2021 ROV Shakedown

Vessel: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer; Expedition Dates: June 13, 2021 to June 27, 2021

Ports: Norfolk, VA to Newport, RI

Project Principals: Kasey Cantwell, NOAA/OAR/OER (Expedition Coordinator); Matt Dornback, NOAA/OAR/OER (Expedition Coordinator); Shannon Hoy, NOAA/OAR/OER (Mapping Lead)

This Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) shakedown expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer began in Norfolk, Virginia on June 13, 2021 and concluded on June 28, 2021 in Newport, Rhode Island. This was the first time the ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios were mobilized and used for ROV dives since the extensive 2021 winter dry dock repair period. While underway, 24-hour operations focused on preparing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems for the remainder of 2021 expeditions. Extensive testing, calibration, and troubleshooting was completed for new ROV motors, motor controllers, cameras, lighting, hydraulic systems, and a navigational sonar during 11 ROV dives. The first five dives progressively got to deeper depths ranging from 670 m to 4370 m with the primary objective of new equipment integration and personnel training. The following five dives were conducted on Caryn Seamount, and the mid-Atlantic canyons Toms, Hudson (twice), and Uchupi. The last dive of the expedition was on a recently discovered sonar anomaly that turned out to be a World War II era submarine, the Humaitá (ex-USS Muskallunge). Five biological and three geological samples were collected for later analyses from Caryn Seamount and the mid-Atlantic canyons. Mapping operations during the expedition included continued calibrating and troubleshooting of the ship's new EM304 multibeam sonar and transducer array. Additional mapping operations included improving multibeam bathymetry in previously mapped areas, sub-bottom sonar surveys conducted on the Currituck landslide feature off of North Carolina, EK60 water column sonar survey of the diurnal migration above Hudson Canyon, and searching for underwater cultural heritage sites by observing sonar depth and backscatter anomalies.

Currituck 1 (Engineering)

Area

Currituck 1 (Engineering); US Mid-Atlantic, Currituck Landslide

Overview

Date:	June 15, 2021
Max Depth:	670.4 Meters
Bottom Time:	3 Hours 17 Minutes 21 Seconds

Purpose

The first engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs.

Currituck 2

Area

Currituck 2; US Mid-Atlantic, Currituck Landslide

Overview

Date:	June 16, 2021
Max Depth:	86.4 Meters
Bottom Time:	0 Hours 1 Minutes 15 Seconds

Purpose

The second engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs.

Currituck 3

Area

Currituck 3; US Mid-Atlantic, Currituck Landslide

Overview

Date:	June 16, 2021
Max Depth:	1017.4 Meters
Bottom Time:	0 Hours 53 Minutes 41 Seconds

Purpose

The third engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs.

Norfolk Abyssal Plain

Area

Norfolk Abyssal Plain; US Mid-Atlantic, Abyssal Plain

Overview

Date:	June 17, 2021
Max Depth:	2849.4 Meters
Bottom Time:	4 Hours 30 Minutes 38 Seconds

Purpose

The fourth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs.

Bermuda Transect

Area

Bermuda Transect; Abyssal Plain, On historic Bermuda/Gay Head seafloor and water column sampling transect

Overview

Date:	June 18, 2021
Max Depth:	4370.9 Meters
Bottom Time:	2 Hours 32 Minutes 4 Seconds

Purpose

The fifth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs.

Caryn Seamount

Area

Caryn Seamount; An isolated seamount with volcanic origin rising out of the Sohm Abyssal Plain

Overview

Date:	June 19, 2021
Max Depth:	3796.6 Meters
Bottom Time:	3 Hours 32 Minutes 49 Seconds

Purpose

The sixth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs. Secondary objectives include exploring Caryn Seamount and collecting characteristic geological and biological samples.

Hudson Shallow

Area

Hudson Shallow; Mid-Atlantic Canyons

Overview

Date:	June 22, 2021
Max Depth:	560.2 Meters
Bottom Time:	4 Hours 40 Minutes 33 Seconds

Purpose

The seventh engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systemson the ROVs. Secondary objectives include exploring the upper area of Hudson Canyon and collecting characteristic geological and biological samples.

Toms Canyon

Area

Toms Canyon; Mid-Atlantic Canyons

Overview

Date:	June 23, 2021
Max Depth:	1838 Meters
Bottom Time:	5 Hours 24 Minutes 44 Seconds

Purpose

The eighth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs. Secondary objectives include exploring the mid-canyon area of central Toms Canyon and collecting characteristic geological and biological samples.

Hudson Deep

Area

Hudson Deep; Mid-Atlantic Canyons

Overview

Date:	June 24, 2021
Max Depth:	1401.8 Meters
Bottom Time:	6 Hours 8 Minutes 31 Seconds

Purpose

The ninth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs. Secondary objectives include exploring the lower area of Hudson Canyon and collecting characteristic geological and biological samples.

Uchupi Canyon

Area

Uchupi Canyon; Mid-Atlantic Canyons

Overview

Date:	June 25, 2021
Max Depth:	1286.3 Meters
Bottom Time:	6 Hours 41 Minutes 34 Seconds

Purpose

The tenth engineering dive of the ROV Shakedown. Primary objectives include pilot training, testing new motors, motor controllers, lights, cameras, and hydraulic systems on the ROVs. Secondary objectives include exploring the central area of Uchupi Canyon and collecting characteristic geological and biological samples.

USS Muskellunge

Area

USS Muskellunge; Mid-Atlantic Canyons

Overview

Date:	June 26, 2021
Max Depth:	634.9 Meters
Bottom Time:	5 Hours 49 Minutes 16 Seconds

Purpose

Restricted Dive