First look at Nortek's Marin buoy and ADCP system

Nortek unveiled the Marin buoy and ADCP system at Oceans 2026 in Monterey. This new system will offer users real-time, motion-corrected current profiles as well as wave parameters, temperature, salinity, and other supporting data.

Motion-corrected current profiles

For more than 30 years, Nortek has been a trusted manufacturer of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs). Now, Nortek is introducing its new complete end-to-end system for real-time current profiling, combining a surface buoy, ADCP, and software for live data viewing. 

The Marin buoy will include a built-in Marin ADCP, which offers current profiles up to a 20 m range. The dynamic nature of surface buoy requires motion correction to gather quality current profiles. Nortek’s OceanIQ smart QA / QC edge processing capabilities onboard the buoy perform motion correction adjustments and automatically filter data for quality control, ensuring only quality data are transmitted via satellite. 

Optimized design for data collection and deployment

Nortek designed the Marin buoy to provide an ideal balance between stability for current profiles and movement for collecting wave data. Wave algorithms convert GNSS position information to wave data, which is sent alongside current profile data in real-time to the user.

Unlike other surface buoy systems that incorporate high-quality current measurement technology, Marin combines performance with portability. Weighing just 20 kg with a full battery set, it is compact and easy to deploy.

Real-time viewing in modern software

Nortek’s new SeaSense software will provide Marin users with a real-time data portal for monitoring multiple buoy deployments, checking system status and viewing live current velocity and wave data. Together, Marin and SeaSense deliver a complete end-to-end solution for real-time current data collection.

Want to learn more?

Learn more about the Marin buoy and get in touch here.