Hydromea, FAU Receive AUKUS Grant
,000× greater speed and 1,500× greater energy efficiency than acoustic alternatives. Its inherently low probability of intercept (LPI) profile makes it uniquely suited for covert, stealth data exchange in tactical underwater environments.Testing will move from controlled lab environments in Switzerland and Florida to advanced field demonstrations off the coast of Australia, involving autonomous surface vessels, underwater vehicles, and stationary seabed systems. The project is estimated to be delivered in less than a year.The same hybrid architecture applicable to defense—persistent covert
FAU Receives Grant to Transform Underwater Robotic Communication
will provide a pathway toward future operational deployment for allied maritime forces while supporting broader applications in scientific research, environmental monitoring, and offshore industries.Over the next 12 months, the team will conduct controlled testing at Hydromea’s facilities in Switzerland and at FAU’s SeaTech campus in Dania Beach, followed by increasingly sophisticated field demonstrations off the coast of Australia involving autonomous surface vessels, underwater vehicles, and stationary seabed systems.“This technology could help fleets of autonomous underwater vehicles
Nord Stream Blast: Insurers Seeking to Avoid Payout
squeezing energy supplies.Two Ukrainians have been arrested in Italy and Poland respectively at the request of German prosecutors after traces of explosives were found on a boat linked to the blasts.Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, but Kyiv has repeatedly denied any involvement.Switzerland-based Nord Stream's lawsuit centres on damage to the Nord Stream 1 pipelines and argues it is entitled to an indemnity of just under 580 million euros.INSURERS FIGHT LAWSUIT OVER 2022 EXPLOSIONSLawyers representing Lloyd's and Arch say Nord Stream's insurance policy excludes damage
Transocean-Valaris Tie-Up to Create $17B Offshore Drilling Major with 73 Rigs
and shallow-water basins globally.The combined company is expected to have an offshore rig backlog of about $10 billion and more than $200 million in identified transaction-related cost synergies. Transocean’s management team will lead the merged company, with the group remaining incorporated in Switzerland and maintaining its primary administrative office in Houston.The transaction, approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, customary closing conditions and shareholder approvals.“This transaction creates a very
Advanced Navigation Appoints CTO to Lead Technology Evolution
in environments where hesitation or uncertainty can mean mission failure.Pawel holds a PhD in Satellite Geodesy, an MBA, and multiple executive postgraduate qualifications from Stanford University in the US, Warsaw University of Technology in Poland, and Business School Lausanne in the Netherlands and Switzerland.Founded on a culture of research and discovery, Advanced Navigation’s mission is to be the catalyst of the autonomy revolution. By transforming deep research into deployable systems, it is enabling humanity to operate with confidence in environments once considered unreachable.Leading the
New Report Emphasizes Dangers of Plastic Pollution, Announces Global Monitoring System
As ministers and diplomats arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, for a final round of talks to conclude a UN-backed global plastics treaty, a new report published in the British medical journal The Lancet issues a stark warning: Plastic pollution is a grave and growing danger to human and planetary health. The report, which includes co-authors from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Microplastics team, provides the most up-to-date assessment of the links between human health and plastic pollution across the full life cycle of plastic. A new monitoring system announced at the same
Plastic Free July and a Treaty in the Making
to phase out single-use plastics, stop using harmful chemicals and roll out accessible reuse and refill systems.”The demands come ahead of the second part of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) session for a Global Plastics Treaty which is set to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5 to 14.Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have been vocal on the need for an ambitious outcome.A plastic bag policy can lead up to 47% reduction of bag litter on shorelines, Greenpeace says. A 50% increase in refillables in coastal countries could reduce the number of
Call for Australia to Push for Robust Global Plastics Treaty
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) is scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5 to 14.This second session will focus on finalizing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The treaty will address various aspects of plastic pollution, including production, design, trade, waste management, and a just transition. It will also address financial, technical, and capacity-building aspects.In the leadup, 31 First Nations and environmental groups have called on the Australian
Swiss Firm Acquires Defunct Beam
Rosenxt UK, part of Switzerland-based Rosenxt Holding, has acquired selected assets and talent from subsea robotics and engineering firm Beam, which went into administration in May.The strategic move enhances Rosenxt’s subsea capabilities, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the critical infrastructure and energy sectors.Beam, formed in 2024 through the merger of Rovco and Vaarst, gained rapid recognition for its autonomous subsea systems and AI-powered technologies before ceasing operations in May 2025.Rosenxt’s acquisition does not constitute a continuation of all Beam’s former
February 2026
