Voyager Drifter Buoy

Ocean Current and Oil Spill Tracking Buoy

 

The Voyager drifter buoy provides near real-time ocean current, sea surface temperature and oil spill tracking data via Iridium satellite telemetry. Unlike spherical drift buoys, the Voyager's unique fin design and low freeboard ensures close coupling with the ocean surface layer and minimum wind influence. The Voyager has very simple operation and deployment procedures, making it ideal for oil spill response and emergency Search and Rescue (SAR) applications. Robust construction allows the Voyager to be dropped overboard from vessels or offshore platforms, or deployed from aircraft using an optional parachute.

Products

Voyager Ocean Current Tracking Drifter Buoy

 

The Voyager drifter buoy provides near real-time ocean current, sea surface temperature and oil spill tracking data via Iridium satellite telemetry. Unlike spherical drift buoys, the Voyager's unique fin design and low freeboard ensures close coupling with the ocean surface layer and minimum wind influence. The Voyager has very simple operation and deployment procedures, making it ideal for oil spill response and emergency Search and Rescue (SAR) applications. Robust construction allows the Voyager to be dropped overboard from vessels or offshore platforms, or deployed from aircraft using an optional parachute.

Applications

  • Ocean current tracking
  • Sea surface temperature monitoring
  • Oil spill modelling and tracking
  • Outfall and dredge plume tracking
  • Maritime Search and Rescue operations
  • Contaminant and debris tracking
  • Coastal engineering studies
  • Water quality studies
  • Coral spawning studies

Features

  • Global, near real-time, 2-way communication system transmits GPS position, sea surface temperature and battery voltage
  • Design minimises wind influence and ensures close coupling with surface layer
  • Long endurance - eg around 300 days @ 3 hourly reporting
  • Re-useable
  • User replaceable, long shelf-life, flyable D-Cell alkaline battery pack.
  • Robust, compact design - drop launch from up to 15m
  • Simple to deploy with magnetic on/off switch
  • LED and vibration alert for on/off
  • Compact and easy to deploy
  • Remotely adjustable reporting interval (2 Min - 24 Hrs.)
  • Rapid response mode for oil spill tracking and search and rescue

Voyager design ensures accurate tracking of the ocean's surface layer. The very small area of the buoy above the water-line minimises the effect of wind, while the fins below the waterline ensure close coupling with the surface current. This gives the Voyager a leeway multiplier of 0.0091% 

 

Options

  • Marker flag and strobe light to assist in recovery.
  • Drogue for sub-surface tracking
  • Parachute for airborne deployment
  • Transport case

NOTE: The new compact Voyager "V3" design also accommodates all of the accessory options above.

Voyager with integrated AIS (AtoN)

The Voyager AIS version has an integrated Aid to Navigation (AtoN) VHF transponder to provide enhanced situational awareness for vessels close  to an oil spill or Search & Rescue event.  The Voyager buoys will be visible to nearby vessels equipped with an AIS receiver and display terminal. The Voyager AIS version also transmits its position using Iridium satellite, so that its location can be tracked anywhere in the world using Fastwave's  online buoy tracking system  

     

Voyager AIS - Brochure →

Voyager with AIS

Transport Carry Case

Transport Carry Case

Flag Mount

Flag Mount

Parachute

Parachute

LED Strobe Light

LED Strobe Light

Voyager "V3" Ocean Current Tracking Drifter Buoy (Compact Design)

The improved Voyager V3 has smaller above surface exposure and a larger fin width, which improves the wind to drift ratio, it is also smaller in size at 520mm (H) and weighs less at 4.7 Kg's, the functionality remains the same as the initial Voyager Version and is also able to accommodate all of the additional accessory options, as mentioned above. The new improved design also makes battery changes easier.

 

New Compact "V3" Design

New Compact "V3" Design

Voyager V3 Carry Case

Voyager V3 Carry Case

Voyager V3 & Carry Case

Voyager V3 & Carry Case

Carry Case & User Guides

Carry Case & User Guides

Voyager Parachute Deployment


Voyager Data Management

The Voyager delivers data to Fastwave's secure servers, where it is de-coded and accessible through an on-line data management portal, or data can be delivered directly to client GIS systems for further processing. The Fastwave management system enables clients to send commands to the Voyager to change reporting intervals or geo-fences to be set up.

Coral Spawning Study, North West Australia

Long term ocean current study, Timor Sea

Long term ocean current study, Timor Sea


Video

Product Images


Physical Size

  • Height Overall:  520 mm
  • Diameter:         250 mm
  • Approx. Weight:  4.7 kg
  • Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Environmental

  • Temperature Sensor Operating Environment: -2 to +65 degrees C

Power

  • Power Supply: Alkaline D Cell Battery Pack (12 X D-Cell, 9V)

Communications

  • Iridium short burst data: Iridium Satellite & GPRS
  • Operating Life: Around 2000 transmissions with fully charged battery pack

Voyager Solar V3 Tracking Drifter Buoy

 

The new "Voyager Solar V3" is ideal for long term ocean studies, but can be used for shorter duration's as well. The Voyager Solar has a rechargeable battery pack which is powered by a marine Solar panel, with a reserve alkaline battery pack, if required during extended overcast conditions or in polar locations.

Voyager Solar

Voyager Solar

Voyager Solar - Ocean Drift

Voyager Solar - Ocean Drift

Voyager Solar - Bremer Canyon

Voyager Solar - Bremer Canyon

Voyager Solar - Deployed

Voyager Solar - Deployed

Voyager Solar Drifting in the Ocean



Video

Product Images


Physical Size

  • Height Overall:  680 mm
  • Diameter:         310 mm
  • Approx. Weight:  6.7 kg
  • Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

 

Environmental

  • Temperature Sensor Operating Environment: -2 to +65 degrees C

Power

Main Power Supply:

  • Ni-MH re-chargeable battery pack, 2,500 mAh, 9.6 V (8 cell) powered by a SOLAR PV.

Backup Power Supply:

  • Alkaline non-rechargeable Battery Pack (6 X D-Cell, 9.6V) standby supply. 

Communications

  • Iridium short burst data: Iridium Satellite & GPRS.
  • Normal mode of operation - Indefinite number of transmissions. SOLAR/Rechargeable power endurance is dependent on weather conditions and location.
  • Backup Supply Only - (NO SOLAR PV output mode) - Around 1,000 transmissions on fully charged battery pack at default 15 min transmission interval.

Voyager Oil Spill Tracking Buoy with Fluorometer


This version of the standard Voyager ocean current drifter buoy has an integrated Chelsea Technologies UviLux Fluorometer for in-situ measurement of surface and near surface oil content

It offers all the features of the standard Voyager, plus near real-time detection of the presence of hydrocarbons on the ocean surface.

This capability can make it a vital tool for confirming the presence of hydrocarbons and determining the extent of oil spills. In this respect it offers a compelentary, low cost alternative to satellite, vessel or aircraft based observation.


Product Literature

 

Product Manual

 

Manufacturer

Fastwave
 

Additional Links

Video

No video available for this product.

Product Images


Physical Size

  • Height Overall:  930 mm
  • Diameter:         250 mm
  • Approx. Weight:  8.3 kg
  • Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

 

Environmental

  • Temperature Sensor Operating Environment: -2 to +65 degrees C

 

Power

  • Power Supply: Alkaline D Cell Battery Pack (12 X D-Cell, 9V)

 

Communications

  • Iridium short burst data: Iridium Satellite & GPRS
  • Operating Life: Around 1200 transmissions with fully charged battery pack

 

Enquire about Voyager


Do you have a question or would you like to make a booking? Please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

We respect your privacy.


Contact information from this contact form is used to respond queries for our prospective and current customers only. All information provided remains confidential and will not be sold or transferred to other entities.