Its name is SEAFAC, which stands for Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility, and it is an important and continuing U.S. Navy project developed by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) for the purpose of measuring the acoustic signatures of naval vessels. Science Applications International Corporation recently upgraded the measurement capabilities at the facility on behalf of NSWC. As part of these facility upgrades, SAIC opted to use Resinex support buoys.
The SEAFAC site, in operation since 1991, is located in the Behm Canal, a fiord in an isolated area of Alaska, near Ketchikan. The location and depth of this fiord provide low environmental noise levels, without acoustic interference. In this remote, quiet environment, advanced measurements are carried out to assess the noise levels generated by american submarines while navigating at full speed in deep water. The aim was to reduce noise levels to a minimum for the latest Seawolf and Virginia classes of submarines.
SAIC will mount these highly sensitive hydrophone arrays on two cables supported by two large Resinex support buoys suspended 45 metres below the sea surface. When the submarine passes between the two arrays, the system will acquire all of the necessary acoustic measurements. This process involves the use of costly, sophisticated, and advanced electronic equipment, and Resinex is pleased that SAIC has chosen to use its Resinex type PEM 21 floats (2.1 metres width by 3.1 metres height, tested to operate at a depth of 60 metres and produce 6 tons of net buoyancy).
