Marine technical operations service with VIMAS
The VIMAS facility provides access to the fleet of gliders, ROVs and ASVs based in the Canary Islands. It offers a unique opportunity for scientists and engineers to use unique equipment in both coastal and open ocean areas to carry out research, monitoring or testing activities, being able to perform continuous measurements of various meteorological and oceanographic variables, sampling, ocean testing, etc.
ROV operations
The ROV fleet allows:
- Conduct surveys including filming of the area of interest at maximum depths varying between 100 m and 950 m, depending on the ROV technology used.
- Possibility of handling and/or recovery of small objects and samples, depending on the ROV technology used.
The capacity and performance of each unit is limited to the number and type of vehicles available, the characteristics of the mission to be carried out and the previously programmed calendar of activity.
There are two types of access:
- The most appropriate device for the needs described in the access request is provided, as well as all the services associated with it, such as the necessary technical staff.
- The user can request technical support to carry out a mission and the vessel required for deployment and pick-up. The device, batteries, telemetry and transport to PLOCAN’s facilities will be at the user’s expense. Support is provided in the maintenance and preliminary testing of user gliders, ROVs and ASVs.
Operations with gliders
- Conduct long-range, long-duration missions.
- Average speeds of 25 cm/s.
- Perform vertical sawtooth trajectory profiles through the water column.
- Make surface appearances at regularly scheduled intervals.
- Incorporate GPS navigation.
- Establish two-way communications between the glider and a remote station via satellite telephony.
- Reach maximum depths between 750 m. and 1000 m. depending on the glider model.
- Take measurements at selectable intervals and frequencies of oceanographic variables (conductivity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, pigments, turbidity and hydrocarbons, etc.).
Operations with ASV
The main ASV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) capabilities:
- Conduct long-range, long-duration missions based on transects over the ocean surface according to an established map of coordinates.
- Average speeds in excess of 2 knots.
- Incorporate GPS navigation.
- Establish two-way communications between the vehicle and a remote station via satellite telephony.
- Take measurements at the ocean surface and sub-surface at selectable intervals and frequencies of both oceanographic variables (conductivity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, pigments, turbidity and hydrocarbons, underwater noise, etc.) and meteorological variables (wind direction and intensity, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, etc.).
- Incorporate additional component sub-systems (telemetry, sensing, etc.) for measurement, test and/or validation.