In 2009, Google’s Eric Schmidt bought a ship; by 2022, it mapped 1.3m sq km of seafloor

 In 2009, Eric and Wendy Schmidt took a significant step in marine conservation by acquiring a fisheries protection vessel, rebranding it as Falkor. This vessel became a hub for oceanographic research and exploration, hosting over 1,000 scientists and charting more than 1.3 million square kilometers of the ocean by 2022. In 2009, Eric and Wendy Schmidt took a significant step in marine conservation by acquiring a fisheries protection vessel, rebranding it as Falkor. This vessel became a hub for oceanographic research and exploration, hosting over 1,000 scientists and charting more than 1.3 million square kilometers of the ocean by 2022.