Tromsø, Norway, May 3 – REV Ocean, in collaboration with UiT and Ocean Census, is sending its best equipment and technical team to support 36 world class scientists who will be discovering new sea species in the Arctic and Barents Sea.
Scheduled from May 3 to May 31, the Extreme24 expedition will leverage REV Ocean’s advanced deep diving Aurora ROV and skilled support team to facilitate groundbreaking scientific exploration aboard the Institute of Marine Research’s RV Kronprins Haakon.
“Our collaboration with UiT and Ocean Census underscores our commitment to advancing scientific research and exploration,” said Nina Jensen, CEO of REV Ocean. “By providing our expertise and resources, we aim to support their efforts in uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea and expanding our understanding of marine ecosystems.”
The expedition will sample and film the remote and enigmatic marine environment of the Fram Strait passage between Greenland and Svalbard, with the intention of discovering dozens of new species. The research area encompasses a wide range of deep-sea habitats including Molløy Deep – the deepest point in the Arctic Sea at 5550 metres.
Prof. Alex Rogers, Science Director at Ocean Census, said, “The deep sea of the Arctic Ocean is one of the least explored regions on earth and is home to countless species unknown to science. The Ocean Census Arctic Deep expedition comes at a critical juncture if we are to protect this fragile and diverse habitat.”
The second leg of the cruise will revisit the Borealis mud volcano in the Barents Sea, approximately 70 nautical miles south of Bear Island and at 400m deep. The crater around the volcano hosts a rich community of life that includes sea anemones, carnivorous sponges, sea stars, corals, sea spiders and crustaceans. The team will take new samples and film the volcano with a new high-resolution camera.
Professor Giuliana Panieri, expedition leader and Principal Investigator of the Extreme24 project said: “It is exciting to return to the Borealis mud volcano again. Last year we had great success using Aurora ROV and working with the whole REV Ocean team. Now we hope to get even more detailed samples and improved images of this amazing deep-sea feature.”
The Extreme 24 expedition presents an excellent opportunity for the REV Ocean crew to operate under demanding circumstances and fine-tune the performance of Aurora ROV ahead of its deployment on the REV Ocean ship later this year. With preparations underway for the vessel’s operational phase in 2026, this mission is a great chance for the team to gear up for the important tasks ahead.
For regular expedition updates, follow @REV Ocean on social media.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lawrence Hislop
Communications Director
+47 48500514
lawrence.hislop@revocean.org
About REV Ocean
REV Ocean has an ambitious yet simple goal – to ensure ‘One Healthy Ocean’. The company was established July 20th, 2017 and is funded by Norwegian business-man Kjell Inge Røkke.
REV Ocean will enable a new generation of ocean solutions and raise awareness of global impacts on the marine environment. We need to improve our understanding of the ocean, get key stakeholders – decision-makers, researchers, business and civil society – aligned with that understanding and turn that knowledge into concrete solutions.
The REV Ocean Science Strategy covers: Plastic pollution, climate change and ocean acidification, overfishing and environmental impacts of fishing.
About UiT
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is at the forefront of Arctic research, offering a unique geographical advantage for studying the region’s complex environments. As the northernmost university in the world, UiT is a leader in the field of polar science, providing cutting-edge research on climate change, marine biodiversity, and the sustainable use of Arctic resources. With a strong commitment to multidisciplinary and collaborative research, UiT is dedicated to fostering innovation and providing insights that contribute to global challenges.