Deepwater HD Camera Enhances Cefas Monitoring Capability

The system which is based around STR’s standard SeaSpyder package also boasts bespoke features which are the result of a collaborative design effort between STR and Cefas. The deepwater telemetry system has the capability to acquire full HD video and high resolution stills imagery of the seabed down to 3,000 meters water depth which can be controlled and recorded in real-time from the surface via fiber-optic tow cables; minimizing limits on deployment time. As well as the latest in HD video and high resolution stills camera units, the deepwater telemetry system also integrates a range of auxiliary sensors including gyrometer, altimeter and laser scaling as standard and the capability to drive other sensors; maximizing data acquisition potential from a single deployment as a truly integrated marine environmental monitoring tool.

The improved image quality and depth range build on the existing monitoring strengths of the R/V Cefas Endeavour which offers a suite of specialist survey equipment, including Kongsberg EM2040 multibeam, Simrad EK60 and SH80 echosounder systems, HiPAP 500 positioning sonar and Scanmar fishing transducers, to support a broad range of activities from hydrographic surveys, environmental sampling and fish stock assessment to the servicing of autonomous monitoring equipment. 

Since its introduction, Cefas’ customers in both the public and private sectors have utilized RV Cefas Endeavour to perform a range of survey operations, including environmental, geophysical, geotechnical and fisheries. In addition to survey and monitoring activities performed by Cefas, RV Cefas Endeavour has also been provided to customers on charter, and for the second consecutive year is chartered to deliver international government monitoring operations.