PNS Behr Paima

Behr Paima (بحرپیما) is a hydrographic survey and Research vessel owned by Pakistan Navy. Her keel was laid on 16 February 1982 and was launched on 7 July 1982 in Japan. The ship was handed over to Pakistan Navy on 27 December, same year. The ship was equipped with most modern surveying systems of the time. The hydrographic systems have been upgraded since then from time to time and hence are parallel with modern trends and techniques available in the world. Most of the oceanographic equipments are however, of the original outfit.

Design and development
The initial conceptual work of Behr Paima was started in Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) when the PCSIR scientists independently started the work in the PCSIR Karachi Laboratories. The project was financed by the Government of Japan and the vessel was constructed in Japan. The ship was launched in 1982 and later handed over to the Pakistan Navy in December of 1982.

Instruments and equipment
The vessel has six deck winches and three laboratories equipped with a range of survey equipments and instruments. Hydrogaphic equipment includes variety of Differential Global Positioning System, Electronic Chart Display and Information System, Microwave Positioning systems, Dual Frequency Echo Sounders, Multibeam and Side Scan Sonars, Radio Tide Gauges, Profilers, Current Meters, CTD and Hydrographic data acquisition and processing software. Additionally there are Oceanographic and Geophysical research instruments. There are two Survey Boats equipped with DGPS and survey equipment to facilitate the surveying of shallow and inshore waters.

Survey work
The ship, since its induction, has carried-out extensive survey of Pakistan's coastal areas on different scales. The ship partially surveyed the south-eastern sea-front of Pakistan that comprises Indus River Delta creeks. However, sea area west and south of Karachi has been thoroughly surveyed. The ship also provided valuable data for building of Jinnah Naval Base channel in Ormara. Pakistan’s deep water port at Gwadar was also planned based on data rendered by the ship. The corresponding series of charts on different scales have been published for the entire coast of Pakistan based on ships surveyed data. The ship has also conducted dredging surveys, wreck search, north markings, tidal data collections, and detached surveys etc.