| Press Releases - December 2004
December 15, 2004- COSMOS helps Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Engineers Design Remote Probes to Explore Ocean Depths and City Tunnels
December 15, 2004- Bringing lessons of the deep to life
December 14, 2004- Subsea 7 Gets $24M Contract From Stolt Offshore
December 5, 2004- VideoRay Annual Conference in Key Largo Launches Wireless VideoRay and Brings Together Micro-ROV Users
December 4, 2004- Huge amount of drugs seized at New Brunswick port with aid of ROV
December 2, 2004- Hunt continues for the Alligator submarine
December 2, 2004- Into the Deep Blue Sea for Perry Slingsby
December 2004- Milestones on the voyage to the bottom of the sea
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Current Press Releases
Date: December 15, 2004
Organization: COSMOSWorks
COSMOS helps Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Engineers Design Remote Probes to Explore Ocean Depths and City Tunnels Accuracy and ease of use enable designers to shave weight from submersibles while maintaining strength
Concord, Mass.- (BUSINESS WIRE)- COSMOSWorks(R) design analysis software is helping the internationally known Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution design undersea submersible vehicles for mapping the ocean floor, exploring shipwreck sites, and inspecting networks of pipes and tunnels under the world's cities.
Woods Hole Oceanographic, perhaps best known to the public for the discoveries of the wrecks of Titanic and Bismarck and global research programs involving the human occupied vehicle Alvin and the remotely operated vehicle Jason, also designs autonomous submersible vehicles for universities and government agencies. Equipped with cameras, lights, and sensors, the submersibles can roam through tight spots such as the holds of sunken ships and around natural obstacles without tethers to hamper their mobility. Woods Hole Oceanographic engineers chose COSMOSWorks from SolidWorks Corporation for its integrated simulation and powerful analysis capabilities. COSMOSWorks' tight integration with the institutions' SolidWorks(R) 3D mechanical design software creates a single environment that enables engineers to easily switch from design to analysis and back. This lets them analyze their designs and modify them on the fly for maximum performance.
"The ability to create a 3D model, run an analysis, then get the data back into the modeling program without re-entering data saves us valuable time," said Ben G. Allen, a senior engineer in Woods Hole's Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department. "COSMOSWorks is intuitive and fast. We use it to iterate on the design of a specific part to minimize material use and precisely adjust component deflections for assemblies to fit together appropriately."
COSMOSWorks is a 3D desktop design analysis application that simulates how a design will behave under operating conditions. Woods Hole engineers recently used COSMOSWorks to analyze designs for two REMUS series autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV's), one for depths of 100 meters and the other for ocean floor mapping at 6,000 meters. Woods Hole also used COSMOSWorks to analyze component designs for a submersible used to inspect an aqueduct that supplies drinking water for New York City. Engineers used COSMOSWorks to reduce the vehicles' weight to be strong enough to withstand the pressure at their assigned depths, but light enough to float.
"Ease of use counts even with advanced users like Woods Hole engineers," said Suchit Jain, vice president of analysis products for SolidWorks. "They have the experience and knowledge to master any analysis product out there, but COSMOSWorks is so easy to use that they can get reliable results without investing the time in learning a complicated new application. That makes them more likely to use analysis to optimize their designs, which will save time and money on prototypes and final products."
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution works with SolidWorks-COSMOS reseller R&D Technologies on installation and maintenance.
About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, independent marine research and engineering and higher education organization located in Falmouth, Mass. Its primary mission is to understand the oceans and their interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the ocean's role in the changing global environment. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, the institution operates the US National Deep Submergence Facility that includes the deep-diving submersible Alvin, a fleet of global ranging ships and smaller coastal vessels, and a variety of other tethered and autonomous underwater vehicles. WHOI is organized into five departments, interdisciplinary institutes and a marine policy center, and conducts a joint graduate education program with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information, visit www.whoi.edu.
About R&D Technologies
R&D Technologies provides engineering services to manufacturing and engineering firms in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Among the design and finite element analysis (FEA)-related services the firm offers are SolidWorks and COSMOS support and training; consulting, project management and custom software development. For more information about North Kingston, R.I.-based R&D Technologies please visit www.rnd-tech.com.
About SolidWorks Corporation
SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) company, develops and markets software for mechanical design, analysis, and product data management. It is the #1 supplier of 3D mechanical design software for the mainstream market. SolidWorks leads the market in number of users in production, customer satisfaction, and revenue. For the latest news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company's Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000 (outside of North America, call +1-978-371-5000). SolidWorks is a registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. COSMOS and COSMOSWorks are registered trademarks of Structural Research and Analysis Corporation. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (c) 2004 SolidWorks Corporation.
Contacts
SolidWorks Corporation: Laura Kozikowski, 978-371-5077 laurak@solidworks.com
Beaupre & Co. Public Relations, Inc.: Stefanie Guzikowski, 603-559-5836 sguzikowski@beaupre.com
Date: December 15, 2004
Organization: Deakin University
Bringing lessons of the deep to life
By Eve Lamb (The Standard) - The tool of choice when the Swedish navy went looking for a DC-3 aircraft which disappeared over the Baltic Sea is about to play a major role in a new Deakin University course. In what is believed a first for Victoria, the VideoRay will be used to teach marine biology students at Deakin's Warrnambool campus.
The VideoRay is a piece of equipment touted by its Tasmanian-based manufacturer as the smallest, lightest and most-easily deployed of remotely-operated vehicles available.
Operated using a remote-control panel, the lightweight piece of technology can move through dangerous or difficult environments ranging, from the sea floor to nuclear power stations, using inbuilt motors.
Video images are captured of all that appears before its built-in cameras.
The images are relayed via satellite in real time to be seen where required.
In the case of Deakin's new marine biology course, that will be on large screens in the laboratory or lecture theatre.
Head of Deakin's Warrnambool school of ecology and environment, Associate Professor Brad Mitchell, said Deakin had an internal grant to buy the $34,000 VideoRay.
He said it would be used when the new course began next year with an initial enrolment of 30 or more students.
"We can show what this is seeing underwater to students sitting in classrooms or the lab in real time," Professor Mitchell said.
He said the VideoRay would help to bring students' lessons "to life" without the need for them to gain a diving qualification and take to the deep.
"We've never had scuba diving as a compulsory part of our program because some can't afford it and for some there are health problems associated with it and there is also the issue of liability insurance for the university," he said.
"But we are also looking at introducing diving as an option for students as part of the program in two to three years.
"In the interim we want to make marine biology live for them and this will allow us to. It's fantastic," he said.
Simon Hills, the director of Imbros, the company which makes the VideoRay, said the unit could operate at down to 150 metres and included a gripping device which enabled it to collect samples.
The same satellite video technology minus the underwater vehicle component was also expected to be used by Deakin nursing and teaching students to remotely impart learning experiences of surgery or classroom techniques.
Imbros director Simon Hills (kneeling) discusses the new technology with Deakin University lecturer, Laurie Lawrence. Photo: Angela Milne
Date: December 14, 2004
Organization: Subsea 7
Subsea 7 Gets $24M Contract From Stolt Offshore
Stockholm - Underwater contractor Subsea 7 Tuesday said it has received a series of contracts by Stolt Offshore S.A.'s (SOSA) subsidiary PT Komaritim in support of its recently acquired subsea operations services contract for BP Plc's (BP) BP West Java Ltd. unit.
The company said the two-year contract, with a further one year option, is worth about $24 million and will be performed by Subsea 7's Integrated Remote Technologies division. PTK will be the primary contractor responsible for the inspection, repair and maintenance of BP's facilities in West Java, Indonesia.
Under the contract, Subsea 7's IRT division will be responsible for the provision of ROV based inspection and maintenance tasks principally deployed from Subsea 7's DP2 support vessel DSND Surveyor.
Date: December 5, 2004
Organization: VideoRay
VideoRay Annual Conference in Key Largo Launches Wireless VideoRay and Brings Together Micro-ROV Users
Training, Stories, and Technology Were Focus of Event for Users in Science, Law Enforcement, Offshore, and Education
Key Largo, FL (PRWEB) - The VideoRay International Partners Symposium in Key Largo, Florida, was an international underwater technology event, with 90 attendees from 15 countries learning what's new with the 8-pound underwater robot. With VideoRay users from science, law enforcement, homeland security, offshore, engineering, and education in attendance, the mid-November event featured realistic training sessions, expert presentations, and in-water demonstrations. Many attendees came equipped with their VideoRays, which were tuned up and accessorized by an on-site maintenance team.
The Marine Resources Development Foundation (MRDF) and Jule's Undersea Lodge lagoon hosted hands-on, in-water ROV training and demonstrations of new technology. Ten representatives of the US Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Teams were in attendance from California, Hawaii, New York, Washington state, and Washington, DC. The MSSTs, deployed specifically for Homeland Security, simulated ROV harbor search/recovery and homeland security scenarios in the MarineLab and Pennekamp State Park lagoons.
VideoRay's new PC Pilot excited attendees who test drove the new system for the VideoRay Pro III and Deep Blue models. This system allows VideoRays to be operated using a PC and joystick or game controller. PC Pilot and a wireless joystick can control a VideoRay that is directly connected, or deploy the submersible across the globe using the Internet.
Chris Olstad, habitat operations director for MarineLab, commented, "The most intriguing aspect of the whole experience was remotely flying the VideoRay using a laptop computer with a wireless internet connection. A highly integrated video game controller moved the ROV almost intuitively. Head-mounted display goggles provided a totally 'immersive' undistracted visualization experience."
Olstad remarked that the technology has "far reaching implications for the next generation of marine scientists, technicians, and engineers." He hopes to integrate the wireless VideoRay into the MRDF MarineLab Habitat student/aquanaut experience (Projects SEA SQUID and Remora) and the MarineLab student offshore experience.
Top rated speaker sessions included a presentation by Larry Murphy, chief of the National Park Service's Submerged Resources Center, who showed how his group has used the VideoRay to explore a submerged B-29 bomber and survey the USS Arizona, where teams are at present doing a more scientific research on the sunken WWII battleship. Steve van Meter of NASA/Kennedy Space Center received high marks for his story of using the VideoRay in his successful mission to find a thruster lost from the Space Shuttle simulation aircraft.
Dave Phillips and Tom Crossmon, of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department, captivated the audience with a presentation called 'Body Recoveries Under Ice,' which documented the department's forensic investigations with the VideoRay in cold waters. The pair used the VideoRay to locate drowning victims when dive missions were unsuccessful and to spare divers from the hazards of spending long durations in freezing water and boggy situations. The VideoRay also performed conclusive forensic investigations of the sites before authorities removed the bodies.
Philips and Crossmon also instructed attending authorities on how to build and manage an ROV operations team to boost the ability of local public safety authorities and first responders to react to threats, crimes, and accidents. The session complemented a Grant Writing Workshop that preceded the conference, and advised agencies on how to procure Homeland Security grants.
The most raved-about video was shown in a session called 'Moose "Stalking" and Other Adventures of the Isle Royale Institute.' Mark Gleason, the institute's director at Michigan Technological University, captured hilarious encounters between the VideoRay and a moose being studied in the wild.
"The VIPS event allowed close interaction between the VideoRay development teams and the VideoRay users," said Dave Stinebring of Penn State University. "Specific needs of the users could be addressed and incorporated into the long range development plan."
"Networking with other VideoRay users is the most valuable part of VIPS," says Steve van Meter of NASA/Kennedy Space Center. "I picked up several good ideas; one is the perfect solution to a project I have using sonar to image a large intake pipe."
"This year's conference in Key Largo was such a positive experience regarding the convenience and ease with which I could view both equipment and the companies both using and manufacturing the latest and greatest in new technology for our very different fields," said Rich Faulk of Above and Below H20. "The on-site hands-on testing was by far the best experience of any conferences I have attended."
"I was able to meet with several people who had similar goals for the use of ROVs," said Mark Gleason of Michigan Technological University. "I will be starting a few new projects because of those conversations, and my new contacts will result in more activity for me and my VideoRay. It was a great location to spend some time working with a very useful underwater tool."
"Attending VIPS was especially valuable to me because I had the opportunity to discuss the use of VideoRay with sonar in narrow spaces with other users," said Henning Føsker of Norconsult, whose session on the same topic was also highly rated by attendees.
VideoRay ROVs are the smallest, most portable, and most responsive remotely operated vehicles available for use in underwater environments. Weighing just 8 pounds and starting at $5995 USD, VideoRays are used for underwater surveys, offshore inspections, search and rescue, homeland defense, science, fish farming, and a range of applications.
Chief Craig Thorngren of the United States Coast Guard in Seattle, Washington operates a VideoRay with head-mounted goggles during an exercise on a small watercraft. Photo by Steve Van Meter.
For pictures and videos online, visit http://www.videoray.com/Press_Room/press_release.htm
Contact VideoRay Public Relations: Kayla Patenaude, ph: 603-428-3013; e-mail protected from spam bots
Contact VideoRay LLC - 400 Eagleview Blvd. - Exton, PA 19341 USA - Phone: (610) 458-3000 - FAX: (610) 458-3010 - www.videoray.com
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All brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
Date: December 4, 2004
Organization: Telegraph-Journal
Huge amount of drugs seized at New Brunswick port
More than 52 kilograms of cocaine taken from underbelly of ship
By James Risdon (Canada)- Police divers hauled up to $15-million worth of cocaine from the underbelly of a ship at the Port of Belledune Friday morning in one of the biggest drug seizures in New Brunswick history. That's more than 52 kilograms of cocaine, a seizure so big police officials figure it was probably not destined for New Brunswick.
"We do not have a (criminal) organization based primarily in New Brunswick capable of moving this quantity of drug," said Staff Sgt. Gary LeGresley, of the RCMP's Bathurst-Edmundston Regional Drug Unit.
Estimates of the street value of Friday's seizure ranged from $6.5 million to $15 million - or even more.
"It could go even higher depending on how it's cut," said Staff Sgt. LeGresley.
The Croatia-registered ship, the Konavle, left on its current voyage from Colombia, stopped in Maricaibo, Venezuela, and then arrived at the international Port of Belledune this week, said Georges Marcoux, the port's president and chief executive officer.
From Belledune, it was slated to go to Sept Isles, Quebec, said Staff Sgt. LeGresley.
A team at the Canada Border Services Agency in Saint John tagged the ship Wednesday as needing to be inspected. But Michel Saucier, chief of operations for the agency in northern New Brunswick, would not say Friday exactly what it was about the ship that set off red flags.
When the Konavle arrived at the Port of Belledune, officials with Canada Border Services Agency searched its hull with the help of a small, yellow submarine operated by remote control. It sent back images of what was underwater.
"We first searched the underneath of the vessel (Thursday) with the remote operated vehicle and we got some indication there was something there," said Mr. Saucier. "Then, we contacted the RCMP diving team and they found the drugs (Friday) morning."
As of Friday afternoon, no charges had been laid. Mr. Saucier said there was no evidence that connected the owners of the ship or its crew to the drugs. The official also said there was no way to know whether the cocaine seized in Belledune Friday was in any way connected to the cocaine found on a cargo ship named after the prime minister's wife earlier this year.
Officials at the Port of Sydney, Nova Scotia, found two duffel bags stuffed with 83 kgs of cocaine in June during a search of the Sheila Ann, a Canada Steamship Lines carrier that had sailed from Venezuela. Prime Minister Paul Martin transferred control of the shipping line to his sons last year.
At the Port of Belledune, Friday's massive drug seizure was a shock.
"It comes as a surprise because you have all kinds of vessels coming into the port and you wonder what is going on," said Mr. Marcoux.
With the cocaine seized from this ship's underbelly, the RCMP now takes over the investigation. Since the Port of Belledune gets ships from all over the world, police officials figure organized crime is interested in knowing how tight security is there.
"The goings-on at this port will be closely watched by organized crime to see if there are any weak points," said Staff Sgt. LeGresley.
Friday, port officials took comfort in the fact their security worked this time - but they also promised to try and beef it up. Mr. Marcoux said the port authority will be applying to Transport Canada for more funds within the next few weeks.
For now, it's business as usual. Friday, Mr. Marcoux said the Konavle would be free to continue on its way after the police investigation and the Port of Belledune is still open.
The Canada Border Services Agency's chief of operations in northern New Brunswick, Michel Saucier, and Port of Belledune chief executive officer and president Georges Marcoux look over the $15-million worth of cocaine seized from the underside of a ship at the Port of Belledune Friday.
Date: December 2, 2004
Organization: The East Carolinian
Hunt continues for the Alligator submarine
ECU students funded by NOAA to search for submarine
By Summer Martin, Staff Writer- ECU students in the maritime studies program have recently completed a search for a sunken United States submarine, the Alligator, which was lost around the time of the Civil War. The Alligator, a green 47-foot submarine, was given the name Alligator because it resembled an alligator when it was submerged.
There were a total of six students working on the project, which searched for the submarine between Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout.
The goals of the search were to find the sunken submarine and learn new material that could be used in classrooms. While they were unable to locate the Alligator, they did learn material from the project.
"We were asked by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to do this project because we have a maritime studies program and we have already done several prestigious projects and we have excellent students," said Tim Runyan, director of ECU's Program in Maritime Studies.
The researchers searched for the Alligator in the "Atlantic Graveyard," a small inlet into the Carolinas off of Cape Hatteras. This area was searched for several days, with the vessel moving at about 3 or 4 miles per hour.
The area between Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout was chosen as the search area because the last spotting of the Alligator was along Cape Hatteras and the conditions when it went down showed that it was a prospective place to start looking.
NOAA and the ONR provided educational assistance by having former ECU student Michael Overfield, who currently works for NOAA, work with the students.
These organizations also supplied the researchers with a YP-679 research vessel, known as the Afloat Lab. The vessel was 108 feet long, and carried several technologically advanced instruments, such as the Towfish side scan sonar, a Geometric G-880 cesium magnetometer and a Nova Ray remotely operated vehicle.
The side scan sonar was used to search for locations in the search area where there were wrecks.
The magnetometer picked up where there were high concentrations of iron, signaling where a ship or part of it could lie. This tool finds earth's magnetic fields and any other iron objects on the sea floor.
The magnetometer showed two places in the search area where there were possibly wrecked ships. One location turned out to be a barge and the other was part of a magnetic field.
The researchers found out what was on the surface below by using the remotely operated vehicle, which allowed them to watch a television screen capturing the images the camera on the ROV was sending. However, the researchers never found the Alligator.
"We didn't really expect to find it this time, because we don't know the specific location where it went down, it is very small and the ocean is a huge place to find an object as small as the Alligator," Runyan said.
Before the students could participate in the field study, they had to first learn how to scuba dive and use the different types of equipment required for an underwater search.
The six students who worked on this project received funding from several organizations, but mainly by the NOAA, the Office of Naval Research and ECU.
After the students collected all of the data on the search, they went to ECU's maritime studies building and processed the data. The students put together a presentation which exhibits the information they learned from the field study.
The students then presented their work to NOAA, ONR and several other distinguished people at a symposium in Virginia. The presentation included pictures of the students working on the boat and with the different tools, information on what the search found and did not find and the data gathered about the other projects in which ECU students were participating.
There are too many pieces of information unknown about the Alligator, which is delaying its discovery. There is, however, more information emerging including the blueprints, which have given more details about the Alligator's design and size.
The Alligator was a submersible warship that would allow divers to plant explosives under enemy ships. It was designed by the French inventor, Brutus De Villeroi and was built in Philadelphia during late 1891 and early 1892.
The purpose of building this weapon was to counter the Confederate weapon, the Virginia.
The first mission of the Alligator was to destroy an important bridge to the Confederates, which went across the Appomattox River. The submarine was also used to clear a path through the James River.
The Alligator was assigned to help the Union take control of Charleston, SC.
The submarine was being towed by the USS Sumpter when a fierce storm caused the crew of the USS Sumpter to release the Alligator. The submarine became officially lost at sea by this storm on April 2, 1863.
The Alligator did not receive a large amount of recognition and some think that the USS Holland was the first U.S. Navy submarine. This conclusion led Rear Adm. Jay Cohen, the chief of naval research, to seek more information on the submarine, but there is little known about it. Therefore, NOAA and other organizations have funded this project to discover as much information as possible about the submarine and eventually bring it home.
The students enjoyed the opportunity to work on the project for various reasons.
"I liked working on this project because I was able to learn how to use the equipment," said Melissa Madrigal, candidate in ECU's Coastal Resources Management program.
"I thought working on the project was pretty neat because this was my first actual field study and the first time I've ever had to do an underwater project," said Valerie Grussing, student in ECU's Coastal Resources Management program.
www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/alligator
Date: December 2, 2004
Organization: Yorkshire Post Today
Into the Deep Blue Sea for Perry Slingsby
The murkiest waters will be charted by a remote control submarine developed by experts from an inland Yorkshire town
By Greg Wright, Deputy Business Editor- Perry Slingsby Systems has signed a $7m (£3.64m) contract with Deep Marine Technology, based in Houston, Texas, to supply two Triton XLS remotely operated vehicles (ROV), which can operate in places where it's too dangerous to send divers. The ROVs can function at depths of 3,000m and are controlled from a dive support vessel near the surface. They will be used to connect pipes and cables, often in connection with the oil industry. Over the last 30 years, Perry Slingsby, based in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has designed and manufactured 26 manned submersibles.
David Gillies, the company's sales and marketing manager, said the Triton ROVs would be used on major undersea projects worldwide. He added: "They can go to 3,000m and stay there for weeks on end. They have cameras and lights, and can be used to open and close valves." Mr Gillies said the deal provided extra job security for its 110 workers in Kirkbymoorside and its US base in Jupiter, Florida. He added: "The order came out of our Florida branch, and we are providing a lot of the hardware and the propulsion systems. This is our first contract with Deep Marine Technology. They are a new player in the market."
The 125 horsepower ROVs, which are tough enough to withstand the worst maritime conditions, will be delivered in February 2005, along with spare parts for remote locations.
Martin Anderson, Perry Slingsby's chief executive, said the Triton XLS would form the foundation of Deep Marine Technology's ROV fleet. Earlier this year, Perry Slingsby secured a deal with Rolls Royce to build the new Nato submarine rescue submersible - known as SR1 - which can dive to 600m and rescue 15 people at a time. It is part of Nato's Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), which will become operational by December 2006.
The need for improved international co-ordination of rescue operations was highlighted by the deaths of 118 crew on board the Russian Kursk submarine in the Barents Sea in 2000. Perry Slingsby is also supplying an unmanned remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which can trace a distressed submarine and prepare the rescue site for the manned submersible. The ROV will establish contact with the submarine, provide emergency supplies and remove debris.
Date: December 2004
Organization: Wired Magazine
Milestones on the voyage to the bottom of the sea
What's down there?
By Michael Menduno- Never have we looked at the ocean, from the surface through the depths to the miles-deep seafloor, in one long gaze. Next fall, Emory Kristof will do just that. The 62-year-old photographer, along with an A-team of biologists, oceanographers, and two of Jacques Cousteau's grandchildren, will venture to the Mariana Trench, just off the coast of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. There they will drop a remotely operated camera system 7 miles down to the bottom of the deepest spot on Earth. The result: the first photographic core sample of the ocean. Kristof hopes the mission will help scientists understand how the undersea food chain works. Here's a virtual descent to 36,201 feet.
Graphic: Don Foley
0 FEET: EPIPELAGIC ZONE Ample sunlight penetrates down to 650 feet, making photosynthesis possible. With abundant plant life (read: food), this zone is the most densely populated with fish.
220 feet: Depth at which compressed air becomes toxic and can cause seizures in divers.
558 feet: Only two people have held their breath to this depth: Audrey Mestre, who died in 2002 when her equipment failed; and her husband, Pipin Ferreras, who tied her unofficial dive record one year later.
656 FEET: MESOPELAGIC ZONE Too deep to support photosynthesis: The fish that survive here are sit-and-wait predators that tend to have large mouths and specialized retinas to increase light reception.
660 feet: Maximum diving depth of the Pacific white-sided dolphin.
1,010 feet: Scuba-diving record set by Brit diver John Bennett in 2001.
1,640 feet: Maximum diving depth of the blue whale.
1,969 feet: The Deep Sound Channel, a layer in which acoustic signals travel far and fast.
1,969 feet: Maximum diving depth of nuclear-powered attack subs.
3281 FEET: BATHYPELAGIC ZONE The ocean is dark at this level; the only glow is from bioluminescent animals. There are no living plants, and creatures subsist by eating the debris that falls from the levels above, including dead or dying fish and plankton.
3,281 feet: Maximum diving depth of the sperm whale. To navigate in the darkness, these whales emit high pitched sounds and use echoes to determine the location of prey.
3,937 feet: Maximum diving depth of the leatherback sea turtle.
4,000 feet: The domain of the Pacific sleeper shark, the largest toothed shark ever photographed. It can reach lengths of 28 feet.
5,000 feet: A new species of jellyfish, about the size of a thumbnail, was caught at this depth during Emory Kristof's 2002 Arctic expedition.
5,187 feet: Maximum diving depth of the elephant seal.
6,562 feet: Maximum operating depth of the research submersibles Pisces IV and Pisces V.
8,038 feet: Depth of the hydrothermal vents at the Galápagos Rift, discovered in 1977.
8,500 feet: Kristof discovered a new species of octopus living at this depth, 500 miles west of Acapulco, Mexico.
10,500 feet: The largest cusk eel, at a mammoth 7 feet long, was observed at this depth.
12,434 feet: Average ocean depth.
12,500 feet: Depth of the wreck of the Titanic discovered by a US-French team headed by Woods Hole researcher Robert Ballard in 1985.
13,123 FEET: ABYSSOPELAGIC ZONE In the pitch-dark of the abyss, there is no light at all, the water temperature is near freezing. Of the few creatures found at these crushing depths, most are blind and have long tentacles - tiny invertebrates such as shrimp, basket stars, and small squids.
13,123 feet: Depth of the first transatlantic cable, laid in August 1858. The 2,500-mile cable connected Ireland and Newfoundland.
13,123 feet: Maximum operating depth of the ROV Tiburon.
14,000 feet: A lone 8-inch-long shrimp spotted at this depth in 1979 may be all we know about the deep-sea biology of the North Pole.
14,764 feet: Maximum operating depth of the research submersible Alvin. In use since 1964, Alvin was the first deep-sea sub to successfully carry passengers.
15,420 feet: Some of the deepest photos Kristof has taken are of anemones on the wreck of the Bismarck in the Atlantic Ocean.
19,685 FEET: HADOLPELAGIC ZONE Despite the intense pressure and frigid temperature in the deepwater trenches and canyons, life still exists here, especially near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. Invertebrates such as starfish actually thrive.
19,685 feet: Maximum operating depth of the three-person Russian submersibles Mir I and Mir II.
26,850 feet: Deepest depth reading taken by HMS Challenger at the Mariana Trench in 1875 during the world's first oceanographic expedition. The measurement was made by lowering a weighted line to the seafloor. The Challenger stocked 144 miles of rope for this purpose.
27,460 feet: Depth of deepest-living fish ever recorded. The 8-inch-long Abyssobrotula galatheae, a species of cusk eel, was collected from the Puerto Rico Trench.
35,800 feet: Depth of the deepest manned dive. Jacques Piccard and US Navy lieutenant Don Walsh visited the Mariana Trench in the submersible Trieste on January 23, 1960. Through their porthole, Piccard and Walsh reportedly observed an animal resembling a type of flatfish that was about a foot long. The Japan Marine Science and Technology Center revisited the site with an ROV in 1995, setting a new official unmanned submersible depth record.
36,201 feet: Deepest recorded ocean depth, taken by the Soviet submersible Vityaz in 1957.
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