Boating New Zealand - July 2018

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One of the best illustrations of the agility and flexibility of Vesper Marine’s technology

was its rapid deployment of a system to warn skippers negotiating one of the world’s

busiest shipping lanes – the strait leading into Singapore’s harbour.

It all began when the dredger Cai Jun 3 sank in March last year – in the shallow

entrance to the Singapore Strait Trac Separation Scheme. This had the potential to

disrupt operations at a port that – every week – processes 2,800 vessels and unloads

more than 12 million metric tons of cargo.

Vesper’s technology successfully alerted more than 8,000 vessels over a nine-month

period which were on a track toward the wreck. At the same time, it helped Hanseatic

Underwriters reduce the overall cost of the salvage operation. By keeping shipping away

from the wreck, the salvage crew was able to safely focus on its job.

THE SINGAPORE WRECK

of unusual applications – including helping with the search for Malaysian

airliner MH370 that disappeared in the Indian Ocean in 2014. hey were

used to mark the perimeter of the sonar equipment footprint involved in the

search. he vessels used by the international team used deep-water, side-scan

sonar arrays, towed at depths of about four miles below the surface, and 300-

500 feet above the sealoor.

To reach these depths, a six-mile long tow cable was used. Vesper’s AtoNs

were used aboard each of the search vessels to virtually mark the cable and

sonar arrays, providing electronic visibility and preventing other surface vessels

and sub-surface tows from colliding with the equipment. Sadly, the search for

MH370 returned empty-handed.

Like many brilliant ideas, the virtual AtoNs are based on a simple concept,

even if the behind-the-scenes technology is a little more complicated. I suspect

we’ll be seeing a lot more aliens on our chartplotter screens. BNZ

1-hectare hardstand heavy-

duty surface & monitored video

surveillance.

Marine services available –

Boat Builders, Boat Painters,

Riggers, Marine Upholstery,

Outboard Mechanics,

Chandlery, Marine Electrical &

Diesel Mechanics.

Roodberg hydraulic trailer

Vessels up to 80 tonnes

Max length 35m, max beam 12m, max draft 3.6m

Trailer boat ramp & Fishing club

Restaurant & Bar

General Store & Lunch bar

24/7 Fuel On Water & On Shore

Petrol & Diesel

Maintenance Facility

Vessel Haul-Out

WE’RE GROWING!

Expanding marine

precinct.

Enquiries welcome.

Ph: (09) 432 7740

E: [email protected]

W: http://www.marsdencovemarina.co.nz

Marina Centre