Teledyne Marine’s SeaBat T51-R multibeam echosounder was selected by Ultrabeam Hydrographic to support a detailed assessment of one of the United Kingdom’s most significant maritime structures, the Peterhead Port breakwaters on Scotland’s northeast coast. Read more >>
Constructed between 1892 and 1956, the 1,300-meter-long defenses continue to protect the port from North Sea conditions and remain central to its operations. To evaluate their structural integrity, the Peterhead Port Authority and long-term engineering partner NIRAS commissioned Ultrabeam to undertake a comprehensive subsea survey.
The Peterhead breakwaters present a highly challenging acoustic environment due to their interlocking granite and concrete construction. Sharp vertical faces, cavities, and marine growth can distort sonar signals, yet the SeaBat T51-R’s precision features, including vertical detection mode and multipath corner suppression, enabled Ultrabeam to collect clean, high-resolution data. Operating at 800 kHz, the system provided wide-area coverage without loss of detail, improving efficiency by reducing the number of passes required, total collection time, and post-processing effort.
Ultrabeam combined data from the SeaBat T51-R with topside laser scanning to create integrated 3D representations from seabed to surface, allowing NIRAS to conduct detailed integrity assessments. The results revealed subtle block movement within the breakwater structure and supported the development of targeted maintenance strategies based on measurable trends rather than routine intervention.
The Peterhead project illustrates how advanced sonar technology supports a clearer understanding of aging marine infrastructure. The use of the SeaBat T51-R demonstrated how precise, repeatable hydrographic data can inform proactive maintenance and long-term preservation of critical coastal assets. The collaboration between Teledyne Marine, Ultrabeam Hydrographic, and NIRAS highlights how modern survey techniques are transforming the management of historic maritime structures.
Read the full article to explore how Teledyne Marine, NIRAS, and Ultrabeam Hydrographic are enhancing the monitoring and preservation of historic port infrastructure.
