“Object” Found In Water Is BIOS Scientific Glider
[Updated] The “object” that was found in Bermuda waters yesterday [Aug 12] is a scientific glider used to collect marine data which was recently deployed by scientists from the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS].
The Harbour Radio Duty Officer said, “Bermuda Radio can confirm that the suspected missile spotted on the crown of challenger bank is in fact a scientific glider used to collect marine data. The unit was recently deployed by scientists from BIOS in conjunction with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution .
“The instrument stopped transmitting data around 48 hours ago and was considered lost. BIOS and Woods Hole are keen to recover the unit. Any sighting of the glider should be reported to Bermuda Radio so that retrieval can be arranged,” concluded the Duty Officer.
The glider had caused great interest last night, with many people trying their hand and guessing what it might be. Some people did guess correctly that it was a scientific object used by BIOS, while many others thought it may have been some form of missile/drone/torpedo/bomb.
Update 9.15am: Larry George from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts [website] confirmed that the object is a spray glider/autonomous underwater vehicle which is used to collect information about the ocean and is controlled remotely.
The glider was deployed in Bermuda waters on August 10th, and they lost all contact with it on August 11th, and assumed it was lost until they received a phone call late last night.
The glider was deployed to record data such as fine ocean currents, with Dr Jong Jin Park and Dr Breck Owens from Woods Hole the scientists in charge of the research.
Asked how many of these gliders are in our waters, Mr George confirmed that this is the only one. He explained the glider was marked, however it was upside down in the water hence the marking was not visible. He also the fact the glider was upside down indicated that something had gone wrong with it.
As of this writing the glider is still in the waters, but a team from BIOS is heading out this morning to try and recover it.
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- Unidentified Floating Object In Bermuda’s Waters | Bernews.com | August 13, 2012
Glad it was not a missile meant for Bermuda
Yah… if you look closely you can see a Caymanian flag and Mackeeva’s signature on it. Coordinates: Alaska Hall… LMFAO!!!!
no one wants to hit Bermuda. What would they gain?
A vantage point striking distance to US soil? An airstrip to refuel before bomb runs? Would never happen though, and like hell if America would let it happen.
Don’t make me laugh!
Putting some form of I’d markings on it IE: BIOS etc. May have avoided all the hoopla..
Isn’t it great when people don’t read the articles then leave a comment.
Isn’t it great when people don’t look at the time someone’s comment was posted and then look at the time an update was posted when they leave their own comment.
Wow – isn’t that something…
Why did people find it so alarming anyway? *facepalm*
DON”T TOUCH IT!! IT”LL GET YOU.
Perhaps BIOS should be undertaking more awareness efforts before launching something like this again! It would be helpful not only in the event of a failure such as this, but also with any unexpected encounters with fishermen or recreational boaters. KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED!
Another report said that it did have ID on it but the photo didn’t show them. BIOS said they thought it had been lost at the bottom of the ocean. Clearly it wouldn’t normally be a hazard to shipping floating around on the surface. I don’t think it’d be practical for BIOS to tell every fisherman about every thing they deploy in the ocean. It certainly doesn’t happen in the US or UK. The bright orange color scheme might be a clue as to its non-sinister purpose (at least in this application). The fact that it’s upside down may also be a clue to the problem. Maybe it got attacked by a shark and lost comms or control when it was flipped over.
I agree completely, but when their ‘object’ was believed to be lost in our waters, why didn’t BIOS inform Bermuda (Harbour) Radio and the Police immediately? A lost object in our waters becomes a potential navigational hazard. BIOS should be fined!