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Activity Leads

Andy Bowen (WHOI), Molly Curran (WHOI), Leila Hamdan (USM), Adam Soule (URI), Jason Fahy (URI)

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Overview

In cooperation with the Mesophotic Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC), NOAA Ocean Exploration is supporting the design and build of a new medium-sized remotely operated vehicle (mROV) to support deep-sea research in the Gulf of Mexico. The vehicle will be designed to operate at depths of up to 4000 km and will be equipped with a variety of scientific instruments. The project will also develop operational procedures and training materials for the mROV.

The activities will include the establishment of an mROV Advisory Committee (mRAC) to ensure transparency and collaboration with MDBC.

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MDBC Year 7 Update

mROV Shakedown

Lead: Leila Hamdan (USM), Adam Soule (URI)

This project marks the new medium ROV (mROV) transition from build to operations. An 18-day expedition at MDBC priority sites in the Gulf of America puts the newly constructed mROV through its first real science mission — validating its performance and design at the limits of its capabilities, hardening the operating procedures that bring science, ship, and vehicle teams together, and inspiring the broader research community to plan future missions with it.

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MDBC Year 8 Update

mROV Transition to Operations

Lead: Leila Hamdan, Jason Tripp (USM)

Supports the transition to operations (TTO) of NOAA’s newly constructed medium ROV (mROV) — sea trials, science verification, staff onboarding, and operational planning ahead of full deployment at USM. Includes a 12-day WHOI-led engineering sea trial.