Breaking the Ice on Arctic Research
Amundsen is no exception, as Canada's only icebreaker equipped with scientific facilities in support of national and international multidisciplinary research programs. On board, the vessel boasts 65 scientific systems, 22 fixed and portable laboratories, and 300m2 of wet and dry workspace to perform chemical and biological experiments, analyze sediments and prepare the deployment of autonomous instruments.The CCGS Amundsen is unique in its dual role, performing icebreaking and escort duties in the St. Lawrence Seaway in winter and Arctic science in the summer. Double duty means that all scientific equipment
BRIN Taps Shipbuilder PIRIOU for Research Vessel Pair
of the French Development Agency (AFD).The future ORV will enable BRIN to conduct offshore scientific campaigns throughout Indonesian waters and the Natuna Sea (South China Sea). Designed for multidisciplinary missions, the vessel will enhance Indonesia’s capabilities in hydrography, physical and chemical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, sediment sampling, physicochemical water characterization, scientific analysis, and the observation of marineecosystems and climate change impacts.SIGNING DAY: [L to R]: Ms. Inti Wikanestri, Deputy for Human Development, Society, and Culture, Ministry
A Double-Sided Trident: Dual-Use Environmental Data Underpins Subsea Defense
battlespace.Throughout the world, seafaring nations maintain fleets of research and survey vessels equipped with a wide range of sensors designed to characterize both the water column and the seafloor. On any given day, dozens of these vessels are dotting the world’s oceans, sampling their chemical composition, measuring their depth, and charting their floors and coastlines to ensure the safe navigation of vessels operating both on and below the surface. These operations provide an ongoing picture of an environment that is complex, dynamic, and operationally challenging. For scientists, the
U.S. Coast Guard Counters Maritime Threats With New Special Missions Command
, often in extreme environments like the remote polar regions.National Strike Force provides trained technical experts and specialized equipment to Coast Guard and other federal agencies to prepare for and respond to the most complex crises and natural disasters, including oil, hazardous substances, and chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear incidents. The force, comprised of three strike teams, an incident management assist team, and the public information assist team supports federal on-scene coordinators and incident commanders, and is poised for immediate response across the nation and globally
eXXpedition All-Women Sailing Mission Sets Off to Map Global Ocean Plastic
.Science at seaDuring the upcoming mission, crew members will use state-of-the-art equipment at sea, including the portable Spectrum Two FT-IR Spectrometer from PerkinElmer, to collect and analyze microplastics in surface ocean water and identify polymer types. Because each polymer has a unique chemical fingerprint, this in turn allows scientists to match fragments to their source materials.On land, the team will complete the picture by conducting investigations into litter, consumer goods and waste management infrastructure. They will also work with local experts to gather further insight and
MIT Researchers Reveal "Ammonia-Aluminum" Fuel for Prolonged Ocean Exploration
A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has introduced a transformative chemical fuel system that could redefine buoyancy control for long-range autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).Published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the research demonstrates that reacting activated aluminum with aqueous ammonia significantly enhances gas generation and energy density compared to traditional aluminum-water chemistry.This breakthrough provides a viable path for extending mission duration and reducing costs for underwater platforms that currently rely on lower-energy-density lithium-ion
Carbon Removal Project Supports Maine’s Aquaculture Market
finding is that they are already affecting hatcheries and coastal systems today,” he adds. “Without intervention, these trends could significantly alter marine ecosystems and the coastal economies that rely on them over time.”Varanasi and T. Alan Hatton, the Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering, Post-Tenure, at MIT, have been collaborating for years to develop methods for removing carbon dioxide from seawater and turn acidic water back to alkaline. In recent years, they’ve partnered with researchers at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center to deploy the method
Quantum: The Bigger the Battery, The Quicker it Charges
Australian scientists have demonstrated proof-of-concept for a quantum battery.Like conventional batteries, it charges, stores and discharges energy. However, unlike conventional batteries, it leverages unique properties of quantum mechanics such as superposition and entanglement rather than chemical reactions.The battery has a multi-layered organic microcavity and is wirelessly charged with a laser. It has been demonstrated to have rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature.The research by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, and collaborators RMIT University
Canadian Research Vessel Headed Home
2022 following 59 years of dedicated service.Key features include:Modular working deck allowing mission-specific science modules to be swapped in and out;Marine mammal observation station for real-time environmental monitoring;Ocean sampling room and multiple specialized laboratories (general-purpose, chemical, acoustics, salinity, computer, and seawater);Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) and Hydro Wire Launch and Recovery System (LARS);Main and secondary cranes, stern A-frame, towing booms, and seismic compressors for deep-water deployments;Drop keel and advanced sonar/sensor arrays for detailed ocean-data
February 2026
