Underwater deployment of the Deep Trekker ROV under the Algae Revive project
As part of the Algae Revive project (BSB00091), the Via Pontica Foundation carried out the first underwater deployment of a Deep Trekker remotely operated vehicle (ROV), part of the work of bringing new technology into the team’s practice.
Algae Revive, “Harnessing Algae Power for Pollution Reduction and Blue Growth”, is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme and works on sustainable solutions for improving the state of the marine environment in the Black Sea region.
The deployment took place in real water conditions and gave the team hands-on experience of piloting the vehicle and of how it moves and behaves underwater. It was the first time equipment of this kind had been used in the project.
Fitted with an on-board camera, the Deep Trekker ROV was used to survey underwater areas and record footage. The aim was to gain an initial understanding of the system and of what it can do in real conditions.
The experience gained points to the technology’s potential for future Algae Revive activities, including observing algal habitats, documenting the underwater environment and supporting ecosystem monitoring.
By adopting technologies such as the Deep Trekker ROV, the Via Pontica Foundation is extending its capacity to work safely and efficiently in underwater areas that are hard to reach.
Algae Revive brings together partners from several countries in the Black Sea region and runs until 2027, focusing on innovation, research and practical applications related to algae.
Following this first deployment the team will continue to build on its experience with the ROV and to explore how it can be used in the project’s future work.
