The ABISMO Mud and Water Sampling ROV for Surveys at 11,000 m Depth

AbstractRecently, a number of novel bacteria have been isolated from a mud sample taken in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench. Although the need exists for taking sediment samples at full ocean depth, no high-power remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with full depth capability and the ability to take sediment samples existed anywhere in the world as of April 2005. JAMSTEC started developing such a sediment sampling system beginning in April 2005. The system consists of a sampling launcher and a pre-observation probe vehicle. The launcher contains a water sampler as well as sediment samplers. It launches the probe vehicle to make a preliminary survey, dropping the sediment sampler to obtain a sample. We carried out four sea trials from January 2007 to June 2008, including dives in the Mariana Trench, and we were able to obtain sediment samples from the deepest part of the Challenger Deep.