Cruise ID: SKQ202503S
Multibeam System: EM304 MK II/ EM710
Dates: February 3-6, 2025
- In Feb 2024, UAF and MAC personnel conducted sea acceptance testing (SAT) of R/V Sikuliaq’s (SKQ) new EM304 MKII multibeam mapping system, Seapath 380-R3 navigation system, and EM710 RX array
- Seasonal readiness testing off Hawaii in Feb 2025 expanded on the 2024 SAT work with access to deeper seafloor regions, supporting a more complete characterization of EM304 MKII performance
- UAF and MAC personnel planned a series of tests following the standard MAC SAT/QAT checklist, with consideration for post-SAT priorities and backup options to suit the weather and sea state conditions
- Small but critical updates were made to all sensor XYZ offsets, reflecting the final survey report provided by Westlake (after the 2024 SAT) and maintaining consistency of the mapping system origin at the granite block
- Calibrations for both systems revealed small residual biases, suggesting a high-accuracy vessel and sensor survey by Westlake Consultants and correct implementations across the mapping system configurations
- Built-In Self-Tests were carried out throughout the Factory Acceptance, Harbor Acceptance, and Sea Acceptance Tests to verify hardware health and document the baseline conditions for the new EM304 MKII
- The EM304 showed a number of new ‘high Z’ results for TX Channels and both systems showed higher variability in their RX Channels results compared to historic BIST trends; these tests should be conducted routinely to continue monitoring these behaviors, and the MAC is available to plot data as they are recorded
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