Orion Characteristics, Specifications & Systems

A unique, highly sophisticated survey vessel built for nearshore and coastal applications, Orion boasts many desirable survey vessel characteristics:

  • Hull-mounted multibeam sonar and state-of-the-art electronics for acquiring data to International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Special Order standards
  • Moon pool mounting plug (houses the transducer array and the vessel motion reference unit) placed in the optimal location for the vessel, based on extensive design modeling
  • Moon pool plug includes a fairing for the multibeam array designed to minimize acoustic interference across the transducer face
  • Below-deck hydraulics and compressor to support a variety of commercial diving operations
  • A-frame and davit attachments, large working deck, and open transom to support a variety of survey, sampling, and instrument deployment and recovery operations
  • Jet drive system permits safe and effective live boating applications for underwater inspections, pipeline tracking, etc.
  • Trailerable

Vessel specifications:

  • Length – 31 feet 6 inches
  • Beam – 8 feet 6 inches
  • Draft – 2 feet 6 inches
  • Displacement – 6 tons

Orion’s suite of primary survey components:

  • R2Sonic 2024 and Reson 8125 multibeam echosounder
  • Knudsen 1612 echosounder
  • Applanix POS MV 320 vessel position and orientation system
  • Odom digibar speed-of-sound profiler
  • Seabird SBE 37SI CTD
  • Hypack HYSWEEP, QPS QINSy, and Caris HIPS/SIPS data acquisition and post-processing software
  • Real-time Kinematic (RTK) differential GPS (DGPS) base station and multiple data link options for high-accuracy horizontal and vertical control

Latest News

  • Substructure Demos Survey Vessel Orion February 14-18

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  • Diver dressed in a double-suit in preparation for a clear-well dive.

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  • Multibeam point cloud of sunken boats.

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  • Multibeam point cloud of a bridge support structure and nearby debris field.

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  • Deployed equipment trailer with diver air compressor, welder, hydraulic power pack and

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  • Multibeam point cloud of a bridge support structure.

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