British Antarctic Survey have developed a range of different mooring systems, which vary in their complexity. Some moorings carry one scientific instrument like an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), other have multiple systems and are quite complex.
As all our moorings systems are deployed in Antarctic waters they are all sub-surface moorings. This is because there is the risk of icebergs passing over the moorings, so the top mooring buoy has to sit below the surface (at approximately 200 m). Occasionally moorings have been pushed down further by passing icebergs however, the design of the mooring buoy means that the instruments are well protected from damage if this occurs.