Mission Spiritus-Faroe Islands Former Royal Marines in the North Atlantic
by Billy Perham
In July 2025, former Royal Marines Alan Chambers MBE and Billy Perham, alongside world-renowned marine geologist Dr Maureen Raymo of Columbia University, embarked on the third Mission Spiritus expedition, this time to the rugged and windswept Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic.
The tranquil village of Saksun in the Faroe Islands
Mission Spiritus is a pioneering seven-part global science initiative that aims to collect earth samples from some of the planet’s most remote environments. By combining exploration, scientific research and education, the project raises awareness of plastic pollution and its impact on critical ecosystems. Following successful expeditions to Antarctica and Oman, the Faroe Islands expedition shifted focus to the ecologically vital yet under-studied North Atlantic. Operating out of the capital, Tórshavn, the team travelled by boat, vehicle and on foot to sample across the islands’ striking landscapes.