Vessel-Mounted

VM Operations

333 kHz

Assists operators on vessels to make informed decisions during subsea operations in areas affected by underwater currents

User-friendly software layout gives operators the information they need at a glance
In-water serviceable instrumentation, DNV type-approved sea valve solution
Salinity-independent velocity measurements

Guide to Vessel-Mounted ADCPs Go to Technical Specifications

Overview

In recent years, offshore operations have moved farther offshore, often into challenging operational environments. Variable local current and tide patterns make for increased risk, uncertainty, and operational costs. Subsea operations can be limited by these challenges without real-time knowledge of currents.

Using our renowned Signature ADCP technology, the VM Operations is designed to give offshore operators clear and detailed information on current speed and direction from the vessel to the seafloor. This situational awareness improves efficiency during vessel time. Data can be stored and analyzed during future project planning.

Download our guide to Vessel-Mounted ADCPs here.

Looking for a simpler solution focused solely on aiding INS surface navigation? The DVL333 Surface provides bottom-track velocity measurements without current profiling and the VM Acquisition processing and display system.

Currents
Bottom track

Highlights

Concave transducer design allowing for flush mounting, independent of salinity changes
A 333 kHz frequency for an optimal balance in required range, resolution and accuracy for a wide range of operations at the coastal continental shelf
Outstanding bottom-track performance, even under challenging conditions
Robust sea valve allows mounting without increased draft,
In-water serviceable, diverless, concept via the DNV type-approved sea valve
Optional hull or pole mount bracket, instead of sea valve solution
Unique, easy-to-use graphical ADCP interface for the operator, superintendent or client

Usage

ROV and diver inspections
Subsea installations (as cable laying or rock dumping)
Towed (seismic) surveys
Aid to navigation
Fuel efficiency monitoring

Setup

The in-water serviceable sea valve solution is a convenient mounting choice for offshore operational vessels. The transducer head can also be mounted with a bracket for permanent pole or hull mount structures. The system connects to a junction box for power and communication.

Deployment

A DNV type-approved sea valve solution makes the ADCP in-water serviceable. Data is streamed directly from the hull of the vessel into the control room in real time during operation.

Data

Designated software provides real-time current speed and direction in a 3D profile plot below the vessel, a history plot for predicting future windows of opportunity, as well as other views of information from the system for operators to make decisions at a glance. Data can also be easily fed into a third-party software.

Water velocity measurements

Profiling range*	100 m
Cell size	1-6 m
Max no. cells	128
Min. blanking	0.5 m
Minimum accuracy	0.3% of the measured value
Velocity resolution	0.1 cm/s
Maximum sampling rate	2 Hz
No. of beams	4 slanted beams at 25 degrees
	* Maximum range depends on acoustic scattering conditions and transmit power

Bottom velocity measurements

Single ping std @ 1.5 m/s	0.8 cm/s at 1/2 max altitude
Long-term accuracy (1)	± 0.3 % / ± 0.1 cm/s
Minimum altitude	0.25 m
Maximum altitude (2)	300 m
Velocity resolution	0.01 mm/s
Maximum sampling rate	1 Hz
	(1) Following standard callibration procedures
	(2) Bottom-track distance dependent upon bottom type

Other, Vessel Mounted ADCP

Temperature sensor range /accuracy	-4 °C to 40 °C / 0.1 °C
Pressure	Piezoresistive
Compass	Solid State magnetometer
Tilt	Solid State accelerometer
AHRS	Attitude sensor (option)
IO	Ethernet (DF21 over serial as option)
DC Input	24 V DC
Operating temperature	0 °C to 40 °C
Storage temperature	-20 °C to 60 °C
Depth rating	Bottom track is limited to surface vessels

Mechanical

Instrument materials	POM with Titanium fastener
Instrument weight	7 kg
Installation	Sea valve, hull mount and pole mounted solution available
Sea valve (option)	DNV type approval; TAS00002CU
Sea valve material	Ductile Iron (body), Bronze (seat)
Sea valve weight	85 kg
Bell housing material	Steel DIN17121
Bell housing weight	29 kg

Processing unit

Processor/memory	Intel i5/8 GB
Hard disk	SSD, 256 GB
Operating system	Windows® 11 IoT Ent LTSC
Housing	19" rack-mountable 2 HE
Dimensions	482x87x400 mm
Input	110-240 V AC, 100 W Max
Total weight	7 kg
Connections*	Power, Signature ADCP, 2x DisplayPort, 1x LAN, 2x USB, 4x RS232\|RS422\|RS485 configurable port*
	* Processing unit requires heading and GNSS input over Serial or Ethernet

Nortek VM Acquisition software - Operations

Acquisition input	Signature VM - binary, Advanced Navigation GNSS - binary, KM - binary, common NMEA
Timing	IEEE1588/PTP or NTP for absolute time stamping of Gyro/GNSS/Signature ADCP data or < 0.6 s under $ZDA NMEA
Configuration	ADCP data or < 0.6 s under $ZDA NMEA
Display	Vessel track in map, Bottom-track magnitude, direction and depth: (SOG), (COG), Speed Through Water (STW), Mean water column magnitude and direction, 4x depth selectable layer (magnitude and direction), 3D velocity profile (magnitude and direction), 2D vessel cross track current, 24h mean current and direction history (tides), Notes, Echo correlation, Echo amplitude, Frequency spectrum analyser
Status	Signature VM BT and VB + NMEA GGA, HDT, VTG
Online output	NMEA data formats or binary AD2CP with embedded NMEA. DF21 BT proprietary (optional)
Post processing	Nortek VM Review software (optional)
Multi vessel display	Nortek VM Acquisition streaming data and display (optional)
	*Please note that the package includes the VM Operations license of the Nortek VM Acquisition software. The post-processing Nortek VM Review software is optional.

Main product

Signature333 VM

Probe type / Head

4-beam concave head

Housing

Short, no room for battery

Memory

16 GB data logger

Pressure sensor

Pressure sensor 0-300 m, 0.1%

Cables

Sea valve: 10 m Ethernet cable with MCIL8F-PWR/RJ45

Other: 30 m Ethernet cable with MCIL8M and MCIL8F

Mounting

Sea valve (option)

Pole mount bracket (option)

Hull mount bracket (option)

Other

Compass and Tilt sensor

AHRS

Support resources

FAQs

Manuals

Nortek VM Operations - manual

Achieving precise cable-laying for offshore wind farms with a vessel-mounted ADCP

Nortek Wiki Oceanography Vessel-mounted

Understanding vessel-mounted current measurement

Educational videos Oceanography Vessel-mounted

Explaining the benefits of the VM Operations software

Request a quote

Found the right product? Fill out the form to request a quote.

Cart

In the final step you can choose to pay by card or generate a quote PDF.