Dutch group Fugro is expanding its survey fleet in the Gulf of Mexico to include a new AUV , the Echo Surveyor VII, and a new vessel, the Fugro Americas.
The company already operates three AUVs in the GoM – one Hugin (Echo Surveyor II), and two Bluefin (Echo Mapper).
AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) are becoming the ultimate choice of instrument platform for deep sea and remote surveys.
As well as providing improved multibeam swath coverage, The Echo Surveyor VII will support the acquisition of sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler and CTD profiler data, and will carry various environmental sensors to meet a wide range of offshore survey demands.
With its tight turning circles that greatly reduce the time between survey lines, it will offer clients a wide range of features including an increase in depth rating to 4,500m. Being fully airfreight portable, Echo Surveyor VII will also allow rapid mobilisation.