Cruise ID: AR81-02
Multibeam System: EM124/EM712
Dates: March 14-20, 2024
- R/V Neil Armstrong (AR) received several significant upgrades to its multibeam mapping systems during the 2023-24 winter shipyard period in Charleston, South Carolina
- Primary upgrades included:
- Replacement of the original EM122 with an EM124 (1.0° TX / 2.0° RX)
- Replacement of the original EM710 with an EM712 (0.5° TX / 1.0° RX)
- Installation of a Seapath 380-R3 navigation system with a MGC-R3
- Comprehensive new survey of vessel and sensor offsets by Aegis Metrology
- Installation of new permanent benchmarks at strategic hull locations
- The MAC was asked to assist with conducting Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) of the new EM124 and EM712 systems using the Seapath 380-R3; SAT work for a new SBP29 was carried out in tandem by other teams
- Due to schedule constraints, the MAC provided remote support from shore throughout the SAT; the on-board mapping team included SSSG personnel with multibeam experience and a Kongsberg field engineer
- Due to the limited availability of suitable seafloor near Charleston and the limited time allotted for multibeam testing, planning relied on ‘proven’ test sites developed near Blake Nose for the Armstrong’s 2016 SATs
- Some additional multibeam testing was carried out by other teams at sites not described here; these tests fell outside of the Kongsberg / MAC SAT procedures and the results are beyond the scope of this report
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