HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY


off NW Australia in 2010, Fugro will utilise its Australian based survey vessel, the 75m Southern Supporter, and its regionally based Hugin 1000 AUV. Te Hugin AUV is a proven deepwater survey platform enabling multibeam echo sounder, side scan sonar and sub bottom profiling data to be gathered in water depths to 3000 metres. Powered by lithium polymer batteries and with a survey endurance of up to 24 hours the vehicle is ideally suited to the requirements of this project. Meanwhile MMT has successfully finalised additional work, also for the MAREANO project. Te additional project work included bathymetric data acquisition and processing north of Vardo in the Barents Sea. Te survey was conducted during the late summer and early autumn of 2011. MMT survey vessel Franklin was the operational vessel of choice in this assignment. In order to obtain the most accurate results, Franklin was fully equipped with a Kongsberg EM 710 multibeam echo sounder and the Applanix PosMV positioning system with CNAV (civilian navigation) corrections. According to MMT, the MAREANO


project was the company’s most northerly survey operation and has proven a great success. “Te operations took place in a challenging environment where MMT’s specialists put their skills to the test by surveying a complex seabed with deep ice scars and pockmarks,” says the company. MMT has also announced its new


ownership of a Kongsberg EM2040D. Te EM2040 dual head system has recently been installed on MMT’s survey and ROV vessel IceBeam. Tis is the first highly developed multibeam echo sounder to combine all of the advanced features of deepwater echo sounders to the near-bottom sounding


environment. Such features include: dual swath per ping to maintain a high survey speed; FM chirp to achieve a much longer range capability; complete roll, pitch and yaw stabilisation; and near-field focusing both when transmitting and receiving. By owning and operating an EM 2040 dual head, MMT says it is further prepared to perform surveys that meet the IHO-S44 special order.


Indian survey independence Te National Institute of Oceanography in India (NIO) has chosen Atlas Hydrographic for delivery of an Atlas integrated survey sensor system (IS³) for the new building research vessel Sindhu Sadhana which is currently under construction at ABG shipyard in Surat, India. Delivery is due shortly, with a group of NIO scientists currently in Bremen for comprehensive training.


Although NIO owns a 60 metre research


vessel named Sindhu Sankalp, vessels from other countries or the government of India have been hired frequently in order to be able to conduct all the different oceanographic applications. With the 80 metre Sindhu Sadhana, the Institute will increase its independence and flexibility. NIO’s contract is for the supply of a


hydrographic turnkey solution, so its Atlas IS³ has to meet some very specific needs. Te new system will include the following components: Atlas DESO 35 shallow water single beam echosounder with thermal printer; Atlas DESO 35 DS deep sea single beam echosounder with thermal printer; Atlas HYDROSWEEP MD/50 shallow water multibeam echosounder; Atlas HYDROSWEEP DS deep sea multibeam echosounder; Atlas PARASOUND


Support from new CPT unit U


TEC has taken delivery of a deep- push seabed cone penetration testing (CPT) unit to support its Asia Pacific, Middle East and Australian geotechnical operations. Manufactured by Netherlands-based


AP van den Berg, the Roson CPT unit includes a recently upgraded 75kN twin-drive thrust for deeper seabed soil investigations. Offshore applications will include pre-installation analysis for oil and gas construction, civil works, subsea telecommunications, and renewable energy infrastructures in both shallow


parametric deep sea sub-bottom profiler; software for sensor control, data acquisition, post processing and seabed classification; peripheral sensors for sound velocity, positioning, heading and ship motion; and network infrastructure with data distribution, central data storage system, in-house and on-board post processing facilities, helmsman displays and repeaters. Within this system configuration, the


Atlas DESO single beam echosounders will provide precise depth information in all water depths. Efficient multibeam surveys in shallow and deep water will be realised by the Atlas HYDROSWEEP third generation echosounders. Te high-end research sonars can be used not only for bathymetry, but also for water column profiling and seabed classification using sidescan and backscatter information. Trough continuous improvement in


recent years today’s Atlas HYDROSWEEP multibeam echosounders are characterised by high performance signal processing with a high number of beams, frequency modulated (chirped) pulses and the innovative multi- ping technology.


As a consequence of these enhancements


NIO will benefit from high-resolution, data density as well as increased coverage also at higher ship speed. Tese system functionalities will be supplemented by deep sediment profiling of the Atlas PARASOUND sub-bottom profiler. Te complete system will be integrated


as a puzzle piece to sensors and scientific instrumentation on board of the vessel supplied by other sources.


Te NIO scientists will spend six weeks


being trained in software applications, maintenance and operation at the ‘Atlas test lake’ in Bremen. 


and deep water environments. Te twin wheel drive seabed CPT system uses in-situ piezocone CPT testing with cones from 5-15cm2, including T-bar and dissipation tests, for penetration to depths of 40metres below seabed in suitable conditions. Te weight of the system can be customised with modular ballast plates to achieve a specific reaction force and penetration depth. Te deployment system includes a self-tensioning umbilical winch to accommodate power and signal telemetry. Te acquired CPT


data is uplinked in real-time via cable to a surface recording and data processing unit. All geotechnical testing is carried out in full accordance with international specifications and standards (ISO, ASTM and NGI) for in-situ testing. Te CPT system, including a team of geotechnical operators, is available for mobilisation out of Singapore. UTEC provides customised offshore survey services to clients worldwide, from operational bases in Aberdeen, Houston, Perth, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and St John’s. 


IHSS 4


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