RMSR Team Take Delivery of ARC Explorer Mk-II Side Scan Sonar

Following a series of extensive trials carried out on the river Moy in Ballina Co Mayo Ireland, with the team from the River Moy Search & Rescue, Marine Sonic Technology & Planet Ocean, they have now taken delivery of their system funded partially by local donations.

The dedicated RMSR team of volunteers are the first in the World to operate the new Mk-II system which offers a number of improvements over its popular predecessor including a stainless-steel tow fish body, new tail section and enhanced software and is designed for search, survey, and recovery applications.

The trials and training which were carried out using an advanced prototype system at their Ballina facility included spotting and identifying divers lying on the bottom in difficult to isolate locations.

The adaptive CHIRP Technology provides the highest imaging quality possible from a side scan sonar with its 900 kHz and 1800 kHz transducers and supports ranges up to 60% greater than non-adaptive CHIRP systems. The high-resolution imaging and simultaneous dual frequency operation in conjunction with a fully adjustable tow point and transducer angle make it an ideal tool for survey and infrastructure inspection applications that require a high level of flexibility. The rugged construction and a 300m depth rating in a one-man portable system more than fulfil the needs of the search & recovery and security communities.

The RMSR team were able to operate the system themselves after only a small amount of training and its small size means it can operate from their rigid boat without davits.