Sonardyne chosen for underwater positioning on US research vessels
As the US Academic Research Fleet prepares to welcome a new wave of coastal and regional research vessels, advanced underwater positioning capabilities are set to play a central role. Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 Gyro USBL 7000 has been chosen to equip three new ships currently under construction as part of the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional Class Research Vessel (RCRV) programme.
Led by Oregon State University, the initiative will deliver modern platforms designed to push the boundaries of ocean science across a wide range of marine environments. Their arrival signals meaningful progress for coastal and regional oceanographic research in the United States.
To meet the diverse scientific needs of the Academic Research Fleet (ARF), Oregon State University has opted for Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 Gyro USBL 7000. The system aligns with stringent vessel build requirements, while supporting multidisciplinary mission objectives.
Addressing critical questions
The first installation has now been delivered to Oregon State University for integration aboard the RV Taani, under construction at Bollinger Houma Shipyards. Two additional systems are scheduled for delivery next year for the RV Narragansett Dawn – operated by a University of Rhode Island-led consortium – and the RV Gilbert R. Mason, operated by the Gulf-Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium.
“The RCRV construction programme represents a significant enhancement to the US Academic Research Fleet,” said James Caison, design specialist at OSU working on the RCRV programme. “These vessels will empower researchers to address critical questions in climate, ecology and ocean dynamics across the Pacific coast, east coast and Gulf of Mexico,” he continued.
“The RCRV construction programme represents a significant enhancement to the US Academic Research Fleet,” said Kim Swords, technical sales manager at Sonardyne. “This order is an endorsement of the precision and reliability delivered by our Ranger 2 USBL systems. It reinforces Sonardyne’s position as a trusted provider of high-performance acoustic positioning technologies for the US marine science and research community.”
With Ranger 2 technology onboard, researchers will be able to track and communicate with multiple underwater instruments, vehicles and towed platforms simultaneously – at ranges reaching up to 10,000m depending on configuration. Its integrated gyrocompass ensures precise acoustic tracking without the need for additional heading sensors, even in challenging operational scenarios.
For vessels featuring dynamic positioning systems, Ranger 2 can also deliver accurate and repeatable position referencing in any waters, without interrupting ongoing tracking tasks.
Learn more about the RCRV programme here.
