The Vieques Project > NOAA Projects > Underwater UXO Demonstration Project

NOAA Projects

NOAA NRT vessel

Graphic representation of multibeam survey data

ROV video still image of Underwater UXO

Underwater UXO Demonstration Project

NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) lead an underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) hydrographic demonstration project in Vieques, Puerto Rico, from November 5-15, 2006. This was a joint project between OR&R, the Office of Coast Survey, the U.S. Navy, and the University of New Hampshire's Joint Hydrographic Center .

A 27-foot NOAA Navigational Response Team (NRT) vessel using high resolution side scan and multibeam sonar, magnetometer, a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), plus SCUBA divers, were used to determine the quantity, types and distribution of UXO and other objects on the seafloor and the associated habitat. The project was intended to demonstrate the effectiveness of various hydrographic technologies to help guide planning and technology choices for future underwater surveys.

The primary survey was conducted in Bahiá Salina del Sur, a bay known to contain underwater ordnance located in the southeastern coast of Vieques.  Ordnance and debris imaged from the NRT survey were verified by the ROV and SCUBA divers. NOAA also used an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to detect sonar targets in Bahiá Icacos, a bay on the northeastern coast of the island also known to contain underwater UXO.

Despite many logistical challenges, the multi-disciplined NOAA, UNH and U.S. Navy team demonstrated the effectiveness of various hydrographic technologies in detecting underwater UXO. Resulting data were imported into a geographic information system, which has been used to guide planning and technology choices for subsequent underwater surveys.

Underwater Unexploded Ordnance

Vieques was formerly used for military training operations, so the waters surrounding part of the island contain UXO and other related munitions debris. This is the first project of its sort that begins to characterize the extent of underwater UXO in Vieques, and provides valuable data helping to develop more comprehensive underwater UXO studies in the waters around Vieques.

For more information:

• NOAA Navigation Response Teams factsheet
• Klein 5000 Sidescan Sonar Datasheet (PDF)
• SeaBat 8125 Multibeam Sonar Datasheet (PDF)
• Marine Magnetics SeaSpy Magnetometer Datasheet (PDF)
• NOAA’s Benthos Stingray ROV Datasheet (PDF)
• NOAA’s Hydroid Remus AUV Datasheet (PDF)
• Map Products - Proposed Underwater Unexploded Ordnance Survey Design
• Map Products - Underwater Unexploded Ordnance Bahiá Salina del Sur (PDF)
• Map Products - Underwater Unexploded Ordnance Bahiá Icacos (PDF)

top