ROV KIEL 6000 during a mission on the French research vessel L' Atalante.

The ROV KIEL 6000 has been designed for scientific purposes with an operational depth rating of 6000 m. Remote control, data communication and live video streams are facilitated by a deep-sea glass fibre cable. The glass fibres are enclosed in a 19 mm thick cable which also provides the electrical power for thrusters, hydraulics, cameras and lights.

The ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is an electrically powered work class (class III) vehicle which has been manufactured by Schilling Robotics LLC, Davis, California. Its modular concept allows for different scientific payloads. With a depth rating of 6000 m it is capable of reaching 95 % of the world’s seafloor. The ROV can be operated from ships of opportunity which fulfil certain requirements like dynamic positioning (DP), bearing capacity, electric and crane/winch capacity.

The work class ROV KIEL 6000 allows for:

• intervention and sampling procedures using manipulators with 5 and 7 functions, respectively
• station-keep and autopilot modes in the range of decimetres while countervailing currents of up to 2 knots
• observation and documentation by various digital video and still cameras on pan and tilt units
• real time data transfer within the gigabit range
• a toolskid with up to 100 kg payload allows for different scientific sampling tools and collecting boxes to be integrated

The ROV is used in a ‘live-boating-modus’, i.e. online vehicle control and live video transmission via the deep-sea cable.

KIEL 6000 will be used for multidisciplinary scientific projects and for the installation and maintainance of ocean observatories.

Procurement of the ROV has been realised by the Schleswig-Holstein Fund.