In Memoriam: Captain Charles Robert MacVean, USN, (Ret.), PhD
SEAWOLF alone. They did exactly what we trained them to do.” MacVean reflected, “Rickover saved my career.”In 1978, Captain MacVean assumed command of Submarine Development Group ONE. This Group contained seventeen ships and units and was the sole Navy activity responsible for deep ocean search, location and recovery. Captain MacVean retired from active Naval Service in October, 1981.Captain MacVean’s awards include two Distinguished Service Medals, the highest award for non-combat service, requiring Presidential review and approval. He also received the Legion of Merit, the
Exail to Supply Next-Gen Navigation System for Deep Sea Exploration Firm
Deep Ocean Search (DOS), a deep-sea exploration company, has selected Exail to provide the navigation and acoustic positioning capabilities required for its upcoming missions.As part of this collaboration, DOS will deploy Exail’s Rovins 9-DVL navigation system and Gaps M7 acoustic positioning system, enabling operations at depths of up to 6,000 meters.The Rovins 9-DVL will be integrated into DOS’ XL Mariner work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), built by Argus in Norway.Combining Exail’s fiber-optic gyroscope technology with Nortek’s DVL (Doppler Velocity Log), Rovins
Phoenix Welcomes New General Manager For Maryland Office
degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture from the United States Naval Academy and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).In his new role, Mr. Doherty will be responsible for managing all aspects of Phoenix’s government and commercial deep ocean search and recovery service lines, as well as the company’s Engineering and Research & Development efforts
Deep Sea Vision, Deep Ocean Search Enter MoU
In conjunction with the launch of its brand-new Mariner XL ROV, Deep Ocean Search (DOS) Ltd entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the US company Deep Sea Vision (DSV).DSV is a deep-water survey company using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) such as Kongsberg Hugin 6000 able to dive at 6,000msw depth with a track record in the deep ocean space. Through combined efforts to common clients, DSV and DOS can offer AUV and ROV services from the same platform with shared multirole personnel. With Mariner XL, DOS is offering for hire a 6000msw capable WROV which can be mobilized quickly and
Phoenix Wins $112 Million Navy Contract
Phoenix International Holdings Inc. announced it has been awarded a $112 million cost-plus-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for worldwide undersea deep ocean search and recovery operations and engineering and technical support to the U.S. Navy Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). Work will be performed worldwide and is expected to be completed in September 2027.Commenting on the award, Phoenix President Patrick Keenan stated, “Phoenix has a long history of providing undersea operations services to the U.S. Navy and we are honored
US Navy Recovers Downed Helicopter from Record Ocean Depth
to Fleet Activities Yokosuka where the MH-60S will be offloaded for transport back to the U.S., the Navy said.“As a whole, this operation was fast-paced and entirely successful,” said Bryan Blake, SUPSALV’s Deep Ocean Program Manager. “Our efforts validated the Navy’s deep ocean search and recovery requirements. The capability to recover the airframe and make it available to determine the cause of the accident is a huge plus helping to ensure Naval Aviation safety
Phoenix Hires Long, Turner in Manager Roles
Holdings, Inc. announced that Matthew Long has joined the company as General Manager (GM) of its Largo, Md. headquarters office, and Troy Turner has been appointed as Area Manager for our Bayou Vista, La. Location. Long will oversee all aspects of Phoenix’s government and commercial deep ocean search and recovery service lines, as well as the company’s Engineering and R&D work, while Turner will be responsible for overseeing and directing the day-to-day activities of the Bayou Vista office, and actively pursuing growth opportunities for all Phoenix services in the area.
Phoenix International Holdings Celebrates 20 Years
operations experts dedicated to the waterborne repair of U.S. Navy ships, the company has evolved into an international underwater solutions provider with a staff of almost 250 personnel and multiple service lines including offshore oil and gas IRM, ship repair, engineering, submarine rescue and deep ocean search, survey and recovery operations. An employee owned ISO 9001-2008 Management System certified company with headquarters in Largo, Md., Phoenix operates out of seven regional office facilities on the East, Gulf and West Coasts of the U.S. catering to both military and commercial clients
Phoenix Conducts ROV Search for MH370
conducting deepwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations in the continuing search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370). Phoenix mobilized its 6,000 meter depth-rated Remora III ROV aboard the Chinese Rescue Salvage Bureau (RSB) vessel Dong Hai Jiu 101 in support of the ongoing deep ocean search. Phoenix has been involved in the search for MH370 since April 2014, initially using its 5,000 meter depth-rated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Artemis, and Hydrospheric Solutions Inc. 6,000 meter depth-rated ProSAS-60 towed synthetic aperture sonar system. The MH370 international
August 2025
