A marine seismic
data acquisition system and method of conducting a marine
seismic survey are disclosed. The
system incorporates one or more surface vessels, and a plurality of autonomous nodes for acquiring seismic data at one or more
seabed locations. Each node comprises a USBL, SSBL or SBL
transducer and USBL, SSBL or SBL acoustic modem. A first acoustic
positioning system is operable between one of the surface vessels and the nodes, the first acoustic
positioning system being a USBL, SSBL or SBL
system. Each node of the plurality of autonomous nodes has a USBL, SSBL or SBL
beacon address, with respective groups of nodes having the same
beacon address. The nodes are configured such that no two nodes with the same
beacon address can actively communicate over an associated USBL, SSBL or SBL modem at the same time.