Subsea News

Van Oord Underwater Construction Projects Involve Echoscope Real Time 3D Sonar System

CodaOctopus has received an order from Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors bv, for the supply of an Echoscope 3D Real Time Sonar System. The order follows Van Oord’s purchases of Echoscope systems in 2008, which were deployed successfully on the Ras Laffan LNG port expansion project in Qatar.

The sonar, built on patented Echoscope™ technology, will be incorporated into Van Oord’s existing pool of units which are to be used initially for two large scale projects in the Netherlands. In central Amsterdam the Echoscope system is being used to visualise live underwater excavation operations as part of the construction of a new metro station. Situated directly beneath the existing Amsterdam Central Station, the new metro system runs North-South across the city and will carry 200,000 passengers each day. The existing station is built on hundreds of large oak pilings which are to be carefully removed during the construction project. The unique technology of the Echoscope enables the accurate real time 3D visualisation of the pilings during the removal process as well as the dredging of the chamber around them.

In Rotterdam the construction of Maasvlakte 2 is part of the Mainport Development Project where the PUMA consortium, consisting of Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster NV and Van Oord NV, has been contracted to build the first phases. In this project the Echoscope system provides crane operators with critical real time visualisation during the removal of the existing concrete breakwater structure and the construction of replacement walls.

Commenting on the order, Gareth Simpson, CodaOctopus Products Sales Manager said, “When the Echoscope system was used in the breakwater construction project in Qatar, Van Oord was very pleased with the results, seeing both increased productivity and improved levels of safety. The purchase of an additional Echoscope system will enable them to achieve goals which would not be possible with other types of sonar. We are delighted to continue our working relationship with Van Oord in their marine construction projects.’’