COVE Announces Five New Board Members
, NS Power Board Member and former CEO of VemcoJim Hanlon, CEO of COVEJim King, Vice Admiral (Ret’d), President CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc.Lucia MacIsaac, President and CEO of LearnCorp InternationalJohn Newton, Managing Director of Fleetway Inc.Anthony Patterson, President and CEO of Virtual Marine TechnologySarah Simpson, Manager, Value Proposition and Communications at Irving Shipbuilding Inc.Ian Thompson, Executive in Residence at Cox & PalmerWendy Watson-Wright, CEO of Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI)Paul Yeatman, President of GeoSpectrum Technologies, President of OTCN
EOMAP Wins Funding for Next-Gen Satellite-Derived Bathymetry
EOMAP has been awarded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to further develop its physics-based method of mapping the depth of the sea from satellite observations.Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) uses data gathered by satellites and aircraft to generate depth measurements and seafloor characteristics for regions of shallow water. Developed 20 years ago by EOMAP scientists then at DLR (Germany) and CSIRO (Australia), SDB’s potential to create a continuously updated global database of shallow-water bathymetry is hampered by the heavy computing power required to process the large amounts of data
CODA Elects Plumb to Board of Directors
Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) (Nasdaq: CODA), a leader in real-time 3D sonar technology and real-time subsea intelligence, announced the election of J. Charles Plumb, Captain, USNR (Ret.) to its Board of Directors. Captain Plumb was elected at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders.Captain J. Charles Plumb is a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot and former Vietnam Prisoner of War. He retired from the United States Navy after 28 years of service, and his military honors include two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the P.O.W. Medal. Since his
MOL Tests FOCUS EYE Project
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the joint development, along with SenseTime Japan, of a new vessel image recognition and recording system, and the system’s installation for demonstration testing aboard the cruise ship "Nippon Maru" operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line.The system’s graphic recognition engine was developed by incorporating MOL’s knowledge and applying artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technology, allowing it to recognize surrounding vessels.The system recognizes and automatically records vessels with high accuracy using a
Crab Comms: "It's not hunger pains, I just want to talk ..."
.“All crabs have a gastric mill and the capacity to communicate with sound,” said Taylor. “It will be interesting to see how our understanding of crustacean communication unfolds.”This study was funded through a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and the Marine Biology Research Division at Scripps
Oceaneering to Relocate in Aberdeen
Oceaneering announced it will combine seven Aberdeen properties into one office location and a new, purpose-built workshop, in a move to streamline operations and drive cost efficiencies.The 50,000-square-foot office in Aberdeen International Business Park will provide a work environment for more than 300 office-based employees. The site will benefit from excellent transport connections and is within close proximity to the city’s new exhibition center, the company said.The new, purpose-built facility located at the D2 Business Park will include an 88,000-square-foot workshop and 95,500-square-foot
ROBOATS: MIT's Shape-Shifting Autonomous Boats
New capabilities allow “roboats” to change configurations to form pop-up bridges, stages, and other structures.MIT’s fleet of robotic boats has been updated with new capabilities to “shapeshift,” by autonomously disconnecting and reassembling into a variety of configurations, to form floating structures in Amsterdam’s many canals.The autonomous boats — rectangular hulls equipped with sensors, thrusters, microcontrollers, GPS modules, cameras, and other hardware — are being developed as part of the ongoing “Roboat” project between MIT and the
MTR100: EvoLogics GmbH
EvoLogics GmbHBerlin, GermanyPresident/CEO: Dr. Rudolf Bannasch, Dr. Konstantin KebkalNo. of Employees: 35https://evologics.de/EvoLogics GmbH is a German high-tech enterprise, founded in 2000 by a group of scientists and R&D experts. The company’s mission is to develop innovative technologies for maritime and offshore industries through interdisciplinary cooperation between engineering and life sciences. The company designs and manufactures underwater information and communication systems based on bionic concepts, combining state-of-the-art engineering with the best ideas found in nature.
India's Ports on Alert for 'Underwater' Attacks
India's two main ports said on Thursday they had been warned by the coastguard and intelligence officials that Pakistan-trained commandos have entered Indian waters to carry out underwater attacks on port facilities.The Mundra Port, run by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, and the state-owned Kandla Port had asked their employees and ship operators to be vigilant, port officials and the ports said in advisories seen by Reuters.Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated since India revoked the special status of its portion of the Himalayan region of Kashmir on Aug. 5 and moved to
MTR100: General Dynamics Mission Systems
General Dynamics Mission SystemsQuincy, Mass., President CEO: Chris BradyNo. of Employees: 13,400https://gdmissionsystems.com/en/underwater-vehicles/bluefin-roboticsGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems is an innovator of open architecture and mission integration to meet the most demanding operational requirements on any platform in the multi-domain operational arenas – from the outer reaches of space to the sea floor. In 2016 General Dynamics acquired the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) provider, Bluefin Robotics, to extend the integration of high consequence solutions to the unmanned undersea
MTR100: Sonardyne International Ltd.
underwater acoustic, inertial, sonar and optical technologies that are enabling users to position, monitor, measure, detect, image, log, analyze and communicate data, when and where they want in the ocean space.The company is at the forefront of the drive towards safe, efficient and cost effective marine operations including: the latest in over-the-horizon, unmanned and remote autonomous navigation and data harvesting systems; centimeter-level seabed monitoring for hydrocarbon and geoscience applications; intruder detection systems able to detect and track next generation asymmetric threats in the
Swire Seabed Completes Unmanned Pipeline Inspection
Swire Seabed said it has completed a second offshore pipeline campaign for Equinor in the North Sea. The campaign, undertaken in July 2019, is the first fully unmanned offshore pipeline inspection ‘over the horizon’ ever completed, surveying up to 100 kilometers from the shore.The inspections were completed using Kongsberg Maritime’s Hugin autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with the SeaKit Maxlimer unmanned surface vessel (USV) acting as the host vessel for surface positioning and communications to shore. The complete operation was controlled from an onshore control center
Cable Solutions Manufactures 50km of Bespoke Subsea Cable
UK-based oil field equipment suppliers, Cable Solutions Worldwide has manufactured in excess of 50km of bespoke subsea cable of various configurations and sizes for a variety of clients throughout the world during the last quarter.The oil and gas, marine, shipbuilding and renewable energy industries have specific bespoke cabling and connectivity requirements to ensure high levels of productivity and durability in harsh offshore environments."The last quarter was especially busy for Cable Solutions, we undertook bespoke cable design and manufacture for a variety of subsea projects, with production
MTR100: Teledyne Marine
With 23 brands, and more than 400 marine products in its portfolio, Teledyne Marine collectively offers the largest breadth of technology in the industry. From tiny connectors to 6000m rated AUVs – and virtually everything in between – Teledyne is well positioned to solve subsea’s biggest challenges. Whether customers seek a single product, or a complex turnkey solution, Teledyne Marine has the vision and capability to deliver leading-edge technology to commercial, academic, and defense customers around the globe.As the organization continues to grow and mature, and
Premier Oil Testing PB3 PowerBuoy in the North Sea
US-based ocean energy solutions company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) said it has deployed a PB3 PowerBuoy to serve as an autonomous intelligent platform to provide communications and remote monitoring services for its customer Premier Oil at the Huntington field in the UK sector of the central North Sea.During the deployment, Premier will demonstrate the PB3 PowerBuoy capabilities, its ability to monitor the local environment and alert ships of the field’s safety zone as a potential solution to help with their future decommissioning related operations, OPT said.This deployment begins a nine
MTR100: Five "Ones to Watch"
For Marine Technology Reporter's (MTR) 14th Annual "MTR100" - a look at 100 innovators and technologies in the subsea space - MTR editor-at-large Elaine Maslin reports on five companies and technologies that are worth the watch for the remainder of 2019 and beyond. For the full edition, see https://magazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MarineTechnology/201907/Blue Logic: Entering a new eraCompletely new modes of operation are entering the underwater domain for oil and gas operations and the tools that are being used could also be used across the ocean space.It’s been called a
MTR100: Kongsberg Maritime
and cloud-based infrastructure for data storage and analysis. The company’s subsea portfolio includes single and multibeam echo sounders, sonars, underwater vehicles and subsea transponders and positioning systems, in addition to software and solutions for defense customers. In line with other marine sectors, Kongsberg Maritime is also at the forefront of digitalization for subsea applications. Mapping Cloud, which provides easy storage of different types of data within the Cloud, offers an accessible and practical means of uploading and distributing real-time data, which can be subsequently
Aker Solutions Wins ADNOC Umbilicals Contract
Norwegian engineering and equipment firm Aker Solutions said it has secured a NOK 700 million ($78.2 million) order from ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) to deliver subsea umbilicals for the Dalma gas development project located offshore the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf.The scope includes four steel tube umbilicals totaling more than 100 kilometers. The umbilical system will provide power supply, communication services and chemical injection fluids. It will connect the subsea equipment to three new wellhead platforms and link the topside equipment located
MTR100: #4 Martin McDonald , SVP, Oceaneering
Martin McDonald , SVP, Oceaneering ... Directing the world’s largest fleet of work class ROVs.The editors of Marine Technology Reporter are pleased to share that Martin McDonald, Oceaneering, is #4 in the 14th Annual "MTR100". The full electronic edition of Marine Technology Reporter is available at https://magazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MarineTechnology/201907/. Oceaneering is a pioneer and leader in the world of subsea robotics, and a ‘by the numbers’ look at the company provides a staggering view. Oceaneering operates a fleet of 275 work class ROVs – the
New Autonomous Vehicle for Offshore Wind Surveys
A new autonomous sailing platform aims make the collection of offshore wind energy data easier, faster, cleaner and more cost efficient.The 16-foot wind- and solar-powered Datamaran, launched recently by Norwegian energy company Equinor and US technology firm Autonomous Marine Systems Inc. (AMS), carries a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, a well-established technology used to record wind characteristics hundreds of feet above the surface) to gather data on wind and weather conditions at offshore lease areas for the development of wind energy projects.Typically, this data has been collected by a
ARES Security Launches Seaport Platform
US-based ARES Security Corporation has rolled out a new multi-tenant, Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for seaports in the US.The is now offering their Avert C2 (formally CommandBridge) system as a SaaS platform for small and medium sized ports to leverage the powerful capability that has been used by more than a third of the of the largest seaports in the U.S. since 2006, said a press release from the company.The solution is also deployed at several law enforcement, transportation, DoD and other facilities throughout the country.AVERT C2 is a command and control platform that integrates disparate
Bluefin-9 Simplifies Underwater Planning & Monitoring
The Bluefin Operator Tool Suite is a comprehensive software package for underwater missions and is included with the purchase of a Bluefin-9 UUV. This Windows-based tool suite provides everything necessary to run and manage the system, including vehicle check-out and testing, mission planning, vehicle communications, mission monitoring and execution, data management, and post-mission analysis.Mission Planning & VerificationThe Bluefin Mission Planner graphical tool provides an intuitive interface to pre-plan your survey mission. Operators can specify safety settings, operational constraints
SharkCam Reveals Secrets of UK Basking Sharks
. “We’re able to remove the ocean’s opaque layer and dive into places never before possible with this groundbreaking technology, answering questions about key species and revealing new ones.”Fieldwork for the project took place in July in the proposed Sea of the Hebrides Marine Protected Area (MPA) – one of four possible MPAs currently under consultation by the Scottish Government. MPAs are specially designated and managed to protect marine ecosystems, habitats and species, which can help restore the area for people and wildlife.The area is one of only a few worldwide
Sonsub Hydrone-R Launched in Water
On July 1, Saipem-Sonsub’s Hydrone-R underwater intervention drone was launched in water to start the endurance and qualification tests prior to its commercialization by year’s end.The Hydrone Program is the key workstream of Saipem’s Technology Development Plan within subsea robotics; a strategic move aimed at changing the paradigm of underwater inspections and interventions via a fleet of next-generation drones and advanced ancillary equipment.The Hydrone program, entirely executed by the Sonsub center, encompasses three vehicles, namely Hydrone-R, Hydrone-S and Hydrone-W (link)
NOAA Scientists Honored for Innovative Research
Eight NOAA scientists today were awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for pioneering research on the Earth’s atmosphere, weather, our ocean, coasts, fisheries and marine ecosystems.They were among 314 federally-supported scientists who received a PECASE at a ceremony hosted by the White House Office of Science Policy and Technology at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.The PECASE is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to early-career scientists. It recognizes recipients' potential
Saipem Testing Hydrone-R Resident Vehicle
Italian services firm Saipem said it has started functional testing on its Hydrone-R underwater resident vehicle at Sonsub facilities in Venice.The advanced underwater intervention drone is being launched in water for a comprehensive qualification campaign that aims to test all components and subsystems, including the subsea docking base in a real subsea scenario, Saipem said.It was announced that endurance and qualification tests will be carried over several months in open sea, offshore Trieste in a "playground" that has been set up to serve the entire Hydrone Program.Hydrone-R, which can
Imenco Buys Proserv's Nautronix Unit
Controls technology company Proserv said it has sold its through-water digital acoustic communications and positioning systems business, Nautronix, to Imenco, a Norwegian supplier of subsea electronic and mechanical products.The divested unit will become a division within Imenco, which will continue to be known as Imenco UK Ltd. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed.“Nautronix has enjoyed almost four years within the Proserv portfolio but this opportunity to link up with Imenco is an exciting one and we look forward to developing our business within Geir’s wider team,” said
US Navy Sub Discovery Validated
The U.S. Navy recently validated the identity of a submarine shipwreck that was discovered in 2017 after being missing for nearly 75 years. Utilizing advanced imaging technology, Ocean Explorer Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Expedition Team" officially discovered the final resting place for the 49 Sailors of the long-lost U.S. submarine S-28 (SS-133) in ultra deep water off Oahu, Hawaii. July 4, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the loss of the submarine, which was conducting exercises at the time she disappeared."The discovery of the USS S-28 as part of my 'Lost 52 Project
Hydrex Earns Belgium, Netherlands Approvals
in both countries.The traditional approach in the propeller maintenance industry is to polish the blades with a grinding disk which can be quite damaging to the propeller. By the very fact of using a grinding disk, a substantial amount of metal is removed from the blades. This makes polishing a source of marine pollution which is a problem in ports.It is for this reason that a large number of ports, including those in Belgium and the Netherlands, have banned the underwater cleaning on propeller blades. Exceptions are only made for those companies that can pass the very stringent tests carried out by the
BIRNS Celebrates 65 Years
were introduced in the 1950s. Fast forward to today, and depth ratings for subsea systems have exponentially changed, and connectivity solutions for today's subsea systems are extremely advanced and complex.BIRNS was born in Los Angeles and quickly became known for contributing key technology to the marine and nuclear industries. Early marine market contributions included building specialty lights for the Sea Lab projects and illuminating the excavation of the Titanic.Throughout its 65-year history, the company has helped advance technology in these markets, and its products have allowed faster communicatio
Seaspace Race Underway at Saab Subsea Docking Demo
A subsea space race is now officially underway in the offshore oil and gas industry following successful trials of docking and inspection operations using a commercially available underwater vehicle and Norwegian energy firm Equinor’s open-standard subsea docking station (SDS).The trials, witnessed by a crowd of leading players in the subsea resident remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and hybrid space, were carried out in Lake Vattern, at Motala, Sweden on Tuesday.The SDS, the second built for Equinor, was transported to Saab Dynamic’s Sweden facility
Saab Seaeye eRobotics Campaign Wins UTC Award
A project that achieved a world first in subsea vehicle deepwater residency capability, proving the potential for marine autonomous systems to take a greater role in underwater inspection, repair and maintenance methodologies, is the winner of the annual UTC Subsea Award.The UTC Subsea Award, presented by the Underwater Technology Foundation (UTF), is designed to recognize the many outstanding achievements within the subsea industry. The 2019 award was presented to Saab Seaeye’s Jan Siesjö, Chief Engineer, and Peter Erkers, sales director, for the Saab eRobotic Spring Campaign 2019, tonight
Robotics: The Next Gen in Subsea Vehicles
find their way to pre-programmed locations.At energy:connected, as the Oslo-based Subsea Valley cluster and annual conference is now called, some of these concepts were outlined, including those from two Norwegian technology firms and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, a firm more used to designing naval submarine systems. uSEA unveils uLARSOne, Norwegian technology start-up uSEA, is proposing a hybrid system to disrupt existing manned vessel supported subsea operations via a subsea and surface drone combination.uSEA was founded in 2017 and since then it has been developing a surface drone, or unmanned
Subsea UK: Exploring Underwater Robotics
the potential which exists for advances in underwater robotics.The call for speakers is now open for the annual conference which will take place on Wednesday, September 18, at the Chester Hotel, Aberdeen.Abstracts are being sought across the following topics: latest developments in underwater vehicles, marine robotics and autonomous operations, survey and measurement, and inspection technology and operational developments. Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK, said: “In recent years the UK robotics sector has seen substaintal growth, with the UK Government announcing a $22 million investment
Kraken Sets Up Unmanned Vehicles Facility
Inc. said it has established a new facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to field test and support its range of underwater robotic platforms and technologies.The new 4,000-square-foot Unmanned Maritime Vehicles Facility (UMVF) is located at the Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), a marine technologies innovation hub.Kraken said its Handling Systems Group has already moved into the new location and will continue to build the firm’s Tentacle Winch and Autonomous Launch and Recovery Systems there. The facility will also be used to field test and support Kraken’s various underwater
BAE Systems Acquires Riptide
BAE Systems, Inc. has announced the purchase of the key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, a Plymouth, Mass.-based provider of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) technology and solutions.Specializing in small UUVs, Riptide’s platforms are deigned to be sophisticated yet simple, efficient and highly flexible, offering performance discriminators within this domain that include greater depth, range, endurance and speed.“Adding Riptide's technological capabilities will position us to provide customers unmatched flexibility by offeringa family of UUVs and integrated payload solutionscapab
Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Winner Annouced
The GEBCO NF- Alumni Team was announced as the $4 million grand prize winner of the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, a three-year global competition that challenged teams to advance deep sea technologies for autonomous and unmanned, fast and high-resolution ocean exploration. The team's winning concept includes the use of a unique unmanned surface vessel (USV) / autonomous underwater vessel (AUV) and associated combination of communications hardware and software to process and transmit data remotely. The SEA-KIT USV, Maxlimer, built by Hushcraft in the UK, has a unique ability to launch and
Navy: $2.3B Deal for 12 Mine Hunting Ships
The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, won the contract to supply 12 minehunting vessels to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Equipped with around 100 drones, constituting approximately 10 drone systems (toolboxes), six ships are destined for the Belgian Navy, while the other six will be delivered to the Dutch Navy.The 10-year contract is worth nearly $2.3B. After a three-year design phase, Belgium Naval & Robotics will launch the production phase of the ships and drone systems with a first delivery expected in 2024.The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium
DOLPHIN: Enabling Technology for Acoustic Systems
by the other sidescan (B or A) to improve the resolution in the area that both sides overlap. In addition to the obvious benefit of improved coverage, DOLPHIN processing can provide other advantages to sonar systems including increased resolution and adaptability to environmental concerns such as marine mammal safety.Figure 4: Typical Side-scan displays a gap in coverage. Image: QinetiQ North AmericaLab and Field TestingDOLPHIN Comms and Sonar proof-of-concept (POC) demonstrations have been successfully completed. In tank and harbor trials, previously reported upon, DOLPHIN Comms delivered successful
Sonardyne Acquires EIVA
survey organisations and is increasingly supporting customers with their requirements for higher levels of automation and remote and unmanned operations through its NaviSuite software. The company employs more than 75 people with headquarters in Denmark.Sonardyne and EIVA share a common goal of improving marine operation efficiency, enabling further automation, using embedded intelligence and remote operability.“EIVA and Sonardyne share many of the same corporate values including long-term commitment and focus towards customers, partners and employees,” said Sonardyne Managing Director John
Partners Set Out to Cut Offshore Emissions
operational complexity with objective measurement, ultimately enabling optimal utilization and more sustainable fleet management.The multi-year project is backed with Innovation Norway’s largest funded offshore vessel, environmental technology project in 2018. It aims to be a gamechanger in how marine operational decisions are supported by providing more accurate, timely and easily consumable information to decision makers; from the vessel’s chief engineer to the chief operation officer based shore-side.“The partnership is focused on building a platform for intelligent efficiency,
Tech Talk: GeoSpectrum Acoustic Solutions
tech tour through eastern Canada.Dartmouth, Nova Scotia based acoustics specialist company GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc, a producer of underwater acoustic transducers and systems, has been in operation for more than 20 years, supplying hydrophones and sound projectors to a range of customers in the marine and oceanography sectors, as well as providing consultancy services on acoustic systems integration and test procedures. End-user sectors include defense and homeland security, oil & gas, and environmental services. As well as standard products, GeoSpectrum can also provide customized products
Unheard Underwater: Covert Communications
it knows where to find us in the first place. Even when operating closer to the surface, the limited range of the BlueComm 200 UV, when seen from space, is very much like a needle in a haystack. This means we can now communicate subsea and remain covert. This is great news for a new generation of submariners and new unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) concepts.Unmanned vehicles as a force multiplier for submarines are not a new idea. In 1997, the National Research Council published Volume 6 of the “Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035”. In this document, the authors
WFS Launches Subsea Wireless Edge Network
WFS Technologies Limited (WFS) unveiled what it claims is the world’s first subsea wireless edge network for real-time monitoring of subsea assets.ExtremeEdge was developed to process and analyze the raw data at the sensor level, thus reducing information overheads by transmitting only the data needed to downstream solutions in real-time rather than all sensor data collected.In addition, by deploying a number of ExtremeEdge-enabled sensors, WFS has created the first subsea network designed to operate wirelessly. Traditionally, most solutions operate by individual sensor only, and not as a
WHOI Names Murray Deputy Director & VP for Research
(WHOI) announced that Dr. Richard W. Murray has accepted the position of the Deputy Director & Vice President for Research of the institution. He will assume the office on September 1, 2019.A geochemist whose research focuses on interpreting chemical records of climate change and volcanism in marine sediments, Murray joins WHOI from Boston University, where he has been since 1992 and is currently a professor of Earth and Environment. Murray was director of the Division of Ocean Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2015-2018. In addition to his regular duties at NSF, he also
OSIL Buoy for Coastal Erosion Project
Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) have supplied a 1.2m data buoy platform to the “ORION” joint research and development center for use as a real-time monitoring station on an EU-funded project managing coastal erosion.The Harmonized Coastal Corrosion Management Framework for Enhancing the Implementation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Protocol (HERMES) project required a platform with the ability to record a full profile of water column currents, tidal variations, wave parameters (significant wave height, wave period & propagation direction) & estimated suspended
Case Study: Cables in Underwater Missions
more than 600 ocean research deployments. It safely holds the weight of 500 kilograms of equipment, including a carousel of 24 12-liter sample bottles. As it is lowered through the water column to depths of 7,000 meters, it endures factors including cold temperatures, bending, tension cycling, corrosion, marine abrasion, compression and even attack by sea-life. It must flex and bend to deal with winching, marine currents, and pressures exceeding 550 bar (55,000 kPa).Each cable provides the physical connection for real-time power and communication connectivity. Designs have to be rigorous, and manufacturing
Support Vessel Delivered to Oceaneering
Oceaneering International announced Monday that it has taken delivery of a newbuild subsea construction support vessel, Ocean Evolution, built by BAE Systems in the US.The US-flagged, Jones Act-compliant multi-service vessel (MSV) has completed sea trials and received all necessary ABS and U.S. Coast Guard certifications and is currently in Port Fourchon, La., completing final outfitting and preparing for project work scheduled to begin in June.Oceaneering said the vessel is designed to serve deepwater stimulation and intervention needs with its ABS Well Stimulation and Well Intervention (WS/WI) ready
Export Licensing: Tips U.S. Exporters Shouldn’t Overlook
responsible for export licensing and controls. BIS export licenses may be required for items (commodities, software, or technology) with proliferation, military, or terrorist uses, or which warrant control for other reasons. Export licensing requirements can apply to a wide array of products, including marine technologies. A license may also be required because of the end use or end user. Items not licensed by BIS may still require a license from other agencies, including the State Department for defense articles and services subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations which are listed
Flying new Routes Subsea
infrastructure used for work on the turbines that we can tap into.”Images: Modus Seabed InterventionLast year, Modus deployed a HAUV offshore NW Australia to perform circa 240km of pipeline integrity survey, producing stunning images, as well as point cloud data, of both the pipeline and passing marine life (see inset with detail of the shark’s teeth, taken at 2knts) using a Cathx Scout laser profiling and HD imaging spread alongside a multibeam echosounder (MBES).The survey time was half of what it would have taken using a traditional ROV to perform the survey and it could have been faster
OceanGate Names Shuman COO
Manned submersible services provider OceanGate said it has named Robert Shuman as Chief Operating Officer effective immediately.As COO, Shuman is responsible for ensuring operational excellence and positioning the company for future growth. He is tasked with overseeing strategic prioritization, resource alignment, and accountability across the company.Shuman brings with him over 15 years of senior level management in business development, project management and operations. His previous experience has been in satellite communications, cloud-based products, smart antennas, online education, and VoIP
Unique Group Debuts New Survey USV
Unique Group, a provider of services and solutions for the offshore, subsea and life support industries, has designed and developed its first Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) called Uni-Cat.With proven hydrographic survey capabilities, the Uni-Cat can be used effectively for bathymetry survey offshore and in shallow waters, claimed a press release from the integrated subsea and offshore solution provider."It is ideal to be used in locations where conventional survey methods are not feasible," the release said.The Uni-Cat USV is purpose built with a long-lasting battery and the endurance
EvoLogics Presents 'Tiny' Modems
EvoLogics has introduced the latest addition to its range of underwater acoustic modems, the new generation S2C T modems, at Ocean Business 2019 in Southampton, UK.Dubbed “tiny”, this light and ultra-compact design represents a size reduction of almost 20% compared to EvoLogics M-series mini-modems at only 25 cm standard height and 1200 g weight, the manufacturer said.The S2C T series form factor will be available for EvoLogics’ high frequency models, catering to modern size- and weight-sensitive applications with four frequency range/directivity options.The new model features a
OPT, Acteon Exploring Joint Opportunites
US based ocean energy solutions company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) and UK based subsea services and solutions company Acteon Field Life Service, an Acteon Group subsidiary, have entered into a nonexclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop, explore and exploit mutual opportunities in the global oil and gas and renewables markets, the companies announced on Thursday.“We see a strong potential in this collaboration, where OPT’s PowerBuoy products and services and Acteon’s integrated subsea services and solutions, coupled with its global network of facilities, personnel
OPT Scores Oil and Gas Study Contract
US based ocean energy solutions company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) said it has signed a contract with an unnamed oil and gas exploration and production company to complete a 12-week paid feasibility study that will examine the use of OPT’s products and services in monitoring subsea wells during decommissioning activities.“This study will evaluate the use of our PowerBuoys in monitoring multiple customer wells during oil field decommissioning activities in the very deep and challenging waters of the Gulf of Mexico,” said George H. Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of
A SmallSat AUV Network
or augmented by Micro or Nano satellites — SmallSats of 10-100 kilograms or 1-10 kg — a reality. Apart from the command and control of networked AUVS (and other drones) en masse, which is Prof. De Sousa’s specialty, it is hoped that SmallSats will do for ocean understanding and marine operations what the Internet did for marketing and instant knowledge.AUV control“Most of our work is joint, and strategically we all (NTNU, Porto, NASA) are moving in the same direction,” Dr. Rajan says, adding, “So this is both institutional and collective.” Rajan admits
One-on-One with Martin McDonald, SVP, ROV Division, Oceaneering
Martin McDonald, an industry veteran with more than 35 years under his belt, is responsible for Oceaneering’s global ROV business. With a broad based of ROV experience – from operation to repair to maintenance to management – McDonald shares with MTR his insights on the historical development and future prospects of this high-profile subsea sector.How and when did you know that your career would be in the maritime/subsea industry?I grew up in Fraserburgh, Scotland, a small town 40 miles north of the oilfield city of Aberdeen. Fraserburgh is best known for commercial fishing. My
Researchers to Monitor Disruptive US Gulf Current
A major $2 million scientific study led by the University of Rhode Island (URI)’s Graduate School of Oceanography will monitor disruptive ocean currents in the US Gulf of Mexico, with a long term goal to improve forecasts for safer offshore operations in the region.The Loop Current System (LCS) is the dominant ocean circulation feature in the Gulf of Mexico, influencing all ocean processes in the Gulf with implications for a wide range of human and natural activities, from oil exploration to coastal eco-systems. To date, knowledge of its underlying dynamics is limited.URI’s initial study
Autonomy Advances: New Vessel Range
with Mini-Ranger 2, will be able to operate as a gateway for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) operations, enabling tracking and communications with up to 10 AUVs at the same time.“Combining these capabilities means customers have access to vessels that can perform more remote and autonomous marine operations; including tracking multiple AUVs and real-time data harvesting in hard to access environments across defense, offshore and ocean science sectors,” said Ioseba Tena, Global Business Manager – Marine Robotic Systems, Sonardyne
Drones for Coastal Enviro Management
, and describe future developments and applications for coastal ocean observing systems. A comprehensive workshop report is available from the ACT website (www.act-us.info).The workshop also sought to explore the challenges of truly quantitative multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing in coastal marine environments and the legal and privacy issues associated with using drones in public and private lands and ocean spaces.To promote broad input and cross-sector information-sharing, workshop participants included private-sector UAS technology developers and service providers, academic researchers
