KIEL 6000
Gallery
Overview
German 6,000 m electric work-class ROV operated by GEOMAR for deep-sea research.
KIEL 6000 is the deep-sea remotely operated vehicle of Germany's GEOMAR ocean research centre, in service since 2007. The 3.5-tonne electric work-class vehicle, built by Schilling Robotics, is rated to 6,000 m and carries two manipulators and a drawer-equipped toolskid for collecting rocks, fluids and animals. It has explored hydrothermal vents and studied manganese-nodule fields in the Pacific to judge the impact of deep-sea mining. The system packs into shipping containers so it can be flown from different research vessels.
Primary Roles
Notes
Schilling Robotics QUEST 7-type electric ROV, 3.5 x 1.9 x 2.4 m and about 3,500 kg, rated to 6,000 m. Seven 15 kW electric thrusters give 3 kn forward and 2 kn lateral and vertical speed, holding position to about 0.3 m. Carries ORION 7PE and RigMaster manipulators and about 100 kg of science payload. Between August 2007 and November 2023 it worked on 30 expeditions from 8 research vessels; the whole system ships in about five containers.
