Westlake has provided support for layout/alignment and verification of multi-beam sonar array systems for an array of vessels. Ships include NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard, UNOLS, and university marine science research vessels. In order to perform layout and as-building, our team relies on 3D measurements and millimeter-tolerance instruments. The use of 3D scanning makes it possible to complete work while a ship is in the water or on a floating dry-dock, reducing overall vessel downtime.

Some previous projects our team has worked on include the NOAA vessels Fairweather, Hi’ialaki, Rainier, Ruben Lasker and the Okeanos Explorer, which recently completed a deep water research project of deep-sea habitats in the Atlantic Ocean. You can view the video gallery and read mission logs here.

Work has also been completed for the University of Columbia’s Marcus G. Langseth, University of Hawaii’s Kilo Moana, and the University of Washington’s Thomas G. Thompson. The R/V Thomas G. Thompson received an extensive midlife overhaul in 2016-2017, before a year-long expedition to New Zealand Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, South Africa and Australia in 2018.

Other vessels we have worked on include the US Swath ship MHS-1, Canadian Coast Guard Ship Otter Bay, and the USCG Icebreaker Healy.

Photos courtesy of NOAA and University of Washington