Impact Subsea’s ISS360 Imaging Sonar was central to the successful recovery of a high-value oceanographic instrument conducted by the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Undersea Vehicles Program (UVP).
Tasked by the U.S. federal government in June 2025, the team was required to locate and retrieve a 1,500 kg instrument valued at more than $1 million that had become entangled on an uncharted shipwreck in 65 meters of water on Georges Bank, off the coast of Massachusetts. The site’s extremely poor visibility and lack of existing charts demanded precise sonar imaging and accurate navigation, making the ISS360 a critical tool throughout the operation.
UVP deployed its Mohawk Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from the NOAA Ship Henry Bigelow. The ROV was equipped with Impact Subsea’s ISS360 Imaging Sonar, which allowed the target to be located and approached safely.
ISS360 seaView Software screen at 10m range enabling detailed navigation
Using the ISS360’s high-resolution imaging, the pilots located the wreck from a 30-meter range before narrowing the sonar to 10 meters for precise navigation to the port aft corner, where the instrument was lodged. Despite near-zero visibility, the ISS360 delivered clear, high-contrast imagery that guided the ROV to the target. Data displayed through Impact Subsea’s seaView software at a 10-meter range enabled accurate positioning, allowing the team to place the recovery hook precisely and extract the equipment safely without causing further damage.
Results
- Successful Recovery – The ISS360 enabled precise location of both the wreck and the lost oceanographic instrument, ensuring the safe recovery of the equipment.
- Operational Confidence – The sonar gave the ROV pilots the ability to navigate and operate effectively in extremely poor visibility.
- High Value Protected – The recovery prevented the loss of a critical asset worth more than $1 million.
Jason White, Operations Field Manager at the Undersea Vehicles Program, University of North Carolina Wilmington, commented, “Visibility was extremely poor during the entire dive and the ISS360 was instrumental in finding the wreck and the lost oceanographic equipment. The sonar gave our pilots confidence throughout the operation. The sonar performed flawlessly and was critical in our operations.”
For more information, visit Impact Subsea’s website.
