Echo class survey vessel
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The two ships of Echo class are the latest vessels to join the Royal Navy's Hydrographic Squadron. Given the names Echo and Enterprise, each ship displaces approximately 3,500 tonnes, and is equipped with a state of the art suite of equipment, including:
- Multi beam echo sounder
- Single beam echo sounder
- Survey Planning and Processing Systems
- Side-scan sonar
- Oceanographic Probe and sensors
- Undulating Oceanographic Profiler
- Doppler Current Log
- Sub-bottom Profiler
- Bottom Sampling Equipment
- Survey Motor Boat fitted with multi beam sonar and sidescan sonar
The two ships follow the same type of crew rotation pattern as HMS Scott, in that 2/3 of their crew is needed to keep the ship operational, with the remaining 1/3 ashore. This allows each ship to be available for deployment for up to 330 days a year. As with other Royal Navy survey vessels, Echo and Enterprise can also be used to support mine-warfare vessels.