Posted on January 6, 2025
Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) valued at US$11.25 million to supply an integrated scientific handling system for two vessels. The system will support operations with cables up to 5,000 metres in length. The agreement also includes an option to equip two additional vessels.
Kongsberg Discovery and Kongsberg Maritime have been chosen as the exclusive suppliers of marine scientific equipment, oceanographic handling systems and deck machinery for two new NOAA charting and mapping vessels, the Surveyor and Navigator. The vessels are being constructed by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, a leading shipbuilding company based in Louisiana, US.
Primary focus on hydrography
The ships feature an advanced array of technology from Kongsberg Discovery to map, monitor and safeguard the marine environment, supporting mariners, commerce and aquatic life. Kongsberg Maritime’s oceanographic handling, anchoring and mooring systems are incorporated into the design of the new vessels to enhance their operational efficiency and performance.
Scheduled for launch in 2027 and 2028, the Surveyor and Navigator, with a combined contract value of US$624.6 million, will usher in the next generation of NOAA’s multi-mission platforms. With a primary focus on hydrography, these advanced vessels will employ the latest technologies to map and characterize the United States Economic Zone. Kongsberg Discovery is set to play a key role in their development.
Advanced sonar systems
Kongsberg Discovery US, the American branch of the Norwegian tech company, is delivering a comprehensive solution featuring advanced sonar systems such as the EM 2040 and EM 304 multibeam echosounders, SBP 29 sub-bottom profilers and EK 80 splitbeam echosounders. Together, these tools enable high-quality ocean mapping, sub-seabed imaging and water column analysis, supporting studies of biomass, physical phenomena and seafloor anomalies such as methane seeps.
Once operational, the ships will focus primarily on ocean mapping and nautical charting, gathering and processing extensive datasets to aid mariners navigating US ports and harbours. They will also support oceanographic monitoring, research and modelling, contributing to coastal resource management and advancing the nation’s blue economy.
