Important Rescue During New Multibeam Echosounder Test

The inspection vessel Ejnar Mikkelsen from the Royal Danish Navy recently tested a new multibeam echosounder (MBES) during a hydrographic survey, and also experienced that it was very helpful in a rescue operation. As Ejnar Mikkelsen was in the process of conducting hydrographic surveys west of the Kok Islands close to Nuuk, it was contacted by the local police who needed help for a rescue assignment in the inner part of the fjord at Nuuk. Two teenage girls had been reported missing after a fishing trip.

The vessel Ejnar Mikkelsen tested the SeaBat 7111 MBES system in Greenland waters. The vessel is to be used for surveying and inspection duties and is currently being refitted to be able to undertake hydrographic surveys around Greenland.

During the search Ejnar Mikkelsen could take advantage of the SeaBat 7111 to provide real time highly accurate and detailed mapping of the seabed making it possible to explore large coastal areas that would otherwise have been inaccessible due to the lack of depth information.

It was therefore possible for the vessel to sail close to the shore making it much easier to use binoculars and thermal cameras. After 19 hours of searching, the missing girls were spotted by Ejnar Mikkelsen.

The girls were brought on board the vessel, where they were given a hot bath and clean clothes before being safely returned home to Nuuk.