globe to ocean acidification and marine C02 removal, coral reef protections, the Blue Economy and the increasing demand for improved financing and investment, as well as the pressing need to address coastal erosion, the topics and themes scheduled for debate and discussion at next month’s events are far-ranging and full of ambition. 

Between Monday 18th and Friday 22nd March, dozens of talks and conferences will be taking place across the Principality, and many will also be streamed online to allow the public-at-large to participate and hear about the latest discoveries, technologies and policies being made in the field. 

Prince Albert II will open the event on Monday 18th March at the Monaco Blue Initiative, which will be held in the Musée Océanographique de Monaco. The main goals of the Monaco Blue Initiative are to “explore and promote synergies between the protection of the marine environment and the development of a truly sustainable blue economy”. It is likely to attract a diverse crowd of government representatives, NGOs, international organisations, the private sector and the media.  

Other major cross-sector events include the Pelagos Forum and a meeting of the MedFund’s Board of Directors on Tuesday 19th, the Ocean Innovators Platform on Wednesday 20th, and the Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous between Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd March. 

See more: Monaco Ocean Week: Prince Albert launches ReOcean Fund to encourage private investors to save the oceans

A range of biodiversity-themed events are in the works, such as the meeting of the Mediterranean Posidonia Network and two cetacean conferences on Wednesday 20th March, one of which will be held for students at Monaco’s École Saint-Charles.  

A full day will be dedicated to the extensive ‘Blue Economy Roundtable: Shipping and the Triple Crisis’ conference that will be headed by the Centre Scientifique de Monaco’s Doctor Nathalie Hilmi on Tuesday 19th March at the Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel.  

Science and technology highlights include the 3D seafloor mapping workshop organised by the Mediterranean Science Commission between Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st and a review of the Monaco Explorations Indian Ocean Expedition in 2022. 

Climate and other environmental issues will be discussed at a variety of events, from the marine carbon dioxide removal presentation on Tuesday 19th to an aquaculture-themed talk and a separate coastal resilience conference on Wednesday 20th , as well as a sustainable fashion event on Friday 22nd March. 

To explore the full programme, click here.  

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Photo credit: Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco

Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum will host the inaugural Padel Best Expo, a new concept from the creators of the Five Padel Cup, from 7^th to 9^th April 2024. The event is set to showcase the latest technology and trends in the sport as well as bring together players from across the global padel community.

The event will not only serve as a hub for padel fans, but it will also host a stage of the CUPRA FIP Tour 2024, which is managed by the International Padel Federation, marking it as a key moment in the worldwide professional padel circuit.

Roberta Ceccarelli, the CEO of BSG, which founded the Five Padel Cup, emphasises Padel Best Expo’s objectives: “The Padel Best Expo is cantered on three pillars: entertainment, showcasing the padel universe and innovation.”

The event will highlight the crossover appeal of padel with the participation of Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko, the 2004 Golden Ball winner and former AC Milan striker, as an ambassador for ‘Football for Ukraine’. A portion of the proceeds from the event will also benefit Fight Aids Monaco, the HIV charity founded by Monaco’s Princess Stéphanie.

Cécilia D’Ambrosio, the president of the Monegasque Padel Federation, has shared her enthusiasm for the partnership with BSG, noting, “The Padel Best Expo aligns perfectly with our goals to promote padel’s growth in Monaco and beyond. It marks the beginning of a promising collaboration aimed at showcasing a sport that’s gaining worldwide popularity.”

Alongside the main event, the Five Padel Cup will hold its second edition and a series of temporary courts will be set up in and around the venue to facilitate the high-powered play. The Barbagiuans of Monaco, led by Louis Ducruet and founded by Prince Albert II, will compete in the tournament and the home side is set to include a number of famous names and faces. Player details will be announced soon.

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, click here.

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Photo source: Oliver Sjostrom, Unsplash

A new report from Monaco’s dedicated statistical agency, IMSEE, has lifted the lid on the Principality’s civil service and its diverse workforce.  

Some 5,153 people were employed in the Monegasque civil service in 2023, a slight increase of 2.1% or an additional 106 workers on the previous year.  

Three-quarters of the workforce are connected to government roles. The Interior Ministry is the largest employer, which represents around 40% of these workers, followed by the Ministry of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development with a 15% share. A combined 19% work for the Ministries of State, Finance and the Economy, and Health and Social Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs employs the remaining 2%.  

15% of Monaco’s public sector employees work for the Mairie, 4% are employed at the Palais Princier de Monaco, the Justice Department retains 3% of civil servants and the remaining 2% work for foundations or public organisations.  

DEMOGRAPHICS 

The average age of a civil servant in the Principality is 43.5 years, with the gender split between men and women set at 56:44. French nationals are the most represented nationality in the public sector labour force, at 69%, though Monegasques make a strong showing: one in four public sector workers holds Monegasque citizenship.  

44% of the workforce lives in Monaco and 56% live in the Alpes-Maritimes. 

To check out the figures for yourself, click here.

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Photo source: Mony Misheal, Unsplash

On 7th March, 70 musicians from the Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince will take to the stage of the Grimaldi Forum for a very special one-off concert that will mark the release of a brand-new double album and raise funds for the important work being done by the Princess Charlene Foundation. 

Led by French TV personality Stéphane Bern, a man renowned for his specialist coverage of European nobility and royalty, the evening will be a celebration of the enduring talents of the Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince, a group that was created back in 1966 under the auspices of Monaco’s music-loving Prince Rainier III. 

Made up of mostly brass and woodwind instruments, with trumpets, saxophones and trombones at its heart, the ensemble has established itself as a source of an “eclectic and rich repertoire combining tradition and modernity” that has delighted audiences for nearly six decades.  

The esteemed band typically plays at official ceremonies, sporting events and public occasions in Monaco, but also travels the world for unique performances, such as the incredible event in New York City’s Times Square last June.  

See more: Photos: Prince’s Carabinieri Orchestra takes New York by storm

A double album of works by the Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince will be launched at the upcoming gala evening, allowing guests and fans of the orchestra to take a piece of this cultural heritage home with them to enjoy at leisure.  

Tickets to the events had, per Prince Albert II’s wishes, been offered free of charge in lieu of donations made on the night to the Princess Charlene Foundation. A victim of their own success, all seats have now been taken.  

For more information about the event, click here.

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department

A special Women of Monaco luncheon held in honour of International Women’s Rights Day next month is to champion the thriving and supportive community of women of all ages and backgrounds that exists in the Principality. 

International Women’s Rights Day, a United Nations-backed event that both promotes and raises awareness on the status of women around the world, will be celebrated around the world, including here in Monaco, on 8th March.  

Originally conceived by Sandrine Knoell, CEO of Five Stars Events, the Women of Monaco luncheon concept has grown over the years to encompass the now very popular Women of Monaco Club.  

The club, which will mark its first official anniversary this year, is a way for like-minded women with a connection to Monaco to meet up and form lasting friendships. 

“I think it is important for the women of Monaco not to feel alone, and to feel part of a community where we learn, share and grow,” says Knoell. “Many have been here for only a few years, and often don’t speak French, so this is a way for them to connect with other women, to make friends, to enjoy social events together, and to get support if they have problems.” 

FEMALE EMPOWERMENT 

Alongside the dining element, the upcoming get-together will feature works by Monaco-based designer and artist Camilla Ghione. A graduate of the Art Institute of New York, Ghione has built a career that combines her passion for art with a love of fashion through her sustainability-focused brand Art to Wear. The presentation of her creations will tie the two aspects together with a fashion show.

The lunch also serves a three-pronged purpose: to support the club’s chosen charity, the Princess Grace Foundation; to unite the international women of Monaco; and to give credit to women going the extra mile via the Women of Monaco Awards.  

The prizes will be given to stand-out personalities who excel in one of nine categories, namely culture, art, education, music, charity, image, career, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.  

For more information about the event, contact: pa@5starsevents.com.   

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Photo courtesy of Five Stars Events from the 2023 event

The Schuylkill, Monaco’s first luxury high rise building and now a bit past its prime, has been saved from demolition by its owner, Sylvia Ratkowski-Pastor, who has decided to give it a remarkable €170 million facelift instead.

Built in 1963 and named for the river that runs through Princess Grace’s hometown of Philadelphia, The Schuylkill was known for being the first of a kind in the Principality. At 17 storeys high, the Gildo Pastor-built edifice was the tallest building in the country at the time and considered very cutting edge. It was such a rarity that upon its completion, it was officially inaugurated by Princess Grace herself.

Fast-forward half a century and the building, which is located between Boulevard de Suisse and Avenue de la Costa, is due for a refresh, which is exactly what the property’s owner, Sylvia Ratkowski-Pastor, deputy president of SAM Sociétéimmobilier du Soleil, has decided to do, according to a report by Monaco Matin.

Ratkowski-Pastor has earmarked an enormous sum, €170 million, to renovate the structure rather than take the wrecking ball to it, and her reasoning is quite touching.

“Deep in my heart, I didn’t want to take away my grandfather’s soul. It was complicated to destroy what he had created,” she told Monaco Matin. “When I inherited the Schuylkill, we studied the work to be done. With everything that was asked of us in terms of energy, we saw that it was a real thermal sieve. We had to be as ecological as possible, to do something without destroying the concrete, especially since this one is excellent because, at the time, the sand came from the Roya River.”

FORTY MONTHS OF WORKS

The choice to rehabilitate was a long road that took six years to come to fruition. The firm chosen to do the works, Zaha Hadid Architects, started doing surveys of the building back in 2018 to see the state of it – not only architecturally, but also structurally.

Construction began in January, with the completion date set for June 2027.

“We are starting with the seven levels of infrastructure and the parking lot,” said François Lallemand, the local architect in charge of the project, to Monaco Matin. “The volume of parking will increase and residents will be able to now exit via Avenue de la Costa and Boulevard de Suisse via a helical ramp.”

During construction, the site will be cleaned, taking it back to the bones before rebuilding it from the inside-out putting in all new insulation, wiring and the like, as well as making it earthquake compliant – something it was not as it was built before the 1969 laws on making structures tremor-resistant went into effect.

According to Monaco Matin, the 15^th to 17^th floors will be completely redone to accommodate the poshest flats in the building, which will eventually have 142 rental apartments up for grabs as opposed to the more than 200 previously.

Modern conveniences will replace outmoded spaces, like maid’s rooms, with a fitness centre, a pool, a clubhouse and a mail room being created.

As the residents will not be able to live in a construction zone, they will move out during the renovation period, but have been given first dibs on the new spaces. “They will have priority and several have made a pre-reservation,” said Ratkowski-Pastor, who also assures they will enjoy a preferential rental rate over newcomers.

ENVIRONMNETAL IMPACT

The site has been awarded a silver certification from the Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings of Monaco label, just losing out to a gold by a hair. “Gold is only issued to new buildings, which may appear contradictory because concrete is what pollutes the most,” explained Ratkowski-Pastor.

The Schuylkill will be heated and cooled by a thalassothermal loop (ocean energy) and the building will recycle grey water from showers to water gardens and for toilets. As for the construction, the owner says reusing and recycling as many materials as possible is a top priority.

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Photo: Ingetec S.A.M 

For three-quarters of a century, the Monegasque Red Cross has followed the precepts of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to promote the seven principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity and universality. 

The Monegasque branch was founded in 1948 under Prince Louis II and has grown in strength and numbers over the years, but has never wavered from these core, original values.

Now under the direction of Prince Albert II, who took over after the death of his mother, Princess Grace, in 1982, the charity has continued its work well into the 21st century and its leadership met in mid-February to review a very successful 2023.

KEY FACTS AND FIGURES 

At their 2023 ‘Year in Review’ meeting on 14th February, the extent of the branch’s inner workings was revealed.  

The Monegasque Red Cross is made up of 77 employees and operates a network of over 700 volunteers, who represent an astounding 52 nationalities. In total, these helpers donated over 56,000 hours of time to the association and impacted the lives of an estimated 66,300 people around the world. 

Of its €8 million budget last year, €2.5 million was earmarked for international use, with €1.2 million used for humanitarian efforts and €1.3 million for relief funding. The rest of the budget went toward a variety of local activities that include youth programmes, social services, first aid missions and the like. 

Some 5,000 people received first aid training through the Monaco Red Cross in 2023. Indeed, the charity facilitates the first aid training of all children aged 12 and up in the Principality.  

The charity’s environmentally-minded efforts were also noted at the meeting, such as the support provided to the running of Monacollecte, European Waste Reduction Week and the second-hand clothing collections held in collaboration with the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace. 

THE FUTURE 

Never resting on their laurels, the board at the Monegasque Red Cross used the annual review session to lay out some plans for the future, including the goals of improving access to the volunteer process and expanding its network of volunteers further.   

The association is set to be very visible in 2024, with first aiders expected to be on hand at the Monaco Grand Prix in May and the Paris Olympic Games and Tour de France later in the summer.  

The 75th edition of the Red Cross Gala is also set to be held this year, an event that is one of the Principality’s most beloved and well-attended of the summer social season.  

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Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Monaco Communications Department

In a first for the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the institution is teaming up with the Rencontres Philosophiques Monaco to offer children aged six to 10 the opportunity to delve into the worlds of art and philosophy during the upcoming school holidays. Here are all the details.  

The two cultural entities have come together to design three different workshops and courses specifically for young minds. 

Featuring works from the museum’s Pier Paolo Calzolari: Casa Ideale exhibition, the art and philosophy sessions are set to combine both thought-provoking and creative aspects for an all-round engaging and enlightening experience.  

See more: Explore Pier Paolo Calzolari’s ‘Casa Ideale’ at the NMNM’S Villa Paloma

From 2pm to 4pm on 26th and 27th February, then again on 28th and 29th February, children aged eight to 10 will be invited to explore a world that combines artistic expression and philosophical reflection.  

Students will have a chance to discover the Pier Paolo Calzolari exhibition alongside the museum’s cultural coordinator, Coline Matarazzo, after which they will be given the opportunity to raise questions on the themes of dreams and time with Alicia Polzella Gauduel, a philosopher who regularly hosts seminars here in Monaco. 

The third course is targeted at six to nine-year-olds, and will run from 4th to 7th March from 2pm to 4pm.  

Using Arte Povera-like methods, a genre made famous by Calzolari, the young students will get to know the artist’s work and blendi paint and salt together for artistic effect before creating their own night-time landscape scene. This hands-on experience will be led by cultural coordinator Sharon Jones.  

To reserve a space on any of the courses, or for more information, email public@nmnm.mc. 

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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has big plans to electrify its ground operations and potentially reduce its carbon footprint by 6,700 tonnes of CO2 a year thanks to funding from the European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility programme to the tune of €4.1 million.  

The Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur group, which manages the airports in Nice, Cannes-Mandelieu and Saint Tropez, has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming net-zero-without-offsetting by 2030. One way that target could become a reality is by electrifying ground operations. 

The €4.1 million grant, financed by Caisse des Dépôts and recently confirmed to be heading in Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s way, will help move the international travel hub another step in the right direction. Additional funding of €4.6 million through quasi-equity from the Banque des Territoires will also be at the airport’s disposal. 

The funds will help electrify 69 remote airplane stands through the installation of 50Hz sockets to supply parked aircraft with power during ground operations. Airport authorities says this will “actively contribute to reducing CO2 emissions from aircraft during turnaround at the airport as this will significantly reduce using fuel-based ground handling equipment or using the aircraft’s auxiliary power units (APUs) during ground handling operations”. 

The Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur group is also planning to add charging stations to run the airside vehicles and equipment by 2026.  

“This project to electrify ground services at Nice Côte d’Azur airport is emblematic of the key role played by airports in decarbonising the aviation sector,” said Richard Ferrer, Head of the Alternative Fuels sector at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Agency (CINEA). “Thanks to the grant from the European Union and financing from the Banque des Territoires, this exemplary project, supported by local stakeholders, will make a very tangible contribution to achieving the objectives of the Green Deal for Europe.” 

The European Green Deal is a set of proposals aimed at making the EU’s climate, energy, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. 

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Photo by Monaco Life  

From immersive polar exhibitions to the story of Prince Rainier III’s love of the Mediterranean and an escape game aboard the Princesse Alice II, visitors to the Musée Océanographique over the school holidays will be invited to the explore the depths of the world’s oceans and marvel at the mysteries they hold. 

Over the coming weeks, the museum will be transformed into a hub of education and entertainment for children and adults alike as the famous destination hosts a special school holidays programme of events, experiences and activities.

One of the biggest draws, even for return visitors, will no doubt be the ticketing promotion that offers one free child’s pass for every adult ticket purchased. These standard entry tickets provide access to numerous exhibits, such as the ‘Polar Misson’, the interactive ‘Immersion’ room and Greg Lecoeur’s ‘Poles, Fragile Worlds’ photography exhibition on the Arctic and Antarctic, the latter of which will close on 12^th March 2024.

A relatively new addition to the spread of displays is ‘The Prince and the Mediterranean’, a new permanent exhibit that delves into Prince Rainier III’s profound bond with the Mediterranean Sea and highlights its significance in Monaco’s culture and heritage.

See more: Photos: ‘The Prince and the Mediterranean’ exhibition unveiled at the Musée Océanographique

The ever-popular ‘Fish Feeding Frenzy’ experience and the hands-on sessions with marine shoreline animals held throughout the holidays will allow families to get up-close with the species who have found a home in the museum and also to learn more about the local marine life.

Another much-loved attraction is the escape game set aboard the Princesse Alice II, which invites participants to solve puzzles and decode messages in a maritime-themed challenge, while the Immersive 360° experience offers a virtual dive into the ocean’s depths, allowing visitors to encounter majestic marine species without having to get wet.

Meanwhile, the holidays will also see some new aquarium residents welcomed to the Principality: young nautiluses and juvenile giant clams from New Caledonia. Keep an eye on the museum’s Facebook page to find out when that will happen!

Another experience to tick off is the €3 ‘Polar Mission’ booklet for children, which teaches them about the polar regions and awards young conservationists a diploma for expanding their personal awareness. This, alongside a digital tool advocating for Antarctic Marine Protected Areas, highlights the museum’s dedication to marine conservation.

For more information about the museum and its school holidays programme, click here.

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Photo source: Musée Océanographique de Monaco, Facebook