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Confident Cruising
Groundings and collisions cost lives and money and have significant environmental impacts. What is ahead of the vessel and underwater is the most essential navigation information that can mitigate a dangerous situation. The best prevention is to have a suite of tools working together to provide you the most information possible allowing for heightened situational awareness.
FarSounder Partners with Propspeed for Biofouling Solution
FarSounder has approved Propspeed FoulFree as an acceptable coating for the Argos sonar array face to limit biofouling. As a result, the companies have come together to offer the first application of FoulFree at no charge with each new Argos purchase.
FarSounder’s Sonar Cable Advance Program
FarSounder has implemented the Sonar Cable Advance Program. They are offering advance delivery of their wet-mateable sonar connection cables at no charge for any qualified new build project. This program reduces the cost of installing an Argos Sonar and will make it easier for the owner's team to include the sonar system when they are selecting the rest of the navigation electronics.
FarSounder Announces European Patent
FarSounder, the leader in 3D forward looking sonar, is pleased to announce the issue of their first European Patent.
FarSounder Announces Leadership Changes
Matthew Zimmerman, the company’s former Executive Vice President of Engineering, is taking the helm as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Their former CEO, Cheryl M. Zimmerman, is continuing her role as Chairman of the Board as well as taking on the position of Market Development Strategist.
Mapping the Sea Floor - Innovations in Forward Looking Sonar
All Argos FLS systems use FarSounder’s SonaSoft™ software for processing and displaying data. Its main function is to view real-time data in the path of the vessel. In addition to detecting the seafloor and hazards ahead in real-time, it also has a unique application called Local History Mapping™. The application stores this data for use as additional information to supplement older chart data.
RRS Sir David Attenborough Completes Ice Trials
The RRS Sir David Attenborough, equipped with FarSounders Forward-Looking Sonar, completes ice trials during its maiden voyage to Antarctica – a critical milestone in the commissioning of Britain’s new polar ship.
Update for Argos: Software Collaboration Enhances Forward-Looking Sonar
On the evergoing journey to protect the ecosystem and keep vessels and passengers safe, FarSounder and Navtor are making and impact. They share the same core goals of improving ocean safety through innovation and technology while simultaneously keeping the focus on the customer.
Farsounder Recommends Propspeed FoulFree for Sonar Transducers
Propspeed, an innovator of underwater foul-release coatings, received an endorsement from FarSounder, a pioneer in navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, which has tested the Propspeed Foulfree foul-release coating and recommends it for application by their customers, dealers and partner shipyards.
Here Be Dragons
“An alternative is the American-built FarSounder, which gives you a sonar picture of the seabed up to 1,000 metres ahead. Fitted to the mothership, it is a six-figure investment and the boat needs to be hauled out for installation, but it works at speeds of 20 to 25 knots. “Our systems are designed to map the sea floor in 3D out to a range of at least eight times the depth of water below the transducer module,” says Matt Zimmerman, Farsounder’s executive vice-president of engineering. “However, even in shallow water, they can detect in-water obstacles out to the full range of the sonar. We have had a number of customers report that they can see large whales with the sonar.”
Safely Navigating Polar Regions
Relying heavily on chart data and standard navigation tools for safe navigation is risky. Vessels will find themselves in dangerous situations due to lack of data. This is particularly relevant in polar regions. These areas are poorly charted at best and at worst are mostly uncharted territories.
FarSounder - Giving Vessels an Underwater Eye Ahead
In the late 1990s, electrical engineering student Mathew Zimmerman and James H. Miller, his professor of Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, had an idea for an improved sonar system that could look ahead of a vessel and warn of subsea obstructions, like the rocks that punctured the hulls of the Exxon Valdez and QE II. They Officially began work on their forward-looking sonar in 2001 and launched the first product, the FS-3 Navigation & Obstacle Avoidance System, three years later. Since then, FarSounder has received several patents for their 3D forward-looking technology.
Women at the Helm: Cheryl Zimmerman - FarSounder
From DSNM: This is the third in our inspiring series about great female leaders within the superyacht industry. Find out more in this blog about Cheryl Zimmerman and her journey to the very top of FarSounder, producers of 3D forward looking marine navigation products for obstacle avoidance and shallow water navigation.
FarSounder New Release with NAVTOR Integration
FarSounder and NAVTOR are proud to announce a new partnership. FarSounder now includes support for NAVTOR official ENC chart data in their base software package to its customers.
FarSounder Forward-Looking Sonar: "We have the missing piece of the puzzle”
FarSounder, a sonar and navigation company based in Rhode Island that specializes in patented 3D sonar technology, is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in what is inevitably a very competitive industry. SYT's Francesca Webster caught up with FarSounder’s CEO Cheryl Zimmerman to find out about their Argos sonar navigation line, how the company continues to innovate and what makes FarSounder standout from its competitors.
Overcoming Navigation Challenges with Forward Looking Sonar
Every ship needs protection from the unknown. There are many potential dangers undetectable with traditional navigation tools. FarSounder Argos technology is a solution to fill in the gaps where other technologies fall short. The company is addressing the reality of these limitations to fulfil the navigational needs of all types of vessels.
Celebrating 20 Years of 3D Forward Looking Sonar Innovation
This is an exciting year indeed for those clever folks at FarSOunder as they reach their 20th anniversary of the innovation and creation of their specialized 3D Forward Looking Sonar systems. Having a great highly skilled team who are passionate about protecting not only the vessels and crew who sail our oceans but also the oceans themselves, their achievements to date are most definitely something to celebrate.
Argos 350: Top 3 Questions Answered
FarSounder released its latest version of Forward Looking Sonar, the more compact Argos 350, in early 2020. This new model is designed for vessels 60 feet (18m) to about 130 feet (40m). This model is ideal for mid-sized yachts and high-performance sailing vessels to help them navigate and avoid dangers. This technology is new to this market. Below you will find 3 frequently asked questions that often come up in conversations with potential customers. This will give you a better understanding of the technology and its uses.
Setting a Clear Course
Learn about all of the technological features in the latest bridges including FarSounder's Argos systems in the featured article from Onboard Magazine's Summer 2021 publication
Supporting Small Businesses at Center of VP Kamala Harris’ Visit to RI
CEO of FarSounder Cheryl Zimmerman sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris and other female small business owners in a roundtable discussion.