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 size of moonpool is approximately 1x1 meter.
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 operation need to be announced one day before.

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

• First one is dedicated to the underwater positioning system Ixblue Posidonia whereat the antenna (Thomson Marconi) is fixed installed in this device.
• Second one is for various use. One mounting plate is dedicated to the net sonde system. Another plate is used for tube intake of sea water.
• A third carrier is designed to install a vertical pipe. Several devices are mounted on vertical pipe like underwater positioning antennas IXBLUE GAPS and IXBLUE Posidonia.

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 systems mounted on device carrier might be damaged by ice sheet.