Phoenix Buys Sonardyne Fusion Systems for Deep Search ROVs

Sonardyne Inc. has sold two Fusion USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine) acoustic positioning systems to the U.S. Navy Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). The Fusion systems contain the latest advances in subsea acoustic technology from Sonardyne and were delivered at the end of March to SUPSALV’s Undersea Operations prime contractor, Phoenix International, Inc. in Landover, Maryland. The equipment will be used to provide precise underwater positioning for the Deep Drone and CURV III ROVs which are the mainstays in SUPSALV’s fleet of search and recovery equipment.
Phoenix International holds the U.S. Navy’s five year Undersea Operations contract to maintain and operate all of the SUPSALV assets needed to search, locate, and recover objects in water depths to 20,000 feet. Phoenix is responsible for maintaining the equipment in Ready for Issue (RFI) status on an around-the-clock basis and sustaining the capability to mobilise and operate the systems anywhere in the world. After receiving Navy approval, Phoenix engineers are also responsible for repair, modification, and upgrade to these systems.
CURV III is a 20,000-foot depth rated ROV, designed to meet SUPSALV's needs for very deep-water recovery. It will be positioned using a Fusion ‘Big Head’ transceiver and transponders rated to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). Deep Drone is a 7,200-foot depth rated ROV that will be operated in conjunction with a Sonardyne Fusion ‘Standard Head’ transceiver and two 13,000 feet (4,000 meter) rated transponders. Both ROV systems are designed to be air transportable on military cargo aircraft and to operate from vessels of opportunity.