By Dr. Anatoly M. Sagalevich

The deep manned submersibles MIR-1 and MIR-2 were created by the Finnish company Rauma-Repola by the engineering group headed by myself and the Russian scientist Dr. Igor Mikhaltsev. The head of the Finnish group Sauli Ruohonen also made a great personal contribution to the construction of the MIRs.

The vehicles’ high technical and scientific level was confirmed by 24 years of intensive use. Despite major changes in the state structure of Russia, the MIRs were operated practically without any breaks, thanks to international partnerships. For example, joint expeditions on the RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh with the MIRs on board were organized together with the National Geographic Society, NOAA, and universities from the U.S., England, Germany, and other countries.

Prominent figures of the international underwater community participated in MIR dives to the Titanic, the German warship Bismarck, and hydrothermal fields in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Don Walsh, an oceanographer who was the first to reach the deepest part of the ocean (with Jacques Piccard); oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle; oceanographer Peter Rona; biologist Shirley Pomponi; photographer Emory Kristof (who was on the expedition that discovered the Titanic); and other luminaries in ocean research and exploration made dives in the MIRs to various sites throughout the ocean.

Hydrothermal Discoveries

The MIRs have been instrumental in several discoveries. Scientific dives on the vehicles resulted in the discovery of 23 hydrothermal fields in the global ocean, including the underwater volcano Piipa in the Bering Sea and the methane-rich Haakon Mosby mud volcano in Arctic deepwater. Deep hydrothermal circulation in the ocean crust was discovered in the Logatchev field at 14°45’ N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge via MIR-1 with the crew of geologist Dr. Yury Bogdanov and myself. This circulation comprises high-temperature fluid that is formed in the deep layers of ocean crust, practically on the border with the mantle. Serpentinite rocks were found near black smokers on the seafloor at 3,100-m depth.

Russian scientists discovered tens of new species of animals in hydrothermal fields found by the MIRs, types of life that are based on chemosynthesis. Big deposits of sulfide ores in the Atlantic and Pacific were investigated. The approximate volume of the deposits was measured, and chemical analyses were conducted of samples that were lifted by the MIRs from the bottom of the sea. Along the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse, the largest hydrothermal body on the ocean bed was discovered: the MIR zone, containing millions of tons of sulfide ores. This discovery was achieved together with Peter Rona, who was part of Rutgers University, during a dive in MIR-1.

 

 

Pioneering Cinema

The MIRs were integral to the pioneering cinematic work of filming deep-ocean images for the IMAX documentary “Titanica” and the Hollywood picture “Titanic,” plus four more films with the director James Cameron.

James Cameron conducted six expeditions with the MIRs: three of the Titanic, one of the Bismarck, and two of hydrothermal fields in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In each expedition, technical innovations were implemented, such as detailed observation of the Titanic’s interior using mini-ROVs that were controlled from pilot cabins in the MIRs via fiber-optic cable. A live TV broadcast from the Titanic was conducted with Cameron using the MIR submersibles, with the world watching the show on the Discovery Channel.

Historic Work

The MIRs operated on missions to the sunken nuclear submarines Komsomolets and Kursk that enabled decision making for the conservation of the Komsomolets and for the lifting of the Kursk from the bottom of the ocean.

The MIRs provided vehicles for operations on the deepest military submarine wreck, the Japanese I-52, which sunk in the Atlantic at 5,430-m depth in 1944, as well as on a deep wooden wreck near The Bahamas at 4,700 m. (Both expeditions were done with private American companies.)

Historic work was done using the MIRs at the geographical North Pole under the ice at a depth of 4,300 m. This was considered the discovery of “the real North Pole,” with the installation of Russia’s flag on the seafloor to commemorate the find.

 

 

How to Revive the MIRs

The RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh with the two MIRs on board enabled a truly international deep-ocean research complex and provided a wide spectrum of work at great depths.

Unfortunately, in 2011, the MIRs stopped operations, despite the fact that they were in good shape and could have continued to dive for tens of years.

There is a push to rehabilitate the MIR submersibles for scientific research and technical operations, particularly at ocean rift zones and hydrothermal vents on the seafloor, which are the most active and interesting sites for science.

Several steps are required to restore the MIRs to working condition. First, the power block of the submersibles must be changed. Originally, nickel-cadmium batteries with a total power of 100 kWh were used. They were big and heavy but reliable, providing underwater power up to 24 hr., including for scientific and navigational equipment. The redesign would use lithium-ion batteries with the same power level. This would reduce the weight of the vehicles and allow for an increase in payload. The next step would be full disassembly of the MIRs: updating the systems and testing the main and ballast spheres in high-pressure chambers. Following this would be reassembly and testing of the vehicles in the lab. Finally, sea trials in shallow water and then at depth will be conducted.

Anticipated total time for rehabilitating the MIRs would be two to three years. The mini-ROV GNOM, which was developed at Russia’s Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, will be tailored to operate at maximum ocean depth (11,000 m).

We have applied for financing of this project, with the hope that we will be able to begin technical work in the second half of this year. The real adventure would then begin in 2027/2028.

We seek support from the international underwater community. If you are interested in being a part of this project, please reach out to: sagalev38@gmail.com.

 

 

Acknowledgments

This work was completed on state assignment No. FMWE-2024-0026. 

Dr. Anatoly Sagalevich is the head of the Deep Manned Submersibles Laboratory of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.