Searching the depths
Published on SBLT Katherine Mulheron (author and photographer)
Sailors from the Minewarfare Geospatial Deployable Systems Team (MGDST), currently in New Zealand supporting the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Mine Countermeasures and Diving Exercise 2014 (MCMEX14), are enjoying the chance to show their skills and learn from others in their specialised field. The focus of MCMEX14 is refining mine warfare and dive skills in a multi-national environment.
The Remus 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) enables the MGDST to search the sea bed up to 100 meters below the surface to determine if there are threats to vessels. The MGDST will launch the AUV for up to six hours to capture imagery of the sea floor. After thorough exploration of the site the images are studied carefully and a report prepared for a dive team to further investigate if needed.
Petty Officer (PO) Nathan Caddis is part of the MGDST pariticipating in MCMEX14 and says this is the third multi-national exercise the MGDST has done and with a recent change out of personnel, he believes the exercise is an excellent training platform.
“We’re working very closely with the New Zealand Navy’s AUV team. They’re very good and we are learning a lot,” said PO Caddis.
“It’s very reassuring to see that many of the other nations are operating the same piece of equipment; it makes integration with the different teams and skill-sharing so much easier,” he said.
The Remus 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) enables the MGDST to search the sea bed up to 100 meters below the surface to determine if there are threats to vessels. The MGDST will launch the AUV for up to six hours to capture imagery of the sea floor. After thorough exploration of the site the images are studied carefully and a report prepared for a dive team to further investigate if needed.
Petty Officer (PO) Nathan Caddis is part of the MGDST pariticipating in MCMEX14 and says this is the third multi-national exercise the MGDST has done and with a recent change out of personnel, he believes the exercise is an excellent training platform.
“We’re working very closely with the New Zealand Navy’s AUV team. They’re very good and we are learning a lot,” said PO Caddis.
“It’s very reassuring to see that many of the other nations are operating the same piece of equipment; it makes integration with the different teams and skill-sharing so much easier,” he said.
Imagery is available on the Australian Defence Image Library athttp://images.defence.gov.au/S20140440.
Members of the Mine warfare Geospatial Deployable Systems Team (MGDST) return to HMNZS Canterbury to process and analyse sonar readings taken on the Remus 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), during the New Zealand led Mine Countermeasures and Diving Exercise 2014.