New Zealand: WASSP Announces 500th Multibeam Sonar Milestone

Multibeam sonar manufacturer WASSP Ltd, part of the ENL Group, has reached a milestone by shipping its 500th multibeam sonar system.

WASSP 120 degree 3D multibeam system allows vessel operators to accurately profile the water column and seafloor highlighting reefs, wrecks, fish schools, seafloor hardness changes and foreign objects in the water column or on the seabed. The information is presented in user-friendly displays, all controlled via a mouse and stored on computer hard drive for future use.

The WASSP technology offers many advantages and benefits for users, mapping the seafloor with greater accuracy allows fishing closer to structures for better quality catches and less chance of damaging gear.

The 500th WASSP unit announcement follows the company’s recent entry into the hydrographic survey market with the release of WASSP S.

ENL Group CEO Gareth Hodson said: “WASSP has entered into the professional survey market, launching the new high-resolution system WASSP S – which is targeted at hydrographic survey, dredging and scientific research markets.”

“We have studied this market for many years, with our strategy to offer a cost effective IHO Standard 1A multibeam sonar for various applications in the marine professional and defence segment.”

Significant investment has been made into WASSP research & development with the goal to introduce multiple products on new hardware and software platforms by 2014.