KONGSBERG accelerates seabed mapping developments

KONGSBERG and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) are set to dive deeper than ever before in a new expedition to map vast areas of previously unexplored seafloor in the Central Pacific.

The Pacific Mapping (NA178) expedition, running 10–24 June, sees OET Exploration Vessel Nautilus deploying KONGSBERG's EM 304 MKII multibeam echo sounder for the first time. Three KONGSBERG engineers will be embedded aboard Nautilus for the full 14 days, using the mission as a critical real-world testing platform for advancing multibeam technology and helping to raise standards across the global mapping community.

Mapping the mystery

Despite covering more than 70% of the planet, huge swathes of the ocean remain uncharted at high resolution. The challenge is particularly acute in deep ocean environments, where access, cost and technical limitations typically constrain survey efforts.

The EM 304 MKII is designed to tackle these pain points head-on. Capable of operating at full ocean depth, it combines wide swath coverage with consistently high resolution, enabling survey teams to map larger areas more efficiently without compromising data quality.

For OET, this translates into a significant step forward in capability, as explained by Derek Sowers, Mapping Manager, Ocean Exploration Trust: “The EM 304 MKII is optimized for features of interest we tend to explore, like complex canyons, seamounts, ridges, trenches, seafloor spreading centers, and subsea volcanoes. It allows us to map and reveal these amazing features in greater detail and sets us up for success for further exploration using our ROVs and other assets.”

The system is expected to transform mapping efficiency for OET, effectively doubling the area that can be surveyed compared to previous equipment, while reducing both time and operational costs in remote environments.

Real-world testbed

While the scientific expedition is critically important, it also provides KONGSBERG with a unique opportunity to test and refine the EM304 MKII in demanding, real-world conditions.

Operating onboard Nautilus, the system will generate live datasets across a range of seabed environments, allowing engineers to optimize both hardware performance and software functionality. These learnings will feed directly into ongoing improvements, benefiting future deployments worldwide.

Colleen Peters, Product Manager Mapping Software, KONGSBERG, explains: “We can simulate many configurations in the lab and on our test vessels, but not the realities of deep-water surveying. That is why it is essential to test in the same conditions our customers work in, so we can confirm new features perform as intended.

“Nautilus is an ideal platform for system testing because the team is committed to pushing new technology forward. It also runs an integrated mapping internship on every cruise, giving us a rare chance to see how first-time users interact with the software.”

The power of partnership

The deployment reflects a strong collaborative approach between industry, research organizations and funding bodies, with the system installed as part of a wider upgrade supported by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research.

For KONGSBERG, partnerships such as this are central to driving innovation. Working alongside organizations like OET enables the company to accelerate development cycles, validate performance in operational settings and contribute to broader scientific and technological progress.

Colleen Peters, Product Manager Mapping Software, KONGSBERG, concludes: “As ocean industries continue to expand, the need for reliable seabed data keeps growing. Seafloor mapping supports everything from research and environmental monitoring to subsea infrastructure and better-informed policies. The EM304 MKII helps meet that need with full-ocean-depth capability, broad coverage and high-quality data. We’re looking forward to showing what it can do onboard Nautilus with OET on its first mapping expedition since the upgrade.”