RAINIER and her launches acquire hydrographic sounding data. RAINIER has six survey launches equipped with different sonar systems including vertical beam, multibeam, and side scan. The Hydrographic Surveys Division offers detailed information about different types of hydrographic surveying and data acquisition systems.

RAINIER is equipped with a hull-mounted SeaBeam/Elac 1050D MKII multibeam echo sounder system for acquisition of shallow- and intermediate-water depths. This system is used in offshore areas with depths ranging from 40-2700 meters.

Two of the launches are equipped with Knudsen 320M vertical-beam echo sounder systems for acquisition in shallow water. This system is used to define near shore areas in depths ranging from 4-50 meters.

Two launches are equipped with hull-mounted Reson SeaBat 8101 extended range multibeam echo sounder systems for acquisition of shallow-water depth information. This system is used to obtain full-bottom coverage in depths ranging from 4-150 meters. One launch is also equipped with a Reson 8125 multibeam system that provides very high resolution imagery in waters less than 40 meters.

Two launches are equipped with hull-mounted SeaBeam/Elac 1180 multibeam echo sounder systems for acquisition of shallow- and intermediate-water depths. This system is used to obtain full-bottom coverage in depths ranging from 40-400 meters.

Two Klein sides scan systems are also used for obtaining side scan sonar data. These are an excellent way to obtain more graphic representations of the sea floor. They are most often used to identify features which will require further investigation with the multibeam systems.

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ENS McGovern reviews the sonar “bite” screen during acquisition.	SS Muzzey driving survey lines near the face of the Hubbard Glacier.	AST Gendron monitoring multibeam data acquisition
A hull mounted side scan sonar transducer.	TAS Wolke watches incoming vertical beam data.