Ocean Tech is the VOTO department responsible for running the platforms, sensors and systems that make our continuous observation of the Baltic and nearby seas possible.
From autonomous underwater gliders to wind-powered sail buoys, our fleet of nautical “robots” is constantly out at sea, slipping through the depths or riding storms, collecting vital data about the ocean. Ocean Tech is where VOTO develops, tests and operates this technology. Working at the intersection of engineering and science, Ocean Tech helps expand what researchers can see, measure and understand about the ocean.
Reading between the layers
The Baltic is a uniquely challenging environment for ocean technology. Shallow, semi-enclosed and fed by hundreds of rivers, it contains sharply defined layers of water with major differences in things like salinity, temperature and oxygen levels.
Ocean Tech works with advanced sensors capable of detecting subtle changes in physical and biological processes – information which is vital for understanding the many ecological and environmental pressures affecting the Baltic.
These instruments generate the high-resolution observations that underpin VOTO’s scientific work and feed directly into Ocean Data [link], where that data is processed, analysed and transformed into useable insights.
Sleeping with one eye on the ocean
VOTO’s gliders travel the Baltic alone, but behind them sits a human system that never truly switches off. Ocean observation is a round-the-clock operation, with VOTO’s technicians and scientists monitoring missions day and night.
The work continues throughout the year, often in demanding conditions. Successful missions depend not only on advanced technology, but on the coordination, adaptability and dedication of the people behind it.
What we work with
Underwater Gliders
Autonomous robotic vehicles that travel through the water column collecting continuous ocean observations.
Sailbuoys and surface platforms
Remotely operated systems used for long-duration monitoring at sea, powered by wind and solar energy.
Sensors and instrumentation
Advanced scientific equipment that measures the physical and biological state of the ocean in real time.
“Measuring the Baltic has a million uses: physical oceanography and climate change, algal blooms and water quality, currents and pollution transport, how sound propagates, environmental management, fisheries, coastal planning, even weather.”
Olle Glader, Head of Operations for VOTO
Seaexplorer 200: Shallow Glider, Deep Impact
Ocean Tech works closely with scientific and industrial partners to test new methods, refine deployment strategies and help develop next-generation observation systems.
This includes collaboration with French technology company ALSEAMAR on the development of a new shallow-water glider designed specifically for coastal and continental shelf seas.
A tool built for shallow waters will help the scientific community reach deeper into the life and layers of the ocean than ever before.
Wondering what are our fleet is up to right now? See the locations of our gliders in real time through our Observations Portal, where are all the data we collect is freely available to access.
