Submersibles for Science
Rigs and vessels used
by the offshore oil
and gas industry
are often deployed
in locations that are
of great scientific
interest. Their industrial
Remotely Operated
Vehicles (ROVs) undertake the
diffi cult undersea work, but are often
idle on the sea floor between tasks.
Image Credit: Image copyright of serpentproject
SERPENT* scientists have made use of this spare capacity to uncover a wealth of data about the deep seas valuable to the scientific community, the oil companies and the public.
* Scientific and Environmental ROV Partnership using Existing iNdustrial Technology
Very little is known about the deep oceans, and research in such extreme environments is costly and difficult.
Image Credit: Image copyright of serpentproject
Content Credit: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.