SL20

SL20 is OceanAlpha’s compact surface vessel for bathymetric survey and water-discharge measurement in rivers, lakes, canals and sheltered coastal water. Its carbon-fibre hull measures 1.05 by 0.55 by 0.38 metres, weighs 17 kilograms with battery and draws 15 centimetres. A debris-resistant waterjet propulsion system reaches 8 knots, while endurance is six hours at a 3-knot survey speed.

One operator can transport, launch and recover the vessel and supervise it by handheld radio or autonomous mission software. The remote-control link reaches 1 kilometre and telemetry reaches 2 kilometres. A 177-millimetre moon pool and custom brackets accept echo sounders, ADCPs, RTK GNSS and water-quality instruments. SL20 has completed autonomous bathymetric work at a Polish dock and on three Tibetan glacial lakes, including high-altitude sites that conventional survey boats could not readily reach.