Research Team Launches Coral Cartography at AAORIA 2026
2020 to fast-track solutions to protect the world’s corals, the project unites experts from nine countries across the Atlantic in image-based survey, coral taxonomy, mapping, management, and policy engagement, including Norway, UK, Portugal, Germany, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay and Brazil.Cold-water corals (CWC) are a critical component of deep-sea ecosystems, facing growing threats from fishing, deep-sea mining, and climate change. While the North Atlantic benefits from relatively rich data on coral distribution, the Central and South Atlantic remain significantly under-researched
On-Demand Ocean Bottom Node: A New Era in Deepwater Seismic Monitoring
Shell Brasil, Petrobras, Sonardyne, and SENAI CIMATEC are developing autonomous technology that transforms how Brazil's challenging pre-salt fields are monitored. Now entering a major pilot array phase, the On-Demand Ocean Bottom Node (OD OBN) program promises efficient, cost-effective 4D seismic surveillance, with fewer people and lower environmental impact. This milestone marks a step closer to a fundamental shift in deepwater reservoir management.The ChallengeBrazil’s pre-salt reservoirs lie in more than 2,000m water depth, plus another 3,000m beneath the seabed, making seismic imaging
Fugro to Conduct Site Investigation for South America’s First Offshore Wind Project
in April and continue through Q3 2026, with final reporting scheduled for 2027.The project stands to benefit from Fugro’s work on early‑stage offshore wind developments in emerging markets worldwide, ranging from initial pilot studies to full site characterization. For this effort, Fugro’s Brazil‑based teams will lead delivery, pairing nearshore operations from the Rio das Ostras hub with laboratory analysis at the Pinhais facility
Petrobras Taps Fugro for Brazil’s First Licensed Offshore Wind Survey
nearshore and coastal locations off São João da Barra, alongside onshore investigations to support cable landfall and routing.Field operations and analysis are set to begin in April and run through the third quarter of 2026, with final reporting scheduled for 2027.The company said its Brazil-based teams will lead the work, combining nearshore operations from its Rio das Ostras hub with laboratory analysis at its Pinhais facility.“As South America moves forward with its offshore wind ambitions, early Geo-data is one of the most important tools for reducing uncertainty and setting
Saipem FlatFish Underwater Drone Completes Petrobas Test Campaign
standards established before deployment on the field.Following the positive tests outcome, Petrobras has been able to grant approval to proceed with the final phase of the project, which aims at the full implementation of the FlatFish technology in a real offshore environment in the ultra-deep waters of Brazil.The testing campaign was held at Saipem’s underwater drone testing facility in Italy, in Trieste, at the presence of Petrobras representatives, and showcased the full operational capabilities of FlatFish.Indeed, throughout the Tests campaign the drone executed multiple fully autonomous inspection
DOF Selects Kongsberg Listen for HUGIN AUV Survey Platform
for its Kongsberg Listen electromagnetic sensing solution, with subsea services provider DOF selecting the technology for deployment on a HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).The new HUGIN vehicle, rated for operations at depths of up to 3,000 meters, will operate under a long-term contract with Brazil’s leading oil and gas operator to support deepwater survey and inspection work across offshore fields in Brazil.The AUV will carry an integrated payload including the Kongsberg Listen electromagnetic sensing system, the EM2042 multibeam echosounder and the HISAS1032 synthetic aperture sonar
Exail Supplies LBL Positioning Systems for Deepwater Projects in Brazil and Angola
Exail is supplying over 70 acoustic transponders and integrated navigation suites for two major deepwater energy projects in Brazil and Angola. These contracts mark a significant milestone in the global adoption of Exail’s Long Baseline (LBL) subsea positioning technology, supporting subsea construction, offshore infrastructure installation, and survey operations in complex environments at depths of up to 4,000 meters.In Brazil, for a major ultra-deepwater gas development, Exail is supplying a network of 56 Canopus acoustic transponders paired with Rovins inertial navigation systems (INS).
Retiring the R/V Endeavor: Celebrating a Lifetime of Accomplishments and Memories
, which was a converted 1945-era Army freighter. Endeavor served on various environmental studies around the world until 1993, when she was refit in her original shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, continuing her work until this past fall. Endeavor has been as far west as Hawai'i, as far south as Brazil, up to Norway, and out to the Black Sea.R/V Endeavor was built in 1976 by Peterson Builders, Inc., in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Credit: URI PhotoThe Ram Band at Endeavor’s christening on December 11, 1976. Credit: URI PhotoR/V Endeavor’s specifications:Built in 1976 with a major mid-life
Rovtech, Unique Group to Expand ROV Reach to Middle East and Asia
will continue to be managed directly by Rovtech. The partners said the arrangement could be extended to additional regions in the future.The partnership builds on VALOR’s existing global operating track record, with systems already in use in markets including Australia, India, the Middle East and Brazil.By combining Rovtech’s subsea robotics technology with Unique Group’s regional presence, the companies aim to strengthen local support and accelerate market penetration in regions where demand for high-performance ROV systems is growing.A key element of the collaboration is training and
February 2026
