Case Studies

Canadian shipwreck hunters unlock new levels of multibeam performance with Norwegian Subsea Motion Reference Unit This article was originally published by Geo-Matching 4/03/2026. You can view the original version here: Case Study: Canadian shipwreck hunters unlock new levels of multibeam performance with Norwegian Subsea Motion Reference Unit - Geo-matching.   Motion Reference Units (MRUs) are crucial in bathymetric survey technology, providing precise motion compensation data to ensure reliable and accurate seafloor mapping. For users like Captain Sid Hynes, a seasoned mariner exploring Newfoundland’s shipwreck-rich waters, the Norwegian Subsea MRU has redefined what is possible, delivering exceptional performance even in incredibly challenging conditions. Father and son team document Newfoundland’s rich maritime history Integrating our MRU with a multibeam boosted precision in rough waters Enhanced motion compensation vital with 20 ft waves coming in three directions Real-time data outperforms standard motion sensors and more expensive solutions Lower-cost MRU delivers commercial-grade performance The Challenge: Distinguishing shipwrecks in rough waters Along with his son, Matthew, Sid Hynes has dedicated countless hours to mapping shipwrecks using multibeam echosounders in the unpredictable environment of the Grand Banks. However, precision in locating and identifying these submerged targets is a persistent challenge, especially due to the unique conditions the pair face on their regular expeditions. Boosting performance: Improving on out-of-the-box sonar data quality Despite equipping ‘Best Kind’, Sid’s Farmont 70 expedition yacht with a multibeam made by Aukland, New Zealand-based manufacturer WASSP, he found room for improvement when in order to reach the level of detail required for distinguishing remnants of wooden shipwrecks, many of which had deteriorated after decades under the sea. Tough conditions: a need for accurate heave The unpredictable three-directional swells and constant movement of his boat added further complexity, as it would create inconsistencies in the data captured. “Heave is the key,” Sid explained. “When the boat's moving with swells from three directions, it can distort the data, but with proper heave compensation, you get a clearer picture of the seafloor.” The standard motion sensor in the multibeam struggled with this task, leaving Sid in search of an alternative. The Solution: Integrating a more powerful, cost-effective MRU He discovered the Norwegian Subsea’s MRU 6000 and after talking with both Norwegian Subsea and WASSP, integrated it into his multibeam setup. Immediately, the new Motion Reference Unit (MRU) offered unparalleled motion compensation capabilities, particularly in the challenging conditions of the Grand Banks, well known for hard to predict multi-direction waves. Consistent is key: High quality data follows a simple setup Sid and Matthew, leveraging their deep technical expertise – which stretches as far as installing their own DP system on the boat and developing a unique acoustic noise reduction system, managed the integration process themselves. “The MRU's straightforward setup and consistency really helped us to improve the quality of our results,” Sid noted. Enhanced motion compensation gives a clear view With the Norwegian Subsea MRU, Sid’s multibeam echosounder began delivering highly detailed and precise data, enabling him to identify everything from steam engines to hard-to-find remnants of shipwrecks such as hull forms that had deteriorated over centuries. The enhanced motion compensation provided by the MRU rivalled far more expensive systems, including other motion sensors and a state-of-the-art correctional DGPS that Sid was able to evaluate. “You get commercial-grade performance at a significantly reduced cost,” he said. Detecting interesting targets: A level of accuracy previously unattainable Sid highlights that the Norwegian Subsea MRU’s superior heave, pitch, and roll compensation has allowed him to confidently map the seafloor and detect interesting targets in swells exceeding 20 feet. The data consistency enabled by the MRU provided a level of accuracy previously unattainable with his equipment, transforming Sid and Mathew’s shipwreck hunting into a highly effective exploration endeavour.   The Impact: Detecting history with remarkable precision The results were incredibly positive. Using the Norwegian Subsea MRU, Sid has identified many shipwrecks with remarkable precision, some of which were located miles away from their suspected locations. One notable discovery involved two sister steamships, wrecked two years apart, and found within close proximity. Smooth and precise: Quality data in real-time Sid highlighted the performance increase since integrating the MRU: “I had a couple of underwater streams sitting at the dock, using the original motion sensor and the new MRU,” he explained. “The standard sensor was jumping all over and we were getting big gaps in the data. But the Norwegian Subsea MRU was like a needle – smooth and precise. You could barely tell the boat was moving. It is incredibly sensitive compared to the others.” Rough seas: Detecting wrecks in extreme conditions Sid and Matthew continue to explore Newfoundland’s shipwrecks, uncovering valuable data to the understanding of the region’s maritime history. Their work with Norwegian Subsea and WASSP has not only enhanced their own ability to detect wrecks in extreme conditions; Norwegian Subsea and WASSP are now working together to deliver even more precision multibeam data for the New Zealand company’s user-base. High performance and lower cost: MRUs for diverse applications Norwegian Subsea, meanwhile, is committed to leveraging the power its MRU technology for the subsea sector. Oceanology, bathymetric survey and all types of underwater inspection can be lower cost and accurate, when using Norwegian Subsea MRUs. And, as the company focuses more on the subsea sector, comprehensive multibeam solutions are set to become less costly, while offering the required data precision and reliability. Making multibeams work: Managing swell better than most! Some of this is down to Sid’s pioneering vision to upgrade his onboard equipment in order to better serve his own, and Mathew’s commitment to Newfoundland’s maritime history. In his own words: “The swells can be so bad, but the Norwegian Subsea MRU manages them better than most. It really makes multibeam surveys work in ways I could not achieve before.”

Improving Ocean Health with Sustainable Kelp   World leading Kelp Farm in Namibia uses WASSP to survey sites for innovative marine Industry   Background  Kelp Blue is a collection of divers, sculptors, sailors, explorers and nature lovers who have the aim to restore the planet to equilibrium, or even to abundance by nurturing the marine ecosystems that help reverse climate change. Inspired by Giant Kelp, we will look to rapidly grow and deliver transformative benefits across markets.  The team currently focuses on cost-effective, long term and environmentally sustainable solutions by growing and managing large-scale Giant Kelp forests. These underwater forests safely lock away vast amounts of Co2 in the ocean forever.    Kelp forests also help sustain healthy marine ecosystems, providing food and shelter for countless species.  Kelp Blue is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and has applied for an operating licence in Namibia. If successful, a pilot scheme will be conducted off the coast of Luderitz, where it will benefit from the constant upwelling of the Benguela Current.     Namibia’s offshore waters offer the perfect conditions for growing kelp. Namibia has a government supportive of the blue economy as well as a strong and capable workforce. Kelp Blue will work with Namibia’s academic institutions to facilitate research and skills development in marine biotechnology, mechanical and marine engineering, research and innovation.    Problem  For this particular project, Kelp Blue needed to map a number of assigned sites in coastal Namibia to determine suitability for kelp farming, all without experienced hydrographic experts or complex system configurations. Sites required detailed analysis of bathymetry as well as seafloor material which could be used to pinpoint the most favourable locations for substrate structures and anchors.  Equipment Requirements  Kelp Blue required a system that was simple enough to use without expert hydrographic survey knowledge, within a short time window. In addition, the system needed to be able to export to 3rd party software in order to do further post processing and analysis.    The S3i is WASSP’s entry level Survey Multibeam system, and was chosen for this particular project due to its speed and ease of use, reducing setup and testing time. The Multibeam configuration from WASSP was also selected due to its integration capabilities and overall cost effectiveness – and for cost saving was paired with lower cost GPS satellite compass and motion sensor for this project (superior results can be attained with higher grade sensors).  The S3i setup kit included:  IP66 DRX Processing Unit  90-190kHz Wideband Fairing Transducer  Satellite Compass  Motion Sensor   CDX UI Software  Survey Interface License  Backscatter License  Pelican Carry Cases  Survey  Overall scope was to survey 5 assigned sites were near the Namibian coast. Five days survey time was allocated to complete the survey. The sites were of differing depths and distance from the coast.  Pilot Plots    Sailing distance  Water depth  Plot A  20 km    65m –   85m  Plot B1  30 km  115m – 135m  Plot B2  20 km    50m –   70m  Plot B3  20 km    50m –   70m  Plot C  50 km  140m – 160m      Output Data  Data was initially collected within WASSP CDX to allow real-time viewing of seafloor mapping and guiding navigation for correct mapping pattern. The WASSP was configured to record data  for 3D Bathymetry along with Backscatter functions.  Files were then output to BeamworX Autoclean to process and export to external platforms such as GIS and Google Earth in order to be used for general site planning.  Plot A  Plot B1 Plot B2 Plot B3 Plot C The Backscatter/Intensity capability of the WASSP S3i was particularly important for collecting the level of data required in order to determine seafloor material composition and ensure the sites selected would allow sufficient anchoring of structures with longterm viability.  Plot B2 Plot B3 Plot C Outcomes  From the information gathered, Kelp Blue was able to successfully select and allocate 2 of the most suitable sites due to bottom bathymetry and material. With the data from the WASSP S3i multibeam it was clear these 2 sites had a flat, sandy bottom making them the best choice for anchoring and substate structures from the 5 allocated sites.   Plot B2 Cross-section  Small (± 35cm) height difference over 300m    Plot B3 Cross-section  Small (± 35cm) height difference over 300m    Other sites were shown to have unsuitable bathymetry or contained materials such as rock or too much gravel.   Kelp Blue were also able to completed the survey in a shorter period than initially planned. Utilising the WASSP Multibeam, the survey for all 5 allocated sites was completed in 1.5 days. This is much faster than the original planned 3-4 days survey time frame, saving the Kelp Blue team valuable time and money.  Note: These surveys were conducted with entry level cost effective sensors, as deemed appropriate for this project. As such, it should be noted that WASSP results could be considerably improved by utilising higher grade WASSP RTK GNSS INS, and incorporating a Sound Velocity Sensor.  Conclusion  The site surveys with the WASSP Multibeam has allowed Kelp Blue to perfectly individualize the right locations for their project and everything was done in a shorter time period than initially planned due to the benefits of Multibeam technology mapping wide areas and speed of WASSP operation. Survey operations were able to be successfully completed without the use of expert hydrographic surveyors, reducing time, expense and improving in-house knowledge of the proposed sites. Plot sites B2 and B3 were identified as the most suitable for installing substrate structures for the kelp growing operations with bottom bathymetry identified as having relatively low water depths, with flat and even sea bottom contours, and uniform sediments.     Click here to Download the Case Study  Click here to see an article by FishFocus on the Kelp Blue Project  

• F3 INTRODUCING ABEL Abel Carreño is the skipper of the F/V “Romina Segundo”, a purse seiner based out of the Spanish port of Portosín, located in the north west of the country in Galicia. Built in 1994, just over 20 metres long with a steel hull and a gross tonnage of 54 tons, the “Romina Segundo” is one of three vessels owned by the fishing company Colla Pesca and is used to catch pelagic species, mainly sardine and mackerel, close to shore in the Atlantic.  ABEL’S CHALLENGE A firm believer in the value of sonar equipment, Abel had already installed several sonar devices from different manufacturers in the “Romina Segundo”. With these, he was already getting good information about the water column, but he wanted to know more about the sea floor. He wanted to map the bottom, to see any obstacles in detail; detail which the commercial charts simply don’t provide. With his existing knowledge of sonar, Abel knew he needed a multibeam echosounder. He did his research and was soon talking to Alejandro Palmeiro (Alex) of Nautilus Oceanica, a WASSP distributor and installer of mainly hydrographic and oceanographic equipment. With the purchase of a WASSP F3i system, Abel became Alex’s first fishing customer.  Mapping the fishing ground "how close to the rocks can we set the net" THE WASSP SOLUTION The WASSP F3 series represents the third generation of the WASSP evolution. The F3i variation, with a 160kHz transducer, is packaged with a GPS compass and a motion sensor which enables the multibeam sonar to correct the Sea floor mapping for the vessels position, heading and movement, giving a true reflection of the sea floor. This is particularly important for purse seining as the fish being sought are often found close to underwater obstacles that can cause significant, and costly, damage to the fishing gear if the nets snag, something not uncommon to happen.   WASSP F3 - Mapping a School of fish over a drop off By being able to build up a 3D map with the WASSP F3i, the skipper is able to identify not only any obstacles and hardness of the seafloor, but also how dense the school of fish is. Skilled operators can even identify the species of those fish, which offers another significant advantage. If, for example, the skipper has exhausted his sardine quota, or the sardine price is not very high at the time, he can select to catch fish schools he knows are mackerel , increasing sales value whilst saving time and fuel and avoiding regulatory penalties. With its 224 beams, the WASSP F3i gives a 120˚ view of both the seabed and the water column, ensuring that nothing is missed. With a single beam sounder, anything to port or starboard of the vessel will effectively remain invisible. SKIPPER ABEL’S OBSERVATIONS “ I’m really impressed with the WASSP F3i’s bathymetric functions and, as far as I’m concerned, the WASSP system has already paid for itself. Early on, I was able to chart a rock which could have caused a lot of damage if it had fouled the nets. It took me just 20 minutes to fully survey it. This rock was not properly shown on my Electronic Chart. On another occasion, I identified a net that had been dumped or lost by another vessel at sea. Because it was off to starboard, and not directly beneath my vessel, I would never have seen it with a single beam sounder. But the F3i picked it up perfectly and, once again, saved me a big repair bill. My WASSP F3i not only saves me time, it also saves my fishing gear and makes the effort of all the crew more profitable.” Click here for a Downloadable PDF version of this article