JQS-2170 [O]

Priority [

Form 4 (2/2)

] A: Carry out immediately

[ x ] B: Carry out at periodical inspection

[

] C: Carry out upon clients request

] D: Information and news

1Subject
Check, replace and reject the 200kHz old type transducer for echo sounder.
2Objective Equipment
UT-200ND** transducers for 200kHz echo sounder JFE-582.
2.1 Over 14m deep draft vessels within one year after launch.
2.2 Stocked UT-200ND** transducers in our branches.
** means cable length 20, 30, 40 or 50.
We have released A version improved transducers UT-200ND**A from April 13, 2007.
So, old type UT-200ND** transducers are objective.
3Outlines and provision
[Outlines]
About only 200kHz old type UT-200ND** echo sounder transducers equipped with over
14m draft vessels, the transducer might bend by high water pressure for about one year.
When the bubbles float under the vessels hull on berthing, the air would stay on the
bend transducer. Then the bottom echo might fade out about half an hour or more.
To check the bending, please see attached Check sheet for transducer bending.
[Provision]
a) Check and replace: On the berth, visit the deep draft (over 14m) vessels and use
attached check sheet Check sheet for UT200ND echo sounder transducer bending to
decide the bending is occur or not.
b) Scrap the old stocked transducers: Please scrap the stocked old type UT-200ND**
200kHz echo sounder transducers. On scrapping, please comply with the local law.
Please order the standby new type UT-200ND**A transducers by z code sales order.
Please count and take a picture of the reject transducers to report our marine
electronics quality assurance department.
4Attached document
Check sheet for UT200ND echo sounder transducer bending. (Total three pages.)

NA09AL0302A attached sheet

Check sheet for transducer bending

1/3

Check sheet for 200kHz echo sounder transducer (UT200ND**) bending

Outlines:
If the echo sounder transducer surface is bended, the bubbles would tend to stay the surface of
transducer. The bubbles would block the ultrasonic to fade out the bottom echo and digital depth
value. If sounding is good on vessel running but no sounding after anchoring, we should conclude
that transducer surface is bended.
Please do three steps checking to conclude the bending.
1. hear evidence from the officer
2. check past recorded paper chart on the vessel running and berthing
3. check depth sounding on the berth
1.

hear evidence from the officer

1.1
Can you hear evidence of
echo sounder from the
officer?

No
Go to 2. check past recorded
paper chat.

Yes
1.2
Did the echo sounder lost
the depth between 2m and
200m bottom.

No

Normal condition.

Yes
a) Sometimes Digital depth value
disappears.

Hear the detail condition

*1
of disappearing.

b) On approaching and berthing,

digital depth value disappear
for few minutes

Normal condition.
Tugboat bubbles might flow *1
under the hull temporary

c) After anchoring, digital depth

value disappear for dozens
minutes.

Bending might occur. Go to 2

If paper chart is recorded, copy
or take photos.

d) On berth, digital depth value

disappears always.

Bending or too shallow depth

might occur. Go to 2

e) On running, digital depth value

disappear. But after anchoring,
digital depth value appear.

Bubbles from own bow

*2
might flow under the hull.

*1: We think a),b) is normal condition. If the paper chart was recorded, please go to next page check flow.
*2: If this trouble was occurred on the first sea trial, transducer mounting position would wrong.
If this trouble was occurred suddenly, the front of transducer might be uneven to made bubbles.

NA09AL0302A attached sheet

2.

Check sheet for transducer bending

2/3

Check flow by using past recorded paper chart on the vessel running and berthing
2.1
Does past recorded
paper chart exist?

No
Go to 3. check depth
sounding on the berth.

2.2
On running, was bottom
echo always recorded?

No

Yes
2.3
On berthing, was
bottom echo always
recorded?
Yes

Normal condition
No bending

No

a) Intermittently bottom lost

by tugboat bubbles is
normal.
b) More than ten minutes
continuous bottom lost,
bending might occur.
Detail check is next page.

Photo 1 example of 2.2 a) bubbles effect on bottom echo

One minute Time mark
30sec 30sec

Unsteady bottom
recording

a) If bottom echo was recorded

intermittently and vary by
vessel speed or loadage, the
bubbles made by the vessels
bow might flow the transducer
surface. We recommend to
moving
the
transducer
position on next dry dock.
b) If bottom echo was not
recorded at all time, other
trouble; transducer broken or
cable snapped off; might
occur.

photo 2 example of 2.3 a)

Intermittently bottom lost by
tugboat bubbles is normal
[draft setting: 10m]

Lost the bottom

echo for about
80sec.

Thin bubbles might

display between zero
line and bottom.

Dense
bubbles block
bottom echo.

NA09AL0302A attached sheet

Check sheet for transducer bending

photo 3 example of tag boat bubbles

3/3

photo 4 example of paper recording

Upper: JFE-585(50kHz) bow
Lower: JFE-582(200kHz) stern

bubbles
Bow side seems slight bubbles interference.
Stern side seems strong bubbles interference.
The bottom echo recovers from the bubbles interference
after few minutes. This is normal condition.
(If 200kHz and 50kHz transducer is set to the same
position, higher frequency 200kHz echo sounder is
tougher than 50kHzs about bubbles interference)
3.

check depth sounding on the berth

3.1 check the depth by chart and hear
the vessels draft.
Depth from transducer = depth -draft
3.2
Is depth from transducer
2m or more?

No

Yes
3.3
Is digital depth display
correct?
Yes

No

If the depth from transducer is less than 2m,

the digital depth display might disappear the
depth value.
Ask the officer to keep the recorded paper on
next arrival, and check again.

3.4
When set the gain to
maximum, does the bottom
echo record on paper?
Yes

Normal
condition
No bending

No bending but bottom echo

might be rather weak.
Check the echo sounder body,
cable, connection and transducer.

No

Bending should occur.

Check again after one hour.
Still no bottom echo on the
paper,
conclude
that
transducer is bended.