SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF A INSTRUMENT CABLE TOWED IN WATER

System and method for controlling an instrumented cable (30) towed in water, such as a marine seismic streamer and/or an instrumented towed cable array (streamer array), to which at least one instrumented cable (30), control devices (10, 20) are arranged to control the individual instrumented cables (30) both in shape and position in relation to other instrumented cables (30) and then counteract cross currents and/or other dynamic forces affecting a towed cable array behind a seismic survey vessel (50). The wings (12, 23) of the control devices (10, 20) are provided with acoustic transmitter/receiver means (14) and electronics for acoustic ranging, and the vessel (50) and one or more tail buoys (60) are provided with acoustic transmitter/receiver means (62) and electronics for acoustic ranging, and is provided with instrumentation for absolute position and velocity.