Epibenthic sled taking a sample

On the SONNE's first expedition, biologists were able to sample the ocean floor in the Puerto Rico Trench using an epibenthic sled. Because the trench is 8,350 metres deep, the sled's towing cable had to be unwound to a length of 11,000 metres. No other scientific team had ever successfully taken this type of sample from such a depth before.