Engineering Study: ADCP Platform and Mooring Designs for CO-OPS Current Surveys. An Engineering Review of Existing Platforms and Moorings for the 2006 Field Season.

Abstract

This engineering review focuses on bottom-mounted and subsurface taut-moored platforms. During 2001-2005 there were 48 bottom-mounted deployments in Maine, New York (Hudson River), Southeast Alaska, and California. These deployments used the Flotation Technology AL-200, Mooring Systems, Incorporated (MSI) Tripod, and ES I, II, III, and IV. The ES platforms were designed in-house by Dr. Eddie Shih. Between 2001 and 2005, there were 57 subsurface mooring deployments in Alaska, California, and Delaware Bay, with a recovery rate of 98%. These deployments used the Open Seas Instrumentation Streamlined Underwater Buoy System (SUBS) Model A2. The overall success rate for deployments of both platforms was 94%. Of the 105 total deployments, 99 were successfully deployed and recovered. Of the 48 bottom-mounts, 43 were successfully deployed and recovered (90% success) and of the 57 SUBS, 56 were successfully deployed and recovered (98% success). The most recent results have been even better, with 100% of the Hudson River and Southeast Alaska deployments/recoveries being successful.