Kongsberg Cameras in Chinese Deep-sea Exploration
Kongsberg Maritime’s OE14-502 high-definition cameras raised the bar for deep-sea exploration during an expedition of China’s manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong to the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean this June.
The Jiaolong has been equipped with two ultra-deep-water versions of Kongsberg Maritime OE14-502D high-definition cameras along with an ultra-deep OE14-208 digital stills camera and two OE14-364 compact fixed colour cameras. The Jiaolong made a total of six dives, reaching a depth of 7,062 metres on its final dive. This surpassed a national record depth of 7,020 metres reached just a few days previously.
While at the ocean bottom, scientists captured high-quality video, conducted geological surveys, placed markers and gathered samples of organisms living on the ocean bed.
The HD video footage is the deepest recorded using Kongsberg HD cameras. This, along with numerous past deep-water marine research applications around the globe where Kongsberg cameras have been used in depths in excess of 8,000 metres, demonstrates Kongsberg’s ability to manufacture the most rugged harsh-environment underwater cameras available.
