Celebrating 20 Years of 3D Forward Looking Sonar Innovation
September 2021 Issue of The Islander page 58
This is an exciting year indeed for those clever folks at FarSounder as they reach their 20th anniversary of the innovation and creation of their specialized 3D Forward Looking Sonar systems. Having a great highly skilled team who are passionate about protecting not only the vessels and crew who sail our oceans but also the oceans themselves, their achievements to date are most definitely something to celebrate.
Being specialists in navigational equipment for vessels, their biggest motivation was to help avoid accidents at sea which can often result in loss of life and polluting oil spills. Most of us will recall the widely reported disastrous oil spill that was seen in the Indian Ocean surrounding Mauritius in 2020 due to a tanker hitting a coral reef. Then there was the evacuation of an expedition ship on a cruise in the Canadian Arctic in 2018 which ended with the helmsman needing to steer by hand as the autopilot was rendered ineffective, resulting in substantial damage to the ship’s hull. With FarSounder already having a strong presence in the exploration cruise ship market, this accident could have been avoided if they had been using FarSounder’s 3D technology. But there are also many smaller accidents and fuel spills from pleasure vessels that also create additional damage to the environment and risk to life.
FarSounder has therefore developed three main navigation products: the Argos 1000 system which is able to detect any hazards up to 1000m ahead at speeds up to 25 knots, allowing large vessels plenty of scope to change course and avoid potential hazards; the Argos 500 which offers forward detection ranges of 500 at speeds up to 20 knots; and most recently, the exciting release of their latest version- the Argos 350. This lighter version is perfect for the mid-size yachts of 18-40+ meters and has a 350m forward detection range at operational speeds up to 18 knots. All three versions have a maximum depth reading of 50meters- this all adds up to pretty impressive stuff!
The possibilities that the Argos 350 brings to the superyacht market are numerous, and not least from an environmental point of view as it will allow for salt exploration of coastlines and exclusive waters, making your trip a more memorable one. It offers greater adventures without posing a threat to marine life, including precious coral reefs and other marine flora and fauna. The Argos 350 will also help to identify the perfect diving site, plentiful fishing areas and safe anchorage points, whilst at the same time enabling you to avoid any potential dangers such as shallow wrecks, pinnacles, or hazardous debris.
As with the other two models, the Argos 350 allows for easy, fixed installation but this version has a more compact and lighter transducer, therefore weighing in at lighter price. It also offers the additional option of being connected to a hoist in a 10” diameter sea chest. It includes FarSounder’s signature 3D operational software which displays real-time data not only in colour-coded 3D but also as an overlay using Windows 10 operating system. Add to that the very useful function of Local History Mapping ™ (LHM) that updates with every ping to create a map of exactly where you have been, this makes the FarSounder Argos 350 a must-have on any environment and safety conscious Superyacht.
So, as you can see, 2021 is certainly an anniversary year to shout about for the forward thinking crew at FarSounder and their fantastic achievements in the field of nautical navigation. They have advanced at a rate of knots since the first international innovation award back in 2005, with many others since, and in my view, there could well be another on the horizon in the wonderful world of Superyachts.
