SAMS Oceanographic Array Will Aid Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Observations
Marine scientists in Scotland have helped to develop the most comprehensive view yet of how large-scale north Atlantic currents that dictate our climate may be changing.The scientists at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, a partner of UHI, have combined data from a range of sources to measure the mass formation of Atlantic currents, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).Their Scotland-Canada Overturning Array (SCOTIA) of observations incorporates data from scientific moorings on the existing sub-polar OSNAP array and the 50-year Extended Ellett Line
Saronic, Lloyd’s Register Partner on Maritime Autonomy Standards
has entered a strategic partnership with Lloyd’s Register (LR) to support the safe deployment of autonomous maritime systems in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.The companies said the collaboration would focus on advancing technical standards, regulatory guidance and classification pathways for autonomous surface vessels.Saronic said it would pursue classification activities for its autonomous vessels with LR as part of the agreement. The partnership will also involve engagement with regulators and authorities to support the development of emerging frameworks governing maritime autonomy
Viridien Kicks Off Multi-Client OBN Survey in North Sea’s Frigg Area
Sea.The survey area covers 645 km2, straddling the UK and Norwegian sectors, with the final processed deliverables expected to be available in the third quarter of 2027.As an OBN imaging specialist, Viridien will apply its proprietary OBN processing and imaging technologies, including Time-Lag Full-Waveform Inversion, to the new survey.The resulting dataset will deliver enhanced resolution and structural definition across the region’s complex geology and reservoirs. The survey, supported by industry funding, will add to Viridien’s growing multi-client OBN library in the North Sea.&ldquo
TMC, Allseas Ink Deal for First Commercial Deep-Sea Nodule Recovery System
The Metals Company (TMC) has signed a commercial agreement with offshore contractor Allseas for the development and operation of what the companies said would be the first commercial deep-sea nodule recovery system.The agreement covers the development, commissioning and operation of a nodule collection system in preparation for offshore recovery operations in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.The commercial production system is designed for a nameplate production capacity of 3 million wet tonnes per year and will use two collector vehicles operating at depths of more than 4 kilometers
Boat Movements Used to Forecast Invasive Seaweed Spread
and economic damage.Documented in two research papers, scientists created tools to map how vessel movements connect different parts of the coast, then applied that framework to the spread of Caulerpa.By analyzing the vessel networks, they identified:• High-risk locations that should be prioritized for surveillance and early detection.• The most likely routes for Caulerpa to spread from sites where it was already present.• How widely Caulerpa could spread across New Zealand in a worst-case scenario.Lead author and Perth-based AIMS experimental scientist Cal Faubel said the Caulerpa movement
Vicinay Marine, Tecnalia Develop Remote Offshore Mooring Corrosion Sensor
.The technology is targeted at offshore wind farms and other floating offshore systems, where corrosion remains a key challenge affecting the integrity and durability of chains and connectors exposed to harsh marine conditions.The sensor has been validated at Tecnalia’s HarshLab floating test platform off the coast of northern Spain, which is used to assess technologies under real marine operating conditions.“Corrosion is a key issue in the management of the structural integrity of mooring systems, as it directly influences the sizing, service life and maintenance strategies of critical
First Person: Exploring the Nile River
The guidebooks and river cruise itinerary for the Nile River cruise were studied and neatly packed for my trip, but nothing really preparedme for what surely is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to savor firsthand and physically close some of the most striking and memorable scenery andhistory anywhere in the world.As I write this, I’m traveling down the Nile in a flat bottomed, two masted houseboat, a dhahabiya (الدهبية) in Arabic, meaning “golden one,” which vaguely recalls the state barges of Egypt’s medieval Muslim rulers. A group of twelve or so of us move at an
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson Returns to the Great Lakes to Map the Region
For the first time since 2022, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is underway in the Great Lakes. The vessel and its crew of NOAA Corps officers and professional mariners are working with NOAA scientists to map the waters of western and central Lake Erie and eastern Lake Ontario this year to improve navigation safety. Survey work will also occur within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary to identify critical habitats located within the area.Western Lake Erie, one of the shallowest areas within the Great Lakes marine transportation system, is highly trafficked by commercial and recreational vessels and
Hanwha Ocean Partners with Thordon Bearings on Canadian Submarine Bid
focuses on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program, one of the largest conventional submarine procurement programs currently planned, under which Hanwha Ocean has been selected as one of two qualified suppliers by the Canadian government.Hanwha Ocean said the partnership would examine opportunities for cooperation on submarine subsystems and lifecycle support capabilities in Canada if it secures the program award.Thordon Bearings, based in Burlington, Ontario, manufactures oil-free bearing systems used in naval vessels and submarines.Its bearing systems are already installed on Royal Canadian Navy
February 2026
