DATA BUOY PLATFORMS

Used in a variety of locations from inner harbours to the most demanding offshore tidal applications. The DB series have proved to be an exceptionally stable & light platform. Our Buoys, manufactured in the UK are made using the latest materials, and are carefully designed to meet your needs and specifications. Modular in design, with common components, they are easily serviced, and require lower spares stocks

The manufacturing plant operates quality management systems in line with BS EN ISO 9001- 2000,

The capability to service and repair with lower service boat costs is achieved by the introduction of an innovative Service Exchange Tower (S.E.T.) system. This reduces the downtime required to maintain the Buoy. All Buoys are also designed with safety in mind, for example non-slip surfaces can be applied to the floating section, and safety handrails can be attached to the Day-mark where appropriate. The Buoys are highly durable and have a long lifecycles.

The Buoys are constructed using a floatation unit made from rotationally moulded polyethylene, pre-coloured virgin polymer, robust thick wall, collars filled with marine safety approved close-cell foam make them virtually unsinkable & the main steelwork is galvanised.

The buoys incorporate a number of features that make them ideal platforms for data collection such as protected equipment voids, industry standard radar reflectors, integral solar power modules and through hull deployment tubes, that make them ideal platforms for data collection offshore, in harbours, lakes or reservoirs and are particularly stable antenna platforms.

The buoys are ideal for OEM users who wish to fit their own electronics and sensors, but Planet Ocean offer a range of standard telemetry modules that will interface to almost any environmental instrument.

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for DB-175 video (requires broadband & windows media player)

 

 
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR DATA SHEET  

DB-125  1.25m diameter data buoy platform:

The DB-125 Data Buoy system is designed for sheltered water operations to 30m depth where instrumentation is required to be deployed near the surface and can be used as permanent or temporary platforms.

The system is modular and can be supplied with integral solar power supply, self contained solar powered navigation light, St Andrews cross top mark, choice of telemetry system, message stencilling. Data buoys can also be supplied in standard port or starboard configurations if required.

The buoys are fitted with a through hull fairlead tube so that instruments can be deployed without cables being exposed over the hull and without recovering the buoy.  The DB-125 is fitted with a hollow, removable tower section that houses the radar reflector and can house sensitive electronics modules.  The buoys have flat bottoms and are free standing.

The floatation unit, and other key components, are manufactured from rotationally moulded polyethylene with optimum E.S.C.R. (Environmental Stress Crack Resistance) Pre-coloured virgin polymers, with high UV stability Robust wall thickness collars filled with marine safety approved close-cell foam. Steel work galvanised, as standard, to BS EN ISO 1461-1999. 

 

 

Polyethelyne chassis with DBT-1 telemetry and battery box.

 

 
   

SET removed from main buoy, and showing sealed equipment compartment.

 

DB-240 2.4m data buoy showing inherent stability.

DB-175  1.75m diameter data buoy platform:

DB-200  2.00m diameter data buoy platform:

DB-240  2.40m diameter data buoy platform:

The DB- range of data buoy platforms are designed for open water & coastal operations where instrumentation is required to be deployed near the surface or at the sea bed and can be permanent or temporary platforms. These buoys will support service personnel at sea and include a steel safety rail.  The modular construction allows the buoy to be broken down for shipping.  The same basic design covers the range 1.75m, 2.00m and 2.40m diameter.

The system is modular and can be supplied with integral solar power supply comprising 4 x 20W solar panels, regulator and batteries, self contained solar powered navigation light, St Andrews cross top mark, choice of telemetry system, message stencilling. Data buoys can also be supplied in standard port or starboard configurations if required.

The buoys are fitted with a through hull fairlead tube so that instruments can be deployed without cables being exposed over the hull and without recovering the buoy.  Instrument packages may also be deployed through the centre of the hull and ballast skirt.  The DB-175 is fitted with a hollow, removable upper tower section that houses the radar reflector and can house sensitive electronics modules within its own sealed compartment.  The upper tower section has a tapered lower portion that fits into a similarly tapered receptor in the middle tower section that makes alignment at sea extremely simple.  The buoys have flat bottoms and are free standing.

 The split, two part floatation unit, and other key components, are manufactured from rotationally moulded polyethylene with optimum E.S.C.R. (Environmental Stress Crack Resistance) Pre-coloured virgin polymers, with high UV stability Robust wall thickness collars filled with marine safety approved close-cell foam. Steel work galvanised, as standard, to BS EN ISO 1461-1999.

We also offer a smaller 1.25m DB-125, and larger DB-300, 3.0m diameter hulls, all with similar features.

 

 

 

 
   

DBT-1 & 2  Data buoy telemetry modules

The DBT- range of data buoy telemetry modules, provide sophisticated data telemetry for the DB range of hulls.  They are extremely durable, and locate within the SET. Shown is the DBT-2 package with 38AH battery.  Within the DBT enclosure (sealed to IP-68) is the solar regulator, UHF radio modem, Controller circuitry, and BUOYTRACKER module.

The controller board takes any serial RS-232 data and buffers it to ensure that the radio modems (or other telemetry) has time to settle before releasing the data for transmission, it then holds the power to the radio modem up for a pre-set period to allow data transfer to complete without issue, or for the base station to grab the buoy.

 
   

 

NEW

DB-300  3m diameter data buoy platform:

The DBT-300 is the largest of the present range of buoys and is designed for open ocean deployment.  Based upon the Class II Navigation buoys used by Trinity House, the DB-300 offers a huge payload capacity, significant focal plane height and reserve buoyancy together with space for up to 800W of solar panels. As standard the buoy carries a total of 200W solar panels with 12V 400 AH batteries.

In keeping with the other DB buoys, the DB-300 has a removable tower section facilitating swap out at sea and the floatation is filled with high density foam to make the buoy unsinkable.  The BD-300 uses four floatation modules around a central core, and may be fitted with additional "assistor" floats to provide additional reserve buoyancy for deep moorings, their novel design also provides an anti roll function.  Thorough hull moon pools are provided through which sensor packs can be deployed, and the buoy can be supplied with a central large diameter moon pool through the steel core, with access via one of the superstructure hatches.

Also available is a sensor crows nest that can accommodate sensors and antennas at 4.5m above sea level whilst providing a stable working platform for maintenance crew.  Access to the crows nest is via a ladder.  Housing payloads within the superstructure avoids the need for expensive connectors, and submersion proof electronics enclosures, although not sealed, the tower provides significant protection against the elements.

Ruggedised access hatches allow access to the payload bay(s). The DB-300 carries a 4nm self contained solar powered lantern as standard along with an Echomax 305 radar reflector.

Buoys may also be fitted with lifting eye extensions to facilitate lifting on one point, whilst the buoy superstructure is clear of the lifting strop.

At around 2,700 Kgs, the DB-300 is significantly lighter than older buoys of similar size, which means that a smaller, vessel is required for deployment and recovery, and lightweight moorings can be deployed.

 

 

 
   

DB buoys, robust even when in a collision.

Deployed in Antigua, and shortly after the buoys were in place one of them was in a collision with a boat, subject to repeated propeller hits, causing considerable surface damage to the buoy.

However, due to its robust design, lightweight material and its polyurethane foam filling, the buoy is still floating. In addition the collision did minimal damage to the boat!

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BUOY IS LEFT DAMAGED?

Most buoys sink within a few days of collision damage, to find out what has happened to this buoy, 32 MONTHS AFTER COLLISION  CLICK HERE

 

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