UK-based Cohort company division SEA has secured a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to upgrade the British Royal Navy's ambient noise prediction system (ANPS).
ANPS combines meteorological and oceanographic forecasts with information from oceanographic databases to perform complex acoustic propagation calculations, which are used to produce regular predictions of ambient noise levels in the ocean.
The system will be upgraded to incorporate the latest available environmental information and use higher resolution meteorological models to produce more accurate forecasts, which will then be used by navy vessels equipped with sonar assets.
SEA Maritime Research project manager Peter Rhodes said: “ANPS is a valuable element in ensuring that Royal Navy ships achieve the best results in deploying their sonar assets, and this update will take advantage of the latest data and resources available.
“SEA’s expertise in acoustics and the underwater environment means that we are well suited to support NCHQ in the upgrade.
"We are delighted to once again be the customer of choice for the upgrade of the ANPS and to continue supporting frontline naval platforms.”
The ANPS was first developed by SEA, which partnered with the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton and Nato scientists to undertake research into acoustic characterisation of the seabed.
The system was first made available to the Royal Navy in 2003, and forms a part of the operational support provided to the fleet by the Joint Operational Meteorology and Oceanography Centre (JOMOC).
