Van AalstPort of StocktonTOC Europe 2023TBA GroupIMPA EventsBühler GmbH
  • TBA Group
  • Bühler GmbH
  • TOC Europe 2023
  • The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology
  • Vigan
  • Telestack

Famous face gets a lesson on surveying

Famous face gets a lesson on surveying

(Posted on 21/05/21)

Cygnus Instruments was founded in the 1980s in the South West of the UK by a marine surveyor to supply equipment to the surveying industry that was small, rugged and produced quick, accurate and reliable results.

Mr John Heath, a highly experienced and respected Marine Surveyor with over 40 years’ experience is also the current Technical Director for the IIMS. John recalls using his first piece of Cygnus equipment back in the 1980s. “I certainly remember using the very large oscilloscopes, pencil and tracing paper to conduct diminution surveys - and naturally I recall what a revolution it was for our industry when Cygnus launched its first Single Echo and then Multiple Echo thickness gauge. The Cygnus units were very much designed for marine surveying, with a real focus on simplicity and ruggedness; Cygnus equipment has always been waterproof - as the job can of course get pretty messy and wet!”.

Cygnus developed the Multiple Echo technique in the 1980s in conjunction with IACS (International Association of Classification Societies).   This special ultrasonic technique that uses a “single crystal” probe uses multiple back wall reflections to both ignore coatings (such as anti-fouling paint) and to give an extremely accurate and reliable result. The technique has truly stood the test of time and is still a necessity for permissible equipment used by IACS-approved service providers.

Recently, John received a huge surprise when he was conducting a purchase survey on an ex-passenger vessel on the River Thames. As he was taking measurements with his Cygnus 4+ thickness gauge - in order to calculate loss of plate - a very famous face approached him from within the boatyard. The face was none other than Sir Tony Robinson – a British ‘national treasure’ who is a prolific creator of factual and historical documentaries about the UK, (but is perhaps most famous for playing Blackadder’s sidekick – Baldrick!)

Sir Tony was filming a series for Channel 5 called “The Thames: Britain’s Greatest River” and he and his team were in in the same boatyard where John and his team were working. Sir Tony approached John on the slipway and, much to everyone’s amusement, Sir Tony broke off from filming to be given a lesson on marine surveying and ultrasonic thickness gauging.

“It was quick and easy to show Sir Tony how to use the Cygnus 4+ gauge because the Cygnus products are so easy to use and accurate. He was really very interested in the whole process of what we were doing and why”, said John.

Cygnus equipment has come a long way since its original launch in the 1980s. All gauges are wrapped in soft rubber and drop tested to Military standards (MilStd 810G) as well as being completely environmentally sealed – and waterproof to IP67. The range of Cygnus gauges is now extensive; all units still have the Multiple Echo technique as standard but now A-Scan displays, data logging and twin crystal probes can all be added to the gauges to permit them to be used in almost every scenario and on almost any application.

Latest News

Guinea’s Winning Logistics bolsters bauxite fleet with Konecranes barge cranes

(Posted on 31/03/23)

Konecranes has won an order for two Konecranes Gottwald Cranes on Barge from Winning Logistics in Guinea... Read more


Wärtsilä’s world-first derating solution for two-stroke engines

(Posted on 31/03/23)

Technology group Wärtsilä has introduced a new radical derating retrofit solution –... Read more


Zanzinger: shipping not capitalising on digitalisation opportunities

(Posted on 31/03/23)

Thomas Zanzinger, CEO of Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), outlined why he thought many maritime businesses... Read more


DNV upgrades AFI platform to promote data-sharing and zero-carbon transition

(Posted on 28/03/23)

DNV has enhanced its Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) data platform as part of an effort to accelerate... Read more


East African cement operator orders Siwertell road-mobile ship unloader

(Posted on 24/03/23)

Bruks Siwertell has secured an order for a next-generation Siwertell road-mobile ship unloader, which... Read more


Thordon Bearings delivers support to wind power-in-a-box technology

(Posted on 20/03/23)

Thordon Bearings is supplying its grease-free, self-lubricating ThorPlas-Blue bearing material to a... Read more


New Chairman and CEO for BIO-UV Group

(Posted on 20/03/23)

French water treatment specialist BIO-UV Group has appointed Laurent-Emmanuel Migeon as its new Chairman... Read more


Anglo-Eastern enhances fleet performance with Wärtsilä’s CII tool

(Posted on 07/03/23)

With Wärtsilä’s CII Dashboard, Anglo-Eastern is now able to make better informed decisions... Read more


Siwertell ship unloaders for new Chinese power station

(Posted on 07/03/23)

Bruks Siwertell has completed the commissioning of two large-scale Siwertell ST 790-D-type ship unloaders... Read more


Green Ray project to minimise methane slip from LNG-fuelled engines

(Posted on 28/02/23)

A consortium including technology group Wärtsilä has secured European Union funding to develop... Read more


TelestackTOC Europe 2023ViganPort of South LouisianaCimbriaThe Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology
  • IMPA Events
  • Port of Stockton
  • TOC Europe 2023

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping