Guys, not to burst anyones bubble, but whether the ROV has the capabilities to grasp objects or not isnt due to the ROV. Its due to the money involved to get the kind of ROV that has those capabilities. I dont know those numbers, but I bet Ric does. AND, it isnt just the ROV, but the support vessel that goes along with it.
I'm certain that Ric got the best package for the available money that TIGHAR had to do this search. And, after looking at the video and pics from it, I personally think it did an outstanding job, considering to overall limitations. We have all learned ALOT, not just about the pics and identifying stuff underwater (sometimes), but TIGHAR now has the pics that show the makeup of the reef, and most of that area down to 800+ feet. For the oceanographers wanting to know how life exsists there, in a fairly pristine environment, its great for science. So, we may or may not have found what we are looking for, but we have gaines alot of knowledge about the undersea world around Nikumaroro.
Perhaps----the funding will be available to persue the serach we all would like to see------and be sure to bring the crane and lots of cable!
Tom