Hardware
“Only God almighty and naval research can save us from the perils of the sea.” – John Warner
The Fleet
Hydro Martech Ltd (HML) utilises locally based chartered Falklands vessels for the majority of survey operations - after all we are 9,000 miles from UK !
There is a variety of ships in the Falklands area but many are utilised 24/7 in the very active Fishing industry there. We have at our disposal a selection of specialised vessels, some specially adapted for inshore survey operations, others are more Scientific research adaptable. HML can advise on “vessel of opportunity” ship platforms suited to various client specifications.
The Gavia AUV
Sonar Technology
The AUV product line known as GAVIA was designed in 1997, the first was produced in 2000 and sold in small numbers to the scientific Marine Institute in Iceland.
The AUV product line known as GAVIA was designed in 1997, the first was produced in 2000 and sold in small numbers to the scientific sector in Iceland.
Through subsequent years a new version of Gavia was designed with clients in the Defence sector purchasing a number of systems for evaluation and operations in the defence business - a number of world Navy clients are owners of Gavia AUV technology.
The offshore O&G sector is where there is increasingly significant expansion of the new version of Gavia AUV . Gavia has operations experience in the Defence sector but has more application in the marine offshore survey O&G and Scientific sectors. Many applications appear for shallow water operations and include Wind Farm seabed survey, coastal Hydrography in addition to offshore O&G pipeline and trench bathymetric survey.
Gavia AUV technology is now accepted for underwater survey and inspection as an alternative survey data acquisition tool for many projects due to high operations costs using conventional methods, especially in large area and deep water operations we know that Oil companies are focusing on cost reductions wherever possible, Gavia can allow dual operations to be considered in some operational scenario's which may be attractive to clients performing survey operations.
For example an ROV may be performing close and localised inspections on a platform base with the mother vessel close overhead....the Gavia (in parallel) might be sent along a pipeline in the vicinity to perform a survey routine and planned to be recovered at some later time along with the ROV...such an approach could potentially result in significant cost savings for the client.
The principle product range covers :
Side Scan imaging sonar, Multibeam Profiling sonar technology (Delta-T multibeam) and Imaging scanning sonar .
Sonar systems applications:
Sonar Technology
Hydro Martech Ltd (HML) owns and has additional access to a wide range of current
sonar sensor technologies used in Hydrographic Survey operations
These sensors range from well known Side Scan towed sonar to the very latest in robotic technology AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle)
Side Scan Sonar (SSS)
SSS is the survey industry baseline sonar sensor - HML offers the normal compact high resolution towed systems up to the latest version being recently introduced , an RGB triple frequency discriminating side scan sonar from Imagenex Technology Corp which allows large area seabed classification display of seabed materials in colour, this is not seen with the normal SSS technology.
Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP)
Various types of SBP can be provided by HML for client operations.
Survey industry standard equipment is offered and advice is available on appropriate choice as Falklands coastline has special seabed material characteristics which require consideration when selecting sonar equipment for operations.
Magnetometer
Often in Falklands coastal surveys it is required to detect and position any acoustic target anomaly on and under the seabed as these are potentially unexploded ordinance (UXO) HML does not perform classification or de-activation of such targets , only data in map / chart format is possible to provide to our client.
Single Beam Echo Sounder (SBES)
Hydrographic and Bathymetric charts and maps have traditionally been provided using SBES in single or dual frequency versions. HML has performed coastal inshore surveys in very shallow waters using this equipment with excellent result. Specialist data processing is provided as part of our services for all sonar systems.
Multibeam Beam Echo Sounder (MBES)
Where accurate and large area bathymetric data is required, HML offers multibeam technology which allows accurate DTM (digital terrain mapping) to be produced . Our Delta-T Multibeam profiler sonar’s produce 3D real time display of seabed and anomalies up to 6 knot vessel speeds.
Larger MBES sonars can be offered according to client specifications.