What is the proposed name for the deepest point in the Southern Ocean?

The proposed name for the deepest point in the Southern Ocean is Factorian Deep. The name was suggested by explorer Victor Vescovo after the Five Deeps Expedition located and explored the site in the South Sandwich Trench.

The point lies south of 60°S, the commonly used boundary of the Southern Ocean. In February 2019, the expedition’s multibeam sonar survey identified a depth of roughly 7,434 meters, and Vescovo reached the seabed in the crewed submersible DSV Limiting Factor. “Factorian” refers to that submersible’s name.

The naming is proposed rather than universally official. Deep-sea features are often named after vessels or expeditions, but formal recognition can require acceptance by international hydrographic authorities. That status is why the wording “proposed name” matters in this question.

The South Sandwich Trench itself is deeper than the Factorian Deep, reaching about 8,266 meters in the wider trench. Its deepest point is sometimes called Meteor Deep, while Factorian Deep refers specifically to the deepest point within the Southern Ocean’s geographic limits. Dordrecht, Sirena and Brownson are names associated with other deep-sea features.