Australian Navy’s hydrographic group acquires echo sounder survey systems

Royal Australian Navy’s Cairns-based hydrographic group has recently received several  CEESCOPE™ 200 kHz single beam echo sounder survey systems.

According to CEE HydroSystems, the waterproof single beam 200 kHz sonar systems were supplied with built in RTK GNSS receivers, UHF radio, and activated L-Band subscription differential corrections to give the Navy surveyors maximum flexibility in terms of their satellite positioning solution.

Replacing their existing and ageing CEEDUCER echo sounders, the latest CEESCOPE units will be used for near shore littoral Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) surveys.

As the company explained, a REA may be needed to facilitate safe navigation of a large vessel in unfamiliar waters such as when delivering emergency aid. The REA surveys may call for use of a vessel of opportunity, with limited existing survey infrastructure, leading the survey team to select the CEE echo sounder that specifically is designed with rapid mobilization in mind.

The RAN’s Deployable Geospatial Support Team and hydrographic training school based at HMAS Penguin in Sydney Harbor will also be using the new CEESCOPE echo sounders for routine surveys and training missions, primarily on the Navy’s 14 ft LUB’s (Light Utility Boat).

In RTK mode, the CEESCOPE will communicate directly with Trimble RTK base stations used by the RAN for detail surveys close to existing infrastructure; L-Band corrections or autonomous positioning would be adequate for remote or REA navigation operations, CE HydroSystems said.