Kongsberg Maritime is pleased to announce that its Lynnwood, Washington-based division, Kongsberg Underwater Technology recently delivered a $2 million equipment re-order from the US Coast Guard for the USCG's Integrated Anti-swimmer Systems (IAS) program.
The equipment contract follows an initial IAS contract worth $3 million and is administered through a continuous contract with the U.S. federal government's General Services Administration.
Following 9/11, the US Coast Guard was charged with assessing the level of threat, and the capability to deal with it, within every US port.
A large concern was the threat of malicious swimmers and divers to commercial piers, government and military vessels, cruise ships, terminals and other high-value assets. The IAS program was developed in response to this threat.
Kongsberg underwater surveillance system technology forms the basis of the IAS system and combined with software enables the IAS teams to detect, track, classify, localize, notify and respond to potential underwater threats.
The system's processor captures a wide acoustic swath and then classifies the acquired contacts and alerts system operators to their presence. Sonar images positively identify whether the detection is a swimmer (threat) and not just debris, marine life or some other object.
The system design is mobile and is deployed when necessary to protect high-valued assets and events. The additional components supplied by Kongsberg will further enhance the US Coast Guard's IAS program and its future success.
