The Quest to Find and Explore USS Indianapolis
. In the early hours of July 30, 1945, having just completed a secret mission to deliver materials from California for the first operational atomic bomb, “Little Boy” to a naval base on the Pacific island Tinian, Indianapolis was en route from Guam to Leyte when it was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-58. Indianapolis sank quickly – reportedly in just 12 minutes – leaving little time for the crew to deploy lifeboats or for an emergency signal to be sent. It is estimated that 800 of the nearly 1,200 Sailors and Marines on board survived the sinking, but a communication error
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
Track Cables and Pipelines with an AUV
missions using survey tool Smartrak from U.K. based INNOVATUM Ltd. The company designs, manufactures and operates compact, low-powered magnetic cable and pipeline tracking systems. INNOVATUM said recent tests have successfully demonstrated fully autonomous passive magnetic tracking of a submarine cable by AUV, using Smartrak. INNOVATUM has released the AUV data protocol for a standard communications format between Innovatum Smartrak and AUVs. The data protocol allows operators and AUV manufacturers to prepare AUVs for cable and pipe tracking tasks. The data protocol document is available
Sonardyne Awarded Contract from Magseis
Sonardyne International Ltd., UK said it has secured a contract from Magseis to supply seabed node acoustic positioning technology to support an expansion in the Norwegian seismic services company’s deep water survey activities. The equipment ordered includes a large quantity of Sonardyne’s newly developed SST 6 (Small Seismic Transponder 6), and associated vessel-based acoustic positioning system, Ranger 2 USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine). The hardware will be installed and operated by Magseis’ latest crew which is scheduled to be fully operational during the second
Klein's Side Scan Sonar, Then and Now
The company known today as Klein Marine Systems, Inc. has origins stretching back to the 1960s when Marty Klein, who many consider to be the father of side scan sonar, began building his own devices from his home in Lexington, Mass. As this iconic subsea technology company approaches 50, MTR speaks with Marty Klein as well as Klein Marine System’s general manager, Frank Cobis. When did you realize you were destined for a career in the subsea world? Marty Klein: Wow. It started back in 1961 when I was a senior at MIT and I had to do a thesis. I like to build things, but I
Safety Zone Management Assurance for Offshore Installations
An Aberdeen-based maritime specialist has launched 500m Zone Management assurance and auditing for offshore Installations following the success of its training courses for offshore installation personnel to help address safety concerns. Seacroft Marine Consultants has developed a new assurance process to continue to monitor operational safety standards after providing initial training to help installations manage ship movements when they come close to platforms. It is the latest development from the leading marine assurance providers which builds upon training it launched earlier
Hawaiki Transpacific Cable Set for Installation
The undersea fiber-optic cable and equipment for the 14,000 km Hawaiki transpacific cable system have been manufactured and are in the final stages of being loaded aboard cable laying vessels for deployment to beginning in early October. The Hawaiki submarine cable system, owned and developed Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP, will link Australia and New Zealand to the mainland United States, as well as Hawaii and American Samoa, with options to expand to additional South Pacific islands. The carrier-neutral cable system was co-developed by New Zealand-based entrepreneurs Sir Eion Edgar, Malcolm
Machines Infused with AI that Fly, Swarm and Dive
and more than one semifinalist team in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE is developing solutions that will feature biomimicry behaviors to build intelligent swarms, hives, and heavy lift drone solutions that that can fly back and forth from the deep ocean competition mapping site. Eauligo and the Marine Bees Team Lead: Christopher Lewis To compete in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, the France-based Eauligo team has taken its inspiration from nature and plans to launch a horde of miniature robotic submarines that will mimic bee behavior. Watching bees going from flower to flower in a garden,
TE SubCom Launches New NOC Solution
into operational flow. Cable operators depending on the long-term viability of their networks will now have global 24x7x365 monitoring coverage and both high-level and regional visibility into their networks’ status. SubCom’s NOC solution has already been selected for the Monet Submarine Cable, a 10,556km cable that is owned and operated by Algar Telecom (a Brazilian telecom company and ISP), Angola Cables (a multinational telecom company operating in the wholesale market), ANTEL (the Uruguayan telecom company) and Google. In the U.S., this new 6-fiber-pair cable system was landed
Stetkiewicz Joins FarSounder in Marketing Role
FarSounder, a marine electronics manufacturer specializing in underwater acoustics, has hired Cassie Stetkiewicz as its new Marketing, Communications and Relationship Manager. In her new position, Stetkiewicz will work closely with the CEO and Director of Global Sales playing an integral role in marketing, advertising, trade show organization, public relations and the development of client relationships. Stetkiewicz joins FarSounder from the Rhode Island based worldwide tour operator, Collette.
EIVA Cable Telemetry Kit Available as an OEM Product
EIVA now offers a cable telemetry kit based on the technology used in the company’s range of ScanFish remotely operated towed vehicles (ROTVs) as an OEM product for integration with subsea sensor and sonar systems. All ScanFish ROTV systems surveying the world’s seas for some of the major players in the maritime industry include this technology, meaning the ScanFish Cable Telemetry Kit has proven its worth in many different applications. Now, by splitting up the telemetry components of the ScanFish ROTV system for integration with other pieces of equipment, EIVA said it
AquaPix MINSAS integrated onboard ATLAS SeaCat AUV
Kraken Sonar Inc. wholly-owned subsidiary, Kraken Sonar Systems Inc., has been awarded a contract valued at over C$425,000 ($336,600) by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK Canada to supply and integrate its AquaPix Miniature Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar and Real-Time SAS Signal Processor on the Atlas SeaCat autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Delivery is expected in September 2017. AquaPix is designed for operation on AUVs and towed platforms. The modular system uses the latest electronics, transducer arrays and signal processing software optimized for the demanding size, weight, power and cost constraint
Trelleborg Suite Supplied to Prelude FLNG
Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has supplied a suite of products to Shell’s Prelude FLNG facility, the largest offshore facility ever constructed. Prelude, which is 488 meters long, 74 meters wide, and made with more than 260,000 tons of steel, will extract and liquefy natural gas from a site in North West Australia. Trelleborg supplied its gas transfer technology and SafePilot navigational and piloting systems for Prelude. “Our SafePilot solution, SSL, ESL and radio ESD for tandem condensate offload have been used on Shell’s Prelude FLNG,” said
GMG Secures Cable Contract for Rampion Offshore Wind Farm
Global Marine Group (GMG) announced that it has been awarded a contract from E.ON to install a fibre optic cable at the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, under construction 13km off the coast of Sussex, UK. Upon completion the cable will run from the shore to an offshore substation, providing a vital communications link for this major wind farm. The installation is expected to be completed later this month. CWind, which is part of the GMG and is responsible for delivering the Company’s power capabilities, will execute the contract and will utilize the Group’s capable assets
OI London Issues Final Call for Speakers
Marine science and ocean technology event Oceanology International 2018 has issued a public call for abstracts by September 15, 2017 for the opportunity of inclusion in its technical conference program line-up of speakers. Technologists, scientists, engineers and experts in their field are invited to submit a 300-word proposal on a variety of topical specialist subjects which reflect the conference’s series of 11 free-to-attend technical tracks chaired by a prominent list of industry leaders already confirmed for next year’s event from March 13-15 at ExCeL London. Speakers
Aquabotix Names Curley CDO
and his duties include overseeing all facets of the sales and business development functions. Curley is a top producing sales and marketing leader in the unmanned underwater industry, with over 25 years sales experience. Most recently Curley was Director of Sales - Vehicles at Teledyne Marine, a division of Teledyne Technologies, Inc. Previously, he served as Regional Sales Manager at Teledyne TSS Ltd (UK) and Sales and Marketing Manager at EPC Laboratories, Inc. Curley has a BA in Communications from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.
Ocean Power Technologies Establishes Houston Presence
New Jersey based Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) said it has established a presence in Houston to more effectively support the company’s oil and gas business development activities. The company’s daily business development activities in Houston will be managed by OPT’s new Director of Global Applications, David Marchetti, who work with customers to understand their challenges and develop unique solutions which integrate the OPT PowerBuoy to support customer subsea remote offshore operations from concept through deployment and beyond. OPT’s PB3 PowerBuoy
RoboSub Competition: 20 Years of Fun and Learning
. "It provides students with career field experiences and, for the Navy, it provides a venue for development and better understanding of autonomous undersea vehicles [AUV]." Autonomous systems will extend the air, surface, underwater and ground vehicle capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps, as shown in recent exhibitions like Unmanned Warrior and the S2ME2 ANTX [Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation Advanced Naval Technology Exercise]. "As unmanned and autonomous technologies advance, the Navy will continue to improve the science behind autonomous
Meet The Chatty Scientist
resources and modern, flexible training that helps scientists discover the tools to best communicate their research, increase exposure and connect with audiences around the world. The Chatty Scientist is the brainchild of the platform's founder and CEO, Kira Coley, a contributing writer to Marine Technology Reporter, freelance science writer and lecturer in science communication at the University of Portsmouth, U.K. Coley said, “The training options available these days are too limited – not everyone wants to learn everything there is to know about science communication
Kongsberg Control System for New SEA-KIT USV
Kongsberg’s latest marine robotics innovation, the new autonomous surface vehicle control system K-MATE, is to be integrated with SEA-KIT, a new class of maritime autonomous surface vessel being built by U.K. manufacturer Hushcraft and operated by SEA-KIT International. SEA-KIT is a USV that can carry a deployable and retrievable payload of up to 2.5 tons. It is based on the AUV-USV concept, which could lead to more efficient, safer and cost-effective seafloor mapping operations, as well as providing a platform for numerous applications in a wide range of maritime sectors. The
US, Japan Conclude Mine Countermeasures Exercise
U.S. naval forces and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force concluded 2JA mine countermeasures exercise (MCMEX) after 10 days of unit-level and combined MCM-related drills on July 28. 2JA MCMEX is an annual bilateral exercise held between the U.S. and Japan to strengthen interoperability and increase proficiencies in mine countermeasure operations. This year marks the 100th time that the U.S. and the Japanese have conducted bilateral mine countermeasures together, often conducting them twice a year, since bilateral exercises of this type began in 1962. The exercise
MetOcean Telematics Wins Canada Satcom Contract
MetOcean Telematics said it has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide global satellite communications to the Canadian Government, exclusively through the Iridium network. The agreement will feature MetOcean Telematics hardware products and services, deployed for use by more than 150 Canadian Government agencies. The Iridium network satellite constellation offers 100 percent global coverage, including the polar regions, such as the remote Arctic territory of northern Canada. MetOcean Telematics notes it has significant experience providing remote monitoring technology for
US Firm Offers to Resume Search for MH370
A U.S. seabed exploration firm has offered to take on the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, families of passengers and a Malaysian government minister said on Wednesday, in a bid to solve one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. The Boeing 777 disappeared in 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur with 239 people aboard. Analysis of radar and satellite contacts suggested someone on board may have deliberately switched off the plane's transponder before diverting it thousands of kilometres out over the Indian Ocean. Australia, Malaysia and
SMD Expands Its Servicing Operations
Remotely operated vehicles (ROV) manufacturer Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) said it is relocating its servicing operations to the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Dock estate in South Shields, U.K. The Tyneside based manufacturing company’s head office and heavy production facility will remain in Wallsend and SMD will continue to manufacture ROVs at the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North Shields. Servicing, maintenance and training operations will transfer to the new facility at the Port of Tyne. The firm will occupy a 23,000sqft unit at Tyne Dock, which has been modified to
AUVs Launched and Recovered Autonomously
Autonomous surface vehicle launches and recovers autonomous underwater vehicles . . . autonomously. That’s a lot of autonomy! The autonomous launch and recovery of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) from an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) was demonstrated as the closing part of their Innovate UK project. The demonstration, performed in front of invited guests from the project partners Planet Ocean, National Oceanography Center (NOC), ASV Ltd, University of Southampton and funders Innovate UK and Dstl took place on a sunny July day in the Solent. The day marked
Case Study: Klein System 5900 Side Scan Sonar
Klein Marine System’s flagship 5900 high-resolution and high-speed side scan sonar is designed for use as either a conventional towed system or a payload for an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). Klein recently tested its newest sonar features in Israel on the USV Seagull, Elbit’s versatile platform for mine hunting and antisubmarine warfare. Among these features is the ability to control and stream full-resolution side scan sonar images via satellite.During a recent test, the Klein 5900 made several passages over the wreck of the Italian Submarine Scirè, sunk by the British naval
New Oilfield Comms Products from Moog Focal
Moog Focal has introduced the Quad Serial Server (QSS) module, which combines a 4-channel serial server with integrated 3-port Ethernet switch on a single 3U Eurocard to seamlessly integrate serial interface sensors with modern Ethernet-based control systems. It also enables transmission of Ethernet data over legacy serial telemetry links. The QSS has extra connectors for modular expansion, enabling the addition of more serial ports, 4-20 mA channels, and fault-tolerant CAN Bus interfaces. This product interfaces with all types of SIIS level 1, 2, 3 and IWIS compatible data interfaces.
UK Partners to Launch Autonomous Vessels Testing Service
Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to design and deliver the U.K.’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service. Based around Portsmouth, Southampton and the South East of the Isle of Wight, BAE Systems will work with ASV Global (ASV), Blue Bear Systems Research (Blue Bear), Marine Electronic Systems (MES), SeeByte and the University of Southampton to provide the service’s infrastructure, with other organizations set to join later on. Together, the Solent LEP and partner organizations are investing £1.5 million ($2 million) in this project, the first of
Microsatellites Launched for Maritime Monitoring, Comms and Science
The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) announced the successful launch of two Norwegian microsatellites developed and built by SFL for the Norwegian Space Centre with support from the Norwegian Coastal Authority, Space Norway and the European Space Agency. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the satellites into orbit launched from Baikonur at 06:36:49 UTC Friday, July 14, 2017. Shortly after launch both satellites were contacted from ground stations in Svalbard and Vardo, Norway. Both satellites are healthy based on initial telemetry, and commissioning is underway. The first satellite
Oil Spill Detection: Remote Sensing Equipment Tested
sensors (2Excel Aviation) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) (Sky Futures and Bristow Group) Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) (Blue Ocean Monitoring and Planet Ocean) A surveillance kite with COFDM link (Domo Tactical Communications (DTC)) IP Mesh Network on vessel and crew (Briggs Marine and DTC) SCAT (Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique) based surveys testing a new SCAT e-tool A minimal amount of oil was released under carefully controlled conditions and with approval from the Marine Management Organization (MMO) following a rigorous planning and stakeholder
HUGIN AUV Now Available in a Turnkey Package
world is now available as a limited release from Kongsberg. “Although many HUGIN AUVs are delivered as turnkey solutions on a customized basis, this is the first time we have offered a HUGIN AUV as a predefined package with everything ready to go,” said Richard Mills, Director Sales Marine Robotics, Kongsberg Maritime. As a turnkey solution, Kongsberg said, the package provides cost-savings for organizations seeking to expand their autonomous underwater capabilities for a range of applications, from commercial surveying and pipeline inspection through to marine and climate
New Tide Gauge, Water Temperature Monitoring Network in UAE
A three year project to design, install and deliver a fully operational network of 34 water level and temperature monitoring stations for Bayanat LLC in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been completed by OceanWise working with its licensed partner, Seatronics, an Acteon company, The stations are positioned at strategic locations within UAE from the Western Region to the border with Oman, a distance of over 400 km. Water level is being measured using Valeport VRS-20 Radars with water temperature being measured using PT100 sensors from General Acoustics. All equipment is solar
New Heavyweight Torpedo Enters Final Development
A new torpedo design being developed under the Artémis program, which aims to equip all French Navy nuclear submarines with new high-performance heavyweight torpedoes, has propelled into its final development phase with the recent completion of a successful round of test firing off the Mediterranean coast. The F21 torpedo is being developed by European naval defense and marine renewable energies technology company DCNS, who performed the qualification firing in a secured maritime area under the authority of program leader Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA)
University of Gothenburg Selects HUGIN AUV
The University Of Gothenburg has chosen Kongsberg Maritime’s HUGIN autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to expand Sweden’s capabilities in the field of marine research using unmanned platforms. The HUGIN, which will be funded by grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and managed by a project team with representatives from the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology and Stockholm University, will be recognized as a national asset for marine research projects around Sweden and further afield. The University of Gothenburg has chosen a HUGIN configuratio
All Eyes on Ireland
the Irish Government’s ‘Our Ocean Wealth’ strategy has ambitious targets to increase the turnover from the country’s ocean economy to exceed €6.4 billion by 2020 and to double the value of its ocean wealth to 2.4 percent of GDP by 2030. Ireland’s GDP from the marine sector at 0.8 percent represents significant opportunities for growth given that the international average is about 2 percent and Ireland is a maritime nation with significant marine resources. The Our Ocean Wealth strategy has a target to grow this to 2.4 percent of GDP by 2030 based on economic
Musician Cody Simpson is 'Ocean Advocate' for UN
To mark World Oceans Day on May 8, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) named Australian musician Cody Simpson as its first-ever Ocean Advocate to help raise awareness of the crucial role the ocean plays in the health of the planet and people. “I grew up by the ocean and the beach,” said Simpson during an event held at UN Headquarters in New York. “I want to do everything I can in my own life to protect and preserve the ocean. Just as you should in yours.” According to UNDP, Simpson will kick off off his new role as part of The
Manned Submersible Divers to Study Sharks in the Bahamas
transition from continental shelf habitats to the deep ocean to: Photograph, video and capture firsthand observations of the behavior of deep-water predators such as the Caribbean reef shark, blunt nose sixgill shark, and Cuban dogfish to better understand their predatory role in food webs of marine ecosystems. Use depth stratified baited video stations, serviced by the manned submersible, to quantify the relative abundance, diversity and behavior of fish, crustacean and invertebrate communities from the edge of the continental shelf into the depths. Collect LiDAR, sonar and photogrammetric
Ocean vs Space: Exploration and the Quest to Inspire the Public
or even historic technology. Space is more creatively depicted in our popular culture than the oceans. Space movies have “cool” technologies – a lot of which have spurred innovation, making fiction into fact. In contrast, modern ocean movies generally take place on sailing vessels or submarines, using instruments of old such as brass sextants. This mires the oceans in the past. But beyond this, numerous space movies involve brave acts of self-sacrifice for the greater good, which reveals “a common human belief that exploring space is bigger and more important than the lives of the
Proserv Opening New Subsea Tech Center
Energy services company Proserv informs it is investing in a new purpose-built technology center for subsea controls and communications in Great Yarmouth. The move will see around 190 employees consolidate from two sites in the area into the new 65,000 sq ft Beacon Park site in Gorleston-on-Sea which will feature modern office, manufacturing and yard space and provides the flexibility to add a further 20,000 sq ft of workshop capacity. Construction will commence next month with the building expected to be completed during March 2018. David Lamont, Proserv CEO, said
USV Deployed for 22 Days in South China Sea
sailed with just over 6,000 liters of diesel and returned to its Singapore home port with 2,800 liters remaining. The endurance test validated the fuel efficiency of the vessel which is built using Arovex, giving it a hull that is strong but lightweight. Powered by twin Yanmar 480-horsepower marine diesel engines, the test also validated the robustness of the vessel’s mechanical and electronic systems. “This endurance test is a major capability demonstration of the IUSV,” said James Soon, president of Zycraft. “It showed that the IUSV can be effectively
Tech File: Kongsberg’s Compact Survey Vessel
GeoSwath 4R system is pre-calibrated so that the survey operation can commence immediately on arrival, and no time is wasted running additional survey lines. Its shallow draft, high top speed and maneuverability combined with the stability of a catamaran hull make it ideal for use in both marine surveys and on canals, river and lakes. The ability to steer tight survey grids makes it a fast and accurate addition to the surveyor’s portfolio. The new GeoSwath 4R system offers unsurpassed productivity in shallow waters with at least 12x water depth coverage right up to the waterline
RV Sally Ride Enters Dry Dock for Maintenance
The Sally Ride, a Neil Armstrong Class Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) vessel, dry docked at Bay Ship and Yacht on April 15, 2017, to carry out modifications to superstructure and to perform general vessel maintenance. Named for the late astronaut Sally Ride, the ship is 238 feet long and incorporates the latest technologies, including high-efficiency diesel engines, emissions controls for stack gases, and new information technology tools both for monitoring shipboard systems and for communicating with the world. It will serve to provide scientists with the tools and capabilities
Anti-Submarine Warfare: Unmanned Future
Hidden under the vast crystal blues of the Pacific, a submarine is hunted from above. A centuries-old game of cat and mouse drives the technological advancements in the ongoing race to conquer the undersea realms. Today, enhanced capability in both anti-submarine and anti-surface technology is transforming anti-submarine warfare, known as ASW. Modern submarines are not only quieter than their ancestors, but they are also better equipped to deal with the threats that shadow them from above. For now, submarines are ahead in the race. But, with the emergence of unmanned autonomous technology
South Bay Cable Celebrates 60
commitment to quality and customer service, allow South Bay Cable to experience steady growth. With increased production capabilities and strong footholds in both commercial and military markets, South Bay looks forward to future challenges. (As published in the May 2017 edition of Marine Technology Reporter
Topaz Resolve Goes to Work in the Mediterranean
International offshore support vessel company Topaz Energy and Marine said its multipurpose supply vessel (MPSV) Topaz Resolve has commenced a charter in support of geophysical and geotechnical survey operations in the Mediterranean Sea for a European oil major. Topaz Resolve is operating from Limassol, Cyprus for an initial period of one month. The vessel is a multi-functional ROV, dive and survey vessel and is equipped for deep and shallow water operations, in DP2 or by 4-point mooring. The 50m vessel, which was built in late 2015, is equipped with a 25 metric ton offshore subsea crane.
Nautisk, MarineMTS to Provide ENC Auto-Updates
Global maritime software solutions provider Nautisk has announced that it is working with MarineMTS to provide automatic ENC updates to vessels sailing with ECDIS. Nautisk’s new Head of Innovation and Product Development Kjetil Bentsen said: “We approached MarineMTS to work with us to develop a service that would facilitate automatic updates of ENCs onboard vessels sailing global routes.” “The solution that we are launching is revolutionary as it is non type-specific, meaning that it will work with ANY existing ECDIS and through any communication channel.
BOEM's Jim Bennett Weighs in on US Offshore Renewables
(BOEM), the program responsible for overseeing offshore renewable energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Bennett has a long career of experience in dealing with OCS issues as they relate to energy, with experience in oil and gas and now renewables. He recently spent some time with Marine Technology Reporter to discuss the current and future role of offshore renewable energy in the United States. You have vast experience in the offshore energy environment, both oil and gas and now renewables. Is there a compare and contrast between the two? There is a compare and contrast
IKM Reports Progress at Snorre B and Visund
IKM Subsea was awarded a ROV services contract for the fields Visund and Snorre B in the North Sea last August. The contract provides for the testing and installation of an electrical, permanently seabed installed RROV (Residential - ROV). The system will interface with IKMS’s Onshore Control Center via Tampnet, a dedicated fiber-based network system for the platforms in question. The systems are equally design to operate on the 4G mobile broadband system. “We are proud that Statoil has given IKM the thrust and opportunity to deliver ROV service in the form of an
TE Debuts New Wet-mate Connector
construction with 4, 7 or 12 electrical circuits enables many configurations for use in electrical, signal and distribution networks in subsea control systems. TE’s HydraElectric connector supports upcoming industry standards for subsea control system power distribution. Rugged marine systems require connectors with high speed communication capabilities and the ability to manage a range of operating currents. Qualified for both 1500 VDC and 1000 VAC pin to pin, the HydraElectric connector enables copper-based high speed Ethernet and supports the industry standards for Ethernet
Voices: Sean Halpin
Bay, Maine with an old EG&G 272 sidescan sonar. The weather was awful, the boat stunk, and I ran the towfish into the seabed, but I absolutely loved it! I knew then that I wanted to work on, in, or near the ocean for the rest of my life. I went to sea for about eight years as a hydrographer and a marine geoscientist for a defense contractor and oil and gas companies. During this time, I was exposed to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) as a tool for deep-water mapping. Just prior to joining the Liquid Robotics, I was the Global AUV Manager for DOF Subsea and was responsible for spear heading
Ocean Infinity Buys Two HUGIN 6000 AUVs
Ocean Infinity has purchased two more autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) from Kongsberg Maritime, expanding its fleet of HUGIN 6000 AUVs from six to eight vehicles. The AUVs will be used worldwide to collect high resolution seabed data for clients. The fleet of AUVs will be operated simultaneously, each AUV programmed with an independent mission plan. Independence allows the systems to cover huge swaths of seabed quickly and accurately. Each AUV can reach depths of 6,000 meters and has an approximate endurance of 48 hours. Ocean Infinity's AUVs all come standard with side
JANUS: First Digital Underwater Communication Standard
, as inclusive as possible, involving academia, industry and governmental agencies. Tests of JANUS at sea have been conducted in the last years by CMRE on board the NATO Research Vessel Alliance, and using the innovative CMRE Littoral Ocean Observatory Network (LOON), which facilitates experimentation of marine robots’ mission-base teams by creating a monitoring acoustic network with tripods of underwater communications equipment sitting on the seabed but accessible by users across the world via web.
Nimitz Strike Group Successfully Completes COMPTUEX
The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 successfully completed its final pre-deployment assessment, Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), April 21, marking the completion of its condensed Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) for an upcoming deployment. COMPTUEX is an exercise that tests a strike group's ability to work and operate as one cohesive unit in a simulated real-world-scenario based training environment. Nimitz was joined by CSG 11, to include Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, to prove their operational capabilities
ASV Global Opens Mission Control Center
developments and will demonstrate our ability to achieve advanced, safe, autonomous operations at sea.” International Trade Minister, Mark Garnier, said, “With world-renowned research institutions and leading innovative businesses the UK’s south coast really is a leading marine and maritime hub. ASV Global is at the heart of this. Their pioneering autonomous vessel technology showcases the very best of U.K. expertise. They already export to 10 countries demonstrating their leadership in this sector. A strong example of a successful U.K. exporter, I want more companies to
Ocean Power Technologies Relocates HQ
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) has announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and manufacturing center to support increased operational needs and allow for projected growth over the next several years. OPT’s new, larger facility in Monroe, N.J. will offer approximately 56,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space, nearly doubling the size of its current facility in Pennington, N.J. OPT manufactures the PowerBuoy, which uses ocean waves to provide electric power and communications for offshore applications. “Our ability to deliver
Technology Advances Fisheries Management
Real or near-real time management of Pacific purse seine tuna fisheries is now possible for the first time in history, changing the game for fisheries management. Observer electronic reporting tools – through the new Observer eReporting App –will now be used to help reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and bolster supply chain transparency and traceability in the Western and Central Pacific tuna fisheries. A 2016 analysis conducted by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) showed that nonreporting, misreporting and underreporting represented
Kongsberg Launches Complete Survey Vessel
pole with pre-installed motion sensor, GPS heading & position system and sound velocity sensor. The operator uses a console mounted ruggedised laptop to plan and control the survey. The vessel is even equipped with a VHF radio and is coastguard approved for use at sea with an International Marine Certificate. By design, the GeoSwath CSV is effective in a wide range of shallow survey applications. Its shallow draft, high top speed and manoeuvrability combined with the stability of a catamaran hull make it ideal for use in both marine surveys and on canals, river and lakes. The ability
Hydromea Showcases New Tech
Switzerland based designer and manufacturer of small autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) Hydromea exhibited its swarm-capable Vertex AUV along with the LUMA250LP optical modem, a Mini FT-07 fast temperature sensor/logger and the DiskDrive underwater thruster at Ocean Business in Southampton, U.K. The LUMA 250LP is a compact 100 x 50 x 40mm optical modem for fast underwater communication, up to 250kbit/sec, down to 6,000m depth. Its very low standby power consumption makes it ideal for battery-powered infrastructure and video-streaming for mini-ROVs. The manufacturer also displayed its Mini
Kongsberg Introduces cNODE IQAM
The capabilities of Kongsberg Maritime’s cNODE series of transponders for underwater acoustic positioning and data link are expanding with the introduction of cNODE IQAM at Ocean Business. In a first for the established technology-leading transponder range, Kongsberg is offering the ability to log internal sensors and/or customers’ external sensors, transforming cNODE into a compact, self-contained subsea monitoring system, complete with data processing, positioning and data communication functionality. cNODE IQAM (Intelligent Data Analysis and Monitoring) is an advanced
Water Linked Launches Underwater GPS System
Norwegian technology supplier Water Linked has launched a new Underwater GPS system that leverages traditional GPS along with Water Linked’s unique underwater acoustic positioning technology. Designed to enable underwater positioning in a wide new range of marine technology applications, this system is priced at $4,800, half the cost of existing underwater positioning systems. The Underwater GPS Developer Kit is available for order with the first deliveries expected in June 2017. California-based Blue Robotics is the first partner to integrate the Water Linked Underwater GPS
