EV Nautilus

EV Nautilus is a 68-meter oceanographic research vessel owned and operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, and managed by Leeway Marine. Its robust telepresence capabilities enable real-time data sharing and global educational outreach. EV Nautilus is available for charter to scientists, government agencies, corporations, and NGOs for oceanographic research projects that align with the mission and values of the Ocean Exploration Trust. Nautilus is currently operating in the Pacific Ocean.

EV NAUTILUS IS IDEAL FOR:

• Deep-sea geological and biological exploration, using ROVs and UxS
• High-resolution seafloor mapping
• Archaeological site investigations
• Telepresence-enabled scientific collaboration
• Educational outreach and live broadcasts
• Serving as a platform for testing new technologies

WORKING DECK SPECIFICATIONS:

• Aft Deck Area: Approximately 9.1 m x 7.5 m
• A-Frame: 8-ton safe working load (SWL), suitable for deploying ROVs and heavy equipment
• Knuckle-Boom Crane: Bonfiglioli crane with 2–6 ton capacity and two extensions
• Dynacon 421 ROV Traction Winch: Equipped with 6,000 m of 1.73 cm (0.681 inch) diameter cable
• DT Marine 210 Winch: Supporting various deployment operations
• Autonomous Vehicle Launch Crane: DMW crane with 10-ton capacity located on the starboard side
• Airtuggers: Two units with 900 lbs SWL each
• Rescue Boats: Two units with davit systems rated at 0.9 metric tons SWL
• Deck Power Supply: 440 VAC and 120 VAC connections available
• Water Access: Seawater and freshwater outlets on deck
• Portable Van Space: Accommodation for one 20-foot container on the aft deck

MISSION CAPABILITIES:

EV Nautilus is equipped to support a wide range of multidisciplinary scientific missions, with integrated systems and infrastructure purpose-built for deep-sea exploration and real-time collaboration. The vessel is optimized for ROV deployment, seafloor mapping, and subsea data collection in some of the most remote marine environments on Earth.

ROV Hercules

A primary deep-diving ROV rated to 4,000 meters, outfitted with high-definition cameras, hydraulic manipulators, sediment samplers, biological collection tools, and a precision navigation suite. Hercules is optimized for scientific research and sample recovery, and the integration of a variety of scientific equipment and sensors.

ROV Argus

A towed camera sled rated to 6,000 meters, Argus operates above Hercules to provide broad illumination and wide-angle contextual video. It also acts as a shock absorber and lighting platform during operations.

ROV Atalanta

A lightweight towsled ROV ideal for high-altitude seafloor surveys and wide-area imaging. Rated to 6,000 meters and designed for efficient deployment and recovery.

Multibeam Bathymetry & Mapping

Equipped with a Kongsberg EM302 multibeam echosounder for high-resolution seafloor mapping at depths up to 7,000 meters.

Sub-Bottom Profiling & Side Scan Sonar

Includes a Knudsen 3260 sub-bottom profiler and side-scan sonar systems for geophysical and archaeological assessments.

Live Telepresence

Global connectivity via VSAT and Starlink allows real-time video streaming, scientific collaboration, and educational outreach from anywhere at sea.

Integrated Science Lab & Video Studio

Onboard dry and wet labs and a media production suite support immediate data processing, analysis, and public engagement content.