Cable layer gets acoustic system

A Sonardyne USBL (Ultra-Short Base Line) acoustic positioning system has been chosen by submarine cable company Global Marine for installation aboard its new cable layer Bold Endeavour. The 5,500t vessel is designed to lay up to 8,820km of continuous cable with repeaters at 40km intervals. The ship is required to hold station against a combined 30 knot wind and one knot current square on the beam and has been built with two 2,200kW stern azimuths, three 1,335kW bow tunnel thrusters and one stern thruster to do the job.

The Sonardyne system will supply the Alstom DP computer with subsea position data so that the vessel can maintain its position relative to acoustic transponders on the seabed.

Contact: Sonardyne.
Fax: +44 1252 876100.