An exciting project update comes this week in the form of a new remote controlled survey boat: the Ocean Alpha SL40. The SL40 is an unmanned surface vehicle capable of taking both stationary and/or moving water samples (4 x 1L bottles inside) across reaches of river, lake, and sea – areas which otherwise often prove challenging to take representative samples. Not only this but the SL40 moon pool has been designed to hold both the RS5 and M9 ADCP models that PAMANA is using to measure river discharge, allowing for the simultaneously measurement of discharge and collection of corresponding water samples as needed. The SL40 also contains a camera which can livestream video, to assist with navigation, and take photos such as the one below of LJMU staff training with the vehicle.