During cruise 2023 we had a pleasure to collect samples with RV Kronprins Haakon, a Norwegian ice breaking polar research vessel owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute. Kronoprins Haakon was equipped with Ægir6000, the first Norwegian Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Ægir6000 is primary tool for exploring, sampling and deploying instruments and experiments at deep sea study areas – including the ice covered parts of the Arctic Ocean. With camera systems on both the TMS and the ROV itself, Ægir6000 is capable of sending unique footage to itself in action in the deep sea (https://www.uib.no/geo/128110/%C3%A6gir6000-rov).

The aim for the cruise was to track the groundwater discharge at some pre-selected locations in Svalbard (see map).

Dr. Jochen Knies from Geological Survey of Norway was the Cruise Manager.

We started ROV surveying locations in the Inner Isfjorden before we were heading south towards Hornsund. In the priority order, we focued on:

1. Multibeam survey for identification of gas leakages
2. ROV visual/video inspection of selected 3-5 seep sites and one reference station for sample selection and video mosaics
3. Sampling of, push cores, free gas (if detected)
4. Gravity coring at pre-selected locations
5. CTD sampling, different water depths (at all stations)
6. Water sampling/pumping