In late February, RV TKK set sail for the SCS on her first mission after completing an intermediate inspection and dry-dock. This inaugural cruise served as the vessel’s first comprehensive sea trail featuring a suite of cutting-edge large deep-sea investigation and sampling equipment across the working decks, including two ARV systems with control containers, an in-house ROV and its control unit, the deep optical towing system (DOTS), the deep-sea remotely operated platform, a clean analysis lab van, and an unmanned surface vessel.

During the cruise, the Xigu II autonomous underwater vehicle completed a series of complex maneuver tests and achieved autonomous power generation in an oxygen-free deep-sea environment. Haidou-1 conducted near-bottom surveys and sampling operations, validating its capability for fine-scale investigation and deep-sea operations, and acquiring key data and samples.

The cruise also completed multibeam sonar alignment calibration and performance verification of onboard geophysical instruments. ARV deployment and recovery procedures were tested and optimized, enhancing the vessel’s capability to support coordinated operations involving heavy and complex scientific equipment.

Photos: Daiyuan Li

Revised by MarOps