Coda Octopus’ Echoscope Sees Deployment on Race Bank OWF

Coda Octopus’s Echoscope real-time 3D sonar system has been deployed on the Race Bank offshore wind farm project by DeepOcean.

The Echoscope was used for a vast number of tasks including live cable touch-down monitoring and position recording, monitoring of first and second end pull-ins, cable-cut marking and survey of the as-laid inter-array cables.

The Echoscope is a real-time 3D volumetric imaging and mapping sonar, which generates 3D images instantly on the topsides software, underwater survey explorer (USE). When coupled with an accurate RTK position and attitude sensor the Echoscope can also be used as a hydrographic survey and mapping tool, providing instant bathymetric data without the requirement for post-processing.

Initially, the primary task for the Echoscope was to provide images of the cable during the first and second end pull-ins. The image of the cable was generated on the Coda Octopus software USE on the Deep Helder and transmitted to the cable installation vessel using an NCentric wireless link.

In addition to monitoring the cable during the pull-in process, the Echoscope was used to monitor the cable touch-down position during the cable lay process. The touch-down point was recorded and output to the Deep Helder navigation platform, providing a real-time feed of the cable position.

Following the completion of the first phase of the Race Bank project, the team re-deployed to the second phase of Race Bank where the same set-up was used.

The Echoscope was utilized on a range of additional tasks which included: providing cable cut-marker positions, as-laid cable surveys, structure and scour protection inspection, monitoring the quadrant during laydown, omega scan and correction and producing 3D volume rendered mapping of the as-laid cable.

Blair Cunningham, Coda Octopus president of Technology said: “Offshore Wind projects rely on innovative technology to reduce the installation costs and deliver renewable energy at a competitive price for the consumer. DeepOcean’s successful use of the Echoscope on the Race Bank and Bligh Bank projects has shown the versatility and wide range of tasks which can be completed with a single system, reducing reliance on ROVs, generating planning certainty and reducing cost for the project.“