Nova Southeastern University Contracts M/V Richard L. Becker
to Support Current Meter Maintenance Operation
Late in 2010, TowBoatU.S. Ft Lauderdale was contracted by Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic Center in concert with Ocean Data Technologies to assist with the recovery and redeployment of a buoy housing acoustic Doppler current profilers off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale. This operation was part of a project funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research. The sub surface buoy along with the current meters it supports had to be delivered to a land based facility for maintenance and minor repairs prior to redeployment. TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale's 96' Richard L. Becker transited to the site where engineers utilized a hydrophone to activate the acoustic release on the sub surface buoy. The buoy measured 49 inches in diameter and had current meters mounted inside protective frames that were bolted to the buoy. Once the buoy floated to the surface, it was carefully lifted using the Richard L. Becker's deck crane and secured on deck. Several weeks later the redeployment was complete and the system was activated to begin collecting data once again.
The Director of Operations for TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale, Kevin Collins stated "Our crew has done hundreds of operations similar to this one. They have become proficient at paying close attention to the "what if's"...We take the time to really listen to our customers, maneuver into the proper position and keep safety top of mind. The crew knows that the instruments being recovered or deployed are sensitive and expensive and they work hard to guard each of them from damage." The video below contains a clip of the deployment portion of the operation illustrating the methodical approach used when lifting operations take place while underway on the Richard L. Becker.
Contact TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale for all of your workboat charter needs. This boat has a long charter history throughout the Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean and is standing by at her home port in Dania Beach Florida for her next mission!
