Placement trial of Xbloc with Echoscope in Swinoujscie

The Echoscope is a 3D sonar device which makes it possible to see the Xblocs below water in real time during placement.  The Echoscope has been mounted on a CAT 385 excavator. The excavator driver can monitor the placement of the Xblocs below water in real time on a screen mounted in the excavator. Placement of 3 m3 Xblocs in the first and second row has been carried out. The Echoscope made it possible to ensure that the Xblocs where correctly placed before releasing the lifting chain, without any diver involvement.

A video of the trial has been placed in the download section of the Xbloc website:

http://www.xbloc.com/downloads/videos

The placement trial has been carried out while attended by representatives of the contractor, Delta Marine Consultants and Coda Octopus. The 3 kilometre long breakwater required for the LNG terminal at Swinoujscie is being built by a joint venture of Boskalis, Hochtief, Per Aarsleff and Doraco.

The Echoscope is presently also being used on Xbloc projects in the Middle East.