ASSEMBLAGE is an integrated pan-European study of the north-western Black Sea sedimentary system from the continental shelf to the deep sea. The Black Sea is a unique feature characterised by the only particularly wide shelf in the north-western sector. It is the drainage basin of some major European rivers and is characterised by high sedimentation rates presenting favourable conditions for paleoclimatic studies. The project will increase the knowledge of the Southern European Ocean Margin and facilitate access to and use of the Black Sea seafloor and exploitation and exploration of its resources, and preservation of its environment. This will be achieved through the examination of existing and forthcoming geomorphologic, geophysical, stratigraphic, sedimentological data and will permit progress in deciphering the past climatic and environmental changes. The Main objective of the ASSEMBLAGE2 cruise was appraisal of the gas hydrate potential in the area where they show to occur from interpretation of the BLASON cruise data and where heat flow measurements were made during the ASSEMBLAGE 1 cruise.