SOUNDING OUT THE SPEED OF SUBSEA CURRENTS

Very large crude carriers, ships up to 600,000 tonnes, may benefit from a novel doppler sonar system that has recently been tested by its developers, Thomson CSF, in France, Called Janos, the system can measure the flow rates and direction of water in 3 m deep layers, down to a depth of 100 m. The system could also have some use in navigation and, for example, for tracking oil spills or other pollutants below the surface of the sea. Janos is a shipborne system, whereas most other current-measuring devices have to be fixed--possibly to the sea-bed. It gives a read out of the speed of subsea currents in relation to the sea-bed. The readings can also be recorded on tape and it is envisaged that at some time collections of readings will be collated by a central computer and used to draw a chart of currents in a particular area at certain stages of the tide. Its use in VLCC's will be to provide the pilot with what could be vital information when navigating in (relatively) narrow or shallow waters. The present Janos equipment can be operated when its parent ship is moving at only low speeds. Interest has been expressed by the U.S. and its National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has signed a contract for further development of the system. (No further information in article).

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• Publication Date: 1977-11-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 350
• Serial:
  • NEW SCIENTIST
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue Number: 1077
  • Publisher: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION LTD
  • ISSN: 0262-4079

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Doppler sonar; Navigation systems; Ocean currents; Tides
• Old TRIS Terms: Current forces
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167817
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: New Scientist
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 13 1978 12:00AM