The Project Office is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2015
In order to respond to new challenges faced by the IODE Programme, an “IOC Project Office for IODE” has been established in Oostende, Belgium, with substantial support from the Government of Flanders (Belgium) and City of Ostend. With the opening of the IOC Project Office for IODE on 25 April 2005, the IODE programme entered a new era of capacity building and ocean data/information services.
Objectives of the Project Office
The main objectives of the Project Office are:
- to establish a creative environment facilitating the further development and maintenance of IODE and partner data and information management projects, services and products with emphasis on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the data and product/service stream between the stage of sampling and the user; and
- to assist in strengthening the capacity of Member States to manage oceanographic data and information and to provide ocean data and information products and services required by users.
To achieve these objectives the IOC Project Office carries out the following activities:
- develop, strengthen and maintain IOC/IODE ocean data and information management training programmes and training tools;
- provide an environment (‘think tank’) where ocean data and information experts and students can work, meet and discuss;
- develop, host and maintain IOC/IODE’s ocean information systems and related public awareness tools;
- promote collaboration between all expert levels active in ocean data (and data product) and information management, including scientists, data managers, other IOC (and JCOMM or WMO) programmes and projects and other users;
- provide a laboratory environment for the development and beta testing of ocean data and information management technology.
Whereas the initial support provide by Flanders included only the office space and related utilities, an additional annual financial contribution of € 500,000/year to be used for programme activities at the Project Office is provided. These funds allow us to organize a substantial number of training courses and invite top experts to provide guidance on IODE related matters. Thanks to this substantial support as well as funding from donor funded projects the Project Office now has a dynamic team of professionals and support staff (picture, right)
Staff
Click here to see the staff list of the Project Office
Location
Our location (Wandelaarkaai 7/61, 8400 Oostende)
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How to get to your Hotel
From Brussels airport
By Train: there is a train station below the airport building. Simply take the escalators or elevator to the basement level (-1). See more HERE. You can purchase tickets between 06h30 and 22h00. Outside these hours you can purchase your ticket through one of the ticket vending machines (that accept credit cards).
To get to Oostende you can take a train to one of the Brussels stations (Noord/Nord; Centraal/Central or Zuid/Midi) and then connect to a train to Oostende; or you can take a train to Gent and then connect to a train to Oostende.
Be careful in the Brussels train stations. In recent years a lot of pick pockets are there to steal your belongings, especially laptops. They operate in groups of 2-3 and prey on tired travelers like yourself. We therefore recommend taking the train to Gent where you can take a connecting train to Oostende.
Check out the timetable for the train HERE. In "from" enter "Brussel Nationaal Luchthaven" and in "To" enter "Oostende".To select the Gent route add "Via" and enter "Gent Sint Pieters". The train ride takes between 1h42 and 2h05. Pay attentionL in Belgium trains have 2nd class (indicated by a 2 on the outside of the train) and 1st class (indicated by a 1 on the outside of the train). A 1st class ticket costs 50% more than a 2nd class ticket.
Between the arrival time of your flight and the departure time of the train you should count about 1 hour (including the time to get your luggage).
From Oostende train station to your hotel
The Oostende station (left) is a terminal station which means the train will not go any further.
If you want to travel around Belgium a bit while you are in Oostende then your trip will usually start at this station (there is no other train station in Oostende). You can buy your ticket in the station. NEVER get on a train without a ticket as you may be forced to pay a hefty fine.
When leaving the station you can either walk to the hotel (The Bero hotel is approx. 1 km from the Station and takes approx. 15 minutes to walk).
Left you can see a map (from maps.google.com) showing the way to walk.
If you have too much luggage, it's too cold or you're too tired then you can also take a taxi. They are located on the left when you leave the station. This will cost approx. €10.
How to get from your Hotel to the Project Office
You can either take a taxi, the coast tram, or the ferryboat (veerboot).
Ferry: leaves from "Visserskaai" (Point A on the map)· (at the "noordzeeaquarium" and arrives at the "maritiem plein" (Point B on the map) and is the easiest and cheapest. (the boat is free). Timetable: summer (1 April - 30 September): 06.30-13.00 and 13.30-18.30 and 19.00-21.00; winter (1 October - 31 March: 07.45–13.00 and 13.30-18.15) - see also HERE
For other means of transport check HERE
Belgian weather
See below the current imagery of the rainradar
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Created on: Saturday, 16 December 2006 19:20
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Last Updated on: Thursday, 16 April 2015 15:18
