WASSP, the New Zealand-based manufacturer of multibeam sonar technology and part of the Furuno group, this year marks 20 years since the launch of its first multibeam system at the SMM maritime trade fair in Hamburg in September 2006.
What began as a bold idea – bringing affordable, wide-swath multibeam imaging to commercial fishing vessels that had never had access to it – has grown into a technology trusted across commercial fishing, expedition, hydrographic survey, defence and energy markets worldwide.
“When we launched at SMM in 2006, multibeam was largely the preserve of large survey vessels and research institutions,” said Cameron Hirst, Marketing Manager at WASSP. “Our goal was to put that same level of insight – a real-time, wide picture of the seabed and water column – into the hands of everyday operators. Twenty years on, WASSP systems are working on vessels in over 40 countries, and that founding mission hasn’t changed: better decisions through better visibility.”
Over two decades, WASSP has shipped thousands of units and expanded its product range to three product lines, with multiple feature licenses, while also building a global dealer network that covers all major marine regions. The technology has supported everyone from single-vessel inshore fishers to wreck hunters and undersea volcano surveyors, highlighting the versatility of the core technology.
Today, as part of the Furuno group, one of the most established names in marine electronics, WASSP continues to develop its multibeam platform for a widening range of applications, from commercial fishing to survey, defence and offshore energy.
Managing Director, Gareth Hodson is bullish on the future and the growth opportunities: “The next chapter is about extending our visibility into new markets and new missions. We’re only getting started.”
The WASSP will not be slowing down to mark the anniversary, with a number of shows and events over the coming months and growing interest in the product.
