2.0 UNDERSEA RESEARCH PLATFORMS

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NOTES FOR PROPOSALS SUBMITTED IN FY 1998

Proposals for NURP support of research utilizing DSV ALVIN, the U.S. Navy deep submergence resources, and research related to improving safe wet diving operations are to be submitted to the Centers, in accordance with the deadlines in their annual announcements this year. All proposals will be sent for mail review by the Center receiving the proposals. If necessary, proposals for specialized topics, such as diving safety and physiology, and Center proposals where a conflict of interest might be perceived, will be sent to Headquarters to be judged by a separate panel(s) with appropriate expertise.

2.1 Manned Submersibles

The Center leases a variety of manned submersibles and support vessels to support undersea research investigations. Also, under a memorandum of agreement between NURP and the U.S. Navy, the nuclear-powered submarine NR-1 is available for research.

DELTA is a two-person (pilot and one scientist) submersible operated by Delta Oceanographics. It has a depth capability of 366 m (1,200 ft.), nineteen viewing ports, and mechanical and hydraulic manipulators. The DELTA can be outfitted with externally mounted still and video cameras. The DELTA has conducted operations from ships-of-opportunity from the Arctic to the tropics.

JOHNSON-SEA-LINK I and II are three-person (two scientist) submersibles with two pressure hulls: the two-person bow mounted acrylic sphere and a one-person stern chamber with four view ports. These vehicles, operated by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, have multiple sampling capabilities, a hydraulic manipulator arm, and still and video cameras. Maximum operating depth is 920 m (3,000 ft.).

CLELIA is a three-person (two scientist) submersible operated by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, This vehicle has multiple sampling capabilities, a hydraulic manipulator arm, and still and video cameras. Maximum operating depth is 300 m (1,000 ft.).

ALVIN is a three-person (pilot and two scientist) vehicle operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It has four viewing ports, video and still cameras, one six-function and one seven-function manipulator, scanning sonar, and can be fitted with a variety of other specialized equipment. Maximum operating depth is 4,500 m (14,764 ft.). ALVIN has been used to support investigations at the LEO-2500 site.

Support for the use of national assets such as ALVIN, the other Navy owned facilities made available through NURP, and diving research will be awarded on the same competitive basis as other proposals through the Center’s Core funding and the DELTA fund. At the time that this document was prepared ALVIN’s schedule for CY 2000 was not know. However, there are currently plans for ALVIN to transit through this Center’s region in October 2000 for a winter overhaul period. Proposals for the use of DSV Alvin in CY 2000 are to be submitted to the centers in time for next year’s panel (FY 1999).

NR-1 is a two-scientist (11 crew) nuclear-powered vehicle operated by the U.S. Navy. This vehicle has the capacity to remain submerged for 210 man-days or more. It has three 10 cm viewing ports, video and still cameras, a seven function manipulator and other specialized equipment. Maximum operating depth is 724 m (2,375 ft.). Each year there is some likelihood of NR-1 ops in the Mid-Atlantic Bight - interested investigators should contact the Center.

2.2 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's)

ROV's are used increasingly to conduct undersea research for specialized applications. The size and capability range from the low cost ROV (LCROV) to much larger, more elaborate systems.

LCROV's are small, tethered vehicles that can generally be operated to depths of approximately 230 m (755 ft.) from ships of opportunity. They have thrusters, still photographic and video systems, and often have a simple single function manipulator arm. NURP owns both Phantom and Mini-Rover LCROV's. Additional systems are leased with design specifications tailored to a specific research project.

Several larger deep-ocean ROV's have been developed and are maintained for scientific use by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Deep Submergence Operations Group (WHOI DSOG), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS). Also, under a memorandum of agreement between NURP and the U.S. Navy, several larger ROV's are available for research.

MEDEA-JASON is a dual vehicle ROV system operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with MEDEA serving as a support vehicle for JASON. The dual system ROV can carry out detailed, near-bottom optical and acoustical imaging of the sea floor or water column. JASON is equipped with a broad array of imaging systems and a manipulator arm. Both JASON and MEDEA are designed to operate to a maximum depth of 6,000 m (19,685 ft.), and have been used to support investigations at the LEO-2500 site.

ROPOS II is a 30/40 Hysub 5,000 m ROV operated by the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility in Victoria, B.C. Canada. In its deep-water mode, ROPOS II operates to a maximum depth of 5,000 m (16,404 ft). ROPOS II has two manipulator arms, a SIT wide angle b&w camera, a 3-chip CCD camera, an advanced telemetry system, extra hydraulic functions for scientific applications and several sampling tools including a carousel suction sampler and an insulated biobox. The entire system is portable and can go to sea on most large oceanographic vessels. Operations in shallow water mode (to 500 m) can be conducted from much smaller platforms.

EASTERN OCEANICS ROV I and II Eastern Oceanics of West Redding, Connecticut will have two ROVs available for operation in 1999. Their ROV I is an open-frame system based on a modified Benthos MiniRover. This ROV comes equipped with a selection of high-resolution B&W, color, and broadcast quality video cameras, 35 mm still cameras, dual lasers for scaling, a Pisces data logger, 3-function manipulator, and color sector scanning sonar. Eastern Oceanics has routinely integrated this ROV with a benthic lander for supporting benthic chambers, and in situ micro-electrode profilers for measuring chemistry of sediment pore water. International Submarine Engineering (ISE) is currently developing an ROV for Eastern Oceanics (ROV II). This ROV will be completed in fall 1998, and available for use during 1999. The ROV will have 25 hp of thrust capability, and a very high thrust-to-weight ratio. This is made possible by using the scaling facilities available in the control system to adjust flow to the thrusters. The equipment listed above will be available on this ROV plus a seven-function manipulator.

ADVANCED TETHERED VEHICLE (ATV) was developed by the Naval Ocean System Center (NOSC) and is currently operated by the U.S. Navy. The ATV is a deep-ocean ROV with a depth capability of 6,096 m (20,000 ft.). The ATV has two, position control, force feedback manipulator arms. The vehicle is equipped with an array of imaging systems and an extensive array of tools.

SUPER SCORPIO The U.S. Navy has two SUPER SCORPIO ROVs. These ROVs are capable of operating to a depth of 1,524 m (5,000 ft.). The SUPER SCORPIO ROVs have two manipulator arms.

2.3 Autonomous Vehicles

A highly-skilled SCUBA dive team is available to support appropriate projects at depths less than 30 m (100 feet). Contact the Technical Director for detailed information.

2.5 Undersea Observatories and In Situ Instrumentation

A permanent undersea observatory is located at a site on the inner New Jersey shelf (15 m depth Figure 2). This Long-Term Ecosystem Observatory (LEO) became operational during fall 1996. The system consists of an electro-optic cable linked to an instrumented terminal equipped with sensors to measure standard oceanographic parameters (i.e., conductivity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, chlorophyll, bottom and near-bottom currents, wave spectra) as well as measurements to be determined by individual PI requirements. The electro-optic link is designed so that short-term projects may "plug in" to the observatory as stand-alone or complementary studies to long-term investigations. Ultimately, the fiber-optic link may incorporate a wide range of remote sensor systems that could communicate with the central system acoustically. These could include drifters, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), or off-loaded bottom packages. Experiments and instrumentation at the site are serviced by divers. A more complete description of the LEO-15 facility and descriptions of ongoing research efforts at the site are given in Appendix III.

3.0 PROJECT INFORMATION

3.1 Cost Information

General support of at-sea operations, including undersea system and support vessel time, food and lodging is provided at no cost to participating investigators. Highly ranked proposals are eligible to receive modest support for supplies, equipment, travel, technician salaries and graduate student stipends. Up to three months (total) of Principal Investigators' salary can be provided. Please note that capital equipment (cost > $1,000 and life expectancy > 2 years) is the property of the Center; this equipment will be loaned to PIs as needed.

When scientifically justified, multi-year projects are encouraged (maximum two year). Even for approved projects, however, there may be some fluctuation in the level of support available between years because the Center's budget is dependent on the annual federal appropriations process. Every effort will be made to provide adequate support for the duration of approved projects. For the second year of approved multi-year projects, a brief progress report and study plan with budget for the next year must be submitted by the deadline for receipt of new project proposals (see Section 5.0).

3.3 Personnel Qualifications

In most cases, no special certification or training is required for use of manned submersibles or ROVs. If SCUBA is planned as part of your mission, certain diving, water skills, and medical requirements must be met, including proof of adequate diving experience, current (annual) CPR certification, and NOAA-approved physical examination. Contact the Technical Director for more information. Rutgers University is a member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS).

3.4 Operational Considerations

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight, operations with manned submersibles, ROV’s, and SCUBA will generally be limited by weather to April-October. The possibility for undersea operations beyond this window exists, however, especially with in situ instrumentation.

Due to considerable competition for ROV and manned submersible time, projects should be planned as efficiently as possible. Principal investigators should plan to be aboard the support vessel the entire time requested. Revisitation of dive sites will be considered in light of other studies being conducted in the same general vicinity and the scientific merit for such requests.

4.0 SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: WHERE AND HOW TO SUBMIT

4.1 Proposal Submission and Acceptance

Each NURP Center issues a request for proposals to conduct research within its geographic region in the spring for support of research beginning in March of the following year. Investigators should contact the appropriate regional Center (see map and addresses on the following pages) for proposal guidelines and special requirements. If required by the Center, a preproposal should be submitted to the Science Director.

For proposed research on human diving, physiology, technology development (e.g., undersea technology development), access to deep submergence facilities of the U.S. Navy (as per agreement between NOAA and the USN), or areas outside the 200-mile United States Exclusive Economic Zone (except the Caribbean), investigators should contact the appropriate federal Program Officer ( page 5) at the National Office before submitting any pre-proposal.

4.2 Pre-proposal (Due July 15, 1998)

Written pre-proposals or preliminary proposal discussions with NURP or NURC Program Officers are requested to minimize costs incurred in developing a full proposal, confirm that appropriate research guidelines are addressed, and permit operations staff to evaluate feasibility. Written pre-proposals (limited to 2-3 typed pages) should include a summary of the proposed research including introduction, hypotheses to be tested, a description of the experiments and methods to be employed, area of operations including latitude, longitude, and depth, undersea platform of choice, and a preliminary budget.

4.3 Final Proposal (Due September 1, 1998)

Final proposals must be signed by an official representing the applicant's institution or employer, and 20 copies received by the Mid-Atlantic Bight Undersea Research Center by September 1, 1998.

REGIONS SERVED BY NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTERS ARE:

4.3.1 Proposal Format

To provide a fair and equitable evaluation of proposals, reviewers are instructed to rely on the content of the final proposal submitted to NOAA. Therefore, it is extremely important that all final proposals are complete and adhere to the format specified in Appendix IV. Twenty (20) copies of the proposal are required. All copies must be stapled in upper left. Incomplete proposals (for example, those lacking detailed charts of the proposed dive area, or those with incomplete project summary sheets, curriculum vitae, or references) will not be reviewed and will be returned to the Principal Investigator. A completed checklist (provided in Appendix V) must be included with the complete proposal.

Every proposal must consist of the following sections: (Detailed instructions and blank forms are provided in Appendix IV and V.)