Shipboard and laboratory equipment

Abstract

The polymetallic nodules occur at an average depth of 4500 m. Adequate equipment and techniques are required for the exploration at such depths. Shipboard and various laboratory equipments for the sampling of polymetallic nodules is described. The first grab used for sampling was a modified was a Pettersson grab. Boomerang grabs were found to be a novel method of collecting nodule samples. Deep-sea cameras attached with altimeter and pinger helped to control the height of the camera above the sea bed, and a digital clock and a transponder helped to locate the camera. Equipment for the analysis of the nodules such as x-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrophotometers were installed aboard MV Skandi Surveyor and MV Fernella and MV G A Reay respectively. ORV Sagar Kanya is the most modern research vessel fitted with all the necessary equipments