OCEA's unique vessel design and aluminium construction is ideally suited to achieving highly accurate survey results at speed due to producing less cavitation across the hull during surveying. According to OCEA's Director of Sales, Fabrice Epaud, this enables Kongsberg Maritime's hydroacoustic systems on board to operate optimally and deliver highly accurate data at speeds up to 15 knots, close to almost twice that of standard survey operations.
"Aluminium is smooth in the water, hence creating less bubbles, which will enable the Indonesian navy to get the best results possible from the KONGSBERG subsea equipment," explains Epaud. "It's our job to make the best of the survey equipment we are installing for the customer, so we place a lot of emphasis on the integration when constructing a survey or multi-purpose vessel. The result is considerably more efficiency, which can save the customer time and money by completing more survey miles faster, and to a very high standard."
The Indonesian Navy's new vessels will be utilised to gain a better understanding of the seabed and waters of the Indonesian archipelago, so have been equipped with the most efficient and up to date technical and scientific equipment. OCEA worked in partnership with SHOM, the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy, to optimise the selection and integration of the hydroacoustic equipment in addition to providing scientific training for crews and technical assistance in Indonesia.
The identical KONGSBERG scope of supply for both the KRI 934 Spica and KRI 933 Rigel includes a HUGIN AUV per vessel, EM 2040 and EM 302 multibeam echo sounders, EA 600 single beam echo sounder and side scan sonar, in addition to HiPAP hydroacoustic positioning systems. Both vessels have their own 8 m survey launches also equipped with Kongsberg Maritime subsea technology including the EM 2040 multibeam and EA 400 single beam echo sounder. The KRI 933 Rigel also makes use of an advanced Kongsberg Maritime Dynamic Positioning system.
"This was an extensive 'Full Picture' subsea delivery for two very advanced vessels designed and built by one of the leading shipyards in Europe," said Helge Uhlen, VP subsea Sales, Kongsberg Maritime. "We have worked closely with OCEA to ensure the vessel owner can get the most out of the technology we have supplied, helping them to operate effectively and generate precise results even when surveying at high speed. It's testament to the sophisticated design and construction methods OCEA uses and our on-going co-operation that survey results from the KRI 933 Rigel have already surpassed expectations."