IMCA revises offshore multibeam guidelines
The Offshore Survey Division of the International Marine Contractors Asssociation, the UK-based trade organisation representing over 1,000 companies in more than 60 countries, has revised its Guidelines for Use of Multibeam Echosounders for Offshore Surveys.
Jane Bugler, the Association’s Technical Director and Acting Chief Executive, says introduction of the new version is in response to strong growth in use of systems over the past two decades with advances in technology coupled with increases in processing power and data storage at reasonable costs having made them accessible to a much wider range of users.
In addition to a glossary of terminology and a general introduction, the new publication (IMCA S 003 Rev 2) includes a comprehensive overview of sounders together with details covering installation, operation, transducers, navigation and attitude, motion sensor, heading, synchronised timing, offset measures, water level adjustments and sound velocity measurements; subsea vehicles and systems, sensor installation, calibration and location, data processing, planning and standards forsurveys are among other issues covered.
Printed copies of the 54-page document, which draws heavily on a number of existing standards and published papers, are available from publications@imcaint.com at £20 for members and £40 for non-members. Alternatively, it can be downloaded for free by either party.
By David Goodfellow
