Fugro Explorer shows off new equipment in Galveston

Aug. 4, 2003
Fugro's new geotechnical vessel the FugroExplorer has been equipped with the Seabed Vane (Halibut III), which the company calls a unique advancement in seabed geotechnical tools. The Seabed Vane (Halibut III), is used to measure seabed soil strength.

Fugro's new geotechnical vessel theFugroExplorer has been equipped with the Seabed Vane (Halibut III), which the company calls a unique advancement in seabed geotechnical tools. The Seabed Vane (Halibut III), is used to measure seabed soil strength. The vane is inserted into seabed soil and rotated at a rate of 0.3°/sec until the soil shears. The tool, designed by John Boyce, is the only one of its kind.

"We're going beyond traditional geotechnics," said Ian Davies, Fugro's manager of international projects. Constructed with a 2-ton A-frame, the vane makes specific individual soil tests every 2 ft with a maximum penetration of 28 ft. The Seabed vane is quicker, safer, and more efficient than Fugro's Halibut 2 system formerly used to test soil strength. The vessel docked at Pier 14 in Galveston, Texas, last week, prior to deploying for an assignment.

08/04/03