NOAA Multibeam Sonar Head Project
Posted By Grant Graves on 17 October 2003
The Cambrian Foundation was asked to assist the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, in recovering a multibeam sonar head, MSH, that was lost in over 250 feet of water while surveying underwater topography at Cortez Banks, 100 miles off the coast of Southern California, USA.
The project would require the cooperative effort of several agencies. NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Dive Office, California Fish and Game, California State University Monterey Bay, and the Cambrian Foundation all aided in the successful recovery of the device from 269 feet of water. The device was returned to CSUMonterey Bay for inspection and repair. When the sonar was plugged back in, it actually worked!
The device was lost in July. Time was critical. The longer the delay from
MSH loss to recovery, the less the chance for recovery and the higher the
chances for damage to the head, if found. The project came together in
unprecedented time.
Initial discussion began in August. NOAA CINMS provided the RV Shearwater as the principal operations vessel and to house the crew. CFG provided the MV Swordfish as a support vessel. NOAA Fisheries provided the Remotely Operated Vehicle, ROV, to search for the head. The Cambrian Foundation provided the dive team to recover the device.
The NOAA Dive Office approved the dive plan and secured DCAP dive tables for trimix 14/60 (14% oxygen, 60% helium and the balance made up of nitrogen) from Dr. Bill Hamilton. All players came together to allow the project to go forward on very short notice. This was a cooperative effort by everyone involved.
All divers utilized technical diving techniques to perform recovery
operations. Karl Shreeves and Steve Mortell made up the bottom team, Tim
Gallagher was the Diving Safety Officer, Jeff Schoonover was shallow support
and Grant Graves was deep support and project director.
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