Observing the seafloor live and working in
several thousand meters depth in the dark deep sea would be impossible without
high-tech equipment. Therefore, on “Polarstern” Expedition PS 119, the Remotely
Operated Vehicle "MARUM-QUEST 4000" was used in Antarctic waters for
the first time.
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
High-tech for the deep sea
The ROV "MARUM-QUEST" can work in water depths up to 4,000 meters. Its cameras are sending live images of the seabed during these missions.
The two manipulator arms can take samples from the deep sea and deploy measuring devices. Each dive mission requires precise preparation.
Pre-Dive Check
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs for short) take on a variety of jobs in deep-sea research today. With unlimited time, with a permanent connection to the ship, research work in the deep can be followed by everyone aboard and without a risk to the researchers’ lives, conditions in play with every use of a manned submersible. Before each mission, the ROV team checks the vehicle to the smallest screw during the pre-dive check.
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The headlights of the ROV bring light into the dark deep sea ...
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
… so its cameras can send pictures of the seabed that would otherwise be hidden from our eyes.
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Based on the points of rotation in the human arm: The Orion manipulator arm of the ROV has seven joints.
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The second ROV manipulator arm is robust and powerful: it can operate heavy instruments on the seabed or, for example, take larger rock samples.
Pre-Dive Check (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Everything will be carefully checked at the pre-dive check.
On the aft working deck of "Polarstern"
The deck crew of "Polarstern" and the ROV team prepare the diving robot for its mission in the deep sea. "MARUM-QUEST" is one of the first industrially built diving robots that has been adapted to the requirements of science for research work in water depths of up to 4,000 meters. The system weighs 45 tons and is much more compact than the industrial version. It consists of the US-made vehicle, a winch with a 5,000 meters supply cable, a control box with steering position, a launching frame and a workshop container.
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
In place (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The mission begins
Intense concentration on the working deck. During the ROV’s deployment, every move has to fit.
ROV-Chief Volker Ratmeyer (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
ROV team leader Volker Ratmeyer shortly before the 3,000 volt will be switched on.
ROV "Marum Quest" during the expedition PS119 (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
While our ROV "MARUM-QUEST" is deployed aft and starts its journey to the bottom of the sea, the pilots sit in the control container.
The Control Container
The control center of the diving robot is housed in an insulated container fitted by MARUM. During the stormy expedition PS 119, the control container is in a well-protected position on the working deck of “Polarstern” and reached via a staiway. Inside, it is crowded. Two pilots and two scientists work here.
Controll-Container of ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The flight begins
Although our ROV is operating in the deep sea, and not flying through the air like an airplane, we still talk about flying, not diving, swimming or driving, when the ROV is on a mission.
Actually, it feels like a flight when the “MARUM-QUEST” is exploring the ocean floor. A flight through a seemingly alien, but so beautiful, world - our world.
Controll-Container of ROV "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The control station of the Remotely Operated Vehicle resembles the command center of a spaceship.
Navigation
Sonar
Server with scientific equipment, positioning, camera control and relevant data such as temperature and pressure.
Each pilot has a video screen, monitoring and controlling the entire ROV system.
The pilot screen with seven image fields.
Pilot-Screen of "Marum-Quest" (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Concentration (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Chief scientist Gerhard Bohrmann is in constant contact with the pilots in the control container during the dives.
On our Mission in the deep sea (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
On monitors and a screen, the scientists in the "Polarstern" winch control room follow each dive. They are in direct exchange with the two scientists in the control container, and decide, for example, where the pilots should stop the robot to take a sample.
Mission accomplished (2019/2019)Federal Ministry of Education and Research
On our expedition, we managed to send the ROV "MARUM-QUEST" on a mission to the bottom of the sea seven times.
"Everything a human being can imagine today will one day be realized by other people," wrote Jules Verne.
Oceanographers in particular are often one step ahead of our time with their visions. In order to solve new research questions, time and again, they develop highly specialized devices that not only explore the oceans, but sometimes also show us our planet as we have never seen it before.
VIDEO FOOTAGE:
MARUM-QUEST 4000, MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Science, University of Bremen www.marum.de
PHOTOGRAPHY: Holger von Neuhoff
TEXT: Stephanie von Neuhoff
