Deep Ocean Floor Survey System

DEEP TOW is a deep ocean floor survey system that can be outfitted with sonar or cameras and towed through the water at low speeds at the end of a cable measuring several thousand meters in length. There are four systems available: a camera and sonar system in the 4,000 m class, and a camera and sonar system in the 6,000 m class.

Mission

  • Surveys of the deep sea, ocean floor topography, geology (hydrothermal activity, etc.), resources, and physical oceanography
  • Bathyal organism surveys
  • Preliminary surveys before manned or ROV submersible dive surveys
  • Searches for man-made objects, installation of observational instruments

Systems and their features

(1) Camera systems
Allows images of the ocean floor to be observed in real time.
The observation width of the camera is about 5 m (when towing 5 m above the floor).
Optional devices such as water samplers, mud samplers and plankton nets can be mounted on the system.
  • 4K Camera DEEP TOW (4KC)
    Maximum service depth (4,000 m)
    This system uses a super-HARP camera to produce high-quality images.
  • YOKOSUKA DEEP TOW (YKDT)
    Maximum service depth (4,500 m)
    Installed on the YOKOSUKA in order to perform preliminary surveys for the SHINKAI 6500, it can also be used for other surveys.
(2) Sonar systems
Detailed resolution of ocean floor topography
Acoustic surveys of the distribution of ocean floor sediment
Objects measuring several meters in size can be identified from a range of 1,500 m on either side of the ship.
  • 4K Sonar DEEP TOW (4KS)
    Maximum service depth (4,000 m)
  • 6K Sonar DEEP TOW (6KS)
    Maximum service depth (6,000 m)
4K Camera DEEP TOW
4K Camera DEEP TOW
YOKOSUKA DEEP TOW
YOKOSUKA DEEP TOW
4K Sonar DEEP TOW
4K Sonar DEEP TOW
6K Sonar DEEP TOW
6K Sonar DEEP TOW