This article explores how OceanGate inc. utilized Sonardyne’s advanced underwater tracking technology during a six-week expedition aimed at documenting the Titanic wreck.
In 2021, OceanGate undertook a mission to survey the Titanic wreck, aiming to document its deterioration. This involved multiple dives with their newly developed submersible,Titan,reaching depths of 3,858 meters in the North Atlantic. The expedition employed cutting-edge multi-beam sonar,imaging technology,and lighting,all supported by Sonardyne’s long-range underwater tracking systems.
Understanding the Challenge
OceanGate Inc., based in Everett, Washington, has been dedicated to enhancing deep-sea exploration since its inception in 2009. The company specializes in the innovative design of crewed submersibles and launch platforms to facilitate access to the ocean’s depths.
During the summer of 2021, OceanGate embarked on a six-week expedition to further investigate the titanic wreck. This mission was particularly challenging due to the wreck’s location at a depth of 3,860 meters in the North Atlantic.
Importance of Long-Range Underwater tracking
The expedition’s success hinged on precise ship-to-sub positioning, navigation, and communication systems. OceanGate required equipment with four essential capabilities: first,reliable two-way text communication between the submersible crew and the topside support team; second,accurate tracking of Titan’s latitude,longitude,and depth,with automatic reporting intervals; third,submersible-mounted acoustic hardware capable of withstanding depths of at least 4,000 meters; and maintaining an uninterrupted communication and tracking link at slant ranges of up to 7,000 meters,even if the surface support vessel was not directly above the submersible.
Implementing the Solution
Recognizing Sonardyne’s extensive experience in aiding organizations with complex research objectives, OceanGate sought our expertise. They needed solutions that would fulfill both technical and commercial demands for their expedition. Here’s how we contributed.
The deployment of sensor platforms and underwater vehicles is crucial for conducting scientific research at sea. Our Ranger 2 USBL system is favored by manny leading research institutions for its ability to track multiple underwater targets beyond 11,000 meters—well above OceanGate’s 7,000-meter requirement for the Titanic expedition. This capability allows for immediate deployment of equipment upon arrival at the site, optimizing valuable research time.
Beyond Basic Tracking
Ranger 2 is not merely an acoustic tracking system; it is built on a 6G and Wideband 2 technology platform that supports high-speed,two-way acoustic telemetry. This allows for communication and remote configuration of seabed equipment and robotic vehicles, or in the case of Titan, enables text messaging between the crew and topside support.
Research projects often utilize temporary vessels, where systems like Ranger 2 may only be installed for short durations. However, the precision of underwater tracking is critical, and the advantages of using Ranger 2 begin even before departure. Our pre-calibrated, all-in-one transceiver, Gyro USBL, is ideal for temporary installations and delivers the same accuracy as permanent setups.
All our instruments are designed to endure the immense pressures of the ocean’s depths. Among them, AvTrak 6 stands out as our most advanced option. When paired with Ranger 2 USBL, AvTrak 6 integrates the functions of transponder, transceiver, and seabed-to-surface data telemetry into a single low-power unit, making it suitable for various autonomous and crewed vehicle missions. It was the logical choice to support Titan’s dives to 4,000 meters.
Outcomes of the Expedition
OceanGate shares their experience:
“The sub tracking functioned seamlessly and required minimal configuration. The installation of topside components was straightforward, including the Ranger 2 Gyro USBL transceiver on our vessel’s deployment pole, the GPS receiver, and the Ranger 2 computer in our control room. The integration of components on the submersible was also uncomplicated, featuring the upward-facing AvTrak 6 unit and the hard-wired communication link to the 6G Terminal Lite and Marine robotics software running inside Titan.
“Darren murphy, the Sonardyne survey engineer assigned to assist us remotely, was instrumental in addressing our initial configuration questions regarding the robotics text messaging software.He was exceptionally responsive, despite being in a different time zone in the UK.
During the Dive
“The descent of the sub through the 3,800-meter water column took up to 2.5 hours and faced varying currents at different depths. Without Ranger 2, predicting the sub’s landing spot on the ocean floor would have been nearly impractical.Once the sub reached the bottom, the topside crew relied on the tracking system’s accuracy to guide the submersible efficiently to the wreck’s sonar range.
“Most other operations have utilized multiple landers (seabed transponders) to provide location fixes for their crewed subs.However, Ranger 2 only requires a GNSS feed and a transponder on the sub to determine its location. By integrating the sub’s auto-reported latitude and longitude into a specialized GIS mapping system, our topside crew could compare real-time sightings reported by the sub crew with features on our site map, allowing for efficient navigation to the target while conserving the sub’s thruster battery for maximum operational time.
Recovery of the Submersible
“Our vessel crew relied on Ranger 2’s automated latitude and longitude reporting, along with text communications with the sub crew, to position the ship for a safe recovery of the sub on the surface. Throughout the sub’s ascent, its position, depth, and ascent rate were continuously monitored.
“Tracking and communications became intermittent only when the sub was a few hundred feet from the surface, likely due to the location of the topside transducer pole and the relatively shallow depth of the Gyro USBL.At that point,the ship’s captain used his assessment of surface currents to position the ship for recovery. with currents reaching up to 2 knots,a recovery circle of 600 meters in diameter was feasible. In every instance, the tracking system, combined with the captain’s judgment, ensured we were in the right place to quickly locate the sub once it surfaced.”
Bob Shuman, COO of OceanGate, remarked, “sonardyne’s Ranger 2 USBL and AvTrak 6 systems enabled us to conduct a highly prosperous series of crewed submersible dives, during which we explored all three sections of the wreck (bow, stern, and debris field), capturing extensive high-definition video and hundreds of 4K still images, while sharing the experience with global audiences.
“The entire OceanGate team is immensely grateful for Sonardyne’s support and partnership. The Ranger 2 USBL and AvTrak 6 systems consistently provided essential communication and tracking data for each dive throughout the expedition.”
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