Towed System Marine Life Attack Reduction

Navy Towed Acoustical Array Systems are experiencing damage andfailures due to attacks from marine life such as sharks and otherfishes. During the period of 1996 to1998, damage by suspectedmarine attack on towed arrays totaled more than $8.5 million.Research into the cause of these attacks is needed, along withcountermeasures that can be implemented without reducing sonarperformance.During Phase II, Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc. will teamwith Dr. Philip Motta of the University of South Florida and Dr.Timothy Tricas of the Florida Institute of Technology toinvestigate this important problem. Results from the Phase Iresearch coupled with Phase II field tests results will be usedto design countermeasures to reduce the incidence of towed arrayfish bite.BENEFITS: Government applications for the proposed work include the reduction of marine life attack and damage to Navy Towed Arrays used in submarines, surface combatants, and during surveillance missions. Private sector applications include theprotection of geophysical and seismic exploration single and multiple streamer configurations.