In the presence of members of the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Science, Dietrich Austermann, Professor Peter Herzig (director of IFM-GEOMAR), and Norman Robertson (Schilling Robotics' representative) signed the contract today. "I am pleased that approximately EUR 1.5 million of the total budget will be contributed by German manufacturers," said Austermann.

Schilling Robotics, based in Davis, California, Houston, Texas, and Aberdeen, Scotland, is a leading producer of remotely controlled underwater vehicles, and was the only applicant in this internationally advertised solicitation that met IFM-GEOMAR's technical requirements. The total investment of EUR 4.7 million will be provided by the Schleswig-Holstein-Fonds of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Austermann pointed out that the ROV system offers a number of commercial opportunities beyond investigation of environmental and climate change, saying, "The robot will enable us to investigate and explore the marine geophysical environment."

The ROV will also allow the Leibniz Institute to consolidate and expand its reputation as an internationally recognized, high-profile institute in the marine sciences. Austermann stated, "This will lead to new jobs for highly qualified researchers in the field of deep-sea technology and marine science."

Professor Peter Herzig stated that the electric ROV system can be used in water up to 6,000 meters deep, allowing the vehicle to reach 90% of the ocean floor. The unmanned deep-sea robot, named Kiel 6000, will be equipped with two electro-hydraulic manipulators with advanced cameras and floodlights, as well as state-of-the-art navigation technology.

The ROV system, which can be used in coastal areas as well as in the deep sea, will be equipped with a 6,500-meter fiber optic cable on a separate winch system.

Herzig stated that the first deep-sea tests of Kiel 6000 will take place in summer 2007 in the Pacific, aboard the research vessel SONNE. "These tests will be followed by the first expeditions in the central Atlantic led by IFM-GEOMAR scientists using the research vessel MARIA S. MERIAN," said IFM-GEOMAR's director.

The basic investment for the robot is approximately EUR 3.2 million. An additional EUR 1.5 million will be spent on the system's technical equipment, some of which will be delivered by companies in Schleswig-Holstein.

Tyler Schilling, CEO of Schilling Robotics, is pleased that IFM-GEOMAR has chosen the Schilling Robotics electric ROV system for its research program. "Because the institute is involved in many different types of scientific studies," said Schilling, "we believe that it will benefit from the ROV system's ability to perform a wide range of tasks."

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