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ROV recovering ROVs

Stuff happens… anywhere and anytime. For Ocean Exploration Trust, “it” happened down at ~2,200m (7,200ft) when the tether connecting ROVs Hercules and Argus separated from their support vessel, leaving the vehicles stranded on the ocean floor in the Endeavor Hydrothermal Field.

Luckily, both ROVs were successfully recovered with the help of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)’s ROV Jason. Hercules and Argus are now exploring ancient underwater volcanoes in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) off the northern islands of Hawaii.

Full article at: Newburyportnews.com 15nov21

You can watch their current expedition live at https://nautiluslive.org/

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ROVs Protecting Aquaculture Industry

Northern Territory Ministers Manison and Kirby published a media release yesterday about underwater drones (also known as Remotely Operated Vehicles or ROVs) protecting fish and marine life from harmful aquatic pests and invasive species. Initial ROV inspections were conducted in Cullen Bay, with further biosecurity assessments in Darwin Harbour scheduled for next month.

Full article at: Northern Territory Government Newsroom 11nov21

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Robohub: ROV build story

We love hearing about custom ROV builds and their backstories. Here is an interesting one:

Student Christian Engler teamed up with friends to build a custom ROV to compete in the 2019 International ROV MATE Competition. Their design then attracted the attention of Swiss Explosive Ordnance Disposal divers and lead to further refinement and development, producing the commercial Proteus ROV.

Full article at: Robohub: From Garage to Swiss Lakes

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Hydra? Ciliate? Cnidarian?

UnderseaROV has teamed up with AUSI to explore microscopic underwater habitats in the SEA Lab. We are still learning a lot about this minuscule cosmos (there is sooo much to see in each water droplet) and spotted a mystery marine organism on a piece of seagrass that we hope someone out there can help us identify. This creature looks to be part hydra, part ciliate, part cnidarian (jellyfish family)? We have yet to find any nomenclature that fits. Help?

[Update] Huge thank you to our friends Jen Z, Bruno and others connected with the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, who identified this creature as a bryozoan, specifically from the genus Amathia (formerly known as Bowerbankia, kind of like the Artist Formerly Known as Prince). We so appreciate your help!!