Towed Underwater Systems
Phoenix brings decades of proven expertise in towed underwater systems, beginning in 1999 with a historic deep-sea mission to locate, identify, and recover the lost Israeli submarine INS Dakar at a depth of 2,950 meters—a vessel that had been missing since 1969.
Since that landmark operation, Phoenix has supported hundreds of commercial and military projects involving advanced seabed imaging, search and recovery, and deepwater survey operations. Our success is driven by the skill and dedication of our highly experienced engineers, sonar specialists, and project managers, who consistently deliver reliable results in some of the world’s most challenging marine environments.
Core Capabilities:
- Side Scan Sonar Surveys
- Deepwater Search & Identification
- Subsea Target Localization
- Salvage Planning & Execution
- Data Acquisition, Processing, & Analysis
Phoenix continues to provide high-resolution, mission-ready towed system support to clients worldwide—backed by a deep commitment to safety, precision, and operational excellence.
Towed Pinger Locator
Phoenix operates a highly capable Towed Pinger Locator (TPL) System designed to detect and locate emergency relocation pingers attached to flight data and cockpit voice recorders from downed aircraft—up to 6,000 meters seawater (msw) depth, anywhere in the world.
These pingers play a critical role in aircraft accident investigations, as they are directly affixed to a plane’s black boxes. Phoenix’s TPL system offers the performance, reliability, and precision needed to support these high-priority search and recovery operations.
System Components (as needed per mission):
- Tow Fish-Houses the passive acoustic sensor for pinger detection
- Tow Cable-Connects the tow fish to the topside system
- Winch-For controlled deployment and recovery
- Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)- Supports winch operations
- Generator-Provides field power for remote operations
- Topside Control Console-Manages system control, monitoring, and data processing
Detection & Data Processing Capabilities:
- Passive acoustic detection of pingers transmitting within the 0-48 kHz range
- Signal Analyzing Software Provides: Frequency markers for Zero Beat, VFO, and audio bandwidth; Real-time display and logging of NMEA GPS data; Logging of acoustic files with synchronized positional data; 3D mapping of pinger signal amplitude vs. GPS coordinates for precise location
The Phoenix TPL system combines advanced sensor technology, high-resolution data logging, and geospatial mapping to deliver accurate and timely results in time-sensitive aircraft recovery missions.
Towing Winch Assets
Phoenix owns and operates two specialized towing winches designed to support a wide range of underwater systems, including the Towed Pinger Locator (TPL) and various side scan sonar systems. Each winch is rated to a working depth of 2,000 meters seawater (msw), enabling reliable deployment for deepwater search and survey missions.
Key Specifications:
- 4,000 meters of coaxial tow cable
- PMI (Pressure-Molded Insert) terminations for robust, secure connections
- Full sparing for rapid component replacement and mission continuity
These winches offer versatile, mission-ready towing capability with the reliability, depth, and performance necessary for deep-sea operations.
Side Scan Sonar
Phoenix provides high-resolution side scan sonar solutions for efficient and accurate seabed mapping and underwater target detection. Side scan sonar is one of the most effective tools for surveying large areas quickly and producing detailed images of the ocean floor.
We work with a network of trusted vendors to quickly source and deploy side scan sonar systems tailored to your project needs. These systems can be paired with one of our towing winches, each equipped with 4,000 meters of coaxial cable and rated to 2,000 meters seawater (msw), for deepwater missions.
Typical Applications:
- Seabed mapping and feature identification
- Wreck and debris location
- Search and recovery missions
- Pipeline and cable route surveys
- Environmental and geophysical assessments
Whether you’re supporting commercial operations or government missions, Phoenix delivers mission-ready side scan sonar capabilities with expert support and rapid mobilization.