Island-hop ready
8.5 kg including bracket, DC power and a compact integrated architecture reduce mobilisation friction.
Independent procurement research Maldives · 14 Aug 2026
MAP THE UNSEEN.
Ten multibeam systems. Seventy-eight primary sources. One practical answer for reefs, lagoons, harbours and deep atoll passes.
- 10
- systems ranked
- 78
- primary sources
- 600 m
- recommended reach
- 96.8
- top weighted score
#01Recommended
96.8Maldives-weighted score
04°10′N
073°30′E
01 / The procurement call
Best overall
NORBIT SUBSEA
WINGHEAD X
Long Range
The strongest single-system balance for Maldivian reef detail, lagoon work, harbour surveys and deeper atoll channels.
Smart buying move
Quote the Standard head on the same package. Choose it if at least 95% of planned work is under 100 m and the Long Range uplift exceeds 15%.
0.2 to 600 m
200 to 700 kHz
50 to 80 W
Reef to pass
High-frequency detail for coral heads, plus reserve range for deeper passages and atoll slopes.
Motion control
Active roll is standard, with pitch, yaw and dual-swath options for hard-running local workboats.
USV later
Start on a crewed workboat, then move the same compact system onto a suitable USV when the workflow is mature.
Choose by mission
Start with the water.
Not the brochure.
Select a mission to focus the ranking around detail, depth, platform and budget.
The ranked field
Ten systems.
Zero brochure worship.
Weighted for reef and shallow-water performance, depth versatility, coverage, navigation integration, portability, tropical ruggedness, motion handling, software, support and readiness.
0196.8
NORBIT SUBSEA
WINGHEAD X Long Range
- 200 to 700 kHz
- 0.2 to 600 m
- Up to 2 × 1024
- 50 to 80 W
Best mixed-mission purchase for reef detail, lagoon work and deeper passes, with low-mass workboat and USV potential.
Watch New platform. Demand a comparative demo and a Standard-head quote.
Official details0292.0
KONGSBERG DISCOVERY
EM 2042
- 150 to 700 kHz
- 0.5 to 600 m
- 4096 max
- 93 W
The premium call for data density, true yaw control, mature workflows and a globally defensible support ecosystem.
Watch Higher integration cost and a larger mobilisation footprint.
Official details0388.8
KONGSBERG DISCOVERY
EM 2040P MKII
- 200 to 700 kHz
- Up to 550 m
- 1024 dual
- 160 to 175 W
A proven, rental-friendly workboat package for lagoons, ports, reef passages and high-detail inspection.
Watch Heavy and power hungry for small electric USVs.
Official details0488.2
R2SONIC
Sonic 2024-V PLUS
- 170 to 450 kHz
- 700 kHz option
- 500 m+
- 50 W
Strong coral, port and infrastructure detail with mature field support and a defined integrated package.
Watch Confirm every licensed mode and signed range claim in the quote.
Official details0583.9
R2SONIC
Sonic 2026-V PLUS
- 90 to 700 kHz options
- 800 m+
- 1024
- 100 W
A slope and deep-pass specialist that keeps near-detail modes while extending the acoustic envelope.
Watch Split wet-end mass is excessive for rapid island hopping.
Official details0683.6
TELEDYNE RESON
SeaBat T20-ASV + Intrepid
- 190 to 420 kHz
- 0.5 to 460 m max
- 1024
- 90 W
A mature ASV option for workboats and medium USVs, with autonomous controls and integrated navigation.
Watch IP21 processor needs a dry, cooled tropical enclosure.
Official details0783.5
TELEDYNE RESON
SeaBat T51-R
- 350 to 430 kHz
- 700 to 800 kHz
- 0.5 to 300 m
- 6 mm
The ultra-detail specialist for coral heads, wrecks, quay walls and reef-face inspection.
Watch AC rack, payload and price make it a specialist rather than the first buy.
Official details0881.9
CHC NAVIGATION
HN-400M
- 400 / 550 kHz
- 0.2 to 200 m
- 512 beams
- 3.5 kg
The strongest value pilot for island-to-island portability, shallow lagoons and compact USV deployment.
Watch Very new. Require a Maldives sea trial, support SLA and loaner plan.
Official details0974.8
GEOACOUSTICS
GeoMB 401
- 400 kHz
- 0.2 to 200 m+
- 512
- 60 W
A promising integrated shallow and medium-depth package with compact logistics and Applanix navigation.
Watch New, single-frequency and not yet proven enough for first-choice award.
Official details1071.9
WASSP / ENL
S3Pr
- 160 kHz
- 1 to 400 m
- 224 beams
- Two cases
Turnkey logistics and training value for Order 1a lagoon and coastal work.
Watch Lower beam density and a 4° along-track beam reduce coral-object detail.
Official detailsScores compare documented technical fit, not price. Every public price was RFQ-only, so no prices were fabricated.
The complete system
A transducer is equipment.
This is a survey system.
Special Order outcomes are created by the whole chain, not a sonar brochure.
-
01
ACOUSTICS
Multibeam sonar
Bathymetry, backscatter and, where required, water-column data.
-
02
6-DOF
Position + motion
Survey-grade GNSS/INS for position, heading, roll, pitch, heave and time.
-
03
VERTICAL
Sound speed + datum
Surface SV, full-depth profiling and a defined tide or GNSS water-level workflow.
-
04
PHYSICAL
Platform + integration
Vessel or USV, rigid mount, measured offsets, clean power, cabling and protected storage.
-
05
ACCEPTANCE
Software + QA + support
Planning, acquisition, patch test, TPU, processing, deliverables, training and spares.
Built for Maldives field reality
Beautiful water.
Unforgiving geometry.
Several environments per atoll
Reef flats, lagoons, harbours and steep passes do not reward the same frequency or platform.
Heat, salt + UV
Sealed connectors, corrosion-resistant mounts, rinsing, spare cables and tropical cooling beat brochure glamour.
Usable swath is earned
Coral slopes, wakes, bubbles, vessel motion and sound-speed change can cut real coverage.
Vertical control needs a plan
Low tide range does not remove local datum, water-level and chart-datum requirements.
CORS cannot be assumed
Carry your own base, RTK and raw PPK. Treat NTRIP as an efficiency layer, not the only path.
Mobility creates output
Rugged cases, compact wet ends, rapid mounts and offline workflows save days between islands.
S-5B
Category B
IS HUMAN.
Category B refers to the competence and training of hydrographic personnel. It is not an equipment category.
S-44
Survey performance
IS THE OUTPUT.
S-44 defines requirements for completed surveys and datasets. Hardware supports an order only through correct integration, calibration, uncertainty analysis and accepted field results.
Prudent target: Configure for S-44 Special Order objectives in critical harbours, reef entrances and channels. Order 1a may fit less critical lagoon and coastal work. The client or responsible authority assigns the order.
No certification claim: This ranking is a procurement decision aid. It is not IHO certification, regulatory approval or a performance guarantee.
The full research packet
Every spec.
Every caveat.
Every source.
Open the live comparison model with the complete field BOM, scoring logic, S-44 calculator, platforms, FAT/SAT gates and five-year RFQ/TCO template.
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