NOC AUVs To Boost Portugal Ocean Science Research

A leading European research, technology and innovation organization has chosen underwater robotics from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) to help advance its marine research capabilities.

The agreement will see Madeira Island’s Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation, ARDITI, acquire two NOC Autosub Long Range (ALR) autonomous underwater vehicles, for use in ocean science offshore Portugal and beyond.

NOC’s ALRs can significantly advance ocean research supporting unprecedented data collection capabilities, from mapping to marine biogeochemical sensing, down to 6,000m water depth over durations from multiple weeks to months.

Both of ARDITI’s vehicles will come with a full suite of sensors. One will be 1,500m rated and focused on the oceanography and biogeochemistry of the water column. The second will be 6,000m rated and focused on seabed mapping.

To date, ALRs have been available for use by the UK marine science community. Agreements with overseas science organizations such as ARDITI opens their use to the international marine science community, but also helps to further develop the vehicles’ capabilities and availability, through funding and collaboration.

Madeira Island is uniquely placed to explore the deep ocean. The island is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000 km southwest of