Seabed Imaging News

Kongsberg Maritime will deliver an integrated suite of subsea technology to a new Belgian research vessel. Already under construction at Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, the advanced new replacement for the Belgian research vessel RV Belgica is due to be handed over to the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) in October 2020.Launched in 1984, RV Belgica carried out many years of service, however, emerging mechanical issues in 2013 catalyzed plans to build her replacement.

Kraken Sonar Systems Inc., a  marine technology company, has announced  that it has been awarded a contract for an AquaPix Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar system by Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Organization (DSTO). DSTO is the Australian government’s lead agency charged with applying science and technology to protect and defend Australia and its national interests. DSTO delivers expert, impartial advice and innovative defence solutions to agencies such as the Royal Australian Navy. Kraken’s AquaPix  Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar (InSAS) system provides seabed images with unprecedented image resolution and detail.

Kraken Sonar Systems acquires all Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the AquaPix® Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) technology platform from Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc. The SAS technology assets consist of all hardware and software intellectual property targeted to military and commercial applications. The transaction had an effective closing date of December 31, 2012. A number of different underwater activities rely on high quality seabed imaging. Offshore exploration, ocean science, seabed mapping and military missions are examples of applications with growing demands for improved seabed image resolution. Until recently, sidescan sonars and multibeam echo-sounders have been the leading technology for detailed mapping and imaging of the seafloor.