Marine Instruments Satellite Buoys

MSi Satellite Solar GPS Buoy

The MSi Satellite GPS buoy transmits its GPS position and water temperature at predetermined, selectable intervals. You can send commands to change the reporting interval or request an immediate position. The Iridium® Satellite constellation has global coverage and less than 3 minutes message latency, so these buoys can operate anywhere on the globe and respond quickly to your commands. Its operations are autonomous and continuous because the solar panels keep the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries fully charged. In case of a battery failure, the buoy has an alkaline backup battery pack which allows for over a month of continued operations – time for recovery if feasible.

The buoy is of stealthy design; you can control it from a vessel or land using a Windows computer with a connection to the Internet. There are strong LEDs which you can turn on for night visibility or recovery. Because of the high reliability and durability, the MSi buoy is ideal when positional knowledge and high availability are required.

MSi Solar GPS Buoy
Diagram to show dimensions
MSi Dimensions
The MSi v2021 buoy has different operating modes as shown. Each mode except for stand-by expires automatically.

Ghost Net Recovery in Hawaii uses an MSi buoy

https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/01/helicopter-fishing-for-ghost-nets-in-hawaii/

EarthSightful Solutions LLC collaborated with NOAA and Friends of the Sea environmental association. The MSi was used in a project in Hawaii to locate and dispose of a large mass of marine garbage. Marine garbage, consisting mainly of abandoned fishing gear (Ghost Nets) and plastic trash, often ends up in areas that are difficult to access making collection difficult. In this case, the MSi buoy was placed in the mass of garbage from a helicopter and transmitted its GPS position so that recovery vessel could track it .
Photo courtesy of Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat
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