Kongsberg to Equip New INIDEP Vessel

Argentina’s National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) has selected Simrad marine ecosystem assessment technology from Kongsberg Maritime for installation aboard its new oceanographic and fishing research vessel.

Currently under construction at Spanish yard Astilleros Armon Vigo, and due for delivery mid-2017, the new 52m research ship will be built as a silent vessel, which combined with the advanced Simrad marine ecosystem package should enable accurate survey results for Argentinian scientists.

The combination of acoustic systems chosen by INIDEP is particularly suited to provide for understanding of the entire marine ecosystem. The equipment scope of supply includes: EK80 scientific wideband system, ME70 scientific multibeam system, a dedicated Bathymetric option for habitat mapping, SX90 Omnidirectional sonar for long-range detection and support for fishery operation, PI50 trawl monitoring system and FX80 with live camera feed from sampling trawl. The new Simrad TD50 software released in Vigo earlier this year is also included in the delivery, enabling the ME70 multibeam data to be visualised real time in 3D during a survey.

“To measure and map the marine ecosystem, from small plankton to large fish and mammals and in all layers of the water column is a challenge,” says Adrián Madirolas, leader of the hydroacoustic lab at INIDEP. “The system setup for our new vessel is particularly suited to meet these challenges, allowing for more detailed information and also real time 3D distribution of the biology we study.”

In addition to the Simrad marine ecosystem package, the new INIDEP vessel will also utilise a Kongsberg Seapath 330+ with Motion Reference and GPS input to the acoustic systems and the Kongsberg MDM 500 Marine Data Management system.

“This combination of scientific single, multibeam and sonar systems is becoming the de facto industry standard for research vessels,” said Tonny Algrøy, gobal sales manager underwater science, Kongsberg Maritime. “INIDEP’s vessel will be highly advanced, especially for its size, and with recent developments such as real time 3D display of the ME70 multibeam data I feel confident it will be a very valuable tool for Argentinian scientists in the future.”