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Marport Announces Multi-Function Sounder for Commercial Fisheries & Ocean Research

Patent-pending CARUSO SF7 sounder incorporates Marport’s latest software defined acoustics technology interfaced to a broadband, phased array transducer.

Trondheim, Norway – August 12, 2008 – Marport, a leading subsea acoustics technology company,today announced a patent-pending multi-function sounder at the Nor-Fishing 2008 exhibition. Marport's CARUSO SF7 is an innovative, high performance, multi-function sounder designed for commercial fishing, fisheries science and oceanographic research applications. Its broadband phased array transducer provides 81 individual elements to enable dynamic beam-forming and beam-steering for long-range detection of targets and currents.

The CARUSO SF7 system consists of a phased array transducer, a software defined transceiver and a bridge computer with display. To improve signal-to-noise ratio, the transceiver can be placed close to the transducer and linked to the bridge computer via Ethernet. The bridge computer is delivered with Marport’s CommandView software to enable processing, display and recording. The new solution provides 7 advanced functions in 1: Split Beam Sounder Doppler Current Profiler Speed Velocity Log Broadband Chirp Echosounder Sub Bottom Profiler Sea Surface Temperature Bottom Classification

STABILIZED SPLIT BEAM SOUNDER

The Caruso SF7 split beam sounder utilizes an advanced phased array transducer that can transmit on 81 individual 7° beams and receive in 16 quadrants. The sounder's transmission pulse is applied to the whole transducer. Target detection is determined by comparing the echo signals received by each quadrant. The signals received in each quadrant are processed independently to determine the target strength directly from each echo.

With its advanced split-beam technology, the system detects the shape and size of fish, fish schools and fish distribution with high discrimination and accuracy. The unit uses a histogram to provide fish size assessment of the target school. In addition, it Can provide a fish distribution plot to display where the target fish are located within the detection area. By analyzing the size, volume and movement of a targeted fish school, operators can easily decide what harvest and what to avoid. Fisheries resource management is improved by avoiding schools with fish that are smaller than desired.

Superior Detection Zone Coverage
Marport's Caruso SF7 sounder provides superior detection zone coverage when compared to competitive products. As an example, in a detection zone measuring 600 metres x 600 metres at a reference bottom depth of 500 metres, the Marport sounder provides 100% coverage. Competitive split beam sounders that transmit a single 7° beam provide only 1% detection coverage in the same geographic area. Split beam sounders that transmit five 7° beams only provide 5% target coverage in the same geographic area.

Complete Beam Stabilization
The sounder's transducer incorporates an integrated motion sensor to reduce the loss of important targets due to the ship’s motion in rough seas. All beams are maintained at required tilt by compensating for ship’s pitch (±20°), roll (±20°) and heave (±100m). The beam stabilizer significantly improves target presentation by compensating for echogram distortion caused by the ship's motion. This provides an enhanced presentation of the echogram images even in rough seas, and improves measurement accuracy for fish size assessment display and target plot.

Multiple Displays Including 3D A-Scope
The sounder incorporates the industry’s first 3D A-Scope that can display historical echograms with amplitudes proportional to intensity. It also provides a wide variety of presentation modes in high resolution SXGA or XGA resolution, including split-beam, multi-beam, zoom, bottom lock, bottom zoom, fish histograms and distribution, bottom hardness, surface temperature and system status. The system also displays inputs from Marport's complete line of wireless net sensors and sounders.

Advanced Signal Modulation
In addition to standard CW pulse modulation, the sounder can utilize non-linear frequency modulation, known as &quote;chirp&quote;. A &quote;chirp&quote; is a signal modulation technique that's also used in military radar and spread spectrum communications. When used in commercial fishing applications, chirp modulation can significantly improve range resolution and enhance target discrimination when compared to conventional echosounders.

Technical Specifications

DOPPLER CURRENT PROFILER

The Caruso SF7 system incorporates a Doppler Current Profiler (DCP) that measures water current velocities over a wide range of depths. The unit can easily interfaced the vessel's DGPS input to provide integrated velocity readings with precise position information. The unit's multiple beam phased array design improves data reliability by providing a redundant data source in the case of a blocked or damaged beam. This also improves data quality by delivering an independent measure known as error velocity and improves data accuracy. The transducer elements can aimed in such a way that the multifrequency sound pulses travel through the water in different, but known directions. As the echo of the sound is returned by echo scatters in the water, it is shifted in frequency due to the doppler effect. The unit uses advanced digital signal processing (DSP) to deliver very low-noise data, resulting in unparalleled fine track resolution and very accurate velocity profiles.

Long Range Transmission & Full Water Column Profiling
In addition to ship's speed and drift, the DCP can continuously measure and display full water column profile velocities (current speed and direction) to a maximum depth of 1,000 metres below the vessel. Other displayed parameters include: current direction/speed, measured depth, ship speed relative to ground/ship course, ship speed relative to water/ship course, ahead-astern ship speed/starboard-port ship speed, absolute tidal current vector, relative tidal current vector, ship speed vector.

Speed Velocity Log
The unit can also function as an acoustic speed velocity log. The DCP bounces sound pulses off the bottom to determine the speed and direction velocity vector of the ship as it moves over the seafloor. The bottom-tracking capability has a range accuracy that's equal to ± 2% of actual range.

Beam Stabilized
The DCP function incorporates electronic beam stabilization to reduce the effects of rolling, pitching and heaving motions.

Technical Specifications

BROADBAND CHIRP ECHOSOUNDER

The Caruso SF7 system incorporates a broadband echosounder that utilizes advanced frequency modulation (CHIRP FM) and digital signal processing to provide significantly improved range resolution and superior target discrimination when compared to fixed-frequency echosounders. The system's software defined architecture enables digital signal processing to be performed in software which can be programmed &quote;on-the-fly&quote; to utilize any frequency, bandwidth, or pulse length.

It uses a non-linear FM (CHIRP) transmit pulse with correlation processing of the return signal. Instead of using a burst of a single carrier frequency, the frequency within the burst is swept over a broad range throughout the duration of transmission pulse. This creates a unique 'signature' pulse; the sounder knows what was transmitted and when. Using 'pattern-matching' techniques, it looks for its own unique signature being echoed back from targets. The response from the 'pattern-matching' algorithms in the echosounder results in longer transmissions and operating ranges without a loss in range resolution. CHIRP modulation also achieves superior signal to noise gain over conventional echosounder used for commercial fisheries. This enables enhanced target detection and discrimination and is especially useful when trying to detect fish close to the bottom.

A robust, bottom tracking algorithm maintains bottom lock and delivers accurate depth over even the most difficult seabed topographies. The echosounder also incorporates a digital seabed classification system using well-proven techniques to rapidly characterize the seabed. Classification is accomplished using the shape of the first returning echo from the seabed; different bottoms provide different acoustic signatures. Bottom types are organized into discrete units, thereby providing classification associated with the diversity of the seabed, incorporating both geological and biological features.

Technical Specifications

SUB BOTTOM PROFILER

The Caruso SF7 system includes a sub-bottom profiler that operates in water depths from to 3,000 metres. The sub bottom profiler function is based on low frequency sound generation due to non-linear interaction in the water column from two high intensity sound beams at higher frequencies. The resulting signal has a high relative bandwidth (~80%), narrow beam profile (close to the transmitted high frequency signals) and no small side lobes. All these features results in very high spatial resolution in the sediment profiles. The narrow beam results in lower received reverberation and higher penetration.

The innovative multi-element phase array transducer array enables the profiler to transmit a 30 kHz to 39 kHz pulse that is capable of penetrating the seabed and highlighting seismic structural differences and layers that are hidden from view to conventional echosounders The system can operate with various signal waveforms for optimum performance. Chirp pulses are used for deep water, high penetration work and CW pulses are used for narrow band, frequency sensitive work. The transmitted beam is electronically stabilized to ensure that the ensonified area on the sea floor is accurately positioned. The unit can also use beam steering to cover a larger sector. This is of particular importance in object detection / location applications.

The operating software uses sophisticated algorithms for peak signal detection, receiver gain, bottom tracking, pulse length and power level controls to enhance accurate bottom detection/tracking. It is also capable of providing high energy/wide bandwidth transmit waveforms and an advanced bottom triggered TVG processing algorithm to facilitate both maximum bottom penetration along with high resolution layer definition. Sub bottom penetration performance depends on sediment characteristics, water depth, transmitted signature etc. Typical penetration of 30 metres can been achieved in water depths of 1000 metres.

Technical Specifications

ADVANCED PHASED ARRAY TRANSDUCER

The transducer is built in a phased array configuration and can be aimed to transmit multi-frequency, broadband, sound pulses through the water.The transducer design provides a wide range of possibilities for electronic control of the beams around and below the vessel.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency: 24 – 42 kHz
• Beamwidth Longitudinal: 7° ±1
• Beamwidth Transversal: 7° ±1
• Maximum pulse power input: 4000 W
• Maximum transducer depth: 50 m
• Cable length: 20 metres standard
• Weight without cable: 38 kgs
• Diameter: 480 mm
• Height: 150 mm

Pricing and Availability

The Caruso SF7 sounder is currently undergoing sea trials and will be commercially available in November, 2008. The CARUSO SF7 system consists of a phased array transducer, a software defined transceiver and a bridge computer with display. The system will retail for €45,000. Marport will exhibit the Caruso SF7 and its other new products at Nor-Fishing 2008 in Trondheim, the Icelandic Fishing Exhibition in Reykjavik and Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle.

About Marport

Marport is a pioneering developer of Software Defined Sonar technology (SDS) technology - an adaptive, future-proof solution for underwater sensing and communications. Marport designs and manufactures advanced SDS solutions for subsea resource exploration and utilization in commercial fisheries, offshore energy, science and military markets. For more information, visit www.marport.com

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For more information about this media release, please contact:

Marport Canada Inc.
Glenda Leyte
Marketing Manager
St. John’s, Newfoundland
+709.757.5757, extension 242
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