www.sea-technology.com October 2014 / st 39
In 1995, JAMSTEC developed the 7,000-meter-class,
ultralight ROV named UROV-7K. UROV was developed
for maintenance and observation of a deep-sea, long-term
mooring system. The umbilical cable of the mooring sys-
tem presented an obstacle for UROV, as there was a risk of
I
n 2013, the manned research submersible Shinkai 6500,
operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science
and Technology (JAMSTEC), conducted an around-the-
world research cruise with the RV Yokosuka. This year-long
cruise, named "Quelle 2013," stopped at sites in the Indian
Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean and the Cayman Trench.
During the cruise, JAMSTEC organized an Internet live
broadcast from the Shinkai 6500, executed in real time.
It generated great interest from Japanese and international
viewers, and achieved a positive public outreach as it show-
cased the forefront of deep-sea research.
Design Considerations
There were several necessary technologies for live broad-
casting from the submersible. A fber-optic cable was the
most important tool for this project.
Live Broadcasting
Of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents
Shinkai 6500 Manned Sub Transmits Images in Real Time From Seafoor
By Itaru Kawama
(Top) Video image of the hy-
drothermal vent, covered with
Japanese characters representing
real-time comments from view-
ers. (Bottom) The three deep-sea
explorers in the sub's pressure
hull during broadcasting.