Ocean Observatory Maintenance Hits Unexpected Snag
A 28-day expedition provided support to the Ocean Network Canada (ONC) NEPTUNE observatory located off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada
Ocean observatory maintenance was needed to ensure researchers can continuously operate equipment remotely and receive data anywhere in the world in real time
Parts of the maintenance project were filmed by SubC Imaging’s Rayfin subsea camera, offering a unique point of view of the expedition
Two ROVs became detached from the cable connecting them to Exploration Vessel Nautilus, threatening the success of the project and future initiatives
Exploration Vessel Nautilus provided maintenance support to ONC’s NEPTUNE Observatory, equipped in part with SubC Rayfin cameras. The routine-maintenance expedition was supposed to be smooth sailing but ended up facing an unexpected snag.
Above: The E/V Nautilus hosts a team of 31 scientists, a ships crew of 17.
Who’s Who?
Ocean Networks Canada (ONC)
ONC is a University of Victoria initiative that operates the NEPTUNE and VENUS cabled ocean observatories in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the Salish Sea. The observatories supply power and internet connectivity to many subsea instruments that are continuously gathering real-time data for scientific research. ONC’s ocean observatory installations span one of the widest ranges of ocean environments found anywhere in the world.
NEPTUNE Observatory
ONC’s NEPTUNE observatory, which includes SubC Imaging Observatory Camera Systems, provides unique scientific and technical capabilities that allow researchers to operate equipment remotely and receive data anywhere in the world in real time. These ocean observatories collect data on physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of the ocean over long periods of time, supporting complex research in ways not previously possible.
Five nodes are located along the NEPTUNE system, spanning from the outer coast of Vancouver Island to a mid-ocean ridge. Each of the five nodes contain a diverse suite of sensors that provides an in-depth look at the interactions between the geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes that drive our ocean’s dynamic systems.
Exploration Vessel Nautilus
Exploration Vessel Nautilus, owned by the Ocean Exploration Trust under the direction of Dr. Robert Ballard, is a 64-meter American research vessel that conducts scientific exploration of the seafloor. Dr. Ballard is the researcher known for finding the wreck of the Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck.
Routine Ocean Observatory Maintenance
The purpose of the 28-day voyage was to perform operations to maintain, install, and expand infrastructure and instrumentation of the deep-sea network. The network reaches 250km offshore and is made up of an 800km loop of fiber optic cable. It is connected to instruments that allow researchers to study continuous long-term observations that is not possible by traditional ship-based exploration.
Footage of the maintenance operations was captured by one of the many SubC Imaging cameras that are installed on the ocean observatory. This alternate view helped ensure the success of the undertaking.
A Multi-Purpose Expedition
In addition to deploying, recovering, and providing maintenance for various observatory sensors and instruments, Nautilus also conducted seafloor mapping surveys and ROV dives including biological and geological sampling. The expedition incorporated work at other NEPTUNE ocean observatory sites -- Barkley Canyon, the continental margin at Clayoquot Slope, the abyssal plain of Cascadia Basin, and the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents.
Not All Smooth Sailing
The operation encountered trouble 21 days into the expedition when ROV’s Hercules and Argus became detached from the cable that was connecting them to the Nautilus. This rare event happened at a depth of 2220m off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Above: One of the detached ROV’s on the ocean floor.
With the assistance of the University of Washington’s R/V Thomas G. Thompson and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) ROV Jason, a recovery plan was put in place. One week later, both vehicles were recovered from the seafloor.
The Nautilus team has conducted thorough checks to assess the condition of both vehicles and their many components and any necessary repairs will be made. The cause of the detachment is still unknown.
The rescue was live-streamed and chronicled by the Nautilus team.