Simrad SN90
Recommended For:
- Commercial Fishing
The Simrad SN90 introduces a new and efficient tool for purse seiners and trawlers. Some have called the SN90 "five echo sounders in one" after experiencing the information from the five individually controlled inspection beams.
Simrad SN90 can be configured as a forward looking multibeam sonar for trawlers.
On a trawler, the forward looking transducer is mounted on the vessel’s bow, well protected against acoustic noise from hull, machinery and propellers. The high resolution and long range allows you to detect and investigate single fish and schools - even those close to the bottom - from a distance of several hundred meters. The sonar beams point forward in a 120 degrees swath.
The unique flexibility provided by the Simrad SN90 sonar allows you to put it to use at almost any fishery depending on how the transducer is installed.
If you install the transducer under the bow looking forward, the SN90 can be used as a trawling sonar. The transducer can be fixed to the hull or bulb like a regular echo sounder transducer. If you need protection against ice or obstacles in the sea, you can use a hull unit. With a hull unit you can retract the transducer when the SN90 is not used.
In this configuration, the sonar beams point forward in a wide swath that can be tilted to match you requirements. A full vertical slice is also available, as well as separate inspection split beams. These can be individually trained and tilted to fit your needs. Stack the inspection beams on top of each other, or spread them out to investigate echoes on either side of the vessel. Bottom detector and bottom expansion functionalities have been included in the inspection beam presentations, as well as a zoom option. This allows you to detect fish close to the bottom, and it will give you more time to decide before the fish reaches the trawl.
On a purse seiner, the side looking transducer gives you full control over the setting of the seine. It is installed on the side of the hull facing the purse seine. There is no need to retract the transducer using a large hull unit. A large horizontal coverage area provides you with the full overview. The 256 individual beams have a horizontal coverage area of 160 degrees and the vertical beam width is typically 5 to 8 degrees (varies with the frequency).
With the SN90 transducer mounted on the side of the hull facing the purse seine, you can work safely without damaging it with ropes and wires. Since the transducer is flush mounted, you do not need to retract it for protection.
A large number of individual beams provide you with a wide coverage area, and you can tilt the search area all the way down. In addition to this, the individually steerable inspection beams can be used for more detailed inspections. You can observe fish behaviour, target strength and biomass. This allows you to run alongside a school of fish and observe, just as you would with a "horizontal" echo sounder. By analyzing the school without passing over it, fish avoidance is minimized. The additional information provided by the SN90 will further help you to reduce the bycatch, and you can detect unwanted species. To catch the correct school size you can conduct a volume estimation before setting the net.
(A) Display (the second display is optional)
(B) Processor Unit (computer)
(C) Operating Panel
(D) Transceiver Unit
(E) Hull Unit (optional, commonly used on trawlers)
(F) Transducer
The cable between the wheelhouse units and the SN90 Transceiver Unit in the sonar room must be a high-quality Ethernet cable. It can be purchased locally or ordered from us.
