Taiwan Ocean Research Institute (TORI) announced the installation of a dedicated Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for its research vessel “Legend” on Tuesday, marking the first instance of such a system on a Taiwanese research vessel.
According to TORI’s press release, the LARS improves operational efficiency and enhances personnel safety. In the past, deploying and retrieving the CTD required a team of more than four people. The operation's efficiency was often affected by turbulent sea conditions, posing risks and extending working hours.
The CTD is a vital oceanographic instrument, used to monitor temperature, salinity, and other environmental data at various depths of the sea. The CTD weighs 700 kilograms and can reach up to 1,000 kilograms when fully loaded with water.
TORI explained that with LARS, the process becomes streamlined as the system is equipped with a winch, a boom, and an unmanned cable. This prevents injuries to operational staff and allows for safer, more efficient deployments.
Emphasizing that safety is the top priority, TORI engineer Hsiu Chi-wei (許家維) noted that all personnel must be trained and certified for mobile crane operation before using LARS.