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Subsea Technology and the New Routes to Residency

Efforts to increase remote capability often go hand in hand with increasing ROV residency. But exactly what form residency takes is diverging. Elaine Maslin takes a look.Dial back the clock five years and there was a movement towards an idea dubbed subsea resident remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The idea, in simple terms, is that you increase ROV availability and reduce cost and carbon emissions by having the vehicle permanently based subsea in underwater garages. A number of vehicles could even cover a cluster of fields, potentially with different owners who can dial up, on demand, a vehicle when

Interview: RDML Gallaudet Steers NOAA’s Path Toward Uncrewed Maritime Systems

health and conservation by the public. There’s an increased awareness about the dependence of our security and our economy on the oceans. People simply care a lot more (today).• A growing awareness of the necessity for sustainable use of our oceans, which includes everything from fisheries, to marine transportation, to critical minerals and pharmaceuticals. Using that same time frame, put in perspective the evolution of unmanned maritime systems as you see it.To start, just this week we’ve decided we are going to move from the word ‘unmanned’ to ‘uncrewed.’

The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up

The science and technology surrounding discovery, mitigation and clean-up of microplastics in the world’s environment makes this year’s “MTR100.” Here we offer insights on the organizations, people and technologies taking the lead.As marine journalists, scientists, technologists, activists and enthusiasts, we are aware of the large-scale impact that consumer macro-plastic products have on aquatic ecosystems. Ranging from plastic bags and straws to bottles and fishing nets, these materials pollute harbors, rivers, lakes and oceans, all while threatening the prosperity of wildlife

Subsea Mining: The Race is On, But Effects are Unclear

Mining the ocean floor for submerged minerals is a little-known, experimental industry. But soon it will take place on the deep seabed, which belongs to everyone, according to international law.Seabed mining for valuable materials like copper, zinc and lithium already takes place within countries’ marine territories. As soon as 2025, larger projects could start in international waters – areas more than 200 nautical miles from shore, beyond national jurisdictions.We study ocean policy, marine resource management, international ocean governance and environmental regimes, and are researching political

Ocean Influencer: Karl Kenny, Kraken Robotics

The July/August edition of Marine Technology Reporter, the 15th Annual "MTR100", recognizes Karl Kenny and his Kraken Robotics team for moving forward fast on the evolution of subsea technology and business.Karl Kenny and Kraken Robotics are on a mission to revolutionize the way business is conducted subsea. It’s about high-quality data, collected, delivered and analyzed more regularly, liberally shared among a disparate group of stakeholders, from science to commerce to military. It’s about tossing out old norms and embracing different ways of doing business.Underwater vehicle

Ocean Explorer Finds WWII Submarine off Hawaii

A veteran ocean explorer and his team have employed advanced underwater technology to discover and scan World War II submarine USS S-35 (SS-140) offshore Hawaii.This is the 7th US WWII submarine found by Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Project" team. This recent discovery utilized pioneering robotics and methods at the forefront of today's underwater technology. The explorers applied a combination of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and advanced 4D Modeling photogrammetry.The USS S-35, built at the end of WWI, launched in 1919 and

Scientists Discover First Methane Seep in Antarctic Sea Floor

Scientists have discovered an active methane seep from Antarctica's sea bed that could shed light on the potent greenhouse gas trapped beneath the frozen continent.Marine ecologist Andrew Thurber first glimpsed what a colleague described as a "microbial waterfall" during a dive in the icy waters of the Ross Sea in 2012. What looked like a superhighway of white patches on the ocean floor were clusters of tiny organisms drawn to the methane leak."My first thought was 'wow,' and I was immediately enamored with what this means for science," said Thurber, an assistant

Salvors Outline Plan to Recover Titanic's Telegraph System

Marine salvors on Wednesday outlined plans to recover the Marconi wireless telegraph from inside the RMS Titanic after being cleared by a U.S. judge in May to retrieve a piece of history from the world's most famous shipwreck.Originally scheduled to embark on the mission to recover the system this summer, the private company with exclusive rights to salvage artifacts from the ship announced it has shifted its expedition to spring/early summer of 2021 to abide by ongoing travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic."The safety of our crew, ports where we conduct business and foremost the

Swathe Services Takes Delivery of SBG Ekinox Navsight INS

. It is suited for shallow water applications and comes at a good price, the manufacturer says.James Williams, Managing Director at Swathe, says, "Since we became the distributor for SBG Systems we have seen as steady increase in sales across all their product ranges selling into land, air and marine industries. The Navsight solution has been specifically designed for hydrographic applications and is symbiotic with all Sonars offering ethernet or RS232 connectivity. We now own a number of SBG sensors which we offer out to customers for trial and invite interested parties to contact us."

Geo Plus Takes Delivery of New Survey Vessel

Dutch shipbuilder Royal Niestern Sander has delivered the hydrographic survey vessel ‘Geo Ranger’ to Geo Plus, after 14 months of constructing, installing, commissioning and testing.The vessel last month successfully passed its sea trials on the river Ems.The ship was designed together with Conoship International BV and will be rented out by Geo Plus to parties that perform research, such as dredging companies and companies that build and maintain offshore wind farms. The 41 meters long, 8.7 meters wide  DP2 Geo Ranger is equipped with two high-class Azimuth stern thrusters and

NORBIT Wins Contract in Aquaculture Space

Norway-based marine technology specialist NORBIT has won a contract with an existing customer within the aquaculture market."We are very pleased to be awarded a repeat order from this customer, proving the value of our product," says Per Jørgen Weisethaunet, CEO of NORBIT.The value of the contract is approximately NOK 10 million (USD $1 million) and the order is expected to be delivered during the second half of 2020. The order falls under the company's Oceans segment. NORBIT did not say who the client was, nor what exactly the scope of the delivery was.NORBIT in 2018 establish

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Installs Wind LiDAR in New Jersey

A wind LiDAR (light detection and ranging) instrument has been installed alongside the causeway leading to Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, New Jersey.The fully autonomous sensor platform, owned and operated by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, will provide observations of wind profiles up to several hundred feet in a location directly on the land/sea boundary.Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Shell and EDF, installed the LiDAR in collaboration with the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) and the Rutgers University Marine Field

Scripps Institution of Oceanography: 3D-printed Coral Are Natural Producers of Biofuels

Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, alongside the University of Cambridge, UK, have 3D printed coral-like structures capable of growing dense microscopic algae populations. The work is aimed at the development of compact, efficient bioreactors for producing algae-based biofuels and could lead to a better understanding of the coral-algae relationship, with the hopes of establishing techniques to repair and restore reefs.Author Daniel Wangpraseurt, whose work was published April 9, 2020 in Nature Communications, explained, “Cor

Norway's Carbon Capture and Storage Project Estimated to Cost $2.6B

Norway's ambition to build a full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) chain could cost around $25 billion crowns ($2.58 billion), including operating costs for ten years, an economic analysis showed on Thursday.The International Energy Agency (IEA) says CCS technology will be crucial to limiting global warming, helping to decarbonize industries such as cement production, but opponents say it could prolong the use of fossil fuels.Norway, Western Europe's largest oil and producer, wants to prove that the CCS technology can work by capturing CO2 at two industrial sites and storing it under the

Using High Res 3D Meshes for improved Shape Reconstuction of Marine Survey Data

is beneficial anywhere that accurate shape reconstruction is of utmost importance. This can apply when proper identification and measurement of features is critical to risk management, and to a greater extent in situations where there will be close interaction with the surveyed objects. When performing marine salvage, construction, or asset inspection, it is critical to have the most comprehensible and accurate representation of the data.These applications highlight the differences between historical usages of mesh structures, and the new techniques now being introduced. Representations such as triangulated

Scripps Institution of Oceanography: 3D-printed Coral Are Natural Producers of Biofuels

Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, alongside the University of Cambridge, UK, have 3D printed coral-like structures capable of growing dense microscopic algae populations. The work is aimed at the development of compact, efficient bioreactors for producing algae-based biofuels and could lead to a better understanding of the coral-algae relationship, with the hopes of establishing techniques to repair and restore reefs.Author Daniel Wangpraseurt, whose work was published April 9, 2020 in Nature Communications, explained, “Cor

ABB's Hybrid Power and Propulsion for Færøysund Live Fish Carrier

by clean shore power connected via ABB technology, will enable emission-free operation.“This is a very sophisticated live fish carrier whose energy efficiency contributes to sustainability in the food supply chain it serves and in its working environment,” said Sindre Sætre, head of ABB Marine & Ports business in Norway.  “Building on years of ABB experience in hybrid power solutions, we are proud to make a first delivery for a ship of this specialized type. The order also adds momentum to the shift towards green technologies being seen across the marine sector.”ABB&rsquo

WHOI: Ocean “Pumped” to Capture More Atmospheric Carbon

While scientists have long known the essential role that the ocean plays in capturing atmospheric carbon, a new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows the efficiency of this natural pump has been underestimated.The ocean’s “biological pump” is a critical part of the global carbon cycle and relies on phytoplankton, single-cell organisms that use photosynthesis to turn light into energy—consuming carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the process. When phytoplankton die or are eaten by zooplankton, carbon-rich fragments sink into the ocean, then consumed by

Austrlia DST Chooses Sonardyne's BlueComm

Australia’s Defense Science and Technology Group (DST) has acquired a BlueComm undersea communications system from Sonardyne International Ltd. as part of its ongoing program in maritime autonomous systems (MAS).BlueComm is the only commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology that enables wireless transmission of high bandwidth tactical data, including video, over ranges of a few tens or even hundreds of meters, at rates of up to 10 megabits per second.With it, forces can vastly increase the communications capability of their underwater systems to drive faster, safer and better-informed decision

Pandemic Offers Scientists a Chance to 'Hear' the Oceans

listening stations around the world – including six stations that had been set up to monitor underwater nuclear tests.“Well, we’re not excited that COVID happened, but we’re happy to be able to take advantage of the scientific opportunity,” says Peter Tyack, a professor of marine mammal biology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and one of the early instigators. “It would have just been impossible any other way.”Tyack says the recordings should give scientists a never-before glimpse of the ocean with little human interference. It’s a bit like looking

WFS, SES Team Up in Subsea Cable Protection Space

WFS Technologies (WFS) and Subsea Energy Solutions (SES) have joined forces in the space of condition monitored cable protection systems for the offshore energy industry.The collaboration will see WFS utilize its smart wireless Seatooth technologies, which provide real-time insight in extreme environments, with SES’s offshore cable and subsea umbilical, riser, and flowline protection systems.In a statement on Tuesday, the firm's said the aim was to help the offshore energy industry further extend asset life and boost productivity by reducing costs and increasing efficiencies.Philip A.R.

Hybrid AUV Completes Depth of Burial Survey for Offshore Wind Farm

Modus Seabed Intervention completed a high speed bathymetric and depth of burial survey of the inter array cable routes on the innogy operated Gwynt-y-Môr offshore wind farm, using the Modus HAUV-2 (Hybrid Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) .The Gwynt-y-Môr Offshore Wind Farm comprises 160 Siemens 3.6MW WTGs located approximately 8 miles from the North Wales coast in Liverpool Bay in water depths ranging between 12m and 28m.  The WTG’s are connected by 161 inter array cables which total circa 147km in length. The worksite is known for high subsea currents, so any solution had to

Forum ROV Completes Trials for Vietnam Navy

completed harbor trials for the Vietnam Navy. The vehicle is the compact derivative of the XLX work class ROV, and is a heavy-duty work class hydraulic ROV with a depth rating of 4000m, outfitted with cameras, lights, altimeters and sonars.The Perry XLX-C will be used to support the Vietnamese’ submarine rescue vehicle in its operations during assessment and preparation of a site for a submersible rescue. The XLX-C is fitted with Forum’s latest technology and can deliver specialized equipment, including an Emergency Life Support System, to a distressed submarine. It was supplied with an Emergency

Siemens Gamesa Launches 14MW Offshore Wind Turbine

Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa has unveiled a new SG 14-222 DD offshore Direct Drive wind turbine with 14-megawatt (MW) capacity.The capacity can reach up to 15 MW using the company’s Power Boost function, a 222-meter diameter rotor, 108-meter long blades, and a 39,000 m2 swept area.The 14 MW capacity allows one SG 14-222 DD machine able to provide enough energy to power approximately 18,000 average European households every year. Approximately 30 SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbines could furthermore cover the annual electricity consumption of Bilbao, Spain, Siemens Gamesa said."Offshore

Equinor-led Group Approves Northern Lights CCS Project

A group of European energy companies led by Norway's Equinor agreed on Friday to develop jointly a facility beneath the North Sea to store carbon dioxide storage, a technology that helps in the fight against climate change.The Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, a partnership with Royal Dutch Shell and Total, is expected to cost 6.9 billion Norwegian crowns ($675.23 million), Equinor said in a statement.The project is still subject to final approval by Norwegian authorities.CCS technology includes pumping heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the air and injecting it into undergrou

USS Nevada Shipwreck Located

beneath the surface about 65 nautical miles southwest of Pearl Harbor, researchers said Monday.The USS Nevada (BB-36), which served in two world wars over the course of a career that spanned more than three and a half decades, was discovered by underwater and terrestrial archaeology firm SEARCH, Inc. and marine robotics company Ocean Infinity at the bottom of the Pacific.The mission was jointly coordinated between SEARCH's operations center and one of Ocean Infinity's vessels, Pacific Constructor. Pacific Constructor set sail for a range of commercial tasks in the Pacific in early 2020, ahead of

Challenges of Underwater Structure Monitoring for Offshore Operations

As the global energy industry enters a period of increased offshore deepwater exploration driven by economic viability, the demand for international underwater monitoring services looks set to strengthen into the new decade. According to a report from TechSci Research1, the value of global underwater monitoring services for the oil and gas sector is projected to grow from around $1billion in 2018 to $1.8billion by 2024.With an increasing focus on improving efficiencies throughout the global energy sector, the installation of subsea structures on the seabed can pose complex and costly challenges if

What Did Scientists Learn from Deepwater Horizon?

recovered, but in areas such as deep-sea coral communities, the oil, gas and dispersants combined with other stressors to create long-lasting impacts.Gene analysis tools, used on a wide scale for the first time, provided unprecedented insights into which microbes consumed oil, gas, and dispersants in marine ecosystems.Advanced chemical analysis showed for the first time that weathering on the ocean surface, particularly by sunlight and oxygen (photo-oxidation), changed the composition of oil but reduced the effectiveness of dispersants applied to the surface.The spill science community can be most effective

New Drifter Buoy Tracks Water Currents

MetOcean Telematics has developed the STOKES Iridium tracking drifter, a compact drifting buoy designed and tested in technical partnership with Florida State University (FSU) that tracks water currents at the surface.The small light-weight buoy is equipped with Iridium satellite telemetry, GPS positioning and a sea surface temperature sensor. Iridium satellite telemetry enables the buoy to provide vital sensor and geo-positional location data in real time. Iridium also allows the buoy to have bi-directional capabilities. This is a critical ability, for example, if the buoy enters a region of interest

Kongsberg to Supply ASW Sonars for Finish Navy Corvettes

Kongsberg Maritime AS, Sensor & Robotics has signed a contract with Saab that will see Kongserg delivering its Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and diver detection sonars for the Pohjanmaa-class corvettes currently being developed by the Finnish Navy under its Squadron 2020 project.Under the terms of the contract, which equates to approximately NOK 100 million, Kongsberg will equip the vessels with its SS2030 and SD9500 sonars, both of which boast acoustic properties which make them ideally suited for deployment in shallow-water environments.The SS2030, principally devised for ASW operations and

OSV Powers Up for Deepwater Efficiency the Island Offshore Way

Azimut Swing up TCNS092/62-220 2000kW - stern 2 x RR 2400 DPN 1200 kWPropellers  2 x RR CPP 1Bearings  Wartsila/CedervallGears  Scana VoldaGenerators  4 x Marelli MJRM LB8 (gen set)Engine controls  Kongsberg RR BergenRadars  FurunoDepth Sounders  FurunoAuto Pilot  Marine TechnologyRadios  SailorAIS  FurunoGPS  FurunoGMDSS  SailorSatCom  MarlinkMooring equipment  Konsgberg winchesFire extinguishing systems  Danfoss SemcoFire detection system  ConsiliumHeat exchangers  Alfa Laval NordicLifeboats  Harding Safety/Palfinger

Amman Mineral Orders Forum ROV for Subsea Mining Support

, with a Super Mohawk previously.Amman Mineral successfully completed the purchase of Newmont Mining Corporation’s ownership stake of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara in 2016."The Super Mohawk II ROV will be used to perform regular deep-sea tailing placement monitoring programs to ensure that the marine environment is highly preserved. The use of hi-tech and implementation of mining best practices demonstrate our commitments in environmental stewardship,” said Kartika Octaviana, Head of Corporate Communications Manager Amman Mineral.The ROV system will be manufactured at Forum’s UK facility

Nido Robotics Debuts Two Underwater Drones

locate the wreckage of a downed USS Dakota plane. The thought occurred to him that deep-sea missions of that nature, often conducted in extreme conditions, would be made substantially easier and safer with the use of suitably adaptable, affordable and portable mini ROVs.The fact that Torgersen, a Master Mariner, couldn’t find anything on the market capable of meeting the standards he envisaged led him to co-found Nido Robotics in 2016 with business partner Enrique González. Basing their business in Murcia, Spain and assembling a crack team of technicians and scientific advisors around them

Turner Designs C-FLUOR Probes Offer Digital Output

C-FLUOR probes are sensitive single-wavelength in situ fluorescence and turbidity instruments that are now available with a Digital Output option. ASCII data can be polled every 0.5 seconds or streamed at variable rates as fast as 16 readings per second. Combining a maximum requirement of 22mA current draw at 12VDC input with a T99 of less than 0.6 seconds, Digital C-FLUOR probes require very low levels of power.  Factory-calibrated, each C-FLUOR ships with a calibration certificate that specifies the calibrated range and minimum limit of detection as fluorophore concentrations.  Titanium

Pipeline IMR: An All-seeing Eye

offer the fastest fast way to environmental compliance and maintenance assessments over large areas.Speed is essential, for an environmental impact assessment survey — for an oilfield, a pipeline or a salmon farm — is only the start of site work. These early steps could entail photographing marine biology over an area that could comprise hundreds of kilometers (for a pipeline survey) or just a square mile for a salmon farm. For inspections of existing pipelines or other subsea infrastructure by ROV or UAV, the market offers no all-in-one survey tool of biology and pipeline health: bathymetric

CGG Officially Exits Seismic Data Biz

French-based geophysical services company CGG announced that it has completed the wind-down and exit from its land seismic data acquisition business after completing its last land seismic acquisition contract in Tunisia.Following on from the company’s recently announced exits from seabed and marine data acquisition, this milestone marks the successful completion of CGG’s strategy to exit the seismic data acquisition business.To date, CGG still retains a minority shareholding in the ARGAS company operating in the Middle East.Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO of CGG, said: “The exit from our

Marine Autonomy Above & Below the Water

Marine autonomous systems and combinations of such systems are being increasingly put to the test in the offshore space. Elaine Maslin looks at how hybrid remote and autonomous systems are now being tested.Concepts like resident subsea vehicles, for inspection, repair and maintenance, are attractive options, but not the only ones being tried. Deploying remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) from unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are also being tested and put to use. It’s another way to take operators out of harm’s way, centralize operations and cut costs and environmental footprints. But, there&rsq

Forum ROV to Support Arctic Research

research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen. In 2020, it will be deployed at several locations spanning a latitudinal gradient from 58° to 77°N to study deep-water corals and cold seep eco-systems of the northern Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay. The project will generate critical knowledge of biodiversity and marine habitats needed for key ocean conservation initiatives in Canada”, said Dr. Alexandre Forest, Executive Director of Amundsen Science.The new Comanche ROV will be manufactured at Forum’s facility at Kirkbymoorside, Yorkshire and delivered in the first quarter of this year

Arctic Rays Launches Dragonfish II

Arctic Rays, LLC announced Dragonfish II, a dual-channel, high quality LED torch light for professional HOW/ROV/AUV imaging applications.  The high-output, 30,000 delivered lumens, continuous output Dragonfish II features dual-channel, independently dimmable LED arrays allowing for white or color blending and independent bi-color operation.  Initial eight production units are going to launch customer OceanX for use on manned submersibles and an ROV.User-settable PWM dimming frequency over RS232 or analog control, allows for flicker-free operation for various frame rates.  Input voltage

ROVOP Launches In-house Inspection Service

Subsea robotics firm ROVOP announced the addition of full in-house inspection service, to complement its range of underwater robotics technologies.With a fleet of 51 remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) including work class, light work class and observation class, ROVOP now has the ability to provide its clients with a complete inspection service, covering the preparation of inspection procedures, project execution offshore, reporting and inspection and asset integrity data management, the company said.Working closely with its survey and non-destructive testing (NDT) partners, ROVOP’s

@ SAMS, Science + Autonomy = Answers

Few sea and ocean-related research projects today do not involve some form of underwater robotic or marine autonomous system. Elaine Maslin reports on how they’re being used by the Scottish Association of Marine Science.Whether it’s large autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), gliders, landers, small man-portable AUV systems and even air-borne vehicles, unmanned systems have become a day-to-day tool. And, while ready built systems are now readily available, easy access to components is enabling researchers to assemble bespoke platforms to meet specific

Hybrid Autonomous Systems Evolve

Marine autonomous systems and combinations of such systems are being increasingly put to the test in the offshore space. Elaine Maslin looks at how hybrid remote and autonomous systems are now being tested.Concepts like resident subsea vehicles, for inspection, repair and maintenance, are attractive options, but not the only ones being tried. Deploying remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) from unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are also being tested and put to use. It’s another way to take operators out of harm’s way, centralize operations and cut costs and environmental footprints. But, there&rsq

Next Gen LARS for Fugro's New L3-ASV

arms are installed to provide a wider point of entry when in an open position and an additional lock when closed.The complete LAR system uses high pressure air instead of hydraulic fluids to guarantee zero oil spill in the event of system leakage or damages.The LARS is manufactured from light weight marine grade aluminum according DNV regulations for offshore use. With a length of 10 meters and only 800 KG in weight each LAR construction is load tested at 13 Tons.Floatation and fender modules are of a closed cell high density foam, with a special spray-on coating which allows the LARS to absorb and

MarTID 2020: The Maritime Training Survey is Open

Operator survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDOperatorMETI survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDMETISeafarer survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020MarTIDSeafarerWhat is MarTID?MarTID is a non-commercial, joint initiative of the World Maritime University, Marine Learning Systems and New Wave Media. Its core principles include ethical integrity, objectivity and confidentiality. It was launched in 2018 with the completion of the inaugural survey and publication of the 2018 Training Practices Report, which can be found, along with the 2019 report, at www.MarTID.org

Subsea Robots in the Splash Zone

From their base deep within a former World War II U-boat pen, Norwegian outfit, OceanTech, is developing a set of robot tools that cling to offshore structures in order to effect inspection, maintenance and repair, or IMR. Old submarine anchorages are now subsea testing and training sites, but the North Sea is still the target. Hundreds of aging platforms and subsea structures require IMR that’s too costly, complex or hazardous for divers or remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs.As he walks us through Dora II, the original name of the U-boat pen,  OceanTech CEO, Berndt Schjetne, points to

SMTP Helps to Power Future Ocean Tech

and science. Bubble barriers to trap plastic in river mouths and portable DNA scanners preventing illegal wildlife trafficking are just a few of the ground-breaking tools and technologies that are transitioning from dream to reality. And the unifying factor amongst these groups is support from Schmidt Marine Technology Partners (SMTP).SMTP is a relatively new program of the Schmidt Family Foundation, established in 2015, that is making significant impact in marine technology development for ocean conservation and research. They provide funding and business support to help groups develop technologies

Subsea 7 Wins 'Very Large' Sangomar Contract

Offshore installation and construction specialist Subsea 7 has said it has won a 'very large' subsea equipment contract from Woodside for the Sangomar project offshore Senegal.Subsea 7 has won a contract in cooperation with Schlumberger's One Subsea through their Subsea Integration alliance following Woodside's announcement on Friday that its field development plan for the Sangomar field has been approved.The Sangomar field (formerly the SNE field), containing both oil and gas, will be Senegal’s first offshore oil development. It is a deep-water oil field discovery located

Maritime Blue-Light Laser Discovered

An EU maritime study has identified a record-breaking ‘blue-light’ laser for the maritime industry.Scientists working on the $1 million KETmaritime project have released a detailed report on the potential of ‘Photonic Marine Applications’.The latest report, which has been produced by Spanish research center AIMEN, reveals new boundaries broken in marine laser development – enhancing the detection of underwater objects including submarines and archaeological sites.Project coordinator Ana Vila from the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) said: “In

Research Vessel Delivered to Orca Maritime

Washington-based boat builder Armstrong Marine said it has delivered a new 42’ x 16’ catamaran research vessel, Benthic Cat, to Orca Maritime, Inc. following launch and sea trials in Port Angeles Harbor. The vessel will enter service immediately, beginning with a week-long operation around San Clemente Island.The second IPS-drive catamaran delivered by Armstrong, the 4216-CTC model was selected by Orca Maritime after the builder delivered the same design to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography (R/V Bob and Betty Beyster) in 2019.Orca Maritime will utilize the workboat

N-Sea Reports Sales Uptick

Subsea services firm N-Sea said increased sales in 2019 has led the Netherlands-based company to report a record year.The company said its commercial growth from bases in Aberdeen, the Netherlands and the Middle East has been spurred by the completion of more than 1,500 vessel days throughout the year, reinforced by an increase in personnel numbers.In the North Sea, the firm continued ongoing work through long-term frame agreements for several major oil and gas international operators and the securing of contract wins with three new clients. Managed and supported by N-Sea’s inspection, repair

Geoscience Packages Reveal APAC Prospectivity

French-based geophysical services company CGG reports it has completed JumpStart multi-client geoscience packages for the North West Shelf (NWS) of Australia and the Banda Arc in the Asia-Pacific region, and made both packages available to help enhance understanding of the prospectivity and assess new plays within the two high-potential regions.Mobilizing the full suite of CGG's geoscience capabilities to accelerate and support exploration efforts, the packages integrate all available data in a specific geographical area and frame it within a geological context.The NWS JumpStart package encompasses

Arctic Rays Releases Mako 4K

Arctic Rays, LLC has released Mako for use on multiple platforms, including ROVs, HOVs, ASVs, landers and fixed platforms.  Mako has an on-board real-time clock with scheduler, which can be programmed in advance and allowed to run independently off of its internal battery or external power.  The internal scheduler can also be used to synchronize and control any of Arctic Rays’ Dragonfish series lights.  Scheduling, adjustments to camera settings, and downloading of video can be done via the standard MCBH connector, or via Wi-Fi. Recharging the battery is also accomplished through

Japanese Trio Orders Wind Turbine Installer

and off the Coast of Choshi in Chiba Prefecture, respectively.And they both have solid track record and technological expertise related to planning, designing and construction of bottom-fixed offshore wind power generation facilities. Yorigami Maritime Construction Co., Ltd. has extensive experience in marine civil engineering works including offshore crane operations.In particular, Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. owns the first Japanese multipurpose SEP, “CP-8001”, equipped with an 800t lifting capacity crane and has been accumulating shipbuilding prowess on the construction of SEP, as

Robotic Hull Cleaning Advances in Dutch Ports

Recent acceptance to operate in Rotterdam and proof of sustainability claims after more than 500 hull cleaning operations help propel ECOsubsea, the robotic hull cleaning system.The Dutch national regulatory body Rijkswaterstaat gave the Norwegian company the green light to start offering hull cleaning services to vessels at all Dutch Ports including Europe’s biggest port, the Port of Rotterdam, a move that is helping the firm solidify its position in Europe following similar permissions in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Southampton.“Ports want evidence that our system works,” said

CGG Announces Largest Ever Seabed Survey

French geoscience company CGG said it will perform its largest seabed survey to date in the UK Central North Sea.Prefunded in part by BP, the multi-client ocean-bottom node (OBN) seismic survey has already received significant industry interest, CGG said. Operations are scheduled to begin in early 2020, with first results targeted for the first quarter of 2021. CGG said it aims to acquire over 2,000 square kilometers of OBN data in the first phase of this multi-year program."In the Central North Sea, where complex salt diapirism has created significant challenges to imaging deeper reservoir

Swire Seabed Shuttered

Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) announced that it will be closing its wholly owned subsea services subsidiary, Swire Seabed AS and its three associated companies as oilfield services firms continue to feel the effects of the pronged industry downturn.“It is an extremely difficult decision to close Swire Seabed’s operations in Bergen, but the ongoing state of the market makes this restructuring of our subsea operations necessary,” SPO’s Managing Director, Peter Langslow, said in a statement. “Over the years, the Swire Seabed team has had a number of significant achievements

ABS Calls for New Tech in Marine Fuels

ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki, mapped out the future of marine fuels, indicating that the 2050 targets will require technology beyond today’s state-of-the-art.“Technology advances of the next decade may entirely change our view of the future, but based on what we see today we can identify three developmental pathways for future fuels distinguished by the onboard technologies they require. These are: the LNG or light gas pathway, the bio/synthetic pathway and the alcohol and heavy gas pathway,” he said.“Within each of these pathways are many variables

Cougar XT Chosen for Africa Subsea Ops

In a bid to boost its offshore deep water operations, RusselSmith, a Nigeria-based oilfield services provider, has chosen Saab Seaeye’s Cougar XT electric underwater robotic vehicle to boost its ROV fleet.“The Cougar is an ideal choice,” says RusselSmith CEO, Kayode Adeleke. “It is a powerful, highly maneuverable and capable ROV and we believe it will add a lot of value to our subsea operations.”RusselSmith sees the Cougar meeting its current and projected subsea undertakings which include inspection, repairs, maintenance, light construction work and drill support.For them

Complete Oil Spill Monitoring Solutions for Vulnerable Areas

Global environmental monitoring experts Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) produce oil spill monitoring solutions for remote areas for both aquatic and terrestrial applications where there is a concern over the potential for exposure to hydrocarbons.OSIL build and install systems including oil spill monitoring buoys that are capable of detecting and monitoring surface sheens, oil in water monitoring buoys that can identify and quantify crude oil and refined fuels present in the water column using submersible sensors, and land-based non-contact oil spill detection systems. These structures can

Aker Solutions Eyes Low Carbon Tech

Aker Solutions aims to adjust its portfolio of products and technologies to include more renewable energy and low-carbon technologies over the next decade, Norway's largest oilfield services firm said on Wednesday.While oil and gas will remain its biggest market, the company said it will aim to generate about half of its revenue from renewable energy and low carbon solutions, including 20% from renewables and 25% from technologies that either generate renewable energy or removes or substantially reduces CO2 emissions by 2030."The world will continue to see rising energy demand and the challenge