Giant Squid Filmed in America's Backyard
out left and right, pictures were pointed to, opinions were tossed out. The two of us that knew squid the best were "70 percent sure" it was a juvenile giant squid, but we couldn't go any further. We needed one of the best squid experts in the world, Michael Vecchione at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services - National Systematics Laboratory at the Smithsonian. Unfortunately, we were in the midst of a set of strong squalls, so the Internet was down and we had no way to reach him.What happened next was something that we truly never expected. About 30 minutes after Nathan first saw the
A New USV for Ocean Surveying
A new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for the Chinese market offers an open and low-cost platform to measure water current and direction. Nortek China has integrated Doppler instrumentation on the vehicle to help better meet user requirements for ocean surveying.The new USV has an IPC (Industrial Personal Computer) as the main operation platform and uses Remote Desktop, a remote control technique, to communicate with all the instruments installed. This means that the vehicle offers an open and low-cost platform for customers who need to carry out several different tasks at the same time.
Robotic Data Help Explain Mysterious Holes
The winter ice on the surface of Antarctica's Weddell Sea occasionally develops an enormous hole. In 2016 and 2017, one such hole drew intense curiosity from scientists and the media.Though bigger gaps had formed decades before, this was the first time oceanographers had a chance to truly monitor the unexpected gap in Antarctic winter sea ice. It was an opportunity that came about as a result of uncanny timing and a seasoned oceanographer’s knowledge of the sea.A new study co-authored by researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego combines
Güralp and Sonardyne Partner
GÜRALP AND SONARDYNE TEAM UP TO PROVIDE ADVANCED SEABED EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH TECHNOLOGYSeismic monitoring instrumentation and solutions provider Güralp Systems Ltd. and Sonardyne International Ltd. have signed an agreement to cooperate in the provision of multidisciplinary ocean bottom research technology, including capabilities for earthquake or tsunami detection.The official Teaming Agreement, announced at the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) conference in London on Tuesday, will enable the two companies to collaboratively provide more advanced and efficient
Nortek Opens Australian Office
Nortek, a leader in Doppler-based measurements in marine environments, has opened the latest of its global network of offices in Melbourne, Australia. This facilitates access to cutting-edge Doppler instrumentation for researchers and engineers in Australia and New Zealand.This is the company’s first office in the region, creating a strong local point of contact for sales and support. The Port Melbourne office also gives Nortek a platform from which to extend its reach throughout Australia and New Zealand, an area that has been important for the company since it was founded over two decades ago.
Remote-Controlled Submersible Fish Farm in Arctic Ocean
Digital technology leader ABB has won a contract from Arctic Offshore Farming to power its first-ever remote controlled submersible offshore salmon farm in the Arctic Ocean.ABB will provide a comprehensive package of its leading electrical, automation, instrumentation and telecom technologies that ensure maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.With the global market volume of salmon expected to hit 4.5 million tons by 2023, according to a 2018 report by Research and Markets, the Arctic Offshore Farming project is looking for ways to farm fish in a more sustainable manner.The submerged fish
New, High-Performing USV for Ocean Surveying
A new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for the Chinese market offers an open and low-cost platform to measure water current and direction. Nortek China has integrated Doppler instrumentation on the vehicle to help better meet user requirements for ocean surveying.The new USV has an IPC (Industrial Personal Computer) as the main operation platform and uses Remote Desktop, a remote control technique, to communicate with all the instruments installed. This means that the vehicle offers an open and low-cost platform for customers who need to carry out several different tasks at the same time.
SEAMOR: ROV to Last Ice Project in Canada
SEAMOR Marine will provide a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to the department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Manitoba. The vehicle will be deployed to the High Arctic to inspect the area which remains frozen year-round and take part in research and evaluating ways to protect this special ecological region.The High Arctic is an important area encompassing the northern regions of Canada (Arctic Basin, Baffin Bay and the Pikialasorsuaq, or North Water Polynya) and reaches to western Greenland. This area remains frozen throughout the year, for multiple years, acting as an important refuge for ice-depend
Miros Measuring Mini-Tsunami Phenomenon
Flaskebekk, a small community on the edge of the Oslofjord, regularly experiences what are being termed as “mini-tsunamis”, ostensibly caused by large ships passing areas of the fjord with pronounced variations in water depth. These waves, which are eroding the foundations of Flaskebekk’s boathouses and docks, can reach 1.5 meters in height, with a period of 30-60 seconds.Miros is working with the local community to measure the wave height, wavelength and wave period of these “mini-tsunamis” in order to better understand their causes and impacts. To measure these parameters
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
R/V Bob and Betty Beyster: New CAT For Scripps
The Research Vessel Bob and Betty Beyster is a purpose-built coastal research vessel designed for efficient operations offshore Southern California and throughout the Channel Islands. Based at the Scripps Nimitz Marine Facility and operated as a shared-use facility, Bob and Betty Beyster provides scientists, students and engineers a capable, safe and economical platform for research and teaching.R/V Bob and Betty Beyster is a 42-foot scientific workboat with a range of 500 nautical miles, a cruising speed better than 25 knots, and a capacity for six scientists and a boat operator. The vessel has
Enhanced Seismic Monitoring at Johan Sverdrup
through the water column from the seabed to the sea surface as well as the pressure (depth) at the seabed. This data is then used to calculate a continuous time history of average water velocity and tidal variation throughout the whole water column.While PIES instruments are already very widely used in marine seismic survey operations, this will be only the second time where PIES units are hardwired into topside power and communication infrastructure, which means Equinor will have instant and continuous access to its data. Conventionally, PIES data is collected acoustically by a passing surface vessel
AML Equips New Swedish Research Vessel
A new research vessel being built for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) will be used by the university and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) for a wide variety of environmental surveys, from monitoring ocean acidification to assessing fish stock.The newbuild, to be named RV Svea and delivered from Armon Shipyard in Spring 2019, will feature a range of high-tech equipment, including a Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP), announced Canadian instrumentation manufacturer AML Oceanographic.By including a MVP on the new vessel, the scientists expect to gain a clearer
Oi: Tracking 50 Years of Ocean Innovation
As Oceanology International celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Marine Technology Reporter explores half a century of subsea technology development and discovery. Oceanology International Americas runs February 25-27, 2019 in San Diego.When Oceanology launched in 1969 in the seaside resort of Brighton the world was a very different place. For a start, Brighton was home to the mods and rockers, who would square off against each other on the town’s elegant seafront. The British currency included shillings and ha’ pennies and man had yet to step foot on the moon.More crucially, to the
Subsea Electrification: Subsea Power Evolves
packs also function for up to eight times the cycle life of traditional sealed lead acid batteries, which may provide many years of service, and eliminate classic and costly battery failure headaches.Meeting customer needsAn example user of SWE SeaSafe II is SEAmagine, dedicated to the personal submarines industry since 1995. This private submersibles company has demonstrated the safety, utility, and dependability of its submarines. To support this, SWE SeaSafe employs its patented Battery Management System within every SeaSafe II Battery Module to ensure safety and dependability unsurpassed in the
Partners Designing Autonomous Seismic Nodes
Underwater sensor technology company Sonardyne International said it is partnering with Shell Brasil and Brazilian research institute Senai-Cimatec to develop autonomous technology to make the monitoring of Brazil’s deepwater pre-salt oil fields more efficient.The new 4D seismic monitoring system, based on so-called On Demand Ocean Bottom Nodes, is being developed under a National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) promoted program.According to Sonardyne, the goal is to increase the autonomy of ocean bottom nodes and enable them to be deployed and remain on the seafloor for up
Teledyne Gavia: New SeaRaptor 6000m AUV
sensor (CTD) (Teledyne RD Instruments), and onboard processing software (Teledyne Caris). In addition, the first vehicle delivered also carried an Edgetech Side Scan Sonar with Dynamic Focus capability, an iXblue Phins 6K INS system, and a CathX Camera and strobe system. The integration of Teledyne Marine’s industry leading vehicle design, instrumentation, imaging, and interconnect solutions from a single supplier, as well as the incorporation of third party sensors into a turnkey package for customers, makes the company unique in the unmanned underwater vehicle market
Shipbuilding: Damen TSHD for Portuguese Dredging Company
Recently the Jose Duarte started its first mining job in Lisbon. The trailing suction hopper dredger has been built in Portugal for a Portuguese dredging company, to a Spanish design and using Dutch dredging equipment. The European cooperation has resulted in a customized dredger performing above expectations on her first job.Portugal has a long coastline and a number of busy navigable rivers – an excellent backdrop for the dredging company Inersel. When Inersel required an addition to its fleet, its preference was to acquire it within its home country. As a result, the company formed a team
IUEM Chooses iXblue Equipment
Navigation, positioning and underwater imaging solutions provider iXblue said it has been chosen by the European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM) to provide 8 Canopus long baseline (LBL) transponders for a geodetic mission off the coast of Sicily. Deployed on the seabed, 2,500 meters below the surface, the Canopus transponders will measure the crustal deformation along the North-South Alfeo faults with a millimeter-scale resolution over the course of four years.Hubert Pelletier, Head of iXblue Acoustic division, said, “Because the Canopus transponders precisely meet the exacting requirements
More Tenants Move into COVE Facility
and Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association (NSBA) have moved into COVE,” said Jim Hanlon, CEO of COVE, a collaborative facility for applied innovation in the ocean sector located in Halifax Harbor, in Nova Scotia, Canada.COVE's mission is to propel the ocean economy by providing high quality marine infrastructure and a collaborative space in which a community of ocean enterprises can start, grow and prosper. Its primary goal is to support ocean technology commercialization and business growth.RBRRBR creates instruments to measure the blue planet. From the ocean abyss to the polar ice cap, its
McLane Research Announces New WTS-LV Deep Option
Filter, and High Capacity WTS-LV models. Existing WTS-LV systems can also be retrofitted with the new deep housing option.“The WTS-LV deep option provides 35% greater depth capacity and has been a customer-requested enhancement for some time,” says McLane General Manager Jon Mogul. “Marine biologists, chemists, and geologists can use the WTS-LV Deep to pump up to 45,000L of seawater and collect suspended particles from previously unattainable depths.”WTS-LV samplers with new 7,000m deep housings were deployed as the deepest two pumps on every cast during the recent U.S. GEOTRACES
Clark Joins Planet Ocean
and scientific instrumentation manufacturer Planet Ocean Ltd has hired Aaron Clark as the newest member of its sales team. Clark will serve as Technical & Scientific Sales Engineer, based at the firm's Camberley headquarters.Clark graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a B.Sc (Hons) in Marine Biology and is a keen SCUBA diver, qualifying as one of the youngest scuba divers in the U.K. after having been selected for a trial to lower the age for qualification. Subsequently he has gone on to obtain qualifications in advanced open water diving and scientific diving techniques.Clark was previously
MacArtney Hires Behrens as CCO
Michael Behrens has been named chief commercial officer of subsea technology provider MacArtney Underwater Technology from November 1, based at the company's headquarters in Esbjerg, Denmark.Behrens joins MacArtney from the largest steel and technical sales company in Denmark. He has a HD(O) in Organizational Leadership from the University of Southern Denmark, and is currently finishing an MBA in Business Administration. Behrens' career began in international sales, and over the years he has taken sales director and business management roles with leading technology companies from Saab to ABB.
RBR Opens Office in China
Oceanographic instrumentation manufacturer RBR announced it has opened RBR China in Qingdao. The wholly-owned foreign enterprise under the direction of RBR Ltd. (Canada) will support the growing customer base and collaborative business development activities in China, the company said.“The market in China is huge and the local innovation in ocean science research, operational oceanography, deep sea studies and autonomous vehicle development is tremendous. RBR’s continued investment in China will help enable more innovative projects in China and allow RBR to share these experiences and
Persistent Profiling of the Greater Agulhas Current
impacts—notably climate matters.Extensive & Persistent Current Monitoring off Southern AfricaThe Agulhas Current streams poleward off the east coast of southern Africa. This major current exerts diverse influence—locally and globally. For southern Africa, the Agulhas affects things from marine transport and regional weather to local biodiversity. More globally, the Agulhas water properties are now linked to earth’s climate system.About one-sixth of the volume carried by the Agulhas leaves the Indian Ocean for the Atlantic. Paleo studies suggest that amount has varied over eons. Below
Marine Technology Reporter - October 2018
The October 2018 edition of Marine Technology Reporter is now available in print and online.This issue includes features on:The hunt for hydrocarbons: Subsea gliders are taking to the oceans to hunt for an ever wider array of anthropomorphic and chemical signatures to an ever greater accuracy.A “National Hero”: Shanghai Ocean University’s Professor Cui Weicheng is breaking new ground in the subsea sector, both in science and business.Ocean Observation: Two decades of moored ADCPs off southern Africa, as the Greater Agulhas Current is suspected to influence the global
New Research Vessel for Virginia Institute of Marine Science
A new research vessel for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has completed sea trials and is transiting to its home port in Virginia.The new vessel, the R/V Virginia, will support the institution’s fisheries research projects and greatly expand VIMS’ capability to perform general oceanographic research in the Chesapeake Bay as well as mid-Atlantic coastal waters. Interest in the new research vessel is already growing rapidly as next season is almost fully booked with science cruises.The 93-foot vessel was built by Meridien Maritime Reparation. JMS Naval Architects performed
Sonardyne Hires Paull as Business Development Manager
instrumentation and systems company Aquatec Group, will also focus on other developing ocean industry markets, such as subsea mining, for Sonardyne’s widening portfolio of products.The ocean space is home to an increasing number of offshore renewables facilities, including offshore wind farms and marine energy devices, and aquaculture operations, as companies look to diversify and countries seek to grow their energy and food production.“Increasingly our oceans are being looked at as engines of growth – be it in renewable energy, aquaculture, mineral resources and even biotechnology.
BMT and Sonardyne Partner on Subsea Monitoring
Engineering consultancy BMT and subsea technology company Sonardyne International Ltd. will together provide advanced integrated marine integrity monitoring solutions to the oil and gas industry under a new agreement announced today at the Rio Oil & Gas exhibition and conference in Brazil.The official Teaming Agreement will allow the two companies to collaboratively provide smarter and more efficient through-life solutions for monitoring and managing critical subsea assets, including drilling and production risers, moorings and wellheads.By jointly offering BMT’s monitoring and analysis
Seafloor Crawlers: New Robotic Tools for Challenging Missions
in the lower energy boundary layer. The low profile further minimizes current drag. The vehicle has operated in 1.5-m plunging surf and can cross soft terrain that will not support human loads. Recent tests demonstrated the ability to carry 40-kg payloads as well as tow a 45-kg sled across various marine surfaces.Specs of the Otter-SZC include:Symmetrical dual-sided operation for operation in the heavy surfWeight: 45-kg dry, 1-m long, 55-cm wide and 25-cm high (expandable in length and width)Speed: forward or reverse, variable up to 1-m/sNavigation: 3-axis IMU, FOG, dual encoders, dual-sided, dual-frequen
University of Miami’s Hurricane Research is Helping Save Lives
more of a challenge.“We saw several times in this last hurricane season where storms just intensified really rapidly, and that process is not well forecast right now,” says the University of Miami’s Professor of Ocean Sciences, Brian Haus.Haus is director of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science’s Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. Surge Structure Atmosphere Interaction Laboratory – otherwise known as SUSTAIN. Here, he and a team of researchers are trying to improve forecasts of hurricane intensity and associated storm surges. Their efforts are supported by advanced
Kongsberg's Operational Advisory Solution for Harsh Environment Semi-Submersible
Odfjell Drilling has awarded Kongsberg Maritime the contract to deliver a real-time monitoring and advisory solution to provide operational safety and non-productive time (NPT) improvements for the 6th generation semi-submersible, Deepsea Stavanger. The contract is in specific relation to an upcoming offshore South Africa campaign awarded to Odfjell Drilling.Kongsberg Maritime’s integrated services and systems delivery for Deepsea Stavanger is designed to provide high operational safety and availability in deepwater harsh environments, strong currents and high waves. The scope of supply includes
OSIL Debuts Deep Sea Camera System
Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) launched its new expandable Deep Sea Camera System, a pressure activated self-contained system which allows for the integration of additional instrumentation.The system is activated by a pressure switch in the intelligent battery pack which can be programed at the surface to turn the camera on and off at specific depths, preventing users from having to record and review hours of wasted footage, and can also independently or concurrently activate any instrumentation that is connected to it.Data is recorded onto a standard Micro SD memory card. Several hours of
Ocean Networks Canada: 'Wiring the Abyss'
late July. The collection of detailed measurements over two years will assess the deep-sea site, approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Vancouver Island, for future use.“A potential full-scale neutrino observatory at Cascadia Basin would benefit particle physics, astrophysics, ocean science and marine biology by offering reliable long-term detection capabilities,” said Benoit Pirenne, ONC’s executive director of user engagement.The equipment being used to detect neutrinos is also sensitive to bioluminescence, providing scientists with data to study trends in this emission of light
High-tech Sensors Advance Tsunami Monitoring
to save lives, model wave propagation and quantify coastal hazards.The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) has recently taken delivery of five new RBRquartz³ BPRs (bottom pressure recorders) from oceanographic instrumentation manufacturer RBR for a long-term research program with the Insitu Marine Laboratory for Geosystems Research (iMARL). The iMARL is a network of deep sea ocean sensors including ocean bottom seismographs (OBS), broadband acoustic sensors, and RBRquartz³ BPRs for measuring absolute water pressure and temperature at the ocean floor. Strapped to deep sea landers, the
New Acoustic Technology Aids Fisheries Management
As fish and other marine life grow increasingly important for feeding a human population on the rise, how can high-tech acoustic-based scientific instruments assist fisheries management, while also opening up opportunities for interdisciplinary research?Fishery scientists and managers working to keep stocks sustainable rely on state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation to better understand the dynamics and structure of fish stocks, as well as the resources those fish depend on. Echosounders can help quantify the biomass and behavior of fish, as well as the plankton and/or krill that many fish species
Kraken Appoints Dillon as Chief Scientist
Kraken Robotics Inc. announced that Dr. Jeremy Dillon has joined Kraken’s wholly owned subsidiary, Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. as Chief Scientist.Dr. Dillon has 20 years of experience in research and development with a background in signal processing and mathematics. As an original member of Kraken's Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) team, he developed the signal processing algorithms for the AquaPix SAS imaging and bathymetry software. He also invented Kraken’s AquaTrak Correlation Velocity Log, participated in numerous sea trials and was the principal investigator for a multi-year DRDC
MacArtney: Custom EMO Multiplexer
Upgrading the subsea survey and camera interfaces of an ROV represents the primary purpose of the MUX having been deployed in Singapore. The requirements for reliable transmission of large amounts of data and video from ROVs, ROTVs, ocean observatories and instrumentation packages are contantly being sharpened. Gathering high-quality data from the deep sea is an im¬mense undertaking, which calls for ensuring that multiple sensor and equipment types work in perfect unison and that all data are efficiently transmitted to the surface for analysis. Custom ROV MUX System A custom
Shell Ocean Discovery XPrize Field Pared to 9
to win $7 million Shell Ocean Discovery XPrize “We have been mapping what lies beneath the seas for hundreds of years, but we have a very long way to go,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Ph.D., prize lead and senior director of Planet and Environment at XPRIZE in a recent interview with Marine Technology Reporter. “We only have 10 to 15 percent of the seafloor mapped to any decent resolution, and the ocean covers 70 percent of the planet.” And so proceeds the latest Shell Ocean Discovery XPrize, a race to deliver a disruptive solution to a traditional maritime space
"The" Subsea Awards Edition: MTR100 - Apply Now
13th Annual MTR100 set to publish in the July/August 2018 edition of Marine Technology Reporter -- the world's largest circulation b2b subsea publication. Top companies in the global subsea sector are invited to apply now for the "MTR100". Marine Technology Reporter's annual MTR100 awards edition is the subsea industry's most awaited annual ranking of the leading companies serving the global subsea industry. The editorial team gathers candidates and stories from around the globe, covering the entirety of the global subsea sector: - Subsea Defense - Offshore Energy
ADCPs: Action in OOI's Cabled Observatory
; Sound waves propagate through the water column so echoes are returned and processed from many depths. The vertical range of this collection of measurements - called a profile of ocean current velocities - is greater for lower frequency sound waves. Introduction Thanks to a spirited cadre of marine scientists and engineers, high-tech ocean observatories are now operational. These sites provide a continuous presence in the ocean for sustained and interactive observing. Many combine innovative infrastructure with multi-discipline marine sensors. Installed at various depths, these observatorie
Kongsberg to Deliver Fisheries Training Simulator
process. “While helping to educate and protect commercial fishermen, who often operate in extreme conditions exposed to risk, simulator training also contributes to UN Sustainability Goals, especially number 14, which has been established to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources,” said Tone-Merete Hansen, Sr. Vice President Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg Digital. “With over 50 million people depending directly on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods and over 1 billion people in poorer countries reliant on fish to sustain a balanced, healthy
An Industry in Change
press releases announcing the launch of new, innovative products. ‘First time ever’ is an almost daily term I encounter within my inbox. There have been hundreds of companies starting up recently in the unmanned space over the last decade, and Hook believes we will continue to see more in the marine sector in the decade to come. Hook said, “There will be a healthy amount of these innovative ideas that are either ahead of their time or got surpassed by something else, so they will drop off. But there is certainly room for more innovation to enter the industry yet. At the
Xiamen University Selects AML’s Moving Vessel Profiler
Xiamen University 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
Siegel Joins RBR as Sales Director
Canadian oceanographic instrumentation manufacturer RBR announced that it has hired Eric Siegel as its new sales director. In his new role, Siegel will focus on enhancing the sales and representative network to enable RBR to continue its global market growth with new products , as well as customer service and support. Siegel joins RBR with 20 years of experience in oceanographic and subsea technology, measurements and science, and has been involved in academia, government and private industry.
Moore Foundation Awards $3 Mln to WHOI
, to explore the seams between disciplines both inside and outside oceanography, will keep WHOI at the forefront of ocean discovery in ways that greatly improve our understanding of the ocean and our planet.” “Historically, ocean research requires major investment in ships, submarines, and moorings to collect data, which can take years to develop,” said Chris Mentzel, program director at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is known for its high-quality ocean research and instrumentation, and there is an opportunity now to bring
Aquabotix Adds Global Distributors
and private firms to drive advances in ocean technologies. Aquatech Services, which will represent Aquabotix in Australia and New Zealand. Aquatech is a Perth-based provider of nationally endorsed first aid, oxygen 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
Valeport MIDAS SVX2 Selected by Saab Kockums
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 naval surface vessels and submarines that incorporate the most advanced stealth technology. Kevin Edwards, Valeport sales & marketing manager, said, “Valeport’s COTS approach means that the latest sensor technology is available at optimal cost and lead time. Our products can be customized to suit surface vessel
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
Meet the CARTHE Drifter
Surface currents in the upper 1 ocean are very important in driving the fate of marine debris and pollutants but are also challenging to measure. Tracking the upper ocean in an effective manner may require massive deployment of GPS tracked drifter buoys, which until now were expensive, cumbersome and quite polluting themselves (i.e. made of PVC, ABS and Nylon). The CARTHE drifter is an answer to the need for a compact, user-friendly, robust, yet eco-friendly solution. Scientists with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE), in collaboration with the
New Dredging Sensors for Jan De Nul Group
Subsea technology company Seatools said it is in the process of delivering an extensive range of dredging sensors to Jan De Nul Group. The sensors will be used to monitor the dredging operations of three trailing suction hopper dredgers currently under construction. The delivery will comprise a broad range of dredging sensors, including (differential) pressure sensors, rotation angle sensors, inclination sensors and wire length sensors. The sensors supply real-time data on a wide range of dredging process and equipment parameters. As such, the instrumentation provides the basis
Oceangoing Lab: The Real Test of a Nutrient Analyzer
The U.K.’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) undertakes integrated ocean research and technology development from the coast to the deep ocean. As such, the NOC has a heavy requirement for seawater analysis. However, in addition to analytical work at the NOC’s facilities in Southampton and Liverpool, the organization’s researchers also need to be able to analyze samples on board a variety of research vessels. Under these conditions, high levels of precision and reliability can be a challenge for most laboratory equipment, so NOC has invested in SEAL Analytical segmented flow
New PAR Measurement Logger Launched
Designer and manufacturer of freshwater and oceanographic monitoring systems and instruments Precision Measurement Engineering has launched the new miniPAR Logger that logs photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), water temperature and tilt measurements. The completely submersible logger measures the amount of diffused sunlight through water, which can be beneficial for understanding nutrient loading, photosynthesis and algal blooms in natural waters up to 100 meters deep. The miniPAR sensor is a Li-Cor Underwater Quantum Sensor, which measures PAR from all angles in one hemisphere.
Valeport Supports Quest for Marine Discoveries
Valeport, a manufacturer of oceanographic, hydrographic and hydrometric instrumentation, said it is supporting scientists to expand knowledge of marine biodiversity with its latest CTD profiler, the fastCTD, which records the conductivity, temperature and depth of sea water. The fastCTD is integral to the research kit that will accompany respected marine biologist Dr. Sonia Rowley as she undertakes her latest expedition to the island of Pohnpei, in the western Pacific Ocean, from August 2 until September 13. The trip follows in the wake of successful explorations at Pohnpei, the Cook and
New OEM Temperature Sensors from S9
Soundnine Inc. (S9) has launched new OEM Digital Temperature Sensors for integration on underwater instrumentation, drifting buoys, ROVs, AUVs or industrial and laboratory applications. Two mechanical configurations are offered: a screw-in type having 7/16-20 threads commonly used on underwater bulkhead connectors, or plain shank version. The screw-in type has an optional screw-on probe guard. Both are available with wire leads or solder connections. The serial interface can be either RS-232 or 3.3V logic level. The sampling interval is user programmable and sampling starts automatically when
Modulus Technology Adds AML Oceanographic to Its Portfolio
Modulus Technology based in Great Yarmouth, U.K., is now representing Canadian manufacturer AML Oceanographic in the U.K. and Eire. Modulus Technology is part of the AAE Technologies Group, along with Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd. Modulus is the Group’s innovation division, dedicated to both developing new technological products and representing similar manufacturers, such as AML Oceanographic, that complement its service and support functions. Founded in 1974, AML Oceanographic (formerly Applied Microsystems) has more than 40 years’ experience in the field of oceanogra
60th OCEANS Conference Held in Aberdeen
Cosponsors the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES) jointly hosted the OCEANS '17 MTS/IEEE Aberdeen from June 19-22, 2017 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The event, held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), marked the 60th edition of the global ocean engineering and marine technology forum. “The overall conference was a great example of local Scottish marine technology, and, at the same time, brought to Aberdeen marine science and technology experts from around the globe,” said Professor John Watson, Chair for OCEANS Aberdeen.
Project to Standardize Subsea Processing Progressing
Subsea processing offers great potential for the oil and gas sector, but is also a relatively young field of technology, causing costly and inefficient tailor-made solutions. A DNV GL-led joint industry project (JIP) on standardizing subsea processing aims to reduce cost in a lifetime perspective. Initially focusing on subsea pumping, the partners in Phase 1 have now concluded the functional description of subsea pumping, while Phase 2 will deliver standardized guidelines. With all the four leading system suppliers on board, new operators are still welcome to join the project. According
Sea Swift: New Platform Operational in Egypt
Global offshore engineering solutions provider Aquaterra Energy has designed, fabricated and installed a new Sea Swift platform for PICO Petroleum Integrated Services, the lead contractor for Amal Petroleum Company’s (AMAPETCO) Amal field in the Gulf of Suez, offshore Egypt. The Sea Swift is a Conductor Supported Platform (CSP) and is installed in 23 meters water depth. It included a 385 metric ton topside featuring a helideck and emergency accommodation with provision for six wells. The new topsides facility for the Amal-C platform involved designing process, piping, electrical
New Tech Gives Insight to Ocean Color for NASA Satellites
Having recently returned to land on board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s (SOI) research vessel Falkor, NASA Scientists have made important observations of phytoplankton with new technology to support current and future satellite observations. A swath of new instruments were debuted during a 25 day expedition across the Pacific exploring a wide variety of oceanic ecosystems. The focus of chief scientist Dr. Ivona Cetinic´, USRA/NASA, and her multidisciplinary team of oceanographers, engineers, biologists and computer scientists was to explore ocean particles, and more specifically the
