Sonardyne by Numbers

40 - The number of years since Sonardyne was founded

Over 275 staff worldwide

Operational in over 50 countries

7 regional centres

Over $10 million invested annually in Research and Development

80% of products are exported

20MB - The speed per second at which we can transfer your subsea data

12,000 metres - our deepest rated equipment

Brochure

A Deeper Understanding

A Deeper Understanding (Digital Version)

Brasil Corporate Brochure

Brasil Corporate Brochure (Digital Version)

In 1971, Sonardyne was officially founded by John Partridge. John’s vision for his Company in those early days was to improve the safety and efficiency of underwater navigation for divers through innovation in acoustic signal processing, hardware design and custom engineering.

As we celebrate passing our 40th anniversary, Sonardyne has remained true to its roots as a subsea pioneer, only now we are delivering underwater innovation across a myriad of industry sectors. We proudly remain an independent manufacturing business with almost 300 employees worldwide in seven regional centres.

Underwater acoustics remain at the heart of much of what we develop. But, driven by the needs of our clients and diversification into new markets, we are committed to investment in new and emerging technologies.

This investment is already paying dividends for users. Survey operations are faster and more efficient, deep water vessels are able to operate safely in all conditions, seabed to surface data transfer is reliable and quick and waterside installations are better protected against the threat of attack.

As much as innovation has helped to grow our company, it is our people and the support they give to clients that makes us stand out from the crowd. We work closely with clients to understand all aspects of their projects, balancing performance, costs, vessel operations and risk.

We are acutely aware that any subsea operation has the potential to throw up the unexpected. However, the abundant wealth of knowledge and experience available throughout Sonardyne is a prime asset that can positively contribute to our clients’ success.

As you read more About Us, you’ll discover our technologies, custom engineering capabilities, investment philosophy and around the clock support. We call it “a deeper understanding.” It’s an understanding that has been built up over the last four decades and one that will continue to develop as the next chapter of Sonardyne’s story is written.

John Ramsden, Managing Director

Sonardyne’s long-term partnership with clients has enabled us to develop a unique and extensive insight into the diverse nature of subsea operations and the associated commercial and operational pressures.

The offshore oil and gas sector is perhaps where these pressures are felt the most. As a manufacturer, it is essential that we have a clear understanding of our clients risk strategy when project managing operations using our equipment. For example, in offshore field developments, there is often a compromise between the positioning technique (vessel and/or seabed based) and the required vessel time needed to achieve it.

Having direct contact with our clients through regional offices is the cornerstone of our business. Over the last five years we have moved, expanded and built so that our four global hubs can all offer impressive facilities and personnel for all your pre and post sales requirements.

Despite our four decades of experience in the sector, seeing the big picture is never straightforward. There are many complex factors at play, but through continuous communications with clients through dialogue and training, we strive to ensure Sonardyne is well placed to develop the right products at the right time, and that those products are readily available when and where they’re needed.

Our sixth generation hardware platform – 6G, is one of those ‘right’ products. The seemingly conflicting demands from users for simpler systems that can do more has been met on projects around the world. 6G’s capabilities, with integration of subsea positioning, communications and inertial technology have brought tangible benefits that are helping to reshape the way tomorrow’s fields are developed.

These days, Sonardyne’s business reaches far beyond our origins in acoustics. In just a few short years sonar imaging, wireless communications and inertial navigation technologies have emerged from our research programmes, challenging us to gain a deeper understanding of both existing and ever more diverse applications. But if experience has taught us one thing, it is that the more you understand about your client’s business, then the more responsive you can be as a organisation and the better prepared you are to deliver and support the right solution.

Richard Binks, Strategic Offshore Business Development Director 

As a vertically integrated company with research, design, manufacturing, testing, marketing, distribution and support all under one roof, we have the resources to develop bespoke capability for a very diverse range of clients and markets.

Since 1997, we have transformed that bespoke capability into distinct business divisions investing where appropriate in the world’s best engineering and scientific talent in sonar, inertial, communications and software.

Since acquiring Wavefront Systems Limited in 2008, we have become the world leader in high performance sonar surveillance systems. We continue to invest in ever more unique sonar solutions including the most efficient sidescan system ever developed for AUVs; a navigation and obstacle avoidance sonar and an automatic sonar for the detection and classification of subsea oil and gas leaks.

During 2011, we acquired Marine and Remote Sensing Solutions, a young and dynamic software company creating innovative command and control and remote surveillance solutions for maritime security. In parallel, we are partnering with leading academic institutions in Europe and further afield to add additional capability to our world leading underwater surveillance portfolio.

And bringing the story right up to date, in early 2012 we announced a unique collaboration with the world renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The partnership will bring to market a unique wireless communications technology that enables subsea data to be transferred at speeds equivalent to broadband, unlocking new possibilities for ocean observatories, energy infrastructure and seabed nodes.

Sonardyne is committed to the development and creation of innovative and exciting technologies. Through investment and diversification, we have built one of the most unique and vibrant companies in our industry, able to quickly mobilise all departments and to respond to the needs of our markets.

So where are we headed next? Keep watching.

Rob Balloch, Strategic Business Development Director 

At Sonardyne, creating trusted, low risk solutions for your subsea challenges is what the Company is all about. Even before a system is delivered, we’ve worked to ensure that the most appropriate technique and equipment have being specified to meet expectations. Then, we’re there around the clock to install, train and maintain.

Planning makes perfect
Sonardyne has always had, and will continue to have, a hands-on approach to being involved with planning and operational support services on large, or complex projects. Our highly experienced product specialists are available to support customers in the most effective use of Sonardyne equipment. Calculating the optimum location to deploy seabed equipment, modelling system performance and reviewing operational procedures, is all part of the service.

Training and Simulation
Making sure that clients get the very best out of their Sonardyne hardware once it is delivered, installed and commissioned is the goal of our training programme. From standard courses run at our training centre in the UK to bespoke courses held on a client’s vessel, office or waterside premises, Sonardyne’s training is expansive and ever evolving. Most courses provide operators with the opportunity to gain in-water experience of using equipment.

Environmental conditions subsea can change with little or no warning, so a deeper understanding of first principles enables operators to respond to changing conditions and resolve any problems that might arise quickly and effectively.

We’re here 24/7
We recognise that different companies have different requirements so Sonardyne’s customer support is designed to be flexible and offer various levels of service.

Every client has access to 24/7 support, 365 days a year. For general product support enquiries, Sonardyne’s website is a useful resource. From here the next level up is a dedicated email helpdesk with product engineers on hand to respond directly to customers. The highest level of support is a worldwide, emergency telephone helpline ready to resolve urgent operational issues offshore.

Of course, not every situation can be settled remotely but with a global team of experienced engineers on-call and ready to travel at a moments notice, we are determined to ensure that every project is a success.

Tim Moore, Operations Director

From our origins in the North Sea in the early 1970s, innovation and performance has maintained Sonardyne’s reputation for technical leadership, and today we have an unrivalled portfolio of acoustic and non-acoustic technologies for use in the most challenging marine environments.

Our expertise ranges from autonomous undersea networks of wirelessly controlled seabed sensors, monitoring safety critical positioning and control systems around offshore platforms and submerged structures through to the early detection of deadly Tsunami waves that can have such a devastating effect on the world’s coastlines.

Sonardyne’s proven track record in reliable, long range acoustic communications has been recently supplemented with wireless optical communications technologies. This unique technology is ideal for short range applications where high bandwidth is required or the risk of signal interference precludes the use of traditional acoustic technologies.

Our sonar imaging and sensor integration expertise is helping to protect maritime infrastructure and vessels against attack. That same sonar technology is also being applied to detect hydrocarbon leaks around offshore installations and to image the seabed with unparalleled clarity.

Sonardyne’s acoustically-aided inertial navigation systems provide uninterrupted positioning for vessels, enabling them to operate reliably in any water depth. With less equipment to be deployed on the seabed, operations are faster and time is saved.

In many cases, vessels, subsea systems and operating environments are unique so where standard off-the-shelf equipment is not suitable, we have the know-how and in-house resources to design, manufacture and test customised solutions.

Everyday we’re are applying our technology and expertise to solve our clients’ most important subsea engineering challenges. Why not challenge us to solve yours?

Graham Brown, Director