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A colourful digital image of a shipwreck on the seafloor.

Technical details

The acoustic systems on research vessel (RV) Investigator were upgraded during 2024 to the latest technology to further enhance the vessel's capability to deliver high quality and quantity seafloor data for marine mapping and research.

Kongsberg EM124

  • Full ocean depth multibeam echosounder (MBES) used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation.
  • Operating frequency is 12 kHz.
  • Number of beams is 1600.
  • Horizontal resolution is 1 x 1 degree.
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 40 km or 140 degrees.
  • Depth range is 20-11,000 m (full ocean depth).

Kongsberg EM712

  • Shallow to mid depth multibeam echosounder used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation..
  • Operating frequencies are 40-100 kHz.
  • Number of beams is 800.
  • Horizontal resolution is 0.5 x 1 degree.
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 3000 m or 140 degrees.
  • Depth range is 3–3600 m.

Kongsberg EM2040 MKII

  • Wideband ultra-high resolution shallow water multibeam echosounder used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation. 
  • Operating frequencies are 200-700 kHz. 
  • Number of beams is 1024. 
  • Horizontal resolution is 0.4 x 0.7 degree. 
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 900 m or 170 degrees. 
  • Depth range is 1–600 m. 

Kongsberg SBP29 

  • Sub-bottom profiler to resolve sediment layers and buried objects.
  • Operating frequencies are 2 – 9 kHz.
  • Horizontal resolution is 3 x 3 degrees.
  • Seafloor penetration depends on sediment type but extends up to hundreds of metres.

12kHz transducer

  • Single beam bathymetry and underwater communications such as acoustic releasers and pingers.
  • Operating frequency is 12 kHz.

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 38kHz ADCP 

  • Deep current profiler (to 1000 m). 

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 75kHz ADCP

  • Deep/mid-depth current profiler (to 700 m).

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 150kHz ADCP

  • Mid-depth current profiler (to 400 m).

ITI Net Monitoring System

  • Trawl net monitoring.
  • Linked to the SH90 for targeted trawling.

USBL

  • Provides location of deployed instruments relative to the ship.

Dual Axis Doppler Log

  • Speed and direction of the ship relative to the water.

Sound Velocity Probe

  • Measures sound velocity in water at the depth of transducers and is used in multibeam beam forming.

Hydrophones

  • Four hull mounted hydrophones provide capability for ship self-noise and underwater acoustics monitoring.

Bathymetry imaging showing the wreck of SS Macumba, with damage to the ship hull, lying on the seafloor.

Technical details

The acoustic systems on research vessel (RV) Investigator were upgraded during 2024 to the latest technology to further enhance the vessel's capability to deliver high quality and quantity seafloor data for marine mapping and research.

Kongsberg EM124

  • Full ocean depth multibeam echosounder (MBES) used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation.
  • Operating frequency is 12 kHz.
  • Number of beams is 1600.
  • Horizontal resolution is 1 x 1 degree.
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 40 km or 140 degrees.
  • Depth range is 20-11,000 m (full ocean depth).

Kongsberg EM712

  • Shallow to mid depth multibeam echosounder used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation..
  • Operating frequencies are 40-100 kHz.
  • Number of beams is 800.
  • Horizontal resolution is 0.5 x 1 degree.
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 3000 m or 140 degrees.
  • Depth range is 3–3600 m.

Kongsberg EM2040 MKII

  • Wideband ultra-high resolution shallow water multibeam echosounder used primarily for bathymetry and bottom characterisation. 
  • Operating frequencies are 200-700 kHz. 
  • Number of beams is 1024. 
  • Horizontal resolution is 0.4 x 0.7 degree. 
  • Maximum width is 6 times water depth or 900 m or 170 degrees. 
  • Depth range is 1–600 m. 

Kongsberg SBP29 

  • Sub-bottom profiler to resolve sediment layers and buried objects.
  • Operating frequencies are 2 – 9 kHz.
  • Horizontal resolution is 3 x 3 degrees.
  • Seafloor penetration depends on sediment type but extends up to hundreds of metres.

12kHz transducer

  • Single beam bathymetry and underwater communications such as acoustic releasers and pingers.
  • Operating frequency is 12 kHz.

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 38kHz ADCP 

  • Deep current profiler (to 1000 m). 

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 75kHz ADCP

  • Deep/mid-depth current profiler (to 700 m).

Teledyne Ocean Surveyor 150kHz ADCP

  • Mid-depth current profiler (to 400 m).

ITI Net Monitoring System

  • Trawl net monitoring.
  • Linked to the SH90 for targeted trawling.

USBL

  • Provides location of deployed instruments relative to the ship.

Dual Axis Doppler Log

  • Speed and direction of the ship relative to the water.

Sound Velocity Probe

  • Measures sound velocity in water at the depth of transducers and is used in multibeam beam forming.

Hydrophones

  • Four hull mounted hydrophones provide capability for ship self-noise and underwater acoustics monitoring.

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