M173-26 Port of Burnie – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

M173-26 Port of Burnie – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Mariners are advised that an untethered autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will be deployed in the vicinity of the Port of Burnie from Monday, 4 May at 1800 hours to Tuesday, 5 May at 0400 hours.

The AUV will conduct a series of manoeuvres below the water surface within the deployment area. The AUV will surface for brief periods (<10 minutes) every 30 minutes during deployment to acquire a GPS fix. The standby vessel Tapilti will be onsite during these planned surfacing’s and will display flag ALPHA and make contact over VHF Channels 14 and 16 to any approaching surface vessels. It is possible the AUV will conduct unplanned surfacing; as such, any vessels approaching the approximate current location of the AUV will be contacted on VHF Channel 16 and requested to change course if there is a risk of collision.

Mariners should navigate the area with caution.