Divex Military Equipment
Aberdeen, Scotland's Divex is known for its saturation diving helium gas reclaim systems and Secondary Life Support (SLS) underwater breathing apparatus for depths to 1,476 feet (450m). Both systems are used throughout the commercial and military diving world.

Divex is the largest supplier of diving equipment to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), and also supplies agencies throughout the world. The product range incorporates everything from non-magnetic knives, diving suits, and mine lift bags to communications, recompression chambers, saturation diving systems, and life support systems.

Approximately one-third of the company's business comes from the international military market. As a result, during 2003 Divex entered a joint venture in Germany to support in-service equipment with the Federal German Navy and opened Divex Asia Pacific in Perth and Sydney, Australia, to support that the region. More recently, Divex became part of a team chosen to manufacture the new NATO submarine rescue system.

The company's considerable investment in the military market has resulted in a number of highly advanced underwater life support systems that include the Stealth EOD-M closed circuit mixed gas UBA; the custom-configurable Shadow UBA; and the Automatic Enclosed Mine Lift Bag, capable of lifting underwater ordnance up to 2,210 pounds from a depth of 256 feet (80m). The EMLB can also lower the ordnance back to the seabed for further investigation or disposal. Visit www.divex.co.uk.

Mar-Vel International
Mar-Vel International has offered an outstanding selection of equipment for various needs, including military, for more than 58 years. Mar-Vel is a US government Prime Vendor contractor representing hundreds of manufacturers for the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia's (DSCP) Special Operations Equipment Division.

The Prime Vendor program is a procurement vehicle that qualified organizations can use to efficiently acquire equipment in an extremely time-sensitive manner at fair and reasonable prices by utilizing the DSCP's contracts. Organizations that are eligible to utilize the program are the military, federal government activities, as well as state and local governments in receipt of federal funds to acquire equipment (e.g. Homeland Security monies).

In addition to offering underwater military equipment, Mar-Vel has many former military personnel on staff, including Chris Johnson, Director of Government Affairs (US Navy); Lino Matteoni, East Coast Representative (US Navy); Steve Magaro, Personal Protection Technical Advisor (US Coast Guard); and Laz‡ro Del Castillo, South American Representative (Colombian Navy).

Military, government, and commercial customers can shop at www.mar-vel.com. The company's "Equipment for Extreme Environments" catalog will be available soon. Visit www.mar-vel.com.

Inuktun's Tracked Crawler
Inuktun Services' Variable Geometry Tracked Vehicle (VGTV) is a unique system for remote inspection, military reconnaissance, or observation applications. As the name implies, the robotic vehicle's shape can be altered during operation.

The tracks, in their lowered configuration, take the shape of conventional crawler tracks. When the geometry is varied to where the vehicle is in its raised configuration, the tracks take the shape of a triangle with the low lux, high-resolution camera and auxiliary variable intensity lighting peering from the high point.

The VGTV remains fully operational throughout shape alterations and can continue to travel and maneuver while its configuration is being changed. This unique feature allows the vehicle to negotiate obstacles and operate in confined spaces over rough terrain.

The compact, remotely powered (via tether), and micro-controlled inspection vehicle comes with bi-directional audio and can be modified for waterproof operation. The complete system is easily transported and managed by a single operator. The hand-held control unit incorporates a joystick for speed and direction with separate controls for the raise/lower, camera tilt, light, and focus functions.

For military or clandestine applications, the VGTV offers several additional features that make it an ideal reconnaissance robot. A complete system housed in a backpack with battery and waist control panel, the VGTV can gather the required data on its on-screen video overlay while its operator remains a safe distance away. Visit www.inuktun.com.

Outland Technology's Video Systems
Outland Technology offers several underwater video systems that have Approved for Navy Use (ANU) numbers. The US Navy recently purchased their UWS-3010/d dual systems (with hard drive/DVD recorders) to power and view two cameras at once. Outland's standard UWS-3010 single-camera system can also be shipped with a hard drive/DVD recorder, and has been tested by the Navy and approved for use.

The UWS-7010 single-camera system is portable and has also been tested and approved for use by the Navy. The console is mounted in a Dry Box for portability.

Outland's ROV is popular with military agencies, as well. The US Navy ordered seven of the Outland 1000 ROVs, while the US Army ordered 18, in various custom configurations. The ROV has 33 pounds of forward thrust, auto-hover/heading, video overlay, and 15-inch LCD monitor. Visit www.outlandtech.com.

JDR's Military Cables
JDR Cable Systems boasts more than 75 years of experience in the design and manufacture of custom cable and umbilical systems. The company was formed about 10 years ago with the combination of Jacques Cable Systems (UK) and De Regt Special Cable (The Netherlands).

Navies around the world use JDR tow cables for their active and passive sonar systems. Expertise in both cables and specialized strength terminations makes JDR a valuable partner for major naval system suppliers.

Many naval towed array systems rely on JDR technology, and the company is also a strong partner in the development of Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) systems and Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) systems. JDR's tow cables are designed to combine maximum strength with minimum diameter and weight, to meet exacting electrical and data transmission requirements. They can survive repeated duty cycles over a long period without failure.

JDR also produces cable systems for mine warfare applications, torpedo defense, and other applications.

VideoRay Micro-ROVs
Security Administration Limited (SAL), the primary provider of port security in Port Bustamante, Jamaica, uses a VideoRay ROV to check ship hulls for drugs and contraband in the Kingston Harbor. In fact, this particular VideoRay mini-ROV has saved lives - the eight-pound ROV was purchased following the murder of three divers who inspected hulls of vessels as a part of the anti-narcotic procedure in the port.

After the Jamaican government suggested its Coast Guard take action to minimize risk to divers, SAL began using the VideoRay to boost anti-narcotic procedures on vessels sailing from Jamaica to the United States.

In America, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has purchased VideoRay systems valued at $200,000 as part of an expanding Homeland Security program. VideoRays provide fast response to investigations of potential underwater dangers and are being assessed as a way to quickly, efficiently, and economically and inspect ships, piers, and harbors for condition and security.

The USCG order includes a VideoRay Pro II, four Desert Star Shiphull Inspection systems, peripheral equipment, and training. The Hull Inspection system from Desert Star allows precision navigation and location of any target or condition on a ship hull. When added to the VideoRay vehicle, a small team can quickly and methodically inspect either an entire ship hull or only those areas which are the most likely to be tampered with. Because the Desert Star equipment is very light and rapidly deployed, technicians can accomplish the inspection while the ship is still miles from port. This practice enhances safety while minimizing disruptions to shipping and dock usage scheduling.

The Taiwan Coast Guard purchased 30 VideoRay ROVs as part of a $500,000 order that includes VideoRay Pro II submersibles and four Lighted Auxiliary Zoom Inspection Camera (LAZIC) units. The ROVs will reportedly be used for hull inspections and other underwater investigations.

For more, visit www.videoray.com.

Kongsberg's Hugin AUV
The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNN) believes its Hugin 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), built by Kongsberg Maritime, will revolutionize mine clearance in maritime environments. The RNN has eight mine clearance vessels, and the sophisticated Hugin further strengthens Norway's position as a leader when it comes to clearing mines at sea.

The Hugin 1000 is installed on KNM Karmży and recently underwent a thorough testing program, which it passed with flying colors. The Hugin 1000 is the result of a co-operation between the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Kongsberg Maritime, and Statoil. The vehicle's autonomy increases operational efficiency and is particularly important for covertness and flexibility when operating in conflict zones.

The Hugin 1000 analyzes the search area by means of a multibeam echosounder and a synthetic aperture sonar. In a typical search for mines, the vessel will be able to cover a width of 300-600m at a speed of up to five knots.

The mother vessel can communicate with the AUV via radio and acoustic link to allow the weapons officers to read the data from the vessel in real time. This includes navigational data such as position, speed, depth, and height above sea floor, propeller RPM, and battery level.

As GPS does not work underwater, the Hugin 1000 navigates by means of an advanced inertial navigation system (INS). If the INS error mark exceeds specified values, the vehicle can go to the surface and aquire GPS data to confirm its actual position and reset the INS position drift.

In US waters, C&C Technologies is offering its Hugin 3000 AUV to the US Navy for tests to evaluate this advanced technology at low risk and low cost. This experimentation will permit the Navy to assess the Hugin's potential as a war-fighting tool and to correlate its unique capabilities with appropriate military priorities. Operational concepts for US Navy testing include mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, remote surveillance, and munitions delivery. C&C will also collaborate with Kongsberg to develop Hugin variants to address the needs of the US military. Visit www.kongsbergmaritime.com.

US Underwater Services
US Underwater Services' (Texas) military specialties include, but are not limited to, US Tank Products and Services, diving inspection, and water tank maintence.

The military has special requirements for contractors working within their perimeters. Security is a major issue in a world that is constantly changing. Most military bases require background checks, proof of US citizenship, and drug testing. Some projects require excess insurance coverage.

US Tank Products and Services was established to eliminate liabilities. These products protect from the dangers of unauthorized access to fixed ladders, ground tanks, clearwells, and elevated tanks. The most recent development by US Tank is its patented vent structure, designed for security as well as improved ventilation, to replace the screen vents for water tanks. Made from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel components, the structure is intruder, corrosion, rain, and animal resistant. The vent is made to fit and backed by a five-year warranty. The structure has already been customized and installed at several air bases.

US Underwater Services works with several US military bases. They perform bimonthly cathodic protection inspections for an Air Force Base located in the southern US. This includes checking rectifier information, power status, and operational conditions. The inspector checks the anode covers and suspension system and ensures that it is still in place, and also pulls and tests each anode and notes its condition. If there is heavy corrosion and staining, the US Underwater Services inspector notes that the anode covers needed to be repaired.

After a system has been checked and found to be in working condition, the inspector records potential readings across the facility. Cathodic protection systems should be maintained on a bimonthly basis if there is no cathodic protection technician in-house. This will help measure and adjust polarity on the cathodic protection system as well as detect problems.

US military bases maintain their own drinking water systems, which require periodic inspection and cleaning. US Underwater Services provides these services throughout the country. Cleanings include the removal and disposal of sediment that builds up in storage facilities. By utilizing commercial divers for these jobs, the military does not have to waste the base's vital water supply by draining the facility. Base operations continue to run without any water system downtime.

Training and certification is important, but what sets one contractor apart from the rest is experience, state of the art equipment, and commitment to quality. US Underwater Services has more than 17 years of experience and offers the most sophisticated underwater technology, serving military bases with the utmost attention to security and detail. Visit www.usunderwaterservices.com.

SeaBotix's Inspection ROV
Maritime security is a very real threat that is being addressed by agencies around the world. Of particular importance are shallow water inspections of vessels, ports, harbors, and high profile buildings located on or near water. To fill this need, remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) manufacturer SeaBotix has been working with a variety of worldwide agencies to develop a portable, rapid deployment, low-risk, asset inspection system.

There are a variety of methods available for monitoring structures underwater. The goal is to aid agencies in developing a cost-effective, simple, and portable means of shallow water inspection.

One option is to use a specialized dive team trained to inspect and identify dangerous objects. Typical dive team requirements consist of three or four divers, with topside safety equipment such as a recompression chamber. The obvious concerns regarding the use of a dive team are putting human life in harm's way, the cost to maintain the team and equipment, and the time required for inspection and setup.

A second method is the use of drop or fixed cameras. Various cameras can be fitted to cover the areas required and viewed at the surface. A drop camera can be lowered into the water to provide a moveable camera. The drawback to this method is the short range of view in less than perfect water conditions.

Finally, there is the ROV. This option combines the best of all worlds. The operator at the surface pilots the underwater vehicle in search of foreign objects. There is no human life at risk and the ROV is able to navigate into very tight areas for close inspection, where fixed cameras cannot. Real-time video is transmitted to the surface via onboard cameras. Various accessories can be installed to increase the capability of the system such as sonar, grabber, low light cameras, etc. Plus, an ROV system offers a single person operation instead of the multiple-person dive team, thus reducing costs.

SeaBotix's LBV (for Little benthic Vehicle) is ideal for maritime security applications. The LBV is portable, powerful, and features intuitive controls and a robust design. The system is a cost-effective, low-risk asset that requires minimal training yet provides a solution to underwater inspections.

With the simple controls, a single person can quickly setup the system and deploy. Once deployed, the powerful thrusters allow use in strong currents and the 270-degree field of view is excellent for looking straight up under a ship's hull or straight down to the seabed beneath a bridge. The on-screen display provides the operator with important data.

Over the last several months, SeaBotix has been contracted by various military agencies around the world for maritime security systems. The company offers an integrated system that includes sonar, tracking system, console with monitor, grabber, and 150m umbilical on a reel, all packaged in protective cases. Some systems supplied have even been altered to be more covert utilizing black components and umbilical. For more, visit www.seabotix.com.

Sea Group Instrumentation
Sea Group, based in the UK, is the prime contractor for the Ministry of Defense's Rapid Environmental Assessment contract, the purpose of which is to provide environmental data for military operations. The focus of the contract, now in its third year, was on numerical prediction of the underwater ambient noise field and acoustic characterization of the seabed.

The Ambient Noise Prediction System (ANPS) has now been delivered, and Sea followed that with the completion of a study on seabed acoustic characterization using the background ambient noise of the ocean.

Set with the initial task of improving the Royal Fleet's capability to forecast the ambient noise in the oceans of the world, the REA team rose to the challenge and ensured that their research-based system was swiftly pulled through into operational use. The Fleet's ability to exploit the ocean acoustic environment was considerably enhanced as a result of actively engaging Royal Navy and MOD personnel in the requirements definition.

The team, in conjunction with partners from Southampton Oceanographic Centre and NATO scientists, has now completed research on geoacoustic inversion methods for high-resolution acoustic characterization of the seabed. Geoacoustic data are required for ambient noise prediction, as well as passive and active signal propagation prediction.

Using a Vertical Line Array (VLA) Buoy developed by QinetiQ, Sea conducted trials on geoacoustic inversion. The freely-drifting VLA Buoy houses data storage, control and communication electronics, and is programmed to record data during specified time windows prior to deployment.

Seabed acoustic characteristics are highly variable and have a significant impact on sonar performance in shallow water, which has led to great interest in the use of REA methods for measuring these characteristics. The Sea Group is now building upon this research at NATO's Undersea Research Centre.

Both the ANPS and VLA programs benefited from the close links between the UK and US underwater research communities and operational ocean forecasting centers, including the Naval Research Laboratory.

Sensor Technology
Sensor Technology (Canada) has a 20-year history of supplying acoustic transducers, hydrophones, and sonar systems to military customers around the world. The company recently introduced several systems based on a small, high-power Class I barrel-stave transducer that was developed in cooperation with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).

The SX01 transducer has a maximum outside diameter of 5.9cm, overall length of 12.7cm, and mass of just over two pounds. Measurements show a resonance frequency of 1.5kHz and a transmit voltage response (TVR) of 125dB re 1µPa.m/V.

The SX01 utilizes a new biased ceramic material (BM200 b-PZT) capable of delivering high source levels. Sound pressure levels (SPL) of near 200dB re 1µPa have been achieved at driving fields of 4.5 kVrms/cm and a depth of 246 feet (75m). This transducer comes with a battery pack, digital signal processor, and power amplifier with matching network and filters, and is a one-person deployable sonar system.

The Broadband Acoustic Transmission System (BATS), designed around the SX01 barrel-stave transducer, is a portable system that can be deployed by one person from nearly any floating platform and is designed to be powered by a 12-Volt marine battery. It uses a Class I or Class III barrel stave flextensional transducer to transmit broadband acoustic signals into the water for experimental work at sea and finds use in a number of naval, commercial, and scientific research applications.v The system accepts signals from a wide variety of sources that include audio components such as cassette and minidisk players, CD players, PC sound cards, and signal synthesizers. Adjusting the input signal to the amplifier controls acoustic output, and the signal is coupled to the transducer through an output transformer. An inverse TVR filter facilitates limited control over the flatness of the transducer response, thus providing a broadband system.

The Acoustic Communications System - Deployable Pager can be deployed as a pager or modem to broadcast information over a wide area underwater. In tests, the range exceeded 30 nautical miles.

Both systems can be easily modified to suit a wide variety of uses, including homeland security.

Phoenix International, US Navy Prime Contractor
Phoenix International is a marine services company founded in 1996 to perform manned and unmanned underwater operations worldwide. From seven employees conducting specialized underwater ship repairs for the US Navy, the Phoenix staff now exceeds 125 personnel who provide diverse operations and engineering services to an increasing number of customers from facilities in Morgan City, Louisiana, and Landover, Maryland.

Phoenix is currently executing its second five-year US Navy worldwide Diving and Diving-Related Services contract to perform underwater ship repairs using Phoenix-developed, Navy certified, wet and dry welding procedures. Welder/divers are on standby 24/7, ready to perform emergency repairs on Navy vessels anywhere in the world, including the Polar Regions. The company also provides conventional diving services and an extensive engineering capability to modify or develop specialized repair tools and systems.

To date, Phoenix has conducted repairs on every class of Navy ship. In-water work is conducted on operationally deployed and pier-side ships, as the goal is to eliminate the need for dry-docking, or at least extend the period between dry-dockings.

To this end, Phoenix engineers design task-specific habitats and cofferdams, and develop diver-safe tools to increase the welder/diver's work efficiency. Operational designs include an underwater plasma arc cutter, carbon arc gouger, specialized hull cutting system sensor system installations, the Air Transportable Underwater Welding System (ATUWS), and fixtures essential for in-water replacement of equipment and ship components.

The ATUWS is a four-van, fly-away system that allows repair teams to start work immediately upon arrival pier-side without any outside support.

Phoenix engineers produce unique systems designs and conduct structural analyses in support of other Navy sponsored missions. For the joint Navy/NOAA effort to recover key components of the USS Monitor, Phoenix developed the Spider and support base system used to recover the gun turret. Each of the spider's eight legs were independently movable and set by Navy divers. Once set, divers locked them in place using hand-actuated hydraulic rams. Thereafter, the spider and turret were shifted and secured to the supporting base for subsequent recovery to the surface. The system worked flawlessly, easily recovering the 143-ton turret to the topside work barge.

In February 2001, Phoenix was competitively awarded the Navy's five year Undersea Operations contract to maintain, operate, and upgrade search, recovery, and inspection equipment. Since the award, Phoenix has conducted multiple worldwide search and recovery jobs, often simultaneously, in water depths exceeding 10,000 feet (3,000m). Aircraft, helicopters, missiles, spacecraft, and other debris have been recovered to assist crash investigators in determining the cause of the loss.

In addition, Phoenix will also maintain and operate elements of the US Navy's Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System.

The company's other involvement in Navy operations include the availability of Phoenix ROVs. Their two 19,680-foot (6,000m) Remora ROVs were designed and developed in-house as small footprint, agile systems for use aboard vessels of opportunity. These highly maneuverable vehicles offer more power per cubic volume than other ROVs of similar capability and support a diversity of missions.

Phoenix also owns the 200hp Triton 210 and 400hp SMD Nereus II underwater intervention systems for various commercial tasks. Both vehicles are capable of free-flying and tracked modes of operation and offer tremendous versatility in meeting customer needs.

Phoenix recently took delivery of two Sonardyne Fusion USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine) acoustic positioning systems, in its role as prime contractor to the US Navy Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). The equipment will be used to provide precise underwater positioning for the Deep Drone and CURV III ROVs, the mainstays in SUPSALV's fleet of search and recovery equipment.

Hydroid's Remus AUV
Hydroid is a company on the move, in more ways than one. Hydroid holds the exclusive license from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the manufacture and further development of the Remus AUV, used extensively in mine clearing and other maritime security applications. The Remus was crucial to the early success of US Navy operations in the Iraq War.

Following the company's inception in 2001, Hydroid quickly outgrew its original facility and recently moved into a brand new, 5,500-square-foot building in Pocasset, Massachusetts. The new facility is on Cape Cod, several miles from its original East Falmouth address, and is designed to support Hydroid's current and future product offerings.

Hydroid's new contact information is: Hydroid Inc., 6 Benjamin Nye Circle, Pocasset, MA, 02559, (phone) 508-563-6565, (fax) 508-563-3445. Visit www.hydroidinc.com.

EdgeTech Sonar Systems
EdgeTech develops and manufactures sub-bottom profilers and integrated sonar systems that can be deployed in a towed, AUV, or ROV configuration. EdgeTech has worked with such military agencies as the US Office of Naval Research, Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Oceanographic Office, Naval Coastal Systems Center, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center. Glbally, EdgeTech clients include the UK, Indian, Norwegian, Canadian, and other NATO navies.

In response to military requirements for better resolution at range for a variety of applications, EdgeTech developed the MultiPing and Dynamically Focused sonar techniques.

The company has also implemented Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) processing through a joint venture with Dynamics Technology (DTI). These techniques are incorporated in a number of application-specific products that have been delivered to military agencies around the globe, most typically to be used for mine countermeasure (MCM) surveys.

The EdgeTech 4300-MPX Side Scan Sonar System is capable of placing multiple sound pulses in the water simultaneously. As a result, the system can perform surveys at speeds four times greater than conventional sonar or get four times as many pings on a target at the same speed. The 4300-MPX also offers superior data, with an improved resolution of up to 40 percent over conventional sonars at long range, through the use of Dynamic Aperture Processing (DAP). It is available in a towed body, or for installation on an AUV or ROV with two frequencies, 270 or 410 kHz.

EdgeTech's 2200 Modular Sonar System is a combined sidescan sonar/sub-bottom profiler designed for installation on an AUV or ROV. This system gathers sidescan and sub-bottom data using EdgeTech's proprietary Full Spectrum (enhanced chirp) technology in water depths up to 19,680 feet (6,000m). There are numerous frequencies available for both sidescan and sub-bottom to ensure the highest resolution imagery possible.

EdgeTech's new 4400-SAS Side Scan Sonar System is the first commercially available Synthetic Aperture Side Scan Sonar and is designed for installation on a towed body, AUV, or ROV. This new technology allows high-resolution imagery to be obtained at long ranges. Conventional sidescan systems are limited due to the fact that high resolution images can only be obtained at short ranges, which makes it difficult to detect objects at greater depths. The 4400-SAS makes it possible to generate high-resolution images at longer ranges and therefore is an ideal system for MCMs.

Eureka Chemical
During World War II, the US war effort was confronted with the maintenance of thousands of marine ships and vessels of all sizes. Besides lead-based paints, there were not an abundance of options to protect steel from corrosion. During this period and into the 1950s, the utilization of alternative coatings began, one being the application of soft coatings to the inside of saltwater ballast tanks and voids.

One of the companies involved with the manufacture and sales of such products at the time was Eureka Chemical Company in San Francisco, California. Its product line, known as Fluid Film, consisted of liquid and gel forms. The liquid coating was applied by spray or flotation and continues to be used today in skegs, bilges, rudders, voids, drydocks, pontoons, sponsons, ballast tanks and on wire-rope because of its core penetration qualities.

Often the liquid is used as a descaler inside tanks where heavy rust-scale exists. The gel coating is applied by spray or brush and has a documented history of up to 22 years of service inside saltwater ballast tanks. Major maintenance programs in both the military and private sectors specify the use of a Fluid Film product or products on submarines, aircraft carriers, research ships, ROVs, and offshore platforms. Visit www.eurekafluidfilm.com.

TRI Air Testing
The US Navy has been acknowledging since 1975 that TRI Air Testing breathing-air sampling methodology and analysis are state-of-the-art, repeatedly awarding the company compressed air breathing program contracts.

TRI also has a large base of government and commercial clients. Part of TRI's success is due to the fact that its sampling methodologies represent an accurate picture of the diver's breathing air. Their patented sampling kit, originally developed for the Navy in 1975 and refined ever since, allows samples to be collected at the actual flow and pressure setting of each individual air source. Another part of TRI's success is providing accurate analyses with reliable, customer-friendly service. They routinely provide sample analyses in one working day.

Hydro-Lek Submarine Life-Support Unit
As a consequence of the Kursk submarine tragedy in Russia several years ago, the Royal Swedish Navy (RSN) recognized the need for emergency life support for a stricken submarine very early in an emergency to allow time for the full rescue to be mobilized. The RSN approached Hydro-Lek to investigate the possibility of providing emergency life support through a drilled, tapped, and sealed hole through which oxygen could be passed to the surviving crew.

Hydro-Lek's solution was its new drill machine. Location, torque reaction, and drill feed force are achieved by using a localized cofferdam held in placed by suction generated by a small, hydraulically driven, water impeller pump. The suction provides a force of around 270Kg to hold the machine to the hull. The cofferdam also has minimizes water ingress from the surrounding ocean.

The type of swarf produced is important, as the machine would rapidly clog if the swarf was continuous. Hydro-Lek selected a chip breaker drill tip that produces small pieces of swarf, which do not clog. This tip was installed on a custom-designed shank, which incorporates a valved gas passage and a series of seals. It also incorporates a self-tapping thread form that secures the drill into the hull.

The drill is held in place in a keyed drive collar by spring-loaded pins. These are held captive in a sleeve until the drill is fully through the hull, sealed, and tapped securely. The spring-loaded pins detach automatically at this point. The drill machine can then be removed leaving the drill shank behind.

The exposed shank incorporates a sprung check valve, which prevents ambient pressure passing through the drill. An oxygen supply hot-stab is fitted over the exposed shank. The pressure of the oxygen is high enough to open the check valve allowing passage into the hull.

The Royal Swedish Navy provided the HMS Belos, its dedicated submarine rescue vessel, to test the equipment. The Belos is fitted with URF, a manned rescue submarine, an Argus electric ROV, a Bofors Sea Owl ROV, and a Mantis 29. The Mantis 29 was fitted with the equipment required to operate the drilling machine.

A test plate 56mm thick and identical to that used in submarine manufacture was pre- installed on the seabed. The Mantis 29 was flown to the test plate and drilled the hole in four-and-a-half minutes. The hole was very smooth, allowing a good seal on the drill O-rings. The drill self-tapped 4.5 turns before stalling.

For more, visit www.hydro-lek.com.

Reson Sonars
The current worldwide climate has heightened awareness of the vulnerability of at-sea and waterside facilities to terrorist attack. In addition, new midget submarines and sophisticated combat swimmer delivery platforms pose a new threat because of their extended action radius, flexibility, and weapons load.

The Reson Group supplies multi-beam sonar systems that have long been used for obstacle avoidance, mine detection, and seafloor surveys worldwide. About two years ago, Reson was asked to apply this proven sonar technology to the problem of protecting harbors and offshore facilities. The result was the Waterside Security Sonar (WSS).

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) was awarded a contract to provide security at a number of locations in Athens, Greece during the upcoming Olympic Games. SAIC contacted Reson and requested us to provide a number of WSS sonars to satisfy these requirements in a very short time frame.

Reson's 8111 sonar, which operates at 100 kHz, is widely used for bottom surveys throughout the world. Because of the tight schedule, it was decided to adapt this sonar to the waterside security problem and use it as an immediately available solution to SAIC's problem. Reson is also developing a separate sonar, the SeaBat 7112, which is optimized for WSS situations and will be available on the market later this year.

Thin Film Technology's Hull Repair System
The United States Navy had a problem. Destructive shipworms such as Teredo and Limnoria were threatening the hulls of its wooden mine sweepers.

Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) sheathing supposedly protected the thick wooden hulls, but had a tendency to crack due to severe flexing when the ships were underway. These cracks and gouges in the GRP sheathing allowed seawater and its parasitic inhabitants to attack the underlying wooden hulls.

A permanent underwater patching method was desired, not only to patch the valuable wood hulls, but also that would allow repairs without taking the vessels out of service. The Navy invited several manufacturers to participate in trials of underwater-applied repair materials.

After hearing the conditions and challenges, Thin Film Technology (TFT) tested a repair system composed of its BIO-DUR 561 plus COLLMAT 007. BIO-DUR 561 is a Kevlar micro-fiber reinforced, 100 percent solids epoxy material designed for easy hand application underwater. The light paste spreads easily to give a uniform coating from about 30 mils to a maximum thickness of over 100 mils.

TFT's COLLMAT 007 is a polyolefin fabric that is fuzzy on one side but smooth and waterproof on the other. By applying BIO-DUR 561 to the fuzzy side as well as the surface being protected, it was possible to install a perfectly smooth and waterproof surface over a rough substrate.

The TFT system repaired the damaged minesweeper hulls with great success. Divers cleaned up the problem areas with disks and "greenie pad" abrasives. Then they simply applied BIO-DUR 561 using a straight-edged spreader. The immediate strong adhesion allowed a rapid and smooth underwater application that cured hard and tough overnight. With the COLLMAT 007, the repair was able to bridge cracks and to conform to curves in the hull with ease.

Thin Film Technology was founded in 1988 in Houston, Texas, with the mission of formulating and manufacturing underwater-applied coatings and adhesives. Since then, many additional materials have been added to its product line, but the thrust of the company remains firmly in the field of extremely surface-tolerant specialty coatings.

Noesis Dive Boat
Noesis, of Arlington, Virginia, is an "8A" Government Contractor, classified as a minority-owned, disadvantaged small business. The company produces what it refers to as the fastest commercial dive boat in the US.

The Noesis dive team is led by Chip Chase, Diving Superintendent, and boasts three full-time divers, Jim Vaughan, Stacey Stickney, and Tom Etterling. The company provides commercial diving services to the US Department of Defense in support of various research and development projects.

Noesis is currently under contract to the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch of the US Marine Corps, at Camp Pendleton, California. They provide rescue dive support for the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) test program.

The Marines' current amphibious assault vehicle, which the AAAV will replace, can do 30 mph on land and seven knots in the water, and is armed with 50 caliber and 40mm machine guns. It has a crew of three, and can carry up to 18 US Marines into combat. These vehicles are currently seeing a lot of action in and around Iraq.

By comparison, the new AAAV also has a crew of three and can carry 18 US Marines into combat, but it has more punch and goes a little faster. The punch is in the form of a 30mm rapid-fire cannon that cuts through armor. And this new generation AAAV has reached speeds of 38 knots in the water and 45 mph on land.

"For us to provide a capable dive rescue boat, we obviously need to keep up with AAAV," says Noesis' Jim Vaughan. "Our dive rescue boat is a Naval Special Warfare 10m rigid hull inflatable boat powered by twin 400 horsepower Cummins diesel engines and twin Hamilton water jets. She can do 40 knots with a load capacity of 4,004 pounds."

Noesis' onboard surface-supplied dive equipment consists of four standard high-pressure air flasks plumbed to a three-diver air manifold that distributes air to a pair of 300-foot umibilcals and a pair of KMB-18 Masks.

"We have two way communications to the diver, a helmet mounted low light color video system, and various sets of rescue oxygen, backboards, first aid kits, hydraulic rams, lift bags, and dewatering gear," says Vaughan. "In the event that an AAAV sinks and we cannot open any of the various hatches, we have underwater burning gear, underwater hydraulic cutting gear, and an underwater tool package stationed on a 50-foot workboat in the immediate vicinity of AAAV testing."

While Noesis is not the typical offshore or inland dive company with standard heavy gear, they are commercial divers serving the military with a very unique task in what may very well be the fastest commercial dive boat in the USA.

LinkQuest Modems
LinkQuest underwater acoustic communication and positioning systems utilize highly robust Broadband Acoustic Spread Spectrum technology that provides strong rejection to multipaths and ship noise. The transmission's coded secure signals benefit military covert operations.

LinkQuest's TrackLink Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) tracking systems have been used extensively to position military underwater vehicles. TrackLink tracks up to 10,000m in range, with up to 0.25 degree of accuracy, providing superior rejection to signal reverberation and ship noise. TrackLink's small, light transceivers allow easier and less expensive installation from a ship. Extensive use of modern digital signal processing techniques and state-of-the art DSP processors sharply reduces cost for end-users.

In 2003, LinkQuest delivered six TrackLink systems to a US Navy EOD unit stationed in Europe and one system to SPAWAR in San Diego to track SeaBotix ROVs. In 2004, LinkQuest delivered another four TrackLink systems to the US Defense Intelligence Agency for the same purpose. TrackLink system has also been used by SPAWAR to track a Stingray underwater glider in naval tests offshore California.

LinkQuest's PinPoint Long Baseline (LBL) systems are highly accurate and robust in narrowly confined harbors, between the ship and docks, below the ship's bottom, and in front of concrete dams. These systems also perform well under severe ship noise conditions typically found in harbors.

LinkQuest's systems have been used extensively in military applications. The UWM3000 modems are used to obtain status updates and command and control four US Navy Seahorse AUVs. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Division Also uses modified UWM3000H modems to command an AUV. The US Navy's Coastal Systems Station uses a combination of UWM3000 and UWM3000H modems to monitor and control undersea sensors in long range shallow water environments. UWM4000 deepwater modems are used by NAVO (Mississippi) for deepwater current monitoring projects.

For more, visit www.link-quest.com.

Eca Military Vehicles
The French company Eca is a leader in the field of ROVs and AUVs for military applications, producing a number of underwater vehicles for NATO and other military navies around the world. Over 500 Eca ROVs are operated by more than 20 navies around the globe.

In 2000, Eca introduced a new generation of modern equipment to meet the new requirements in mine warfare. This new generation of ROVs includes Olister, designed to provide great stability for deploying sonar or multibeam echosounders, hovering capacity, and the capability to reach a speed of eight knots at a depth of 1,000 feet (300m). Olister can be configured in different versions, such as a mine disposal ROV or a long-range forward detection system.

Eca's Alister AUV is intended for operations such as search, survey, maritime reconnaissance, and mine countermeasures.

The K-Ster, Eca's new expendable mine disposal system, can counter all types of mines from the surface to the bottom. This vehicle is also able to engage partly buried classified mines. It includes a tilting warhead with shaped charge to perform up-or-downward precise aiming, either to the mine body or to the float of the mine.

K-Ster's warhead is fitted with a variable frequency sonar, ensuring the echo relocation and final approach in case of poor visibility. In addition, a color video camera, fitted on the axis of the shaped charge, automatically shifts to black and white in case of poor visibility, thus ensuring the best quality of images possible.

Eca's 10,000-foot (3,000m) rated long range AUV, Alistar 3000, is currently undergoing a grueling six-month test program. Its missions include oceanic survey and inspection capacities. The vehicle weighs two tons and offers a payload of more than 200kg and 24-hour endurance. The main payload contains sidescan and avoidance sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and acoustic modem for high rate data link.

For more, visit www.eca.fr.

Elemental Innovation
Halo Security, Elemental Innovation's boat barrier and incursion solution, acts as a sentinel to enhance security around military bases, ports, harbors, dams, bridges, and other sensitive facilities on or near water. A series of composite plastic panels are combined in rows and attached with steel cables encased in EPDM marine-grade rubber to create a strong barrier designed to stop boats and divers from penetrating protected areas, while at the same time allowing water to filter through naturally.

Elemental can adjust the size, depth, and stopping power of the structure for different threat levels because Halo is modular and adaptable to the environment it protects. Instead of presenting a solid surface, Halo is built to retard vessel motion and entangle boats working with the Kinetic energy of an impact, using it against itself.

Halo may be deployed as a combined wave attenuator and security barrier. It is capable of reducing a five second wave by an unmatched 80 percent and is capable of reducing the height of much longer period waves up to 10 seconds, which is exceptional for a floating structure that is not mass-dependent.

Halo Security is a tool that military agencies can use to protect themselves. It is rapidly deployable, capable of withstanding hurricane strength storms, and capable of being rearranged and augmented in the water.

The inventor of Halo, Justin Bishop, invented the first generation breakwater and barrier, called Whisprwave, which is now in service at several locations across the US.

Subsea Industries' Ecospeed Coating
The Aster, a new Belgian Navy minesweeper, is being protected by Subsea Industries' Ecospeed system, an innovative new approach to dealing with ship corrosion and fouling. This vessel, used for sweeping moored mines and hunting bottom mines all over the world, has a GRP hull, as this is a safety factor in mine countermeasure vessels.

Ecospeed is a non-toxic, environmentally clean, economically viable solution for protecting ships from corrosion and fouling. Lasting for at least 10 years, its surface is conditioned and maintained periodically by mechanical methods.

All the properties of Ecospeed are the same when applied to a GRP hull as with a steel one, and it also creates a strong barrier against osmosis due to the fact that the glass platelets form a multilayered barrier preventing water from seeping through the coating.

Peter Degraer, of the Belgian Navy, says, "The Navy has chosen Ecospeed because of a number of key points. The product has an extremely long life, it is non-toxic, and we feel that this is especially important these days. It provides a very strong anticorrosion barrier on steel hulls, and for the GRP hulls it creates an effective osmosis barrier. Finally, it has a very high mechanical strength."

After preparing the hull by soft slorry blasting the GRP surface, the Subsea Industries application team applied two layers of Ecospeed using normal air-less spray equipment. These layers gave the desired result of 1,000 microns thickness (due to its properties there is no need for primers or tie coats). The quality control manager of the Belgian Navy approved the final result.

Ecospeed's qualities are generating an increasingly optimistic view among military agencies and shipping companies that are concerned with the right balance of durability, cost, and environmental protection. Recent tests on another vessel after one year in the water gave results better than expected and have led to an increase in interest and orders.

OMG Italy's Military Rebreathers
OMG Italy has been working in the field of professional and military diving for more than 40 years and specializes in the production of closed and semi-closed circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (rebreathers) and related equipment (charging oxygen benches, underwater communication, diving drysuits and military accessories).

OMG Italy supplies all the materials, the necessary assistance and qualified personnel able to train operators for underwater activities worldwide. The company works directly with the Italian Navy's combat divers to obtain the best results on its line of stealth military rebreathers, including:

MK2C and MK3C: An oxygen closed circuit with soft shield and manual injection valve for supply of oxygen.

CRA: An oxygen closed circuit rebreather with hard front-mount shell and an automatic sdemand valve to supply oxygen to the system.

Aromix: A closed and semi-closed circuit rebreather that can operate with pure oxygen or Nitrox independently. Nitrox can be supplied also by the cylinders on the diver vehicle, providing extended duration and deep insurgency operation capability.

RDN2000: A back-mounted, semi-closed circuit rebreather for deep dives using Nitrox. It is totally mechanical, and very easy to use and maintain. A civilian version is on the market under the name of Azimuth SCCR.

Nemesis MK-1: An innovative fully closed circuit rebreather with a complete computer control system capable of operating with many gas configurations (Oxygen, Nitrox, Heliox, Tri-mix) and real-time decompression. This unit is approved for long dives for underwater demolition teams at a depth of 300 feet (91m).

The OMG Italy line of military rebreathers are lightweight, user-friendly, easy to maintain on the battlefield, and feature long gas duration and realiability.

In-Depth Systems
Due to the growing number of attacks by terrorist groups, many military and security agencies have turned to advanced technological solutions to work side-by-side with more traditional means. In-Depth Systems boasts 12 years of experience building bespoke video and lighting systems. The company has a wealth of knowledge in designing special-application, affordable video products to meet demanding needs above and below the water line.

The key criteria for new military subsea surveillance systems are small, lightweight, and discrete products that are rugged and easy to use. To this end, In-Depth Systems works with other manufacturers to adapt, improve, and produce proven designs that fill these needs.

The company's new video camera, ideal for military use, has built-in zoom, pan and tilt, and variable brightness facility, all in a package size of just 23mm x 85mm long. It is one of the smallest self-contained camera systems of its type in the world.

Fiomarine's Fiobuoy
The Fiobuoy, from Australia's Fiomarine, is a robust submersible marine marker buoy and retrieval system specifically designed for military and research applications.

The Fiobuoy is pre-programmed for a mission (for example with time and date information), then deployed along with other equipment or a mooring. It is triggered either via the pre-programmed Time/Date setting, or via Fiomarine's Acoustic Command system. When triggered, the buoy releases itself from its underwater mooring and floats to the surface to fulfill its marking function and allow for the retrieval of military equipment and moorings.

The standard Fiobuoy is rated for deployment to depths to 330 feet (100m), while custom deepwater versions are capable of 650 feet (200m) or more. It performs self-diagnostics, is capable of leak detection, is password protected, has a robust construction, and is very simple to use.

The Acoustic Command mode utilizes an advanced hydro-acoustic communication system based on DSP spread spectrum technology. This allows for control of a fleet of over one million Fiobuoys using a single surface control unit. The system is actually a full two-way, confirmed-packet protocol, highly resistant to the many known impediments to through-water communications. It has a high degree of encoding, and its low power output makes it ideal for covert applications.

Fiomarine can tailor Fiobuoys to meet the emerging needs of its clients. A hollow casing makes it possible for customer's equipment (data-loggers, listening devices, environmental sensors, etc.) to be incorporated inside the Fiobuoy.

If needed, Fiobuoy's internal technology can be configured to interact with customer's payload equipment. Fiomarine can assist in developing new concepts in ocean equipment retrieval - a process that is normally sacrificial, or too costly.

One possible use for the Fiobuoy is for covertly marking cleared amphibious landing lanes. In this scenario, they would be timed (or Acoustic Commanded) to ascend within minutes of the landing operation.

A smaller version placed on ROVs, AUVs, mines, or even exercise missiles would allow for quick recovery of valuable assets, and may even save lives.

Some of the Fiobuoy's benefits are improved security for underwater assets and improved safety for marine navigation. Use of the Fiobuoys would even reduce the number of whales, dolphins, and turtles from becoming entangled in surface buoy lines.

As an added environmental benefit, the fact that the mooring is always recovered from the seabed means it is preferred for use in environmentally sensitive areas. Removal of visual pollution at the surface means better shared use of marine resources between competing interests.

Silvercrest Submarines' Rescue Submarine
The DSRV Taurus was constructed in Canada by Hyco International, one of the world's leading submarine manufacturers. Following successful diving and certification trials, the submarine supported scientific, commercial and Royal Navy subsea operations offshore Europe and America.

During this initial period DSRV Taurus completed 165 dives supporting a wide range of underwater operations. During submarine rescue trials and exercises with the Royal Navy, the Taurus mated with an Oberon Class submarine offshore Kyle, Scotland in a zero-degree mate.

It also completed a number of mates with a simulated target, one of which was at 45-degrees. The use of a 15-degree adaptor wedge fitted to the mating skirt permits a 60-degree dry transfer intervention during a submarine rescue mission.

Following its purchase by Silvercrest Submarines, the DSRV Taurus completed even more military trials, as part of current submarine rescue programs, and is ready for deployment worldwide.

Oceanic Worldwide's Diver Display Mask
Commonly referred to as a heads-up (or HUD) mask, Oceanic Worldwide's Integrated Diver Display Mask (IDDM) was developed under a joint project with the US Navy's Coastal Systems Station (CSS) in Panama City, Florida. The IDDM contains a miniature liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, multi-element optics, microprocessor, depth transducer, wireless cylinder pressure receiver, diver replaceable battery, and controlling software - all built directly into a dive mask.

The miniature LCD displays the diver's depth, bottom time, and cylinder pressure. The multi-element optical lens provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD, which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions.

Oceanic's wireless transmitter module attaches to the regulator first stage and transmits the diver's cylinder pressure to the mask.

While the IDDM has obvious military applications, Oceanic plans a consumer version of the heads-up display next year, featuring all the information currently displayed in the company's line of hand-held and wireless personal dive computers.

Massa Products' Robo-Lobster
Massa Products (Massachusetts) was awarded a $1.3 million contract by the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) to continue development of an underwater robot to find mines in the shallow water in-shore areas of harbors and coastlines. Teamed with the Marine Science Center of Northeastern University at Nahant, MA, Massa Products has been working on development of the underlying technology for several years.

Dubbed the Robo-Lobster by the Wall Street Journal and its congressional supporters, the robot moves like a real lobster. Several prototype robots have been built resembling the American lobster, with eight legs, claws and antennae on the front of the vehicle.

Donald P. Massa, of Massa Products, has been collaborating for several years with Professor Joseph Ayers, of Northeastern University's Marine Science Center, to develop a true biomimetic robot based on the American Lobster. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) provided early funding for this project. ONR has now taken over funding due to the Navy's interest in mine countermeasures technologies.

Professor Ayers worked for years to essentially "reverse engineer" how a lobster walks and searches the seafloor looking for food. Massa Products provided much of the expertise for constructing the robot.

The effort addresses an acute operational challenge facing the US Navy and Marine Corps. According to a senior ONR official: "The shallow water surf zone is one of the most difficult areas to conduct mine hunting due to the surge of waves and the lack of visibility. However, it is in the shallow water approaching the shore where mines can do the most damage to amphibious forces coming ashore. This program will help us address this challenge."

Massa Products was recently honored with the Lockheed Martin STAR Supplier Award for designing and manufacturing first three Sonar Projectors for the High Frequency Chin Array, which is the anti-mine sonar for the new Virginia Class Attack Submarine.

Gavia Modular AUV
The US Secretary of Defence recently approved a US Navy request for funding to purchase the modular Gavia AUV for testing in mine countermeasures. The procurement was initiated by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Centre (SPAWAR), San Diego, which is evaluating AUV systems for near-term fleet deployment. The funding is provided through the OSD-sponsored Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program, whose aim is to support the procurement of readily available foreign equipment to save the cost of developing comparable US technology.

The Gavia AUV brings a series of new capabilities to autonomous MCM operations, which have not been available on compact size vehicles previously trialled for this application. Ranking high among these are the multi-role capabilities provided by Gavia's modular system with its unique operator-exhangable modules, that are inserted into the vehicle and locked in place using Gavia's QuickLock system.

The Gavia AUV can be configured on-deck by selecting the sensor, navigation, and battery modules to best suit the current task and operating conditions. Battery modules can be replaced in minutes for fast turnaround and extended range is achieved by operating the vehicle with two battery modules instead of one. This maximizes vehicle productivity and makes both high-speed and long-endurance operations practical, providing a real choice in operating cycle.

The modular system thus provides both operational flexibility as well as savings on procurement, training, and service costs over multiple dedicated systems. The modular system also increases field-serviceability and allows efficient sharing of resources. The modular system further makes way for cost-effective in-service system upgrades as requirements evolve and new sensors, navigation, communication, and power systems become available.

Another capability unique to Gavia is its ability to operate without relying on buoys for navigation or communication. Buoy-free navigation is provided by an onboard high-precision inertial navigation system with GPS and Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) aiding. Buoy-free communications are provided by an underwater acoustic link and two surface communication links on the vehicle. A high-speed wireless local area network (LAN) connection is provided for remote control and fast in-water data access via onboard web site, and a global Iridium satellite link for over-the-horizon operation and remote support. Over-the-horizon deployment is further supported by Gavia's extended operating range and obstacle avoidance capabilities.

Visit www.roperresources.com for more.

Biox Cleaning Agents
Biox Ltd.'s Biox 02 immersion fluid enables safe cleaning and servicing of oxygen diving equipment and breathing apparatus. It is currently used by the UK's Royal Navy and other international military dive teams, ensuring oxygen hygiene standards are maintained during diving operations, servicing, and maintenance.

The company's new Biox Biodeg is also a powerful degreaser and is widely used by the diving community as a pre-cleaner prior to immersion in the Biox 02 fluid. Both products are environmentally friendly, safe to handle, and free of noxious affects, allowing for use in confined areas.

ROS Supplies US Navy
ROS Incorporated has provided US armed forces with cameras, lights and positioners capable of handling the rigors of the harshest environments on earth. The company's PT-25 pan and tilt remote positioner has been used for over 15 years on the Navy's NR-1 Deep Submergence Craft., the Navy's only nuclear powered deep diving research submarine. ROS has also built and delivered the thallium iodide lights for external illumination on the NR-1.

A more recent project, the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), recently completed its first deployment in the Pacific. The ASDS is the first dry combat submersible designed to deliver USN SEALs and their gear to shores that would otherwise be inaccessible. ROS supplied six low light level video cameras for use on this special operations mini-sub, providing situational awareness to both the ASDS sub and the host nuclear submarine.

In further support of the Special Operations Forces, ROS has provided many cameras to the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) program. These shelters are mounted on the hulls of 688 class fast attack nuclear submarines and house either a swimmer delivery vehicle or a platoon of SEALs. The low light level cameras enable the viewing of operations in the shelter and on the deck for both safety and tactical aspects.

Another application for which ROS developed a unique solution is lighting in the seawater ballast tanks of the Seawolf class nuclear submarines. These lights are used to illuminate the space while observing the deployment and recovery of the towed sonar arrays stored in the stowage tube in the submarine ballast tanks. Deployment operations are monitored to ensure that the array does not get damaged winch movements or cable handling. These lights operate in wet or dry environments, allowing use during pier side operations (with empty ballast tanks) or at depth (with flooded tanks). UW