The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, said in their latest release that they will officially welcome a new vessel to its fleet today at Fort Norfolk.
The survey vessel Ewell, a 61 foot catamaran outfitted with the latest multibeam SONAR technology and a crane capable of lifting 4,500 pounds, will serve as a dual-purpose vessel for the district, performing both as a survey vessel and marine debris removal vessel.
” The Ewell has a unique capability in that it is outfitted equally well for both our hydrographic survey and marine debris removal mission, ” said Scott Titus, Norfolk District port engineer . “ The sonar suite is arranged to allow both survey data collection and initial processing while on the job site, increasing productivity.”
With a top end speed of more than 34 knots, the 1,970 horsepower twin-engine, jet-propelled Ewell is the fastest vessel in the district’s fleet, USACE said.
This speed translates into a more rapid response when called upon by port partners to remove hazards to navigation or investigate potential shoaling in the federal navigation channels.
[mappress mapid=”25191″]