Lindblad Expedition’s newest vessel, The National Geographic Explorer, is an ice-class expedition vessel. Among its technology is WESMAR’s new 850 series all digital stabilized searchlight sonar, a high-resolution sonar that can detect underwater hazards near the surface as well as everywhere beneath and around the vessel.
Captain Leif Skog set sail with the new sonar in August. Skog uses the new WESMAR 850 sonar for navigation and to keep the boat out of danger from submerged icebergs and other hazards.
The National Geographic Explorer provides passengers an ultimate exploration adventure to destinations unchanged since early explorers visited in centuries past. But today there is a vast difference. The National Geographic Explorer is a state-of-the-art 1A ice class expedition ship. Unlike Ernest Henry Shackleton, Legendary Antarctic Explorer who made 3 visits to the Antarctic, Captain Skog has been there over 100 times. For 10 years he commanded the National Geographic Endeavor with WESMAR’s earlier HD800 sonar, so his sonar operating experience is also extensive.
Captain Skog, reporting by phone recently from Ushuaia, Argentina, after the first National Geographic Explorer Antarctic Cruise, said “The new WESMAR 850 sonar works very well and it is a very important tool for us…. Our passengers are very curious about it as well, so it makes an interesting addition for our passengers for fish watching and for watching the ROV on the sonar screen, which we send down as much as 1000 feet for research.”
(www.wesmar.com)