Tuesday 7 February 2012

Survey equipment

We have continued surveying North of Celtic Deep rMCZ using a range of scientific equipment. The Hamon grab sampler is lowered from the side of the ship using a winch and when it reaches the seabed it scoops up a sample of sediment which is then brought back to the deck. Today there were strong currents which meant that the Hamon grab often failed to collect a sample so we had to deploy it several times. The camera sledge and drop camera are towed behind the ship to collect video images while the ship moves along slowly.

View from underneath the Hamon grab

Camera sledge in foreground (drop camera behind)

Deploying drop camera