Advancing Underwater Exploration
Call Toll-Free: 855-SUBSEA1
MetOcean Drifting Buoys
MetOcean Telematics is a pioneer in current monitoring technology with the development of Iridium drifting buoys, combining our trusted brand with the capabilities of the powerful Iridium satellite network. Our current monitoring buoys are relied on throughout the world’s waters, and are an integral part of research and development on the ocean.
Browse by application and contact us for quote or pricing. Authorized US distributor dealer for MetOcean.
CURRENT TRACKING
iSVP
The Surface Velocity Program (SVP, iSVP) drifting buoy is a Lagrangian current-following drifter, designed to track water currents (15 metres depth) beneath the ocean surface. Developed for unattended operation in the oceans of the world, the SVP consists of sensors to acquire meteorological and oceanographic data, a battery power source, and a satellite transmitter that relays the data through either Argos or Iridium satellite systems.
The standard SVP is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, and buoys can also be equipped with an (OPTIONAL) barometric pressure (BP) sensor. The SVP’s holey sock drogue is centered at 15 meters and is sized to provide a drag ratio (drogue frontal area to that of all other submerged frontal areas) in excess of 40:1. The SVP buoy has been a proven data collection asset for the oceanographic, meteorological, and oil and gas markets. Today, major weather forecasting agencies use MetOcean Telematics SVP buoys and the SVP is found throughout the world’s oceans.
-
Iridium or Argos telemetry
-
Rugged and compact design
-
Optional sensors available
-
Iridium certified
FISH TRACKING
iSVP - RXL
The iSVP-RXL is a fish tracking drifter composed of MetOcean's iSVP drifting buoy, the Innovasea Rx-LIVE acoustic receiver, and MetOcean’s asset management and tracking software, LiNC.
The iSVP-RXL is an innovative buoy composed of three main components: the MetOcean SVP-I-XDGS drifting buoy, Innovasea Rx-LIVE acoustic receiver, and MetOcean’s asset management and tracking software, LiNC. Together, it functions as a complete asset tracking and monitoring solution that enables the users to remotely track and monitor a variety of parameters in real time. The buoy utilizes the dependable bi-directional Iridium satellite system to communicate and to transmit essential scientific data.
The system is designed to facilitate the detection of tagged fish in the ocean by means of Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifting buoy. Additionally, the SVP, complete with a holey sock drogue, is designed to track surface currents at a depth of 15m and is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, battery voltage sensor, drogue loss sensor as well as an optional barometric pressure sensor.
-
Low Cost Telemetry Solution
-
Equipped with Acoustic Fish Tag Receiver
-
Real-time Tracking and Monitoring
OCEAN SURFACE TRACKING
Stokes Drifter - A revolutionary, compact drifting buoy that tracks currents at the ocean surface.
The Stokes Drifter is a compact drifting buoy that provides real-time surface current data. The small light-weight buoy is equipped with GPS positioning, a sea surface temperature sensor and Iridium satellite telemetry, which enables the buoy to transmit vital sensor and geo-positional location data in real-time. The buoy is geo-alarm capable and has bidirectional capabilities, allowing the end user to communicate with the drifter if it enters an area of particular interest.
The Stokes Drifter is a low-profile surface current tracking buoy. The applications for the drifter are endless due to its compact size, however, the buoy is ideal for purposes ranging from mapping large-scale ocean currents, spill monitoring, and environmental monitoring.
The Stokes Drifter uses Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) mode for transmitting data. The configuration of the Stokes Drifter may be changed using Over-The-Air (OTA) commands. These commands may be issued by MetOcean LiNC web-based platform or customized solutions could be developed.
Iridium is a network of commercial communication satellites in low earth orbit. Unlike geosynchronous satellites, Iridium satellites constantly move between the North and South poles, relaying connections from one satellite to the next. This configuration results in the most complete coverage of any satellite communications provider.
The Stokes Drifters are equipped with an Iridium 9603N transceiver that utilizes the Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) service. Iridium SBD Service is an efficient network protocol designed for short sized data messages. SBD uses a proprietary network protocol to transfer data messages to and from the remote device.
CODE/DAVIS Drifter - A revolutionary, compact drifting buoy that tracks currents at the ocean surface.
The CODE/DAVIS drifter is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, GPS receiver and the option of either Iridium or ARGOS based satellite telemetry.
The CODE/DAVIS drifter has been designed and tested to meet the performance criteria of the CODE (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment) drifter developed by Dr. Russ Davis of SIO. The CODE/DAVIS drifter is an inexpensive solution to acquire coastal and esturarian water currents within a meter of the water surface.
Utilized by the oceanographic and metrological community, the robust design allows for easy ship deployment. The CODE/DAVIS drifter is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, GPS receiver and the option of either Iridium or ARGOS based satellite telemetry. The drifters operating life is between 3-12 months depending on the required rate of transmission.
-
Highly energy efficient electronics assembly
-
Cost-efficient and reliable
-
Rugged and innovative design
-
Iridium telemetry
OIL SPILL & POLLUTANT TRACKING
Stokes Drifter - A revolutionary, compact drifting buoy that tracks currents at the ocean surface.
The Stokes Drifter is a compact drifting buoy that provides real-time surface current data. The small light-weight buoy is equipped with GPS positioning, a sea surface temperature sensor and Iridium satellite telemetry, which enables the buoy to transmit vital sensor and geo-positional location data in real-time. The buoy is geo-alarm capable and has bidirectional capabilities, allowing the end user to communicate with the drifter if it enters an area of particular interest.
The Stokes Drifter is a low-profile surface current tracking buoy. The applications for the drifter are endless due to its compact size, however, the buoy is ideal for purposes ranging from mapping large-scale ocean currents, spill monitoring, and environmental monitoring.
Oil spill response and recovery
The Stokes Drifter is easy to use and deploy, making it ideal for oil spill response and recovery. By placing the activation magnet on the surface of the device, the buoy is activated and ready to be dropped into the water from a maximum height of 10 meters. Through surface current tracking, the buoy is able to model the direction of oil spills and use Iridium satellite telemetry to provide accurate, real-time data.
Iridium also allows the drifter to have bi-directional capabilities. This is a critical ability as the end-user can communicate with the unit by sending it a command to change reporting intervals or request essential time-sensitive data when it enters a region of interest.
Track assets on the ocean surface.
The Stokes Drifter can act as a positional marker for assets by providing real-time location data through Iridium satellite telemetry. The drifter’s GPS positioning feature means its location can be tracked anywhere in the world using MetOcean’s secure data management platform, LiNC.
Monitor pollutants in the ocean.
The Stokes Drifter provides real-time tracking of biomaterials and plastics in open water (salt & fresh). Ridding the oceans of plastic starts with tracking it all down, and the drifter’s surface current tracking capabilities are ideal for monitoring contaminants on the ocean’s surface for effective cleanup.
iSphere Oil Spill Tracking Drifting Buoy
The iSPHERE is a unique buoy designed for oil spill tracking. Offered as an alternative to the standard ARGOSPHERE drifter, it uses the bi-directional Iridium satellite system to communicate and to transmit essential scientific data.
The iSPHERE is an expendable, low cost, bi-directional spherical drifting buoy developed to meet the demanding needs of the offshore oil industry, ocean freight industry and the oceanographic scientific community. The buoy was designed specifically to track and monitor oil spill incidences. The iSPHERE drifter also provides the user with essential real-time sea surface temperature data and GPS positional data.
The robust design of the iSPHERE allows the buoy to be deployed effortlessly from a vessel or an oil platform. The standard operating life of the buoy is approximately 6-12 months.
-
Bi-directional communication
-
Low-cost telemetry solution
-
Robust design
-
Iridium certified
WEATHER TRACKING
CODE/DAVIS Drifter - A revolutionary, compact drifting buoy that tracks currents at the ocean surface.
The CODE/DAVIS drifter is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, GPS receiver and the option of either Iridium or ARGOS based satellite telemetry.
The CODE/DAVIS drifter has been designed and tested to meet the performance criteria of the CODE (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment) drifter developed by Dr. Russ Davis of SIO. The CODE/DAVIS drifter is an inexpensive solution to acquire coastal and esturarian water currents within a meter of the water surface.
Utilized by the oceanographic and metrological community, the robust design allows for easy ship deployment. The CODE/DAVIS drifter is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, GPS receiver and the option of either Iridium or ARGOS based satellite telemetry. The drifters operating life is between 3-12 months depending on the required rate of transmission.
-
Highly energy efficient electronics assembly
-
Cost-efficient and reliable
-
Rugged and innovative design
-
Iridium telemetry
iSVP
The Surface Velocity Program (SVP, iSVP) drifting buoy is a Lagrangian current-following drifter, designed to track water currents (15 metres depth) beneath the ocean surface. Developed for unattended operation in the oceans of the world, the SVP consists of sensors to acquire meteorological and oceanographic data, a battery power source, and a satellite transmitter that relays the data through either Argos or Iridium satellite systems.
The standard SVP is equipped with a sea surface temperature sensor, and buoys can also be equipped with an (OPTIONAL) barometric pressure (BP) sensor. The SVP’s holey sock drogue is centered at 15 meters and is sized to provide a drag ratio (drogue frontal area to that of all other submerged frontal areas) in excess of 40:1. The SVP buoy has been a proven data collection asset for the oceanographic, meteorological, and oil and gas markets. Today, major weather forecasting agencies use MetOcean Telematics SVP buoys and the SVP is found throughout the world’s oceans.
-
Iridium or Argos telemetry
-
Rugged and compact design
-
Optional sensors available
-
Iridium certified