Sonardyne Introduces Academic Discount Partnership for US Scientific Research

Houston, TX, May 31, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Marine science and ocean research programs across the United States are set to benefit from access to more affordable underwater technology thanks to a new discount scheme introduced by Houston-based Sonardyne Inc. Under the terms of the company’s Academic Discount Partnership, Sonardyne is offering eligible US academic and oceanographic institutions a 20% discount on equipment across its extensive product line-up, including long range target tracking systems, seabed sensors and through-water communication instruments. The level of discount being offered is expected to now bring Sonardyne’s award-winning 6G technology platform within financial reach of a wide range of US-based scientists for the very first time.

Sonardyne is recognised as leading designer and manufacturer of underwater acoustic positioning, navigation, wireless control and communication technologies with applications for the company’s products found within offshore energy, hydrography, oceanography and maritime security. Throughout its four decades of business operations, the company has had a long association with US scientific and academic institutes and already counts many leading ocean science laboratories as existing customers.

Speaking about the introduction of the scheme, Dr Ralph Rayner, Non-Executive Chairman for Sonardyne said, “Our Academic Discount Partnership agreement is recognition of the valuable work undertaken by universities, research institutes and private, not-for-profit foundations in furthering our knowledge of the world’s oceans and the diverse factors that impact them. In making Sonardyne’s high performance, commercial-of-the-shelf technology available to these organisations at a substantial discount, we hope to remove the financial barrier that may have prevented them from choosing the best available underwater technology on the market to support their valuable work.”

The list of products that qualify for the 20% academic discount is extensive and includes Sonardyne’s sixth generation (6G®) product platform, recently granted a prestigious international award for technological innovation. 6G products include Ranger 2 USBL, a high performance acoustic tracking and vessel positioning system that is widely used to monitor the position of ROVs, AUVs and towfish conducting surveys in deep and shallow water. Fetch is another 6G product eligible for the educational discount. It is a long life seafloor sensor that can be configured to monitor and log environmental parameters for many years, only uploading stored data to the surface when commanded to do so.