The powerful, high-precision multibeam echosounder system, jointly developed by the U.S. Navy and SeaBeam Instruments, Inc. over a decade ago, provided the world with its first images of the ocean floor near the epicenter of the Asian tsunami. The SASS IV system installed aboard the UK Navy’s oceanographic survey vessel, HMS “Scott”, is a low-frequency, high resolution multibeam sonar system that collects and processes seafloor depth data. It produces 3-D bathymetric images over a wide swath, in near real-time. Following the 9.0 magnitude quake that occurred on December 26th, the “Scott” deployed to the area and quickly collected a significant amount of bathymetric data. The data was then used to create 3-D images that scientists are still evaluating to further their understanding of the earthquake and assist in the prediction of such events in the future.

The SASS IV is a unique ocean mapping system used by both the U.S. and U.K. Navies to survey deep-ocean areas around the globe. SeaBeam Instruments, Inc. was contracted by the Navy to design and deliver major components of the SASS systems in the 1980’s and 1990’s.