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MIR-1 and MIR-2 Submersibles Mark 25 Years of History [Sea Technology](Sea Technology Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MIRs Show Versatility in Public and Private Operations The MIR-I and MIR-2 submersibles were built by RaumaRepola in Finland from 1985 to 1987, and they have since advanced scientific and historical understanding among researchers, government and the public. The vehicles were designed by scientists from the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and Rauma's engineers. Deepocean trials for the 6,000-meterrated MIRs were conducted in the Atlantic in December 1 987, with MIR-1 at 6,1 70 meters and MIR-2 at 6,120 meters depth. The MIRs have important advantages compared to other submersibles of the same class, including high battery capacity (100 kilowatt-hours), high speed underwater (up to 5 knots) and a ballast system using only seawater. The average time of a MIR dive is 15.2 hours, almost double the duration of other 6,000-meter submersibles. For 25 years, spanning 39 MIRs expeditions and 1,095 dives, the Deep Manned Submersibles Laboratory of P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS has been providing safety, maintenance, repair and piloting for the MIRs. Scientific Research Deep-ocean research has been conducted with the MIR submersibles at more than 50 sites around the world, including hydrothermal fields in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The MIRs performed dives on 23 sites with benthic hydrothermal vents. Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse Hydrothermal field. The Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse hydrothermal field was investigated during four expeditions from 1 988 to 2002. A chain of relict hydrothermal hills was found at 3,600 meters depth, formed by polymetallic sulfide deposits with high contents of copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, gold, silver and other metals. The largest hydrothermal geological formation on the ocean bottom, with about 10 million tonnes of sulfide ores, was discovered there in 1 991 and named the MIR underwater mount. Logachev Hydrothermal Held. In 1 995, the MIRs discovered deep hydrothermal circulation while diving to the Logachev hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the first dive, the sub crew observed a high-temperature black smoker, where fluid was flowing to the bottom from small craters and spreading along the bottom without rising, as in classical smokers. Analyses of fluid samples showed a high density and high concentration of heavy metals and other chemical elements. On the bottom were found ultrabasic rocks, serpentinites, samples of which were lifted to the surface. On the basis of these data, it was concluded that the present hydrothermal area is located within serpentinized ultrabasic rocks that outcrop on the seafloor, which confirmed that the fluids originate from the upper layers of the mantle. Similar processes were discovered at the Rainbow and Lost City hydrothermal fields in the Atlantic, where the formation of fluids is also based on deep hydrothermal circulation. Underwater Volcanoes. On the Piipa volcano in the Bering Sea, the MIRs discovered wide fields with methane seeps on the bottom and white chimneys created by ocean crust with deep layers of fluid containing 81 percent methane. Large areas of the bottom, up to 1 00 square meters, are covered by bacteria. The presence of methane explains the large community of the Caliptogenia clams observed by the MIRs on the Piipa volcano, which is the northern-most location of these species yet known. New species. The MIRs also discovered new species of marine hydrothermal animals, including Mirocaris keldyshi and Lorania concordia in the Atlantic, Vestimentifera arcovestiidae in the Manus Basin in the Pacific and Caliptogenia Ectenagena extenta in Monterey Bay, California. Government Work The MIRs conducted investigations of the nuclear submarine wrecks Komsomolets, which sunk in the Norwegian Sea at 1,700 meters in April 1989, and Kursk, which sunk in the Barents Sea at 108 meters in August 2000. Komsomolets. The MIRs arrived at the Komsomolets site one month after the accident. After three dives, the reason for the accident was established and radiation levels were measured around the submarine and inside the bow (torpedo) compartment. The dives established that the wreck did not pose an environmental threat, but there was concern that seawater corrosion could destroy the nuclear torpedo heads and radiation leakage could occur. A project was undertaken from 1 994 to 1 995 to encapsulate the bow of Komsomolets. The torpedo tubes that were opened during the accident were closed with titanium caps, 19 3-cubic-meter plastic bags were each were placed inside the bow, and the bow was covered with armored flat blankets. The effectiveness of this new method of encapsulation was confirmed by the measurements of the currents and radiation inside and outside of the closed volume. Kursk. At the Kursk site, the MIRs made five double dives using the two MIRs simultaneously over five days. Each dive lasted 1 2 to 1 4 hours, during which radiation measurements, visual observations and more than 20 hours of videotaping of the wreck were conducted for assessment. More than 30 fragments ot the submarine were also lifted to the surface. Deep-Ocean Film Work The MIR submersibles opened a new page in the history of deep-ocean operations by enabling cinematic filming at great depth. Beginning in 1991, several action and documentary films were produced using MIR recordings, including James Cameron's "Titanic" and the BBC's "Blue Planet." Each film project led to the implementation of new technology, which could be used for scientific research and observation of wrecks. For instance, in 1991, an IMAX camera was positioned inside the MIR's main sphere for deep-ocean filming. In 1995, James Cameron used a film camera in a pressure cylinder outside of the MIR. In 1 999, a high-definition 3D camera was used for filming, positioned outside of MIR. In 1999, ROV modules on fiber-optic wire were installed on the MIRs, which were able to fly 1 mile away from the vessels to explore inside such wrecks as the Titanic and the sunken German battleship Bismarck. These modules were used during the shooting of "Ghosts of the Abyss," "Expedition: Bismarck" and "Aliens of the Deep." Live Broadcast from the Titanic. The first-ever TV broadcast from the deep ocean occurred in July 2005 with James Cameron using the MIRs, equipped with three ROV modules, to explore the inside of the Titanic wreck. TV signals were transmitted from MIR-2 at 3,800 meters depth through fiber-optic line and received on board the RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh then transmitted to land via satellite. During the two-hour broadcast, more than half a billion people watched. It was covered in Sea Technology magazine that year. Under-ice Dives in the North Pole. August 2007 brought another world-history moment when footage of the geographical North Pole was provided for the first time at 4,300 meters below the ice cover. For dive safety, the MIR group developed a hydroacoustical navigation system and improved the submersibles' propulsion, hydraulic and ballast systems. The dive was successful, and the crew of MIR-1 took samples of sediments and animals. Each MIR spent more than nine hours on the ocean bottom. It was the first man-under-ice deep dive, which opened the way for future research of the geographical North Pole by manned submersibles. More details can be found in 5ea Technology's December 2007 issue. Commercial Dives The idea of commercial-passenger dives on the MIRs came about in 1998 for two reasons. One was that many people worldwide inquired about the possibility of seeing the Titanic wreck in situ, particularly after Cameron's "Titanic" film. The other had to do with problems financing the MIRs operations. The MIR group partnered with Deep Ocean Expeditions LLC (Seattle, Washington) to enable commercial dives, resulting in more than 100 passengers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Germany, England, Japan and other countries diving on the MIRs to the wrecks of the Titanic and the sunken German battleship Bismarck, as well as to hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Basin and Land Research From 2008 to 2010, the MIRs were working on Baikal Lake, the deepest lake in the world. The MIRs made 178 dives over three summers, with the maximum dive depth at 1 ,640 meters. Among the discoveries were wide deposits of hard gas hydrates, areas of benthic gas and oil discharges, and many new animal species. The geological structure of the lake was also studied. This research of Baikal was introduced in Sea Technology's December 201 1 issue. In 201 1 , the MIRs were studying the ecology of Geneva Lake. The MIRs completed 96 dives in the Vidi inlet, the Rona River delta and the central deepest area of the lake. More than 200 sediment and 1 50 water samples were taken, as well as millions of in-situ measurements using mass spectrometer and other equipment for molecular-level study. Around-the -World Expedition, Upcoming Projects In 1 992, the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS developed an around-the-world expedition program to study benthic hydrothermal fields with the MIR-1 and MIR-2. The program includes dives to underwater mounts, abyssal areas and wrecks. The last version of the project was in May 2007 and was scheduled to run for two and a half years, has about 80 research sites. The latest program, which is under financial consideration, is scheduled to run for two-and-a-half years with the participation of scientists worldwide and the use of ROVs and other equipment from around the world. An international project with Russian government support to explore hydrothermal fields in the Atlantic is also being considered. A decision should be made in the next few months. Conclusions For 25 years, the MIR submersibles have conducted a wide spectrum of scientific research and underwater technical operations and have proven their reliability, effectiveness and safety for various deep-ocean operations. Drawing from data obtained by the MIRs, 20 books and more than 1,000 articles have been published, and 14 doctoral dissertations have been defended. The MIRs have made a great contribution not only to Russian science but to the world. By Dr. Anatoly M. Sagalevich Dr. Anatoly M. Sagalevich is the head of the Deep Manned Submersibles Laboratory at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia. He worked on vehicle design for the MIR- 1 and MIR-2 submersibles with Dr. Igor Mikhaltsev and a group of Finnish engineers headed by Sauli Ruohonen. (c) 2012 Compass Publications, Inc. |