AML Oceanographic MVP30 Manual

This document is provided for viewing purposes only. Any changes to
the text, images and technical information contained within are not
authorized by AML Oceanographic Ltd. AML Oceanographic Ltd. will
not be responsible for any circumstances that arise from such
changes.

MVP30 OPERATORS’ GUIDE
OM-09000-0-04-004B October 2017

WARNING - THE MVP30 SYSTEM SHOULD
ONLY BE OPERATED BY TRAINED
PERSONNEL
Winch hardware is microprocessor controlled with local and
remote modes of operation. Ensure that personnel are clear of
all moving parts whenever main power is ON.
WARNING: The Control Box and the Controller Interface Box in the lab must be
turned OFF whenever working on the tow cable and cabling in the Free
Fall Fish. High Voltage is present in these cables.
If the winch is to be operated in Hand mode with the Power Module
or sensor disconnected from the tow cable, the Controller Interface Box
in the lab must be turned OFF.
If the end of the tow cable is to be submerged, ensure a dummy plug is
connected to the end of the tow cable to eliminate damage to the
connector and cable.

MVP30 Operators’Guide
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................1
1.1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 SETTING THE TOW CABLE MESSENGERS............................................................. 1
1.3 INSTALLING THE MESSENGER ............................................................................... 3
2OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................3
2.1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 SETUP AND LAUNCHING THE FISH......................................................................... 4
2.3 AUTOMATIC PROFILING........................................................................................... 6
2.4 FREEWHEELING IN MANUAL MODE........................................................................ 7
2.5 MANUAL PROFILING................................................................................................. 7
2.6 RETRIEVING AND STOWING THE FISH................................................................... 8
3MVP30 OPERATION QUICK START REFERENCE...............................................8
3.1 WINCH -DEPLOYING THE TOW FISH............................................................................. 8
3.2 LAB –UNDERWAY PROFILING....................................................................................... 9
4EMERGENCY MANUAL OVERRIDE......................................................................9
5SYSTEM STOWAGE...............................................................................................9
6Contact AML Oceanographic..............................................................................10

MVP30 Operators’Guide 1
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
1 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1.1 OVERVIEW
As a brief overview, the MVP profiling operations begin by turning on the system, manually
winching out a length of tow cable on the deck with the remote pendant (depending on
installation configuration) and manually deploying the fish overboard. The tow cable is deployed
until the fish is in its towed position. A ‘Dock’ messenger is positioned between the inner and
outer sheave limit switches at the anticipated vessel survey speed when the fish is 2-3m below
the surface. The ‘Dock’ messenger is to be installed according to section 1.2.
Once the above setup is complete, computer automated Moving Vessel Profiling can begin
once the system is in Auto Mode. Each profile will start and finish with the fish at the set towed
position. Once profiling operations are complete, the fish is winched in with the remote pendant
until it can be recovered by hand; the system is then shut down.
1.2 SETTING THE TOW CABLE MESSENGERS
The messengers are installed at three locations on the tow cable. The ’Cable End’ messenger
is located on the last turn of the second layer (from the bottom) on the winch drum. It is installed
at the factory when the tow cable is spooled onto the drum.
When the fish is in the towed position, the ‘Dock’ messenger should be located between the
Overboarding Sheave and the 'inner sheave' switch (refer to Figure 1). Determining the position
of the Dock messenger is performed by towing the fish at the average survey speed while
monitoring the fish depth and position behind the vessel. The fish should be clear of any
cavitation caused by the vessel's propulsion and be at a depth which does not cause the fish to
porpoise (usually 2 - 5 meters below the surface). Once the desired towed position has been
established, the tow cable should be marked (and cable out recorded) and the fish recovered.
Once the fish has been secured, the tow cable can be removed from the drum until the mark is
visible and the messenger is able to be installed.
The third messenger is installed one to three meters from the ‘Dock’ messenger towards the
fish; this ‘Backup’ messenger acts as a backup to the dock messenger.
WARNING: The MVP30 system should only be operated by personnel trained in the
operation of the system!
Keep all personnel a safe distance away from the winch during profiling
operations.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 2
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
Figure 1: Messenger Location

MVP30 Operators’Guide 3
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
1.3 INSTALLING THE MESSENGER
If the limit switch on the outer sheave does not detect the Dock messenger, the winch will
continue to recover the tow cable. As a safeguard to keep the fish from being recovered into the
outer sheave, a second limit switch has been installed on the inner sheave. This will halt the
recovery by generating an emergency stop when triggered.
The messenger (refer to Figure 2) is a piece of ¼” outside diameter polyethylene spiral wrap,
approximately 0.05” thick that is secured to the tow cable using 3MTM Super33 electrical tape.
CAUTION: Do not substitute the messenger with a different size spiral wrap material. The
diameter of the messenger is critical to reliable limit switch operation. (Use
the material provided in the spares kit).
Figure 2: Attaching a Messenger to the Tow Cable
2 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: It is highly recommended to not use Freewheel Mode when performing
stationary profiles (when the vessel is not underway). Conducting
Freewheel operations will deliver a shock load to the tow cable on the
system when the brake is applied, especially in shallow water deployments.
When performing underway Freewheel deployments, the tow cable creates a
virtual underwater sheave which prevents a shock load on the tow cable
from occurring. When performing computer automated Stationary Profiles,
the profiling mode in the MVP Controller software should be set to Constant
Speed or Constant RPM.
CAUTION: Do not substitute tape with inexpensive electrical tape; experience has shown
that other tapes are not robust enough to withstand the intended application. If
tape from alternative manufacturers are to be experimented with, please
ensure that regular inspections of the messenger condition are conducted.
WARNING: The MVP system should only be operated by trained personnel. Keep all
personnel away from the winch during profiling operations.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 4
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
2.1 OVERVIEW
Once the ‘messengers’ are installed, specific to the intended vessel survey speed, profiling
operations can begin by turning the system on in HAND mode, manually winching the fish out of
its deck cradle, rotating the boom overboard (securing with a side stay if operating off the side of
the ship) and lowering the fish into the water to its pre-determined towed position.
NOTE: At the towed position, the Dock messenger should be positioned between the
Inner and Outer Sheave limit switches (the Dock messenger is to be installed
according to Section 1.3).
The winch is then switched to AUTO mode and computer automated profiles can now be
conducted from the lab. Each profile conducted will start and finish with the fish at the towed
position. When profiling operations are complete, the winch is switched back to HAND mode,
the fish is manually winched out of the water, the boom is rotated inboard and the fish lowered
into its deck cradle. The system is then switched to OFF from HAND mode and shut down.
If the system has been idle for a couple of days or longer, the Main Power Lever at the High
Power Electrical Box should be turned on 12 hours prior to operating the winch. This will allow
the anti-condensation heaters in the electric motor to remove any condensation.
2.2 SETUP AND LAUNCHING THE FISH
1. Turn on the MVP Controller computer and start the MVP software.
CAUTION: The MVP Controller is intended to be a stand-alone, dedicated controlling
device. When operating the MVP Controller software, close down any
programs that may be running in the background, including virus scanning
software and disk cleanup utilities such as ScanDisk and Defrag, as they
may affect system performance. It is also recommended that you do not
install non-MVP-related software on the MVP Controller.
2. Turn the Main Power switch on the front panel of the Controller Interface Box to the ON
position.
3. Turn all the control switches on the Control Box (Hand-Off-Auto, Manual Override, and
Freewheel) to the OFF position. Turn the Main Power switch on the side of the Control Box
to ON, this will illuminate the green power lamp and the emergency stop (ESTOP) button on
the Control Box and the 24v winch LED on the Controller Interface Box in the lab.
4. At the Control Box, press the Inner Sheave Reset button. The light on the Emergency Stop
button should go out. If the Emergency Stop button light does not go out, check the
following.
Ensure that the Emergency stop buttons (Controller Interface Box, the Remote Pendant
and the Control Box) are reset - pulled out.
Inner Sheave Reset button must be held down to remove the ESTOP but then re-
appears when the Inner sheave reset button is released. Ensure the Inner Sheave Limit
switch is clear of messengers. If so, check the inner sheave circuit.
Hand/OFF/Auto switch is in the OFF position.
Freewheel switch must be in the OFF position.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 5
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
Manual Override must be in the OFF position.
5. Turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Hand mode.
6. Ensure there is enough tow cable deployed to lower the fish into the water. If not, use the
Remote Pendant to deploy more cable, maintaining tension on the tow cable as it is being
deployed.
CAUTION: Whenever the winch drum is rotated in manual mode, the operator must first
ensure that there is no slack tow cable on the drum. Slack cable can
potentially cause the tow cable to wrap around itself or around the drum
supports. This could cause damage to the tow cable.
7. Deploying and recovering the tow fish should be done with the vessel traveling at a slow
speed, approximately three knots. The fish is nose heavy when hanging from the bridle so
pick up the fish by the top part of the bridle (do not grab the lower part of the bridle as
fingers could be pinched if the fish rotates); the fish will rotate nose down. With one hand on
the bridle, use the other to rotate and hold the fish nose up as it is lowered into the water. As
the fish hits the water, deploy the slack tow cable by hand until the fish is under tow and
tension is applied to the cable. Check that the fish is towing in a nose-forward orientation.
8. In Hand mode, deploy tow cable until the fish is in the towed position. The dock messenger
will trip the inner-sheave limit switch resulting in an emergency stop. An emergency stop can
be avoided by pressing and holding the Inner Sheave Reset button until the ‘Dock’
messenger clears the limit switch.
If an emergency stop occurs and the messenger remains below the inner sheave limit
switch, the emergency stop is cleared by switching the Hand/Off/Auto switch to OFF and
then back to Hand while holding in the Inner Sheave Reset button. The Inner Sheave Reset
button must be held in until the cable is deployed past the inner sheave limit switch which
will clear the inner sheave emergency stop.
CAUTION: This feature does exactly what it says –overrides the Emergency Stop!
If activation of the inner-sheave limit switch with the messenger does not
result in an Emergency Stop, do not proceed any further until the
messenger and/or the limit switch have been inspected for proper
adjustment and the problem is resolved!
Continue to deploy cable until the ‘Dock’ messenger is about 15cm inboard of the inner
sheave. The system requires the messenger to trigger the limit switch in the outer
sheave before an automatic deployment and recovery can be completed.
9. At the Control Box, turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Auto mode.During this procedure, wait
for a few seconds at the OFF position to allow for the embedded controller to re-initialize
properly when switched from Hand to Auto. The system is now ready for automatic
deployments.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 6
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
2.3 AUTOMATIC PROFILING
1. Move the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Auto mode.
2. Confirm all data is being successfully interfaced to the MVP Controller software. Once
confirmed, press the ‘RESET’ button in the MVP Controller software. This will re-initialize
software settings and remove the ‘COMM ERR’ alarm indicator.
3. At the MVP30 Controller, enter the Deployment Criteria in the Main Operator window. These
criteria are described in the Software Section.
4. From the ‘Edit/System Configuration’ menu in the Main Operator window, select the Root
Filename and Data Directory in the Data Logging panel. Subsequent deployments will
increment the filename extension by one for each file starting with the current value shown
in the Index box.
5. Ensure all personnel are clear of the winch. When the vessel is in position, select the Start
button in the Deployment Control panel.
The winch will enter a Freewheel mode allowing the fish to free fall through the water column,
until one of the deployment termination criteria are met (assuming an operator does not halt the
profile or an Emergency Stop condition has not been encountered). The brake is applied, the
clutch is engaged and the winch recovers the tow cable at the maximum speed set by the
speed adjust knob on the Control Box until a messenger is detected at the outer sheave limit
switch. When a ‘Dock’ messenger is detected, the winch stops recovering cable and the brake
is applied. The system waits for the next deployment with the fish at the towed position.
6. If a number of automatic deployments are desired, set the Minute Intervals in the
Deployment Control panel in the Main Operator Window to the desired interval by clicking
the up/down arrows or double clicking the numerical display and entering a value. The ‘Next
In’ display will show the time to the next deployment. Enable the Auto Deploy feature by
toggling the ‘Disabled’ button to ‘Enabled’. The Next In display will count down the minutes
and seconds until the next deployment after the initial auto deployment profile is completed.
When the required number of auto deployment profiles is completed, disable the Auto Deploy
feature anytime during the completion of the last profile (while the profile is being conducted).
The MVP can be configured to profile continuously without user intervention by setting the
number of minutes between profiles to zero. It is easy to become complacent about the system
in this mode.
CAUTION: If the winch has been idle for a week or more and wet conditions exist (rain,
mist, salt spray, etc.) the winch brake may be wet and may not perform
properly until dampness is removed from the brake. This will result in the
brake slipping when attempting to stop the drum. It is recommended that a
number of shallow deployments be performed to dry the brake. Observe the
Tow Body Depth on the Strip Chart Panel in the MVP Controller software to
ensure that the Maximum Depth value is not exceeded. If so, repeat the
shallow deployments until the value is not exceeded (within 5 m).
FAILURE TO DRY THE BRAKE MAY CAUSE COLLISIONS WITH THE SEAFLOOR.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 7
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
CAUTION: Do not leave your watch with the system in this mode without informing
your replacement and do not forget that it is operating.
The MVP Controller software also enables viewing of the completed profiles automatically, but this
feature should be used with due consideration. When the ‘View Profile’ option is enabled in the
Main Operator Window, most of the window will be obscured due to the appearance of plots
displayed of the most recently completed MVP profile.
These windows should not be left displayed for long periods of time during operations as the
operator will have no indication of what the fish is doing as it is being deployed and recovered.
NOTE: For an explanation of all options available in the MVP software and their
function, refer to the Software Manual.
2.4 FREEWHEELING IN MANUAL MODE
If the tow cable needs to be pulled off the drum, the winch can be put into Freewheel mode from
the Control Box.
CAUTION: Make sure the fish is not hanging from the sheave when freewheel is activated
from the Control Box. If the fish is hanging, it will drop and could cause
serious injury and/or damage to the tow fish.
1. Turn the Hand/Off/ Auto switch to Hand mode.
2. Turn the Freewheel switch to ON and pull cable off the drum as necessary.
3. Turning the Freewheel switch to OFF will apply the brake and lock the drum.
2.5 MANUAL PROFILING
The Manual Logging feature in the Main Operator Window is used to select logging of data from
the Free Fall fish instrument during manual stationary profiles. The switch may be used to
enable Manual Data Logging for test purposes or to do a manual profile similar to a
conventional CTD profile when the winch is in Hand mode.
When logging is enabled, a window will appear asking the user to confirm the new file name.
The selected Sound Velocity data files are automatically generated when manual logging is
turned off after logging of a manual profile has been completed.
CAUTION: Do not execute tight turns while a profile is being conducted as this could
result in:
- The tow cable being tangled with other towed devices causing
damage to the tow cable.
- The tow cable rubbing on the side of the vessel or the tow body hitting the
side of the vessel. If the tow body is in danger of hitting the side of the
vessel, it should be retrieved during the turning process and returned to the
water once the turn is completed.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 8
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
2.6 RETRIEVING AND STOWING THE FISH
1. Turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Hand mode. Retrieving the tow fish should be done at a
vessel speed of approximately three knots.
2. Recover cable with the remote pendant until the tow fish is near the stern of the vessel and
close to the water surface. Remember that the Inner Sheave limit switch circuit will trigger if
the messenger is recovered into the Inner Sheave. The inner sheave limit switch detection
can be bypassed by holding in the Inner Sheave Reset button as the messenger passes the
Inner Sheave.
3. Grab the tow cable and pull the fish up, grabbing the top of the bridle when it can be
reached. Bring the fish onboard and stow.
4. To shut down the system, turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to OFF.
5. Turn OFF the main power switch on the side of the Control Box and the main power switch
on the Controller Interface Box.
3 MVP30 OPERATION QUICK START REFERENCE
3.1 WINCH - DEPLOYING THE TOW FISH
1. At the winch, turn the Main Power switch on the side of the Control box to ON.
2. Verify the power lamp is illuminated green and the ESTOP lamp is illuminated red.
3. Push the Inner Sheave Reset button and verify the ESTOP lamp goes out (if not, the
messenger may be under the Inner Sheave limit switch or there is an issue with the
inner sheave limit switch circuit).
4. Turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Hand mode and wait approximately five seconds
before operating the remote pendant.
5. Operate the remote pendant to deploy the tow fish over the side of the vessel. Keep the
Inner Sheave Reset button pushed in when deploying the fish, this will override the
messengers as they come off the drum and trip the Inner Sheave limit switch. If the Inner
Sheave Reset button is not pushed in when deploying, the messengers will trip the inner
sheave limit switch and halt operations.
6. Verify the tow fish is tail down when deploying the fish and confirm that the tow fish is
nose forward when it enters below the water surface.
7. Continue to winch OUT cable until the two Dock messengers that are installed for the
vessel survey speed can be seen deployed outside the Outer Sheave.
8. Winch IN cable until one of the two messengers is positioned between the Inner and
Outer Sheaves and the other messenger is positioned outside the Outer Sheave; the
tow fish is now in the ’towed’position.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 9
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
9. Turn the Hand/Off/Auto switch to Auto mode. When switching between Hand and Auto
modes, be sure to leave the switch in the OFF position for at least two seconds, this will
allow the embedded controller in the winch to initialize properly.
10. The winch is now ready for deployments from the MVP Controller computer in the lab.
3.2 LAB –UNDERWAY PROFILING
1. Start the MVP Controller software by double clicking the MVP icon on the desktop.
2. Verify the MVP Controller Interface Box is turned ON. Confirm the ‘24v Winch’ LED on
the front panel is ON and the ‘Fish TX’ and ‘Winch TX’ LED’s are flashing.
3. Press the ‘Reset’button in the Main Operator Window to clear the ‘COMM Err’ indicator
alarm and initialize the software.
4. Confirm FISH, WINCH and NAV data can be viewed in the Deployment Data panel in
the Main Operator Window. If not, check the settings in the System Configuration
Window.
5. Confirm that the filename and path for the data storage on the MVP hard drive is correct.
If not, change the settings in the System Configuration Window.
6. Verify the Deployment Configuration settings in the Main Operator Window are defined;
these settings will determine the deployment criteria that will be used when the profile is
started.
7. Press the ‘START’ button for a single profile or toggle the ‘Disabled’ button to ‘Enabled’
to start Auto Deployments. The time between Auto Deployments can be specified by
selecting the number of minutes between profiles in the adjacent text box.
4 EMERGENCY MANUAL OVERRIDE
In the event of a control system failure, the MVP may not respond to commands from either the
MVP Controller in Auto mode or from the remote pendant in Hand mode. If a failure should
occur during MVP operations, the Emergency Manual Override will enable the fish to be
retrieved without control commands from the embedded controller.
The Manual Override switch on the Control Box is used for completely manual operations. The
switch allows the system to be used when the embedded controller circuit board is removed or
inoperable. Turn the switch to ON when all other switches on the control box are OFF and
operate the winch IN and winch OUT functions on the remote pendant to deploy or recover the
tow fish.
5 SYSTEM STOWAGE
The system should be covered with a tarp or something similar, when not in use for an extended
period of time. Ensure the tarp is tightly secured to the system to prevent possible tearing due to
severe weather.

MVP30 Operators’Guide 10
OM-09000-0-04-004B AML Oceanographic Ltd.
6 Contact AML Oceanographic
Service
To request an RMA or technical support
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone] (NA)
Fax: [phone]
Sales
For all general sales inquiries
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
Phone : [phone] (NA)
Fax: [phone]
Website
www.AMLoceanographic.com
Pacific Location
AML Oceanographic
2071 Malaview Ave.
Sidney, BC V8L 5X6
Canada
Atlantic Location
AML Oceanographic
800A Windmill Rd., Unit 6C
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1L1
Canada