Vessel Design

Overview

A small number of vessel design factors can have massive impacts on mapping data quality. While some factors may be addressed after construction (e.g., relocating antennas for a better sky view), some must be incorporated at the earliest design stages.

For instance, bubble sweep along the transducer arrays can effectively halt mapping operations. Bubbles can also potentially damage TX hardware when transmitting into aerated layers. The costs of hull modifications to address bubble issues are generally not feasible. A mapping vessel with these design flaws will suffer from severely reduced data quality, less efficient survey operations, and lower return on investment over its service life.

This page highlights a handful of factors observed in the field to 'make or break' a vessel's mapping efforts:

1. Bubbles
2. Noise levels
3. Hull rigidity
4. Drop keel design
5. Antenna installation

Mappers and vessel designers are encouraged to provide examples and add other factors that should be considered.

Bubbles

Bubble generation

Bubble sweep

Noise levels

Flow noise

Cavitation

Machinery noise

Electrical noise

Hull rigidity

Flex between sensors

Drop keel design

Motion sensor location

Sound speed sensor location

Repeatability of deployment

Extension through bubble layer

Antenna installation

Sky view

Interference

Rigidity