JAGO is the only manned German research submersible. The submersible and the crew K. Hissmann and the pilot J. Schauer are based at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel since 1 January 2006. The former owner was zoologist from the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology in Seewiesen, Bavaria. JAGO can dive up to 400 metres (1,300 ft) and can carry one pilot and one observer. It can sample organisms, rock, gas and liquids, and can be used as a rescue and recovery vehicle for the northern Baltic Sea area. Due to the multidisciplinary connection between the GEOMAR and the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, scientists from the Cluster of Excellence "The Future Ocean" have occasional access to the submersible.[1]
In 2011 JAGO undertook a search to find and inspect Nautilus, one of the first submarines adapted for research.[2]
Technical specifications[]
Dimensions
length 3.0 m, beam 2.0 m, height 2.5 m
Weight in air
3000 kg
Operation depth
400 m
Cruising speed
1 knot
Crew
1 pilot, 1 observer
Life Support
96 man hours
Pressure hull
steel, 15–18 mm
Viewports
acrylic bow viewport (700 mm ø, aperture angle 120°); top dome / hatch (450 mm ø, aperture angle 180°) providing 360°
Power supply
6 lead-acid batteries, total capacity 13 KWh – 24 Volt DC
Propulsion
4 reversible horizontal thrusters at stern, 2 rotatable thrusters on starboard and port sides, 1 bow and 1 stern vertical thruster
Basic systems
720 l diving tanks for buoyancy at surface, 40 l ballast tank for vertical movements, 2 oxygen high pressure cylinders, 3 high pressure air cylinders, filter for CO2 absorption (air regeneration)
Rescue systems
emergency drop weight with dead man safety system, generating 500 kg positive buoyancy at 400 m depth, and emergency buoy with rescue device
Equipment
Underwater navigation and positioning system (USBL ORE), compass, depth gauges, vertical and horizontal scanning sonar, underwater acoustic telephone communication UT 10 kHz, Xenon and Halogen lights, flash lights, laser scaling, digital video (HDV1080i) and still cameras for documentation, CTD, hydraulic manipulator arm with exchangeable claws, sampling devices for organisms, gas, water, fluids, sediments, rocks