This document contains project instructions for EX-16-05 Leg 3 – the third and final cruise of the Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas Expedition. Operations for this cruise will include ROV, mapping, telepresence-based remote participation, and CTD rosette operations. The expedition will commence in Santa Rita, Guam with operations beginning on June 17th and conclude in Santa Rita, Guam on July 10th. Operations will use the ship’s deep water mapping systems (Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 split-beam fisheries sonars, ADCPs, and Knudsen 3260 chirp sub-bottom profiler sonar), NOAA’s twobody 6000 m remotely operated vehicle (ROVs Deep Discoverer and Seirios), CTD rosette, and the ship’s high-bandwidth satellite connection for real-time ship to shore communications. Daytime ROV dives are planned every day from June 18 –July 9. ROV dives will include high-resolution visual surveys and limited rock and biologic specimen sampling. Mapping operations will be conducted overnight and when the ROV is on deck. CTD casts have been requested during the cruise to collect more environmental information at sites of interest. Exploration operations for this cruise will focus on deepwater areas around CNMI and MTMNM. This expedition will help establish a baseline of information in the region to catalyze further exploration, research and management activities.

https://doi.org/10.25923/wsw4-xn64

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