Oceanscan Invests in Sonardyne Acoustics
2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) vessel-based systems and Wideband Sub-Mini 6 (WSM 6) transponders have been acquired by Oceanscan following client demand for accurate and reliable underwater tracking technology to support their projects, especially in the growing offshore wind and shallow water hydrographic survey markets. Compact, portable and quick to install, Mini-Ranger 2 offers a standard operating range of 995 meters, extendable up to 4,000 meters, and the ability to simultaneously track up to 10 subsea targets (e.g. divers, ROVs and structures) at very fast update rates. It is considered
Seacat Services Sends Two Workboats to Beatrice For Siemens Gamesa
Offshore energy support vessel (OESV) operator, Seacat Services, has secured a further charter agreement at Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm (Beatrice). This latest 2-year contract will see Seacat Mischief and her sister vessel, Seacat Magic, provide logistical support to manufacturer and service provider Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (Siemens Gamesa) throughout the operations and maintenance (O&M) phases. The pair of 23-meter jet propulsion catamarans will be based out of Wick Harbor in Scotland, with Seacat Mischief arriving on site in mid-August, and Seacat Magic in April
Meet LT Laura Dwyer: NOAA Officer, Navy Oceanographer
and protect our natural resources.The Navy-NOAA MOA recently renewed is designed to conduct personnel exchanges between the two services to leverage expertise for the benefit of each agency and to provide developmental assignments.French, the first NOAA Corps Officer at NAVOCEANMIWCEN, had sailed on a hydrographic ship and was able to bring his knowledge and understanding of the ocean environment to help stand up the data fusion cell (DFC), which collects and process the all the data collected by various sources in a mine warfare operation. The DFC excels at creating tactical environmental analysis and
Ocean Infinity Donates Data to Seabed Mapping Project
of data not previously included in the global grid – an area larger in size than Nigeria.Recognizing the power of crowdsourced data as a tool to empower all those who use our oceans to contribute to science, Seabed 2030 has been requesting donors to deposit their data with the International Hydrographic Organization’s (IHO) Data Centre for Digital Bathymetry (DCDB), a digital repository in Boulder, Colorado in the U.S. “As the recognized archive for global bathymetry, we’re excited to be a part of this international effort to map our oceans by continuing to provide access to
i-Tech Services Earns Inspection Classification Approval
i-Tech Services, a Subsea 7 company, said its Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Drydocking (UWILD) capabilities have been certified to deliver to guidelines set by American Bureau of Shipping, DNV-GL, Bureau Veritas and Lloyds Register.UWILD is required to ensure the structural and operational integrity of a marine asset while on location. i-Tech Services’ inspection division performs these tasks using the latest remotely operated vehicle (ROV) imaging, cleaning and tooling technologies to deliver safer, more cost-effective subsea inspections for all types of assets.Conducting these surveys
Equinor Awards $3.7 Billion Service Deals
Norwegian oil and gas firm Equinor has awarded drilling and well service contracts worth 30 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.68 billion) to Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, it said on Monday.The contracts cover integrated well services, such as directional drilling, drill bits, fluids and cementing, for an initial four years, and can be extended for up to 10 years."The purpose of integrated drilling and well services is to clarify roles and responsibilities," Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, said in a statement."This results in less interfaces and more clearly defined responsibi
Fugro Tallies ROV Services Contracts with Petrobras
Fugro said it has been contracted to provide remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services to support Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras in its exploration and production activities.Two new contracts will see Fugro’s ROV spread working to support drilling related activities, such as towing, mooring, commissioning and decommissioning, and positioning of production and drilling units, as well as installation of subsea equipment in Petrobras oil fields. The ROVs are being deployed in water depths of 3,000 meters on the Brazilian continental shelf.The first of the two contracts commences in the
Looking to the Future of Satellite-derived Bathymetry
Day (SDB Day) organized by EOMAP on June 6-7 to anticipate what’s to come for SDB technology in the next years and revealed future opportunities for providers and users.EOMAP CEO, Dr. Thomas Heege, commented, “The support for the SDB Day was fantastic. All relevant institutions – hydrographic offices, marine industry, service providers and research institutes – picked up on the themes of capabilities, data integration, requirements and quality standards. Joint considerations are really coming to the force, which is great to see.”Initially established as a reconnaissance
EU Grant Supports New Unmanned Survey Vessel
A pioneering hydrographic survey company has been awaded grant funding from Marine-i, the EU funded program set up to boost the marine technology sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.The company, Ultrabeam Hydrographic, which provides ultra high resolution hydrographic surveys for clients with marine based assets, such as harbors, subsea pipelines and oil and gas platforms, has developed a new type of unmanned surface vessel believed to be the first of its kind.The Ultra-USV 3-meter catamaran carries a full suite of high-tech survey equipment and has been designed to gather fast, accurate and
Easier Access to UK Tidal Data
The U.K. Hydrographic Office has released a new ADMIRALTY application programming interface (API) that puts U.K. tidal data in the hands of software developers.The U.K. Tidal API gives developers access to accurate data from the U.K.’s largest authoritative network of tidal stations, allowing them to build tidal height and time predictions into their own online applications. These predictions can be useful for a wide range of coastal activities, whether choosing the best time to go surfing and sailing around the U.K.’s beaches, or helping emergency services to plan resource placement and
Canadian Hydrographic Service Grows Its USV Fleet
The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has taken delivery of two additional autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), bringing its fleet to four systems.The 2.5-meter USVs, built and delivered by Florida based SeaRobotics Corporation, are complete hydrographic systems including multibeam echo sounders, support sensors, cast winches, deployment carts and road trailers.The SeaRobotics USVs are being deployed across Canada supported by regional training performed by SeaRobotics. CHS, part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, has completed the first year of operation and the analysis of the efficiency and
NORBIT Establishes Oceans Business Unit
, technology and R&D capacity under one umbrella, with the objective of creating a global supplier of technology, products, solutions and services for the entire ocean space domain.NORBIT Oceans will include the following:•NORBIT Subsea AS, which provides wideband multibeam sonars for hydrographic applications and subsea leakage detection for the oil and gas and maritime industries.•NORBIT Aptomar AS, which provides integrated field monitoring services for the marine and offshore industries. NORBIT acquired the company from a group of venture investors last year.•NORBIT Aqua;
UK Hydrographic Office Appoints Makewell CTO
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) appointed Terry Makewell to the position of Chief Technology Officer. Makewell has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership positions in government, academia and the creative industries, and will be instrumental in further developing the UKHO as a world-leading center in the marine domain. This will support the UKHO in delivering its vision of becoming the world-leading marine geospatial information agency and hydrographic office by 2020. Makewell joins the UKHO from the Office for National Statistics, where he held the role of Chief
Mappers Look to Chart World's Ocean Floor by 2030
;For too long now we have treated our own oceans as a forgotten frontier."The project is a collaboration between Japan's philanthropic Nippon Foundation and GEBCO, a non-profit association of experts that is already involved in charting the ocean floor. GEBCO operates under the International Hydrographic Organization and UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency."We are not driven by profit, we are driven by science," Bindra said."There's unanimity within the scientific and the mapping community that a map is essential."Still, the ocean economy is expected directly to
New Hydrographic Survey Vessel for USACE
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District accepted delivery of a new high-speed foil assisted hydrographic survey vessel, due to be commissioned on May 31, 2018.The all-aluminum catamaran, S/V Ewell, measures 61’-4” length overall with a 24’ beam. The vessel has two levels; the first has survey stations, and a pilot house is on the second level. The vessel has a galley, mess and sleeping accommodations.Designed to conduct hydrographic surveys using sophisticated multibeam and single beam sonars, the new vessel features Norbit Multibeam sonars and single frequency
Valeport Unveils New Probe
A new probe that combines the power of the SWiFT SVP and a turbidity sensor has been launched by British oceanographic and hydrographic instrument specialist Valeport. The new SWiFTplus uses Valeport’s high accuracy sensor technology which incorporates turbidity observations with sound speed, temperature and pressure sensor technology to also provide computed conductivity, salinity and density. This is coupled with Bluetooth connectivity and a rechargeable battery.The handheld profiler, constructed from Titanium, has been designed from the outset with the intention of a seamless workflow and has
Interview: David Millar, Fugro
and access to Fugro’s subject matter experts around the world. (Photo: Fugro)Aside from feeding Seabed 2030, how is Fugro using OARS?Fugro is working with clients to implement OARS on projects all over the world. We have utilized the technology on rig moves, barge operations, geophysical and hydrographic surveys, and subsea inspection, repair and maintenance projects to name a few. The immediate benefits to our clients are a reduction in vessel POB [people on board] levels, HSE [health safety and environment] exposure, and logistical requirements for personnel mobilization.Today it is on two ships
MG3 & Satellite Derived Bathymetry
based in Bristol, UK. At the time, TCarta was establishing itself as a provider of a new type of near-shore water depth map data called satellite derived bathymetry.“As business partners, our companies worked collaboratively because we could provide an offering that combined the MG3 deep-water hydrographic survey data with our coastal satellite derived bathymetry product,” said Richard Flemmings, Operations Director for TCarta.The TCarta product appealed to MG3 because the satellite imagery could provide accurate seafloor depth data in the shallow coastal areas where it’s often too risky
Fugro to Train Saudi Students in Marine Technology
Fugro’s new partnership with KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) was marked recently with the inauguration of the KAUST - Fugro Center of Excellence for Marine Technology. The new center will provide training in ROV operations and hydrographic survey within the Kingdom as part of the Saudization program.KAUST’s facilities and location, on the shore of the Red Sea, are ideal for addressing the challenges associated with mapping the Red Sea, large tracts of which remain unexplored due to extreme depths, temperature and salinity.“This close working relationship
Holmes Joins Swathe Services
Ex naval captain and marine consultant Jon Holmes has joined Swathe Services as business development manager.The U.K. based hydrographic survey services company said created the new role to maintain and increase product sales and services as well as manage long-term strategic growth. Holmes was made ship’s captain of six naval vessels during his full career as a hydrographic surveyor. After his time with the Navy, he worked at the University of Plymouth’s Hydrographic Academy and then as a marine consultant.
UK’s New Naval Survey Ship Passes Sea Trials
The U.K. Royal Navy’s new hydrographic survey vessel encountered a bout of rough weather during sea trials in the Irish Sea.Launched less than a month ago, HMS Magpie is the newest addition to the Navy's hydrographic squadron, replacing veteran survey launch Gleaner decommissioned earlier this year after 35 years’ under the White Ensign.The new 18-meter catamaran is being delivered by Atlas Elektronik UK through a subcontract with Cork shipbuilder Safehaven, based on the firm’s Wildcat 60 craft.The vessel is due to be formally handed over to the Royal Navy next month and be
UKHO Purchases Multibeam Survey Equipment
develop their own hydrographic survey capability to meet IHO standards.NORBIT iWBMS equipment installations will be conducted in cooperation with local government authorities who will provide suitable vessels and facilities, ultimately enabling the growth in knowledge and capability of local hydrographic services. NORBIT will provide through the UKHO, storage, shipping, installation and support of multibeam echo sounder and survey systems on a country by country basis worldwide.With fully integrated multibeam survey systems, NORBIT said it will ensure high data quality and ease of operation for NORBIT
Boaty McBoatface Completes First Antarctic Mission
credible sea-level projections for the next 50 years.”Dr. Michael Schröder from the Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research is chief scientist on PS111, commented, “The ALR’s mission underneath the Filchner Ice Shelf fills the gap between our hydrographic section in front of the ice shelf and the three sub-ice shelf moorings deployed 60 km south of the front in austral summer 2016/17 as part of the FISS project. With these data we hope to shed light on the processes controlling the exchange of water masses across the ice shelf front, which might
MacArtney Supplies Survey Equipment to Geo Group
Turnkey customer-specific concept including installation and training in hardware and software to support Geo Group, Germany, in mapping subsea areas. MacArtney Germany has effected supply, installation and setting-to-work of several multibeam echo sounder systems and navigation equipment for hydrographic survey applications. Being an internationally operating company providing solutions ranging from classic geoengineering services onshore to special tasks offshore, the Geo Group consists of 18 subsidiaries in Germany and Poland. Scope of supply The deliveries made by MacArtney
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Nautilus Marine Service’s New Test System Online
Nautilus Marine Service GmbH said it has begun operating its new hyperbaric testing system simulating hydrostatic pressures found at water depths up to 13,000 meters. As of January 2018, the German manufacturer of VITROVEX deep sea pressure housings operates a hyperbaric testing chamber with capability that extends to full ocean depth and beyond (1.300bar/18.850psi). Nautilus Marine Service said it is horizontally integrating and expanding its in-house capabilities by being able to verify and test all of their products and components to the highest standards possible. &nbs
ASV Global to Supply USV to University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has awarded a contract to ASV Global for the provision of a C-Worker 5 Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). The 18’ USV will be used for testing, training, and establishing procedures and protocols for use of the system by NOAA on future hydrographic programs. Monty Graham, Director of USM’s School of Ocean Science and Technology (SOST), said, “The C-Worker 5 from ASV Global will be a great addition to support USM’s growing capabilities in Unmanned Marine Systems Certification and our research toward improved mapping and
Teledyne Brings Bathymetic Solutions to CHC-NSC
Teledyne CARIS and Teledyne Optech will have a combined presence at the 2018 Joint Canadian Hydrographic and National Surveyors Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, March 26-29. Visitors interested in the latest in ocean mapping software, and the swift progress taking place in lidar surveying and mapping solutions can drop by stand 407 to learn more. Teledyne CARIS is offering a half-day workshop on March 26th at 1pm. Learn about the new, simplified processing workflow found in HIPS and SIPS, capabilities and opportunities which can be leveraged through Bathy DataBASE, and advances in
New Members Join NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Advisory Panel
NOAA acting administrator retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., has appointed three new members to the Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a federal advisory committee that gives NOAA independent advice for improving a range of services and products that support safe navigation and coastal resilience. The new members of the panel are: Sean M. Duffy Sr., executive director, Big River Coalition, New Orleans, La. Retired USCG Capt. Ed Page, executive director, Marine Exchange of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska Julie Thomas, senior advisor, Southern California, Coastal Ocean
ATLAS MARIDAN to Offer AUV Rental Services
ATLAS MARIDAN ApS. of Rungsted Kyst (Denmark), a subsidiary of the German naval systems supplier ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, has launched an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) rental service. The opportunity to rent ATLAS ELEKTRONIK’s latest unmanned underwater technology shall support customers within the offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, UxO and naval markets. The AUV SeaCat has recently finalized its serial maturity process and concluded certifications covering a wide range of requirements for system robustness, environmental conditions, navigational accuracy and transport safety.
SBG Systems Launches Navsight Marine Solution at OI2018
position in all conditions, such as surveying under a bridge, or during a GNSS outages due to coastal infrastructures (buildings, harbor cranes, etc.) The Navsight Marine Solution supports RTK and every Precise Point Positioning service (Marinestar, TerraStar, etc.). It is compatible with the main hydrographic software such as Hypack, QINSy, or Teledyne PDS for seamless integration into existing workflows. Navsight Marine Solution Availability Navsight is ITAR Free. All models are available for order. Ordering information and delivery time are available from SBG Systems representatives and
UKHO Conducts Seabed Mapping in Tonga to Support Blue Economy
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has chartered a motor launch to survey the waters in the Kingdom of Tonga as part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Program. State-of-the-art multibeam sonar equipment will be used to map key areas of the seabed in the approaches to the harbor of the capital, Nuku'alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu. This information will be used to update nautical charts and publications, help Tonga meet its international maritime obligations, including the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and elements of the Implementation of the IMO Instruments Code
Xiamen University Selects AML’s Moving Vessel Profiler
has purchased a Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) for the research vessel Jia Geng. The university’s State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science will use the deep water underway profiling system, MVP300, to collect CTD, sound velocity and environmental data in support of both hydrographic and ocean science applications. The ability to collect high density data in real-time while the vessel is underway will produce higher quality results than can be achieved with static profiling systems, and in a fraction of the time. The contract was secured through manufacturer AML Oceanograp
OSIL Calibration Department in Demand
, holding common components in stock to ensure a quick turnaround, and are ideally placed regarding calibration standards for conductivity and salinity as OSIL operates the IAPSO Standard Seawater service from within its facilities. OSIL provides support, calibrations and repairs for a wide range of hydrographic instruments from its well-equipped facilities and offer a range of calibrations , pre-deployment verifications and services for CTDs, Sound Velocity, Current Meters & Tide Gauges, Multiparameter Sondes and AML X Change Sensors in addition to the Guildline Salinometers. Supported manufacturers
Schlumberger, Subsea 7 Mull Oil Services JV
Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield services firm, and smaller peer Subsea 7 said on Friday they were entering exclusive talks to form a joint venture to deliver subsea installations and services for oilfields. The news lifted Subsea 7 shares on hopes the talks could be the first step towards a full takeover, in a sector that has already seen consolidation with the 2016 merger of Technip and FMC Technologies. In recent months, oil firms have returned to profits due to higher oil prices and the benefits of deep cost cuts they made during the downturn. But their suppliers are
Meet the Future of Visualization and Mapping Sonars
The images below were generated in a single pass of the survey vessel, without any post-processing of the data required and significant detail around the piles is clearly visible. The patented Echoscope range of real-time sonars are more than visualization tools, as they enable the capture of hydrographic quality data in real-time from the same sensor. This enables an operator to use the sonar for a multitude of purposes, such as visualization of a valuable asset as it is accurately placed on the seabed, and then simultaneously using this data to provide the as-built or as-laid survey. The
Glider-Based Ecosystem Study
Fish Profiler (AZFP) 38, 125 and 200 kHz instrument in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). The deployment lasted 3 weeks and the glider was recovered on January 31, 2018. The purpose of this deployment was to obtain mesoscale and sub-mesoscale measurements of hydrographic processes and simultaneous biological distributions and abundance. From the resulting data, the researchers will examine the interactions between multiple trophic levels (phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish) and their relationships to the physical hydrographic driving forces such as sea ice and
NOAA Releases 2018 Hydrographic Survey Plans
Beginning in April, NOAA’s four hydrographic survey ships – Thomas Jefferson, Ferdinand Hassler, Rainier and Fairweather – will set out along with private contractors to tackle their assigned survey projects over the course of the 2018 field season. Below are NOAA’s priority areas for planned survey projects 2018: Alaska North Coast of Kodiak Island – Last surveyed in 1932, this survey project focuses on areas inadequate for safe navigation, particularly along the corridor of vessel traffic transiting from Kodiak. West of Prince
UKHO Creates High Density ENC of the Bristol Channel
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has disclosed details of a new Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) which could help to improve situational awareness and safety. Developed to cover an area of the Bristol Channel known as ‘The Bridge’, this ‘high density’ ENC displays depth contours at one-meter intervals, allowing ECDIS to set safety contours at corresponding levels to support navigation through shallow water. ECDIS will select safety contours based on a safety contour depth value set by the mariner. As most charts contain depth contours at
Fairbank Joins SBG Systems’ Sales Team
has hired Chelsea Fairbank as Sales Engineer in North America. She will team up with Jack Mawson, Sales Manager North America at the company’s U.S. office in Huntington Beach, Calif. and will be in charge of the marine and education segments. Fairbank has an extensive background in the hydrographic industry, starting her career as hydrographic surveyor. During her five years with Fugro, she worked on international hydrographic and cable route surveys working with a broad range of Inertial Navigation Equipment integrated with LiDAR and Multibeam Systems to generate end-products of topographic
Mexico's Oil Reform a Boon for Hard-hit Oil Service, Seismic Firms
Oil service and mapping firms still emerging from an industry recession have received a boost from about $800 million of data sales to energy firms considering bidding for Mexican oil and gas blocks. Mexico will on Wednesday hold its most important auction since a 2013 reform ended the 75-year monopoly on the energy sector held by state-run oil firm Pemex. The government of President Enrique Pena Nieto hopes the deepwater sale will attract tens of billions of dollars of investment to turnaround a slump in the country's oil output. Seven previous auctions drew investment pledges of
US-built Survey Vessel Bound for Israel
berth, galley and head with shower are designed to keep crew comfortable. The survey package includes a computer work station for three, hydraulic A frame, aluminum davit and aft deck moon pool for equipment deployment. Vibration dampening mounts and acoustic dampening insulation will ensure accurate hydrographic readings. The client commented during sea trials that the vessel will be an excellent tool for their operations throughout Israel and the Mediterranean
New Shallow Water Bathymetry Solution Unveiled
MRU, GNSS or INS systems aboard a fully equipped survey launch or unmanned vehicle. Ping DSP’s flagship 3DSS-DX sonar has established the utility of combining accurate wide swath bathymetry with high resolution 3D (and 2D) imagery and the iDX now extends that capability as a complete hydrographic/imaging solution for customers who want both versatility and installation/operating simplicity without sacrificing performance. The compact size (4" dia. x 25" long) of the 3DSS-iDX make it easy to use on almost any size vessel or Autonomous/Remote Controlled Surface Vehicle
Seabed Mapping Underway in Belize
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has deployed two vessels to survey the waters of Belize as part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Program, the organization has announced. Following a stakeholder meeting with the Belize Port Authority and wider government earlier this month, priority areas will be surveyed, capturing sonar data of Belize's main ports and approaches. High frequency mapping sonars are being used, which have no negative impact on its diverse ecosystems and marine life. The surveying is expected to continue throughout February and will focus on areas including
Laser Scanner Delivered for Norwegian MCM
focused specifically on locating and identifying mines. The Hugin systems enable users to conduct fast and efficient operations with zero surface visibility while improving safety conditions by allowing personnel to remain outside the minefield. In peacetime, the AUVs also contribute to hydrographic operations. 2G Robotics said the ULS-500 PRO dynamic underwater laser scanner system will contribute to the detection, classification and assessment of mines. 2G’s system acquires data in real-time and provides users with 3D models of targets and environments accurate to the sub-centimet
Aquabotix Adds Global Distributors
and scuba training solutions and services, with an expert focus in the marine and diving environments. Seismic Asia Pacific Pty. Ltd., which will represent Aquabotix in Australia and New Zealand. Based in Salisbury, Queensland Australia, Seismic Asia Pacific is a leading provider of hydrographic, oceanographic and geophysical systems within Australia and throughout southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim. The company also provides hardware and software equipment and system solutions to local government, defense and resource specific sectors. Hydro Systems Development
Aker Solutions Secures Subsea Services Work for Statoil
Aker Solutions said it has secured a framework agreement to provide subsea services for Statoil-operated oil and gas fields offshore Norway. The contract has a fixed period of five years, starting in the first quarter of 2018, and contains five four-year extension options. Its value depends on the amount of work ordered by Statoil under the agreement. This is currently estimated at about NOK 3 billion ($361,000) for the fixed period and will be booked in fourth-quarter orders. The agreement provides work for Aker Solutions' services bases in Ågotnes on the west coast of Norway and
Valeport MIDAS SVX2 Selected by Saab Kockums
Oceanographic, hydrographic and hydrometric instrumentation manufacturer Valeport said it has secured a contract to supply four customized MIDAS SVX2 probes to Saab Kockums. The MIDAS SVX2 is an advanced probe, combining sound velocity with salinity and density technologies to provide a versatile instrument which delivers superior data profiles. The MIDAS SVX2 was selected for its commercial off the shelf (COTS) status which contributed to project cost and lead time efficiency, Valeport said. Swedish manufacturer Saab Kockums develops naval technology to design, build and maintain
Monet Cable System Ready for Service
A 10,556 kilometer submarine cable enhancing connectivity from the United States to Brazil has been completed and is ready for service. Commercial traffic via the intercontinental Monet Cable System is expected to commence shortly, announced project partners from the U.S., Brazil, Angola and Uruguay. Monet is owned by Google, telecom company and internet service provider Algar Telecom, wholesale telecom company Angola Cables and telecom company Antel, and was built to provide a robust internet backbone to serve Latin America’s current and increased future connectivity needs.
Hydrographic Survey Vessel Converted for Autonomous Ops
ASV Global said it has converted a 26ft hydrographic survey launch to enable it to operate autonomously using the ASView control system, while maintaining its ability to operate in a conventional manned mode. The launch, which is part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) fleet dedicated to the survey operations of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), will be used as a test platform for unmanned survey work. This delivery to the CHS marks ASV Global’s 10th unmanned conversion of a customer vessel using the ASView system. ASView enables the launch to follow planned
Research Vessel Launched for Angolan Fisheries Ministry
;Baía Farta, a new Fishery Research Vessel (FRV) 7417 for the Angolan Ministry of Fisheries. The vessel's sponsor was Dra. Isabel Cristóvão, director of Gabinete de Estudos, Planeamento e Estatística. The FRV 7417 is suited to various purposes, including hydrographic operations, acoustics research, pelagic and demersal trawling, plankton, water, environmental and geographical sampling, oil recovery and emergency towing operations. “[The vessel] will enable the Angolan Fisheries Ministry to carry out research into its fishing grounds that will help to
Klein Plans 2018 Side Scan Sonar Training
Side scan sonar manufacturer Klein Marine Systems will host three days of side scan sonar training, including a one day on-water practical training, from January 29-31, in Pensacola, Fla. The training, organized with the support of Higgs Hydrographic Tek, will help participants to develop a thorough understanding of sonar image analysis as well as hands-on experience with single beam sonar such as the dual-frequency Klein 4900. Training topics include: Principles of underwater acoustics - sonar record analysis, targets and shadows, reflectivity of underwater materials
Tuco to Build Hydrographic Survey Boats for Denmark
Tuco Marine Group said it has signed a contract with DALO (The Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization) to deliver two bespoke hydrographic survey boats to replace two existing survey vessels that have become obsolete. The new vessels, based on Tuco’s ProZero concept, have been designed to allow full use of the latest technology for hydrographic surveys. The boats are designed to accommodate two hydrography specialists in addition to a dedicated helmsman. The hull has been specially adapted to address two challenges that are hard to solve at once: on the one hand
New Remotely Operated Hydrographic Survey Boat
Teledyne Oceanscience has introduced a new remotely operated hydrographic survey boat suited for inland waters such as streams, rivers and lakes. The new trimaran style Z-Boat 1250 is “sturdy enough for tough terrain but light enough to be one person portable,” according to Teledyne. The vehicle has a lightweight hull manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, and is IP67 rated, which makes it well suited to survey in most water conditions. The vehicle weighs in at less than 50 pounds, including all instrumentation. A collapsible sliding crossbar makes the
Penobscot Bay Survey in Focus at NOAA Stakeholder Meetings
Survey hosted two stakeholder events in Belfast, Maine, to engage the local community on various NOAA products and updates in the region. Originally from Belfast himself, Rear Adm. Smith, director of the Office of Coast Survey, provided a warm introduction to both events. Dean Moyles, of Fugro, a NOAA hydrographic contractor, presented a summary of the hydrographic survey work being performed in Penobscot Bay. Lt. David Vejar, NOAA northeast navigation manager, highlighted various products and services, including how to access NOAA charts and data, the upcoming Gulf of Maine Operation Forecast System, nowCOAST
SKF Launches Magnetic Bearings Tuning Service
SKF has rolled out a new service called 'certified tuning E300V2', which leverages the capabilities of the E300V2 control cabinet for SKF S2M magnetic bearings. The development is as a spin-off from a previous subsea electronic system developed for the Norwegian Åsgard project and offers the ability to monitor and control magnetic bearings from a remote location. “The new service allows machine tuning to be conducted by an OEM from their own site, with their own technicians and without SKF’s physical presence,” explained Jérémy Lepelley, project manager
Rapp Marine to Equip New OSU Research Vessel
under construction at Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, La. Under the scope of the OHS SSV, Rapp Marine is responsible for integrating the systems required for science mission and cargo handling operations. The overboard handling systems will consist of the oceanographic winch and hydrographic winch systems, which will supply various tension members to the stern A-frame, main crane and overboard handling apparatus. The portable winch will also supply the tension member used with the portable side A-frame and portable crane. The primary application of the oceanographic
Fugro Boosts Offshore Wind Projects in Taiwan
will see the two companies cooperate on marine survey projects in the waters surrounding Taiwan, with IOVTEC expanding survey services in the country and Fugro providing fit-for-purpose technology, equipment and expertise. “IOVTEC brings to the MoU its specialist skills in domestic hydrographic and bathymetric surveys for coastal mapping, government port and harbor agencies, dredging and marine contractors and offshore wind farm developers in Taiwan,” said Jerry Paisley, Fugro’s Director for Marine Site Characterization in the Asia Pacific region. “Fugro’s offshore
Finland Selects CARIS Hydrographic Production Database
The Finnish Transport Agency Liikennevirasto (FTA) has selected Hydrographic Production Database (HPD) as the new system for chart production for current and future needs. With many lakes, an archipelagic sea and an estimated 40,000 islands, the FTA has a large and complex portfolio of navigational charts to maintain. The project to implement HPD will include deployment of software and the migration of existing products into an optimized workflow where data is centrally managed and various product types are derived from one updated source. The system will provide a platform where user-friendly,
Swathe Services to Represent Planck Aerosystems in the UK
Swathe Services said it has entered into an agency agreement with Planck Aerosystems to represent the San Diego based autonomous drone company in the U.K. Planck Aerosystems is a drone company that enables autonomous operations from moving vehicles on land or at sea. The company’s specialized Shearwater unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be deployed in a matter of minutes, with minimal user training and experience. With powerful onboard computing capabilities, long range digital communications and intelligent computer vision software the Planck solution provides a safer, faster
