Marine / Boaty McBoatface off on her fourth survey
SCIENTIFIC surveys of the seabed using the autonomous long-range submarine Boaty McBoatface are continuing in the waters around Shetland and further afield.
Earlier this week the 3.6 metre long yellow submarine was launched at Morrison Dock before being towed out of the harbour by the Noss Boat of wildlife tour operator Shetland Seabird Tours.
The project, first launched in September 2022, is coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre, based at the University of Southampton.
It is the team’s fourth visit to Shetland in the last three years.
This week the submarine has been operating south of Bressay, while next week it will conduct a survey of the Pobie Bank Reef marine protected area (MPA) which lies around 20 kilometres east of Shetland.
Boaty McBoatface is designed to conduct marine science surveys with a low carbon footprint. It is usually released around one kilometre from shore at which point it can stay at sea for up to 55 days conducting research and taking measurements.
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