After the first autumn storm delayed the departure by two days, the North Sea Wreck (NSW) team set out together with arte for the last project trip to the German Bight. The targets were WW1 wrecks, including a minelayer submarine (UC30) off Esbjerg and two light destroyers, SMS ''Mainz'' and SMS 'Ariadne', both sunk west of Helgoland. Followed at every turn by the arte camera drones and microphones, the team was able to sample water, sediment and fish at the UC30, but failed to produce video footage with the ROV. Reason: the current around the wreck was simply too strong to keep the ROV on course. Under time pressure water samples could still be taken at 'Mainz' and 'Ariadne'. However, the fishnets on the Ariadne were completely empty. Only one dab could be caught by the NSW team for their investigations. But the ROV remains on board and the colleagues from ICBM Oldenburg want to start further attempts to film the wrecks in the next leg of the cruise. We are excited and keep our fingers crossed.
Matthias Brenner, AWI
