Sonardyne positioning systems chosen for Brazilian geoscience research vessels

Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) systems have been installed on board OceanPact’s research vessel Seward Johnson and RSV Austral Abrolhos to precisely track the location of underwater equipment and sensor packages deployed from the ships, including seabed corers, towed sensors and data loggers. Both vessels are currently on hire to Brazilian oil major Petrobras.

Ranger 2 USBL is a popular choice for conducting research at sea as operations can start as soon as a vessel arrives on location. This helps maximise valuable ship time. It has the capability to track multiple underwater targets simultaneously to beyond 11km, works in shallow or deep water and is able to remotely configure and communicate with compatible instruments. This operational flexibility was a key factor in OceanPact’s investment decision.

Raphael Melo, Survey Manager from OceanPact Geo said, “For geophysical, geotechnical and environmental research and survey operations in Brazil we rely on the highest specification and highest reliability systems. Sonardyne’s equipment has proven to be both during our previous long-term rentals. This is why we have chosen now to permanently acquire this equipment for two of our vessels. Having the reassurance of local technical and operational support from the Sonardyne team here in Brazil is a big advantage for us also.”

Andre Moura, Sales & Applications Manager at Sonardyne Brasil Ltda. says, “This order from OceanPact further embeds Ranger 2’s reputation in the region. For those wanting accuracy and versatility, it’s proven itself time and again while also meeting the toughest specifications from oil and gas, science and survey companies.”