Shark Marine Provides SeaSAR to Long Beach PD Dive Team (USA)

Shark Marine Technologies Inc. has provided a complete SeaSAR, search and recovery system to the Long Beach (CA) Police Department, Dive Team. Their specific configuration consists of a Side Scan Sonar, Tripod mounted Scanning Sonar, a Pole Mounted Multibeam Imaging Sonar, and two Navigator Diver Held Sonar Imaging and Navigation Systems, all operated through a single software program on a waterproof topside console.

Upon completing their on-location training, Dive Team leader Sgt Steve Smock sent the following comments back to Shark Marine: “Just wanted to let you know that we finished up with the training today and could not be happier. All of the equipment, software and training expertise from Mike exceeded our expectations. All the conversations I have had with you, hundreds of visits to your website, all the documentation you sent us, talking with other purchasers of this gear did not do justice for what the product is really worth to our team. It is by far the most useful and easiest to use, technical system of dive gear now in our inventory. Each of my divers agreed that the Navigator as a minimum will be loaded on the truck for every dive. Over the years we have been to quite a bit of training but this is the most I have seen my guys involved and genuinely excited about the gear. Right away its effectiveness was realized and immediately trusted that it would do what it’s supposed to do without having to be a rocket scientist to run it.”

The Long Beach PD are responsible for all law enforcement issues for the entire Port of Long Beach, from the outer anchorages to the beaches and marinas, flood controls and localized inland waters. Such a diverse area of coverage dictated the requirements for a comprehensive, portable suite of search and recovery, imaging systems.

The modularity of the SeaSAR system allows it to be customized to meet a customer’s varying challenges. For those of the Long Beach PD the following systems were selected. A side-scan sonar for wide area searches; an over-the-side pole mounted multi-beam sonar for quick target location or hull scanning; a tripod mounted, scanning sonar for site management or confined area searches, and two Navigator, Diver held Sonar Imaging and Navigation Systems for target reacquisition, investigation, identification, and diver based searches. All of these systems interface through a single topside control console running Shark Marine’s DIVELOG software.

The use of one, user friendly software (DiveLog) to control all sonar systems, allows data to be combined and seamlessly shared between all sensors. DIVELOG is capable of generating search grids and overlaying these onto various map formats including BSB, ENC, and imported satellite images. Actual search tracks and the sonar coverage area are recorded and displayed by DIVELOG to ensure complete area coverage. Information about a target from all sonar systems is available at the click of a mouse. The use of a single software program to complete all operations reduces the operator’s learning curve, and greatly simplifies project and target management. When the search is over, detailed target information can be turned into a report at the touch of a button.

Shark Marine Technologies Inc. has been designing and manufacturing innovative underwater products since 1984. These products include remote operated vehicles, camera systems, tether management systems, diver delivery systems and the Navigator, diver held sonar and navigation system.

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Press Release, February 13, 2013