According to Radio New Zaeland News, survey is being conducted off the coast of Otago. A governmant research vessel is inspecting the seabed in preparation for oil and gas exploration.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research vessel Tangaroa is expected to cover about 25,000 square kilometres of underwater landscape to depths of five kilometres during the two week project.
The vessel’s instruments are supposed to record tsunami risks, determine animal habitats and detect gas plumes.
Shell and Anadarko oil companies stated that NIWA maps will be useful for future environmental assessments.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , July 04, 2012