Go deeper, last longer and lift more with our family of RT 6 acoustic releases

Our RT 6s come in three popular depth ratings, 1,000 m, 3,000 m and 6,000 m as well as an HD model capable of operating at up to 7,000 m with loads of up to 2500kg. There’s a model to suit any of your offshore operations.

All of our RT 6 models are compatible with our Ranger 2 USBL. You can locate, operate and recover the releases quickly and simply with this globally used system, saving you time and the complexity of operating several systems at once.

Spend less time recovering and more time collecting data with up to 2.5 years battery life. We understand that your time is precious, so our RT 6 releases feature a minimum of 13 months battery life, depending on the model, meaning you spend less time recovering equipment and your assets spend more time in operation.

RT 6. Supporting your science and equipment deployments – which one is right for you?

Overview

Dynamic Positioning Transponder 6 (DPT 6) supports Wideband 2 acoustic ranging and telemetry providing high accuracy positioning, robust performance in noisy and multi-path conditions and easy set-up and use.

With hundreds of channels, less interference to and from other acoustic systems and multi-user capability, Wideband 2 enables easier SIMOPS vessel capability. These features of the DPT 6 help de-risk subsea operations and save vessel time and cost.

At a glance

• Compatible with HPR systems
• Up to 7,000 m depth rating
• Advanced multi-user/multi-vessel capability
• Robust acoustic performance in noisy conditions
• Real-time diagnostics available on ranges to enable quality control

The DPT 6 is the standard length version and is based on the field proven mechanics of the previous version but with improvements to the end cap closure mechanisms. The design offers the perfect balance between size, acoustic output and battery life. Several depth ratings are available (3,000 m, 5,000 m and 7,000 m) all hard anodised aluminium alloy with protective polyurethane sleeve. Midi (shorter) and maxi (long endurance) options are also available. The DPT is fitted as standard with a highly reliable release mechanism to enable the unit to be deployed in a flotation collar and recovered to the surface without ROV intervention.

The DPT 6 is a midi-sized unit for deep water towfish tracking. Depth rated to 7,000 m, the unit is fitted with a high power super directional transducer. The DPTi 6 is fitted with internal inclinometers to accurately monitor riser angles (see separate datasheet). The unit can also be used with an external inclinometer unit to monitor BOP and flex joint angles.

Overview

With a high manufacturing tolerance combined with a pop-up ‘tell-tale’ flag that provides visual confirmation the transponder is precisely docked, our stab and receptacle saves times and improves the accuracy of subsea construction.

Using our stab and receptacle, the traditional method of rotating of a stab in a hub during metrology operations to determine stab-to-receptacle slop, can be eliminated. With this time consuming task removed, acoustic metrologies have the potential to be completed in less than six hours.

The tolerance of the design allows for 0.1° for heading and 0.01° for pitch/roll which is the same quoted error of a calibrated Gyro Compatt 6. This improves the results of the metrology or other positioning tasks and reduces the need for error determination of the stab/receptacle.

At a glance

• Allows you to accurately align transponders on structures
• Perfect for installation during metrology campaigns
• Allows transponders to be quickly removed and re-installed using ROV
• Two stab variants available to bolt onto either Inclinometer Compatts or Gyro Compatts
• Can be fitted on the back deck using existing hole patterns
• Tell-tale indicator confirms the stab is fully docked into the receptacle

The receptacle is designed to bolt into the eight bolt hole pattern of the industry standard 8” AWWA Class D flange. This allows the user to either bolt this flange onto the structure or to provide bolt holes in the structure itself. After dimensional control techniques to determine the relationship of the bolt holes in relation to the structure points of interest (jumper hubs, CRP, spool flanges, etc), the receptacle can be bolted in with known offsets to these points. This allows fast and precise inferred metrology to one or multiple hubs or flanges from a single receptacle.

The receptacle features a 45° cone in which the stab sits. This reduces the possibility of debris building up on the interface between the two and allows for a more precise connection due to the point of contact being exactly circular regardless of any small expansion/contraction effects.

The stab also features an alignment bar rather than alignment pins to aid docking and provide superior heading alignment. An O-ring on the stab shaft assists in ensuring the two are precisely mated.

Overview

Acoustic release transponders are a vital piece of ocean equipment – relied upon by energy, defence and science users to moor valuable equipment strings for years at a time, and when commanded to do so, reliably return equipment and logged data to the surface.

Transponders need to be tough, reliable and easy to work with. RT 6-6000 meets these requirements.

Part of our new range of acoustic releases, RT 6-6000 combines the extensive mechanical design track record of our renowned ORTs and DORTs with the flexibility of our 6G platform, resulting in enhanced battery life and perhaps most significantly, compatibility with our Ranger 2 USBL family

With RT 6-6000, you can use your vessel’s Ranger 2 USBL to deploy, track, locate and command the instrument – removing the need for a separate topside unit. If you don’t have access to a Ranger 2 USBL, our rugged and lightweight Deck Topside with an over-the-side dunker is all you need to both configure and command RT 6-6000s.

At a glance

• Tested, loaded, deployed and released using Deck Topside
• Also works with Sonardyne Ranger 2 USBL to deploy, track and command in very deep water
• Highly reliable release mechanism design and thousands are in service globally
• Working Load Limit 1,275 kg (4:1)
• Depth rated to 6,000 m
• External battery disconnect to maximise battery life with no need to open unit
• Compact and rugged design

RT 6-6000s are most commonly used to anchor oceanographic moorings to the seabed. However, their compact size and compatibility with Ranger 2 makes them ideal for incorporation into instrument frames or lowered platforms to enable deployment of sub-system packages.

Standard features include a Working Load Limit of 1,275 kg (at 4:1) and a spring-assisted release mechanism. RT 6-6000 is compatible with our standard tandem and high-load release frames for scenarios requiring a higher WLL. Speak to us about your requirements as custom frames are also an option.

A battery disconnect fob is located on the transducer and uses an internal magnetic switch to electronically disconnect the battery when not in use. This means you do not have to open the unit to manually disconnect the battery, saving time and reducing the risk of incorrect re-assembly.

RT 6-6000s use the same trusted spring-assisted release mechanism that has been in service for many years and used on thousands of Sonardyne transponders globally.

Overview

ROVNav 6+ uses our new Wideband 3 signal technology, which is key to unlocking the benefits of your Fusion 2 LBL system.

It allows, for the first time, sensor telemetry data (e.g. pressure, depth or temperature) from a seabed or structure deployed Compatt 6+ to be embedded within navigation (ranging) data. This change has a big impact on operations such as structure installation, as breaks in tracking to get sensor reading updates at vital moments are now a thing of the past.

Its compatibility with Wideband 3 and Wideband 2 telemetry commands, and support of high power Wideband 2 ranging protocols, proven for their accuracy and robustness, means the ROVNav 6+ offers improved range and acoustic performance in challenging conditions such as on noisy vehicles or in multipath environments.

At a glance

• High power, long range LBL transceiver for ROVs
• Wideband 3-enabled supporting embedded sensor data with ranging data
• Optimised for Fusion 2 and compatible with Fusion 1
• 3,000, 5,000 or 7,000 m depth rated options
• USBL mode for emergency ROV relocation
• Modem mode for harvesting data from Sonardyne logging sensors; Fetch, AMT…

ROVNav 6+ is also a fully functional USBL responder or transponder, compatible with Wideband 2 USBL systems and HPR400. The internal li-ion rechargeable battery pack also enables emergency transponder mode, so if the umbilical and therefore power is cut to the ROV it can still be located by USBL.

The omni-directional remote MF transducer makes installation on an ROV easy. ROVNav 6+ is designed to be rugged and relatively lightweight and utilises robust underwater connectors. ROVNav 6+ supports a range of internal sensors including: strain gauge pressure, PRT temperature and MEMS based inclinometer.

ROVNav 6+ is also fully compatible with our modem and logging equipment such as AMT and Fetch products, allowing it to be used to retrieve data or configure logging regimes. It supports all of our Wideband 2 and Wideband 3 spread spectrum acoustic communication; 100 to 9,000 bps data rates can be selected depending on the environment.

Sensor options include a Digiquartz pressure sensor, precision inclinometer and altimeter interface. This provides a fully featured ROV manipulator deployable tool/sensor pack for a range of different applications including metrology, bathy survey and structure deployment operations, without the requirement for any additional interfacing on the ROV.

Overview

Acoustic release transponders are a vital pieces of ocean equipment – relied upon by energy, defence and science users to moor valuable equipment strings for years at a time, and when commanded to do so, reliably return equipment and logged data to the surface.

Transponders need to be tough, reliable and easy to work with. The RT 6-HD meets these requirements.

Part of our new range of acoustic releases, RT 6-HD combines the extensive mechanical design track record with the flexibility of our 6G platform, resulting in enhanced battery life and perhaps most significantly, compatibility with our Ranger 2 USBL system.

At a glance

• Tested, loaded, deployed and released with Deck Topside
• Also works with Ranger 2 USBL to lift, lower and track heavy subsea structures in deep water
• Working Load Limit 2,500 kg (4:1)
• Depth rated to 7,000 m
• Highly reliable release mechanism
• Compact and rugged design

With RT 6-HD, you use your vessel’s Ranger 2 USBL to deploy, track, locate and command the instrument – removing the need for a separate topside unit. If you don’t have access to a Ranger 2 USBL, our rugged and lightweight Deck Topside with an over-the-side dunker is all you need to both configure and command RT 6-3000s.

With a WLL of 2,500 kg (at 4:1), twice that of our RT 6-3000 and RT 6-6000, RT-HD is designed for specialist heavy lift application scenarios such as deep water construction and salvage.

RT 6-HD is also our deepest rated acoustic release transponder at 7,000 m. Excellent corrosion resistance is achieved by using super duplex stainless steel for the housing materials.

RT 6-HD is configured with our iWand hand-held acoustic transponder test and configuration device.

Overview

Compatt 6+ is used for high precision survey and construction operations in all water depths, including: spool piece metrology, pipeline touchdown monitoring, structure installation and dynamic positioning reference.

Compatt 6+ offers significant time saving with fast update rates (up to 1 Hz LBL tracking), all made possible using the Wideband 3 acoustic telemetry protocols. Support of Wideband 2 ranges maintains backwards compatibility. This makes any system operating with Compatt 6+ significantly easier to operate therefore de-risking operations, reducing vessel time and reducing training requirements for offshore personnel.

At a glance

• Compatible with all 6G LBL, INS and USBL systems
• Wideband 3 enabled
• Versatile, flexible and cost-effective
• Over 3,600 different configurations available
• Choice of depth ratings to 7,000 m

Our Wideband advanced signal processing offers improved acoustic performance in challenging conditions, longer ranges, improved multipath rejection around structures and real-time range diagnostics for quality control. Wideband also reduces the interference to and from adjacent Sonardyne and other acoustic positioning systems.

The integrated communications and navigation technology allows the transponder to be used as a multi-purpose modem, autonomous data logger and navigation reference transponder.