ODIM Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP™) - An Underway Profiling System

MVP 4-Page Brochure
(4.2 MB PDF File)
[ High-Quality
Print Version ]

MVP-FFCPT Paper from UDT Conference Dec 2006
(1.3MB PDF File)

Related Topics:

MVP30
MVP100
MVP200
MVP300
MVP800
MVP Seismic
MVP FAQ
MVP Links
Testimonials
MVP Economic Benefits
FFCPT
LOPC
USV Payloads

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Moving Vessel Profiler™

- An Underway (Instride) Ocean Profiling System

Click on each of the MVP(tm) family of products to go to its own page!

The Moving Vessel Profiler™ (MVP™) is a multi-purpose instrument for aiding in the collection of both shallow and deep water data sets. The MVP™'s primary function is to allow accurate data collection without the need to stop the vessel.

Click here to get an overview of the Economic Benefits

The system includes a computer-controlled smart winch and deployment system that allows the free fall fish to be deployed while the vessel is underway. The system is completely autonomous and can be controlled by computer without the requirement for personnel on deck. This serves the purpose of extending operations by not relying on deck crew after normal working hours and also through the expanded environmental operating envelope.

The system was originally adapted to collect Sound Velocity (SV) data for shallow water (to a depth of 100m) hydrographic operations. The data was used to calibrate multibeam sonar data for the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

The Free Fall Fish designed for use with the MVP™ system can carry a variety of sensor packages. Sensors that have been used with the MVP™ system to date include Sound Velocity, CTD, Laser Optical Plankton Counter (LOPC) and fluorometer.

There are currently five configurations of the Moving Vessel Profiler in use: the original MVP100™, the MVP200™, the MVP300™, the smallest system, the MVP30™ and the newest model, the MVP800™. Each system is designed to collect data to a certain depth and ship speed. The latest model to reach the market, the MVP800™, is capable of deploying the sensor-equipped towfish to a depth of 800 metres at a ship speed of 12 knots. See the chart below for detailed specifications on each of these systems.

The following shows the major components of the MVP™ system. The computer controls the winch using parameters set by the operator, the depth signals sent back by the free fall fish and (if the vessel is equipped with one) readings sent to the MVP™ controller by the ship's depth sounder. The data is collected in real time from the fish and recorded by the computer in a format that can be presented graphically. Click on the various parts of the graphic to view larger images.

Typical MVP Installation Showing Critical Components - Click on the different elements for larger views

The animation above shows the MVP™ deployed from a typical vessel collecting three sets of profile data while underway. Click here to see an enlarged view of the animation.

An MVP™ profile to a depth of 100 metres would take four (4) minutes from deployment to recovery.

Things to note are the programmed bottom avoidance, the near-vertical free fall and the fact that the fish does not break the surface while underway. Please note that the elements of this animation are not to scale.

The illustration to the right shows the path of the Free Fall Fish for a typical cast. The sequence of events for a typical cast is:

  1.) deployment,
  2.) freefall,
  3.) maximum depth
  4.) retrieval.

The MVP™ system allows repeated deployment of the fish for as long as necessary to compile a complete data set (see an example described in the February 1998 Press Release). The narrow red band behind the ship indicates the small amount of area necessary to operate the MVP™ system (approximately 1 metre²). This would allow it to be used simultaneously with applications that require a number of towed objects behind the vessel.

The free fall fish used with the Moving Vessel Profiler comes in a number of different shapes and sizes, each specifically designed for use with a particular depth and sensor configuration.

Click Here for MVP Support for Seismic Surveying

MVP™ Product Family Specifications and Options

Depth	Ship Speed	Options	Documents (PDF)	Drawings (PDF)	Photos
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125m 57m 30m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD	Test Report: Dec 1999 (740k) Testimonial: SAIC (36k) Testimonial: SAIC (follow-up) (30k) Testimonial: Simrad (86k)	General Layout (41k)
™ MVP30-350
350m 145m 30m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD	...	...
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300m 165m 100m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD, LOPC, FL	Testimonial: Pinetree (124k) Testimonial: Lamplugh (66k) Testimonial: Seabed (118k) Testimonial: Geoscience (102k)	General Layout (77k)
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600m 320m 200m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD, LOPC, FL	Testimonial: DFO (339k) Testimonial: Clearwater (63k) Testimonial: Geoconsult (161k) Testimonial: Marine Institute of Ireland (159k)	General Layout (73k)
™ MVP300-1700
1700m 780m 300m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD, LOPC, FL	...	General Layout (96k)
™ MVP300-3400
3400m 1250m 300m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD, LOPC, FL	...	General Layout (116k)
™ MVP800-5000
5000m 1850m 800m	0 knots 6 knots 12 knots	SV, CTD, LOPC, FL	...	General Layout (147k)

MVP™ Brochure

The four-page MVP™ brochure is available on-line in Adobe Acrobat format. Click here to download the PDF file (4.2 MB).

Economic Benefits

A two-page information sheet explaining the economic benefits of using the Moving Vessel Profiler is available for on-line viewing. Click here to get the overview!

MVP-Compatible Instruments from ODIM Brooke Ocean

ODIM Brooke Ocean manufacture other product lines that, as well as being self-contained instruments themselves, are fully compatible with the Moving Vessel Profiler.

The Laser Optical Plankton Counter offers ADVANCED DATA COLLECTION features not found on conventional optical plankton counters. The LOPC can be installed inside the MVP's Multi-Sensor Fish as part of its sensor payload. Find out more information on the LOPC here.

The Free Fall Cone Penetrometer (FFCPT) was developed to collect geotechnical and geophysical data from the sea floor. The FFCPT can be installed on the MVP's tow cable (MVP200 and larger) and deployed in place of the Free Fall Fish, allowing multiple, automated drops either on station or from a variety of drop points. Also, the FFCPT can be deployed while underway, utilizing the MVP's native functionality. Find out more information on the FFCPT here. Please note: While MVP is currently available as an "on station" deployment solution, the underway deployment of the FFCPT is currently in development and is not yet commercially available. Contact ODIM Brooke Ocean for more details.

A technical paper describing the implementation of FFCPT with MVP, presented at UDT Pacific December 2006, is now available here (1.3MB PDF).

For further information on the Moving Vessel Profiler™ systems and their recent uses, check the ODIM Brooke Ocean Press Releases! Also, see the Downloads page for MVP-related animation found on this page!

Got a question about MVP™ that's NOT answered here? Try the MVP™ FAQ!

The Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP™) was developed by ODIM Brooke Ocean in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ocean Physics Division and the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Bedford Institute of Oceanography.

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