Lafayette, LA (Jun. 17, 2024) – Chance Maritime Technologies, an innovative startup and service provider of uncrewed vessel technology, provided autonomous vehicle data collection services for HydroTerra Technologies, a leading full service land and hydrographic surveying firm, to deliver 670 nautical miles of bathymetric data to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).
Chance Maritime Technologies utilized their MC-29 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) to conduct their entire survey block without refueling. With its highly efficient dual engines, the MC-29 operated continuously 24 hours a day to efficiently collect data with a minimal carbon footprint. The survey was located in a shallow, remote, and weather-exposed coastline. Typical depths ranged from 3 to 20 feet, and the vessel persevered in a variety of sea states and squalls, continuing to collect clean data through choppy 5 foot seas.
The MC-29 was outfitted with a bathymetric transducer, differential GPS, and profiling sound velocity probe to conduct the survey. The vessel itself has active roll stabilization which ensured high quality data collection in a variety of sea states.
The Louisiana CPRA’s mandate is to “develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration Master Plan.” Data collected by the MC-29 and processed by HydroTerra will inform coastal restoration efforts in the State of Louisiana.
“We are pleased to acknowledge Chance Maritime for meeting and exceeding our expectations on completing 670 miles of bathymetric surveys for CPRA. Their commitment to quality, attention to detail, and dedication to timely completion have significantly contributed to the success of the project. We commend Chance Maritime for their exceptional performance and look forward to continuing our partnership in future endeavors,” said Mike Nitska, a lead Hydrographer at HydroTerra Technologies.
The MC-29 is available for commercial service and is also available through current NOAA contract vehicles for hydrographic survey, meteorological data collection, fisheries monitoring, underwater exploration, marine construction, and many more applications. Chance Maritime Technologies assists with integrating payloads into the flexible MC-29 uncrewed platform.
Stuart Chance, CEO of Chance Maritime Technologies, said “It was a pleasure working with HydroTerra on this project to provide quality data for CPRA. Use of the MC-29 illustrates a great case study on using a high-power, long endurance USV to dramatically increase the rate of data collection in a logistically challenging environment.”
Chance Maritime Technologies provides Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) as a service and specializes in the design, build, operation, and leasing of uncrewed boats to commercial, government, and academic clients. Chance Maritime’s team of experts have over 85 years of combined experience in uncrewed design and operations. Experienced ASV/USV operators, engineers, and software developers ensure quality, precise solutions to meet customer needs. For more information, visit www.chancemaritime.com.
HydroTerra Technologies, LLC is a Hudson Initiative Certified Small and Emerging Business Enterprise, a Hudson Certified Active Small Entrepreneurship Business and a BBB Accredited Business. They are a full service land and hydrographic surveying firm, specializing in inshore and near shore shallow water hydrographic surveying and a wide range of land survey services. Although initially formed as a consulting firm over 16 years ago, HydroTerra expanded its initial focus and capabilities to provide a wide array of land and hydrographic surveying services to a diverse variety of clientele. Using the latest technology and innovative techniques, HydroTerra Technologies, LLC provides cost effective land and hydrographic solutions to their clients including; coastal restoration projects, marsh creation projects, rock revetment projects, dredging support surveys, oil and gas well location surveys, pipeline and utility route surveys, right of way mapping, site clearance and investigation, hazard surveys, bathymetric surveys, multibeam surveys, GIS acquisition and development, consulting and training, and mapping and charting. HydroTerra currently has professional survey licenses for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida, in addition to having a certified Hydrographer on staff. For more information, visit https://hydroterratec.com/.