TerraSond Wins NOAA Contract
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, to provide hydrographic surveying services in the USA.The contract was effective January 1, 2020, with a maximum value of $250 million over five years, subject to appropriation by Congress. Thomas Newman, President, TerraSond, said, “Through our NOAA contracts, we have been performing comprehensive site characterization for safety of navigation purposes for over 20 years. As part of the Acteon Group, we are now offering this experience alongside Benthic’s geotechnical
Safeguarding the Titanic Resting Place
and the UK finalized an agreement first signed in 2003 that aims to help protect to the integrity of the RMS Titanic wreck site and its remaining artifacts.Recognizing the importance of the wreck and the need to ensure the vessel would not be subject to looting and unregulated salvage operations, the US Congress adopted the RMS Titanic Maritime Memorial Act. That legislation also provided for NOAA and the U.S. Department of State to negotiate an international agreement with interested nations to protect the site. As a result of that legislation, the US, the UK, France, and Canada negotiated an agreement
Offshore Wind: Decisions Needed Sooner, not Later
titled “CALIFORNIA OFFSHORE WIND: Workforce Impacts and Grid Integration.”Collier’s study presents some sobering conclusions from the UK, the world leader in offshore wind.•Most of the offshore wind workforce is white collar rather than blue collar.•The Scottish Trades Union Congress found that predictions of fast job growth in offshore wind were exaggerated.•Governments failed to adopt policies to create a local supply chain of turbine manufacturing.•The Union report described a “failure to build a domestic industrial base and an over-reliance on imported goods
#Oi2020 History
The era of the “new millennium” made its way within subsea research and development when in 2000, Congress tapped the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to “investigate and provide recommendations for a ‘coordinated and comprehensive ocean policy’,” according to Advances in Marine Technology (as published by the Marine Technology Society). Following the seven-year investigation and research process, as well as input and public discussion, the commission presented An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century, (which according to MTS) included more than 200 recommendations.
NUWC TECH Capabilities on Display at ANTX 2019
For nearly 250 years, Rhode Island has driven naval innovation in the United States. On Aug. 26, 1775, Rhode Island helped engineer the foundation for the U.S. Navy when the then-colony passed a resolution stating that there would be a single continental fleet fronted by the Continental Congress.Ninety-five years later, the Naval Torpedo Station was born in Newport to provide research and technology to the Navy. Fast forward to the present day and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport’s Advanced Naval Technical Exercise (ANTX) 2019, held Aug. 29, demonstrates that Rhode
NOIA Weighs in on The COASTAL Act
ensure that these states receive continued benefits from their participation in offshore energy production, while still protecting an irreplaceable revenue stream for the U.S. Treasury, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Historic Preservation, and other important Federal funding priorities. Congress must connect the dots between responsible offshore energy development and the critical funding it can provide the American public. This bill is a step in that direction.“NOIA also urges Congress to examine the potential for distributing offshore energy revenues with Atlantic states in order
#Oi2020 History: Rigs to Reefs
. The program, known as “Rigs to Reefs,” was established in 1979 with an Exxon experimental subsea structure, and has since formed the world’s largest artificial reef habitat complex in the world. In 1984, "Rigs to Reefs" reached federal status when the U.S. Congress signed the National Fishing Enhancement Act as a result of “increased interest and participation in fishing at offshore oil and gas platforms and widespread support for effective artificial reef development by coastal states,” according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Atlantic Offshore Wind: Favorable Winds for Maritime
stage for the development of these offshore wind farms. The developers have established operational dates ranging from the end of 2019 to 2023 for bringing the wind ashore. Some developers are racing to meet the 2019 deadline for compliance with the Production Tax Credit (PTC) that, unless extended by Congress, expires at the end of the year. Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) recently announced he would support such an extension.The developers also have to face permit and environmental law restrictions, including NEPA and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In most cases, BOEM is the lead
Buoy Data Helps Mariners to Weather Storms
responsibility for U.S. navigable waterways. NOAA produces nautical charts and provides weather information while the USACE conducts surveys, maintains locks and dredges waterways.Maintaining Aids to Navigation is the Coast Guard’s oldest mission, tracing its roots to the ninth law passed by Congress that created the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment in 1789. Today, the U.S. Coast Guard maintains more than 48,000 buoys, beacons and electronic aids that help mariners to safely navigate more than 25,000 miles of waterways.Pool said the weather buoys provide commercial and recreational mariners with
U.S. Navy Requests $205.6B in 2020
According to a blog by Rear Admiral Randy Crites posted on the Navy Live, the official blog site of the U.S. Navy, the Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 20 Budget request submitted to Congress is $205.6 billion, a 4.8% increase from the FY19 enacted budget. Specifics of the budget are focused on six specific dimensions:The FY20 budget requests funding for more ships – as the navy continues to progress toward a 355-ship fleet – submarines, aircraft and people, and highlights include: The budget provides for a deployable battle force of 301 ships in FY20 including 11 aircraft carriers and
