Skaros
April 22nd, 2005, 05:52 PM
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΙΩΝ ΕΡΕΥΝΩΝ
HELLENIC CENTER FOR MARINE RESEARCH
History
In Greece, the sea has always been a source of interest as well as of resources, ever since ancient Minoan times, as can be seen from the murals and frescoes in Santorini and the palace at Knossos, the recorded teachings of the Ionian Philosophers and the scientific writings of the great philosopher Aristotle. This interest has remained alive and fresh to this very day.
In 1945, after the second World War, the Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute of the Academy of Athens was founded in Pireas, incorporating the Hydrobiological Station in Rhodes (Reale Istituto di Ricerche Biologiche) which had been set up by the Italians during their occupation of the Dodecanese. In the same year the small vessel GLAUKI was refitted as a research vessel and in 1946 the three first Greek oceanographic cruises were carried out. However, in 1948 the R/V GLAUKI was replaced by the R/V HALCYON.
In 1965 the Hydrobiological Institute of the Academy of Athens was amalgamated with the Laboratory of Fisheries Studies, forming a new body, the Institute of Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (IOFR), which became fully functional in 1970. Fifteen years later, in 1985, as a result of new research legislation (law 1514), the National Centre of Marine Research (NCMR) came into existence. The latter organisation had evolved from the previous one (IOFR) although it was now a public sector organisation under the jurisdiction of the General Secretariat of Research and Technology, part of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology (now the Ministry of Development). The NCMR thus became the main vehicle of marine research in Greece. During the same year, 1985, the ocean-going R/V AEGAEO was built in Chalkida, purpose-built for carrying out marine research.
In 1987, further progress was made with the establishment of the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC) in Heraklion, Crete. IMBC rapidly developed into an internationally known marine science institute with its successful promotion of research in the fields of marine biology, fisheries and aquaculture. IMBC’s R/V PHILIA, also purpose-built, played an important role in the research undertaken as despite its small size, it can cover large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, including the coastal areas.
The integration of NCMR and IMBC took place on June 3, 2003 , consequent upon enactment of Presidential decree (law 2919/25.6.2001). The new organisation, a public sector body operating under public sector regulations, is called the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research (HCMR)
The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) was set up as a single institution in order to integrate government-funded marine science research in Greece.
The present structure HCMR has five institutes, which carry out research into specific thematic areas.
* Institute of Oceanography
* Institute of Aquaculture
* Institute of Marine Biological Resources
* Institute of Inland Waters
* Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics
It enjoys top-level scientific support from its two research vessels, the RV AEGAEON and RV PHILIA, its state-of-the-art 2-man submersible THETIS as well as two deepwater ROVs, named the MAX ROVER and the SUPER ACHILLES.
HCMR is also responsible for the Rhodes Aquarium and the soon-to-be completed Aquarium in Crete.
RESEARCH VESSEL AEGAEON
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~ampolsen/GreecePics/aegaeo_bow_piraeus.jpg
The 62m Research Vessel AEGAEO was refitted in 1997 and now comprises a completely modernized floating laboratory,equipped with all the state of the art instruments necessary for ELKETHE's valuable research work, which ranges from the geophysical exploration of the sea floor, to environmental monitoring.
THETIS
http://www.theabyss.gr/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/normal_%C1_D%28075%29.jpg
This twin-seat submersible was built by the French company COMEX for the Greek National Centre of Marine Research (NCMR). It is quite similar to the DR1002 with a large acrylic sphere hosting the pilot and an observer. The Remora 2000 is also described as a "sub-sea helicopter" due to the exceptional performance of her five thrusters (hosted in 450 mm diameter nozzles) and to her computer-controlled hydraulic propulsion system. The latter is an evolved electronic system which controls all the parameters of navigation and is also responsible for the energy management. The submersible has a very user-friendly piloting system, through the use of a simple joystick, which enables a single-hand control of all the important functions needed for diving. Safety features include a 105kg drop weight and two inflatable "buoyancy collars" that make the submersible unsinkable, even if the sphere is filled with water. External lighting consists of four quartz halogen searchlights and two high-power searchlights. The Remora 2000 is also fitted with a remote-controlled arm and a complex system of TV cameras and sonar:
bullet high resolution 725 kHz scanning sonar
bullet scanning profiler
bullet high resolution and sensitivity color video camera
bullet very high sensitivity B/W camera
bullet rear-view color video camera for increased safety during the exploration of wrecks
bullet video recorder
The submersible owned by the NCMR is named Thetis and operates in tandem with the Centre's research vessel Aegaeo . She hosts 18 scientists and 22 crew and is fitted with modern scientific equipment. The Thetis dived to the Britannic in 2001 under the command of Kostas Thoctarides, a well-known commercial diver. The observer was Giorgos Avgeropoulos , a TV-reporter from the Greek channel ALPHA. The purpose of the dive was mainly to test some new equipment installed on the submersible but Avgeropoulos found the chance to film many parts of the wreck. The footage was broadcasted by ALPHA some days later.
HELLENIC CENTER FOR MARINE RESEARCH
History
In Greece, the sea has always been a source of interest as well as of resources, ever since ancient Minoan times, as can be seen from the murals and frescoes in Santorini and the palace at Knossos, the recorded teachings of the Ionian Philosophers and the scientific writings of the great philosopher Aristotle. This interest has remained alive and fresh to this very day.
In 1945, after the second World War, the Hellenic Hydrobiological Institute of the Academy of Athens was founded in Pireas, incorporating the Hydrobiological Station in Rhodes (Reale Istituto di Ricerche Biologiche) which had been set up by the Italians during their occupation of the Dodecanese. In the same year the small vessel GLAUKI was refitted as a research vessel and in 1946 the three first Greek oceanographic cruises were carried out. However, in 1948 the R/V GLAUKI was replaced by the R/V HALCYON.
In 1965 the Hydrobiological Institute of the Academy of Athens was amalgamated with the Laboratory of Fisheries Studies, forming a new body, the Institute of Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (IOFR), which became fully functional in 1970. Fifteen years later, in 1985, as a result of new research legislation (law 1514), the National Centre of Marine Research (NCMR) came into existence. The latter organisation had evolved from the previous one (IOFR) although it was now a public sector organisation under the jurisdiction of the General Secretariat of Research and Technology, part of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology (now the Ministry of Development). The NCMR thus became the main vehicle of marine research in Greece. During the same year, 1985, the ocean-going R/V AEGAEO was built in Chalkida, purpose-built for carrying out marine research.
In 1987, further progress was made with the establishment of the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (IMBC) in Heraklion, Crete. IMBC rapidly developed into an internationally known marine science institute with its successful promotion of research in the fields of marine biology, fisheries and aquaculture. IMBC’s R/V PHILIA, also purpose-built, played an important role in the research undertaken as despite its small size, it can cover large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, including the coastal areas.
The integration of NCMR and IMBC took place on June 3, 2003 , consequent upon enactment of Presidential decree (law 2919/25.6.2001). The new organisation, a public sector body operating under public sector regulations, is called the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research (HCMR)
The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) was set up as a single institution in order to integrate government-funded marine science research in Greece.
The present structure HCMR has five institutes, which carry out research into specific thematic areas.
* Institute of Oceanography
* Institute of Aquaculture
* Institute of Marine Biological Resources
* Institute of Inland Waters
* Institute of Marine Biology and Genetics
It enjoys top-level scientific support from its two research vessels, the RV AEGAEON and RV PHILIA, its state-of-the-art 2-man submersible THETIS as well as two deepwater ROVs, named the MAX ROVER and the SUPER ACHILLES.
HCMR is also responsible for the Rhodes Aquarium and the soon-to-be completed Aquarium in Crete.
RESEARCH VESSEL AEGAEON
http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~ampolsen/GreecePics/aegaeo_bow_piraeus.jpg
The 62m Research Vessel AEGAEO was refitted in 1997 and now comprises a completely modernized floating laboratory,equipped with all the state of the art instruments necessary for ELKETHE's valuable research work, which ranges from the geophysical exploration of the sea floor, to environmental monitoring.
THETIS
http://www.theabyss.gr/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/normal_%C1_D%28075%29.jpg
This twin-seat submersible was built by the French company COMEX for the Greek National Centre of Marine Research (NCMR). It is quite similar to the DR1002 with a large acrylic sphere hosting the pilot and an observer. The Remora 2000 is also described as a "sub-sea helicopter" due to the exceptional performance of her five thrusters (hosted in 450 mm diameter nozzles) and to her computer-controlled hydraulic propulsion system. The latter is an evolved electronic system which controls all the parameters of navigation and is also responsible for the energy management. The submersible has a very user-friendly piloting system, through the use of a simple joystick, which enables a single-hand control of all the important functions needed for diving. Safety features include a 105kg drop weight and two inflatable "buoyancy collars" that make the submersible unsinkable, even if the sphere is filled with water. External lighting consists of four quartz halogen searchlights and two high-power searchlights. The Remora 2000 is also fitted with a remote-controlled arm and a complex system of TV cameras and sonar:
bullet high resolution 725 kHz scanning sonar
bullet scanning profiler
bullet high resolution and sensitivity color video camera
bullet very high sensitivity B/W camera
bullet rear-view color video camera for increased safety during the exploration of wrecks
bullet video recorder
The submersible owned by the NCMR is named Thetis and operates in tandem with the Centre's research vessel Aegaeo . She hosts 18 scientists and 22 crew and is fitted with modern scientific equipment. The Thetis dived to the Britannic in 2001 under the command of Kostas Thoctarides, a well-known commercial diver. The observer was Giorgos Avgeropoulos , a TV-reporter from the Greek channel ALPHA. The purpose of the dive was mainly to test some new equipment installed on the submersible but Avgeropoulos found the chance to film many parts of the wreck. The footage was broadcasted by ALPHA some days later.