R/V AHI Safety and Operations Manual
The research vessel AHI (Acoustic Habitat Investigator) is a 25’ aluminum-hulled vessel with enclosed cabin as shown in Figure 1. The R/V AHI was designed to transport personnel and survey electronics for seabed mapping surveys in the U.S. Pacific islands. The AHI was outfitted for daytime operations, either working in conjunction with a mother ship such as a NOAA research vessel, or for independent operations based out of small boat harbors in inhabited island groups.
For a vessel of this size, the AHI is designed to be very seaworthy. The hull is built of 5/16” aluminum with three buoyancy tanks integral to the hull. The boat is heavily constructed in order to withstand routine deployment and recovery from a mother ship via boat davits or ship’s crane. A rigid foam collar provides redundant floatation and stability in rough waters as well as protecting the boat when coming alongside the mother ship. The enclosed cabin is air-conditioned and is designed to protect both passengers and survey electronics from the environment.
The AHI was specially built for high-resolution surveying of the seabed in depths from 5 to 200 meters. The hull and cabin house a 240 kHz RESON 8101 multibeam echosounder, a POS/MV position and orientation sensor (with two GPS antennas and an inertial measurement unit), and a small rack of survey electronics and computers. The boat can carry up to six people but typically operates with two or three people, including a coxswain and one or two surveyors. There is no enclosed berthing space. A portable toilet and a cooler for food and water are stored on deck.
Get pdf R/V AHI Safety and Operations Manual
