Gear and equipment

Technical details

EM122

• Full ocean depth multibeam (primarily bathymetry and bottom identification).
• Operating frequency: 12kHz.
• Number of beams: 288.
• Horizontal resolution: 1 x 1 degree.
• Maximum width: 6 x waterdepth/ 30 km/ 143 degrees.
• Depth range: 50-11,500m.

EM710

• Shallow to mid depth (maximum 2000m) multibeam (primarily bathymetry and bottom identification).
• Operating frequencies: 70-100kHz.
• Number of beams: 400.
• Horizontal resolution: 0.5 x 1 degree.
• Maximum width: 5.5 x waterdepth/ 2300m/ 140 degrees.
• Depth range: 3–2,000m (ideal range down to 600-700m).

SBP120

• Sub-bottom profiler (sediment layers and buried objects).
• Operating frequencies: 2 – 8kHz and 12kHz.
• Horizontal resolution: 3 x 3 degree.
• Depth penetration depends on sediment type, but extends up to tens of metres.

12kHz transducer

• Single beam bathymetry and underwater communications such as acoustic releasers and pingers.
• Operating frequency: 12kHz

75kHz ADCP

• Deep (to 700m) current profiler.

150kHz ADCP

•  Mid depth (to 400m) current profiler.

ITI Net Monitoring System

• Trawl net monitoring.
• Linked to the SH90 for targeted trawling.

USBL

• Provides location of deployed instruments relative to the ship.

Dual Axis Doppler Log

• Speed and direction of the ship relative to the water.

Sound Velocity Probe

• Sound velocity at the depth of transducers – used in multibeam beam forming.

Hydrophones

• 4 hull mounted hydrophones for ship self noise monitoring and underwater acoustics.

A-Frame

RV Investigator is equipped with a 20 tonne A-Frame for deploying a broad range of equipment. The A-Frame provides a way of deployment and retrieval whilst keeping the equipment clear of the ship. It has a height of 8.1 m, width of 5.3 m and is capable of swinging 170 degrees.

Main working crane

The main working crane can lift 25 tonnes at a reach of 12 m and 5 tonnes at 20 m. It is situated to reach the entire aft deck.

Stores crane

Located on the forward deck and used to resupply the ship. It is capable of lifting 5 tonnes at a reach of 10 m.

Utility crane

Two aft deck utility cranes, one on each side of the ship. The utility crane is used for relocating and deploying equipment. It has a capacity of 5 tonnes at 10 m.

Where they are located

The drop keeps are about 1.3 m wide by about 3.6 m long – the shape of an aircraft wing – and are kept inside a tube in the ship.

A seawater inlet on the forward edge of one of the keels allow scientists to collect uncontaminated seawater samples that can be used in the laboratories and on deck.

What the drop keels are used for

The drop keels enable researchers to deploy a range of scientific instruments as the vessel moves through the water.

The ship's two drop keels can be lowered or raised as needed, and sensors added, replaced or checked and then lowered down again.

Importantly, when these sensitive acoustic instruments are lowered, they are below the 'bubble zone' - the layer created by bubbles - up to 4 m below the ship's hull.

Other uses

Other instruments mounted in, or on, the keels can:

• Measure the speed, direction and depth of currents – understanding current speed and direction is key to understanding the transport of heat in oceans.
• Indicate fish abundance and size.
• Detect fish schools and individual fish, giving location and depth relative to the vessel as it moves through the water.
• Measure the velocity of sound in water – sound velocity affects depth calculations.
• Measure the width and height and depth of a scientific trawl net carried behind Investigator – the net can be towed down to 4 kilometres deep and 6 kilometres aft of the vessel. Knowing how the size of the net mouth opening changes it moves through the water helps calculate abundance estimates for trawl catches, and improves understanding of the general behaviour of trawl nets.
• Provide data on the position of instruments towed by or moored to the ship, increasing the spatial accuracy and precision of measurements.

Where it is located

At around 13 m long and about 9 m wide, the gondola is fixed 1.2 m below the hull.

What the gondola is used for

The gondola is used to mount important acoustic instruments including two ‘swath mappers’ to map the seafloor. The gondola also contains the sub-bottom profiler which can map the sediments of the seabed.

How it works

The gondola positions the ship's acoustic technology under the 'bubble zone', which reduces any interference and ensures the quality of signal collection.

More about the ship's bow

RV Investigator’s hull was analysed using computer-based fluid dynamics to ensure that the bubbles generated by the hull⁠—and the pattern they formed sweeping down around the ship⁠—wouldn’t interfere with the acoustic equipment. To ensure the ship created fewer bubbles, the bow was specially designed avoiding both the use of a bulbous-shaped bow and tunnel thrusters. This resulted in in Investigator having a soft nose stem and retractable azimuthing bow thruster

Where it's located

The weather radar is the impressive large soccer ball shaped object located on the top of the ship.

What the weather radar is used for

The weather radar sends and receives microwave pulses to collect atmospheric data. This data is used to improve climate models and weather predictions for Australia.

How it works

It's capable of gathering data anywhere in a 150 kilometre radius around the ship:  from clouds towering 20 kilometres over the tropical ocean—to cold ice storms in the Antarctic. 

The pulse has a vertical and horizontal signal, called dual polarisation. The returning signal reveals the quantity, location, size and shape of any precipitation - water, snow or ice.

Scientific echo sounder

The Kongsberg EK60 singlebeam scientific echo sounder simultaneously uses six discrete echosounder frequencies with a high dynamic range, and can be used for describing individual targets as well as large numbers of targets distributed through a volume of water.

Fish finding sonar

The fish finding sonar is designed to locate a range of fish including those located near the surface and close to the bottom without the need for passing over the fish. It is interfaced with the ITI trawl system.

Scientific multibeam echo sounder

The scientific multibeam echo sounder combines the large and flexible sampling volume of the multibeam swath with the accuracy of the quantitative scientific echo sounder. It provides a configurable wide fan of stabilised and calibrated beams for biomass estimation and fish school characterisation.

Technical details

Simrad EK60 scientific echo sounder system

• Singlebeam, multifrequency system.
• Operating frequencies: 18kHz, 38kHz, 70kHz, 120kHz, 200kHz, 333kHz.

Simrad SH90 Fish finding sonar

• 360 degree, omni sonar.
• Operating frequency: 114kHz.
  

Simrad ME70 Scientific multibeam echo sounder

• Multibeam, variable frequency echosounder.
• Operating frequencies: 70-120kHz.
• 140 degree maximum total swath width.
• 3 to 45 stabilised beams.

The system is designed for optimal returns in rough terrain.

Technical details

• Kongsberg SBP120 sub-bottom profiler.
• Operating frequency: 2-8kHz and 12kHz.
• Transmit array: fan of narrow beams across track.
• Terrain adapted beam steering.
• Penetrates up to 25 m in sand and up to 100 m in loose sediments

Coring winch

Located in the winch room with 8,400 m synthetic cable and a safe working load of 20 tonnes. It can be deployed through the A-Frame or the corer boom.

CTD winches (x2)

Both winches can extend to 7,000 m. One can be redirected for deployment from the corer boom on the starboard side. These have conducting wires and can be used for tow-yo operations.

Heavy duty general purpose tow

Located in the winch room below the aft deck, this winch is able to reel out 8,000 m of steel cable, with a safe working load limit of 11 tonnes.

Hydrographic winch

Located in the winch room, this winch has 2,000 m of synthetic rope and is used for light sediment grabs. It is also used as a general purpose winch.

Net drum

A large, relocatable winch that can be used for the deployment and recovery of nets and to deploy and recover moorings.

Towed body winch

Contains 6,000 m of fibre optic and conducting wire for towing the TRIAXUS, EZ Net and towed cameras. It can be deployed through the A-Frame or the corer boom and is located in the winch room.

Trawl winches (x2)

Located underneath the gallows below the back deck, they are used for trawling and dredging with 8,000 m of steel cable.