Piggy-Back - A Versatile Full Capability Marine Exploration System

Abstract

The Piggy-Back Marine Exploration System consists of an instrumented shallow draught barge mounted on a boat or mother ship. In this manner both shallow water and deep marine operations can be efficiently performed. For shallow water operations the vessels are separated, the mother ship acting in the role of a logisti cs and support base, the barge bei ng the work boat.Aboard the ship is a computer-controlled, integrated navigation and digital data acquisition system. Navigational elements include a satell ite receiver, Doppler sonar and heading reference for deep water operation. When operating with the barge in shallow waters (J.! -45' depths), a shorebased radio positioning system is employed and ground control is establ ished with the satellite receiver system. All geophysical and navigation data is digitally recorded and the operation provides the capabil ity to acquire gravity and magnetic data as well as the seismic refraction and reflection data. Under computer control either both vessels or the barge alone (in shallow water operations) make good a prespecified course, the sequencing of the seismic system being automatically triggered at uniform distances along the survey line.Operational advantages of the Piggy-Back systemReferences and illustrations at end of paper.are illustrated and many of the features mentioned are shown under actual field conditions. The economics and efficiencies of the Piggy-Back system more than justify its claim to being a versatile full capability marine exploration system.