1. Submersibles

The tubular underframe of Pisces V, damaged shipboard during the CY 2000 dive season, is being replaced. The new frame has been fabricated and test-fitted. It is presently being annealed in California. After ABS pressure testing, it will be oill-filled and Pisces V will be reassembled ready for ABS recertification.

Upgrading of Pisces IV is proceeding. New flotation blocks are being fabricated. The science bar is being reconfigured to take rosette and water samplers. A new Schilling Orion arm and related hydraulics, a digital camera, and a Paro Scientific digital depth sensor are being added as standard equipment.

2. ROV

The RCV-150 remains fully operational, for depths to 800 m, in slow transit mode.

3. CY 2001 Program Components

HURL's CY 2001 Operations Plan schedules a NURP program of 43 Pisces dives (including 3 in the NW Hawaiian Islands) with nightly ROV deployments; 6 Pisces dives at St Rogatien & Raita Banks that will initiate a new NOAA project on the impact of bottom fishing in the NW Hawaiian Islands Coral reef Ecosystem reserve; and 9 Pisces dives at Loihi for MarBEC.

4. Planning for CY 2001

HURL has not issued a NURP RFP for CY 2002 because there are sufficient NURP projects, either continuing from previous years or held over from FY 2001 for initiation in 2002. HURL expects to issue its next RFP in March 2002, for NURP projects in CY 2003.

HURL is presently participating in NOAA planning for an Ocean Exploration program, including "Voyages of Discovery". A 60-day cruise in the NW Hawaiian Islands in CY 2002, with the two Pisces submersibles and the ROV, is one of the voyages presently under consideration by NOAA.
 

Keith A W Crook
Science Director, HURL