When deploying the DCS, the maximum achievable depth is directly linked to the length of cable deployed and the velocity of underwater currents (or vessel drift).
The chart and table below display how much the cable deflection angle will change based on water velocity, and how that impacts your true operational depth.
Keep in mind that these are approximate distances, and under real-world conditions, there may be underwater currents that interact with the cable’s towing angle in the water column, causing these values to be off.
Water Velocity
Angle
Maximum Achievable Depth
410m Cable
325m Cable
160m Cable
0.05 m/s
4.42°
379m
294m
130m
0.10 m/s
5.17°
378m
294m
129m
0.15 m/s
6.08°
378m
293m
129m
0.20 m/s
7.15°
377m
293m
129m
0.25 m/s
8.39°
376m
292m
129m
0.30 m/s
9.78°
374m
291m
128m
0.35 m/s
11.33°
373m
289m
127m
0.40 m/s
13.05°
370m
287m
127m
0.45 m/s
14.92°
367m
285m
126m
0.50 m/s
16.96°
363m
282m
124m
0.55 m/s
19.15°
359m
279m
123m
0.60 m/s
21.51°
354m
274m
121m
0.65 m/s
24.02°
347m
269m
119m
0.70 m/s
26.70°
339m
264m
116m
0.75 m/s
29.54°
331m
257m
113m
0.80 m/s
32.53°
320m
249m
110m
0.85 m/s
35.69°
309m
240m
106m
0.90 m/s
39.01°
295m
229m
101m
0.95 m/s
42.49°
280m
218m
96m
1.00 m/s
46.13°
263m
204m
90m
For this table, the calculations assume 15m of cable for winch safety (remains on the winch), 5m for vessel deployment (winch to water), and 10m from clump weight to the TCS frame. Meaning 30m of cable is not used in the water column.
