05.02.2013 Views

Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)<br />

Dr. Herzig briefly explained the principles of using a remotely<br />

operated vehicle (ROV). He said that the ROV usually sits in a cage connected<br />

to a ship through a fibre optic cable. He said that the cage is lowered to a<br />

distance of about 10 metres from the sea floor. The ROV moves from the cage<br />

on a tether of about 200-300 metres in length. He also said that the ROV is<br />

equipped with electro-hydraulic arms and with video eyes, and can do the<br />

same operations as a submersible. He noted the need for transponders at the<br />

seafloor to better navigate the ROV from the ship.<br />

Dr. Herzig described the six ROVS presently in use. These, he<br />

informed participants are the Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Sciences<br />

(ROPOS) operated by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility, the United<br />

States JASON operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, France’s<br />

VICTOR and ROBIN that are operated by IFREMER, and the DOLPHIN 3K<br />

and KAIKO of Japan that are operated by JAMSTEC.<br />

Dr. Herzig showed illustrations of the Canadian Remotely Operated<br />

Platform for Ocean Sciences (ROPOS), a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)<br />

which he said had stayed at the seafloor for about a week. He said ROPOS,<br />

with a depth capability of 6,000 metres, is equipped with video cameras, still<br />

cameras and two electro-hydraulic arms. There is a control room on deck<br />

with a video screen. Dr. Herzig said that these illustrations were in the<br />

context of the German-Canadian cooperative research programme<br />

(HYDROTRACE), to the Axial Seamount on the Juan de Fuca Ridge.<br />

He also showed illustrations of VICTOR, the French ROV. He said<br />

that VICTOR is a recent development in France, designed and constructed by<br />

IFREMER, and has a depth capability of 6000metres.<br />

Submersibles and ROVs<br />

In comparing submersibles to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for<br />

exploring for hydrothermal vents and seafloor massive sulphides deposits,<br />

Dr. Herzig said that there are a number of advantages in using ROVs. He said<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 324

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!