Page 62: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2012)

62Maritime Reporter & Engineering News tion we use the tethered Saab DoubleEagle 2S ROV from the MSD for identi- fication. ?The ROV are able to provide us with live video and sonar images dur- ing identification. We?re happy with the Double Eagle MKIIS. It?s amazing what it can do,? he says. ?We?re also looking at autonomous solutions.? Saab is the underwater integrator. ?The integration works quite well,? Hansen says. ?We?re happy with it.? Once we identify and classify a contactand send that information to the MSD,the MSD will launch the MDV (mine dis- posal vehicle), which will take a picture of it with its nose mounted sonar andcamera. The MDV can carry and deliver the Nordic Defense Industries DAMDIC (Danish Mine Disposal Charge), a com- mand detonated 30kg explosive charge that destroys the mine. ?We use the ROV to carefully drop the DAMDIC close to the bottom mine. Then we get the ROV clear of the area, about 250 to 300 meters, and detonate thecharge, which detonates the mine. There are five COTS windows-based work stations aboard the MSD. ?The ship has the same consoles as in the com-mand module,? Hansen says. ?Control- ling drones can be accomplished fromany of the work stations on the ship.? The crew on the MSD can monitor en- gine temperature, oil pressure and fuelNavyMCM Denmark employs MSD and MSF ships to find, classify and neutralize mines.(Photo by Edward Lundquist) MR#11 (58-65):MR Template 11/4/2012 10:56 AM Page 62