Ifremer, a French research institute for exploitation of the sea, has expanded its fleet of underwater vehicles following the arrival of Hybrid Remotely Operated Vehicle (HROV) Ariane.

The HROV, with size of a small city car, is capable of working up to 2500 meters bellow sea. According to Ifremer, it will be used for observation and mapping of the seabed.

The official christening of HROV Ariane will be held Thursday, April 23, 2015, in the Mediterranean Ifremer Centre in La Seyne-sur-Mer.

The Sea trials of HROV Ariane will continue through four campaigns on research vessels The Suroît and Europe, in order to achieve an operating system capable of conducting scientific surveys in 2016.

Ifremer began the development of its patented hybrid design in November 2010, within the European Centre for Underwater Technology (CETSM), attracting industry partners for uses beyond the scientific field.