M191-26 River Tamar, Beauty Point and West Arm – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Deployment

M191-26 River Tamar, Beauty Point and West Arm – Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Deployment 

Mariners are advised that an untethered autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will be deployed in the autonomous operations area at Beauty Point and West Arm from Monday, 18 May, to Tuesday, 19 May 2026, between 09:00 and 17:00 hours.

The AUV will conduct a series of manoeuvres below the water surface within the deployment area as part of a training exercise. It will surface for brief periods (less than 10 minutes) every 30 minutes during deployment to acquire a GPS fix. The standby vessel Tapilti will be on-site during these planned surfacings and will display flag ALPHA. The vessel will also make contact with any approaching surface vessels on VHF Channels 14/16.

Please note that the AUV may conduct unplanned surfacing; therefore, 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.

Tapilti

AUV