Moonpool

Scientific devices can be lowered into the sea through the moon pool. The depth of moonpool from upper end at E-Deck to the ships keel amounts to 14.2 meter. The cross section of moonpool amounts to 884mm X 934mm (across X along) by means of dimension of device carriers.
The device carriers as well as locking device are equipped with hydraulic cylinders which lock the carrier in lowermost position. The operation of hydraulic to install and deinstall the carrier is permittet to the ships crew only.

Any device lowered through moonpool must be mounted on device carrier. There are three different carriers in use:

• Carrier is for various use (1). One mounting plate is dedicated to the net sonde system. Another plate is used for tube intake of sea water.
• Carrier for varous use (2) is designed to install a vertical bar. Several devices can be mounted on vertical bar like underwater positioning antennas IXBLUE GAPS and IXBLUE Posidonia.
• Third one is dedicated to the underwater positioning system Ixblue Posidonia 6000 whereat the antenna (Thomson Marconi) is fixed installed in this device.

In ice covered seas the ship must not be driven without installed locking device. In case locking device is mounted, there is no restriction for ships speed. In case device carrier is lowered the ship must not be moving and only drifting is allowed. If driving, the system mounted on device carrier could be damaged by ice sheet. A damage may also increase risk, that the device carrier can not be lift up and deinstalled anymore.