The HCMR and Greek government research vessel Aegaeo will visit KAUST in June 2021 to start several weeks of survey in the Red Sea led by KAUST scientist Yasser Abulnaja. CMR will be hosting the vessel at the CMR facility and will also be organizing permits, technical and logistical support for the vessel and the surveys.

The Aeageo is no stranger to the Red Sea or KAUST as she was commissioned by KAUST to conduct multiple surveys over a three year period starting in 2010. During these visits a major discovery of the first cold seeps on the continental shelf of the Red Sea occurred just 10 nautical miles off of KAUST.

The Aegaeo is a 61.5m research vessel equipped with wet and dry laboratories, multibeam, single beam, a deepwater ROV and even a two person submarine that can dive down to 500m.