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HROV ARIANE
Hybrid ROV Ariane
Infrastructure Profile
Infrastructure Provider
Location
Toulon, France
Organisation & Address
IFREMER / French Oceanographic Fleet / 1625 route de Sainte-Anne – CS 10070 – 29280 Plouzané – FRANCE
Normal Area of Operation
ROV ARIANE operates mostly in the Mediterranean Sea (37°N – 44°N; 0°E – 15°E) but has also been deployed North-East Atlantic (42°N – 60°N; 25°W – 2°E)
Maximum Number of Days Available
8 days
Overview
Depth Rating
2500 m
Length
2.2 m
Width
1.85 m
Height (incl. draft for USV)
2.13 m
Weight in Air
1800 kg
Total System Weight
12 T (this includes ROV, pilot control equipment, depressor weight, deep sea winch, docking, maintenance wagon, rails, spear parts. Total system weight greater than 12 T for deep sea configuration, dependent on whether 1 or 2 containers are required on board (+5 T each).
Payload
220 kg
Endurance (AUV, Gliders, USV)
4 – 8 hours
Scientific and Technical Specifications
General Information
ROV Ariane is a remote underwater system which is operated through an optical fibre link, where energy is supplied by on-board lithium-ion batteries. Two payload configurations are possible:
– “Exploration and sampling”: integrating two 5 and 7-function manipulator arms, one basket, one directional camera, sampling tools
– “Cartography”: including an EM2040 multi-beam echo sounder and a directional camera
The system design is especially attractive in the following aspects:
– Propulsion architecture and navigation system especially designed for work on strong cliffs and canyons
– High-end payload devices for manipulation, mapping and sampling
Vessel Requirements (if applicable)
Deployment is possible from smaller vessels, dynamic positioning is not necessary
Thrusters
Its propulsive architecture and navigation sensors offer to work on any type of seabed, including very rugged operational areas such as canyon
Cameras
4K Video
Positioning (USBL, etc.)
GAPS – USBL box
Instruments/Scientific Payload
Vacuum fauna sampling (6 compartments), sediment coring (4), sampling basket (105 L);
CTD, ADCP, interfaces for simple scientific sensors;
Kongsberg 2040 multi-beam echo-sounder in vertical, 45° and horizontal orientations, water column recording;
Full software GIS compatibility and data visualization tools.
Optional Items
ROV Ariane has two main winches depending on deployment:
A “deep water” one for operations up to 2500 m
A “shallow water one” for operations up to 400 m
Manipulators
2 electric manipulators with respectively 5 and 7 functions
TMS (Tether Management System (ROV ONLY)), LARS details (if applicable)
ROV Ariane uses a TMS to operate from vessels without dynamic positioning. LARS include a docking to be installed in the vessel’s A-Frame and a cart/wagon which moves on a rail system.
Support offered to AQUARIUS users
For deployment on a new vessel (outside French Oceanographic Fleet), an integration analysis must be carried out by the ROV’s engineering team in order to confirm the feasibility beforehand.
Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details
Year 2025
1) Location: Toulon (or overseas)
2) Availability: First quarter (d/t possible shipping overseas for several cruises)
Year 2026
1) Location: Toulon (or overseas)
2) Availability: Second semester (depending on logistics if shipped overseas in 2025)
Year 2027
1) Location: Toulon
2) Availability: Depending on offshore or regional cruise planning
Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application
laurent.artzner[at]ifremer.fr
Certification and Clearance Requirements
Diplomatic clearances or permits required for area or type of activity
To be included in the Marine Scientific research application for the research vessel (if operations are planned in a foreign EEZ)