Underwater Vehicles Mariscope in Chile The Chilean government’s recently created agency for environmental issues (Superintendencia de Medio Ambiente, (SMA)) has ordered an FOII observation class ROV from the Chilean Branch of Mariscope Meerestechnik. This is a widely used vehicle in South America and other parts of the world. In addition, the SMA has ordered three 75m type conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) sensors from Mariscope. These have been provided by the
German manufacturer Sea & Sun Technologies, with whom Mariscope has developed a strong cooperation over several years on the South American market. The aim of the SMA is to start the control of harvesting sites in Chile, mainly were the Aquaculture Industry has its activity since nearly 25 years. The ROV will be used to control sedimentation under the net cages, take sediment samples and control underwater waste disposals. The government is also increasingly concerned with contamination related
Mariscope FOII observation class ROV
UT3 February 2013
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to the mining industry, waste water production and human impact. With the new system, waste water pipelines can be monitored and regulated to ensure no environmental damage. Because of the strong earthquake activity in the country, tectonic movement often damages the pipelines. These kind of instruments, however, will provide the Chilean government with early information about any damage that may have occurred following an earth movement.