The SEAWATCH Mini buoy
  • SEAWATCH Mini buoyIdeal for current and directional wave measurement
  • Full onboard processing of all measured data
  • Data presentation in real-time
  • Insensitive to spinning and rough handling
  • Best value for wave and current monitoring
  • Enables long-term unattended operation

A buoy capable of measuring wave height and direction, temperature and salinity profiles, ocean current speed and direction, sea surface temperature and salinity. Ideal for making current measurements, together with ocean waves. Additionally, the buoy can be equipped with numerous other sensors: for example oxygen, pH, hydrocarbons, gamma radiation and optical monitoring of algal blooms satisfying the client’s specifications.

  • Low transportation costs
  • Two-way communications link for ease of data transfer and control of buoy networks
  • On board storage of raw data
  • No moveable parts
  • Not sensitive to extremes of temperature
  • Can be towed into measuring position
  • Easily deployed by a small boat

DIRECTIONAL WAVE SENSOR

The buoy is fitted with an MRU (Motion Reference Unit) for directional wave measurements, based on the heave/translation principle. The MRU incorporates an accurate 3-axis fluxgate compass for buoy orientation measurement. This is important for high quality directional wave measurements. This is a well proven sensor, tested under a wide range of ocean conditions.

THE HULL

The hull of the SEAWATCH Mini is spherically shaped consisting of two horizontally split semi-spherical parts. The lower part is made of polyethylene while the upper part consists of shock-proofed transparent ethylene, which allows the solar radiation to reach the solar panels located inside the hull. The two parts are clamped together by 20 stainless steel bolts. Flash light and transmitting antennae are placed above the solar panels. A dual flash light with backup is used in case of failure.
The lower part of the buoy hull contains all electronic modules, the power package sensor and the wave sensor. The different electronic modules are mounted in special splash-proof compartment boxes to secure safe handling of sensitive electronics.
The choice of materials ensures a low risk of corrosion and sulphation. External connections make it easy to configure the buoy, retrieve stored data and supply power to the lead-acid batteries.

POWER SUPPLY

Maintenance free solar panels and sealed lead-acid backup batteries enable longterm unattended operation. The accumulated charging and load currents are transmitted to control the power consumption. For low sun radiation conditions, lithium batteries can be supplied.

MOORING

The mooring system for the SEAWATCH Mini is specially designed to minimize the effect of the mooring on the wave following performance of the buoy.
The choice of mooring materials takes into consideration the depth, currents and the possibility of fish bite on the mooring line.

DATA COMMUNICATIONS

The SEAWATCH Mini allows two-way communication via satellite, mobile phone or radio link. For long distance data transfer, the high capacity and reliable Inmarsat-C or, alternatively, Argos satellite is used. For shorter distances GSM mobile phone and UHF communication are alternatives. If on-board data logging is sufficient, the buoy position can also be monitored by means of one-way satellite position tracking.

DATA PRESENTATION

OceanInfo is a PC-based system for the presentation of metocean data collected by buoys or other data sources and has the following functions: time series plots, simple univariate statistics, univariate and bivariate distribution tables and curves, wind roses, print, copy or export of graphs, maps and data, extreme analysis (based on a 3-parameter Weibull distribution fit), gamma spectrum and TS diagram (temperature/salinity).

APPLICATIONS

  • Harbour and coastal monitoring
  • Coastal engineering
  • Offshore design and operations
  • Scientific studies
  • Wave energy studies
  • Maritime traffic control
  • Water quality control studies