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
ROVOP Opens Rotterdam Office
Subsea robotics specialist ROVOP announced Tuesday it has opened a new office in Rotterdam to support to mainland Europe based clients and further strengthen the company's position in the market.The newly appointed Business Development Manager in the Rotterdam office, Job Biersteker, has been active in the subsea industry for nearly a decade and has held various positions including remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) technician, project engineer and project manager.Biersteker said the new base is located at the quayside and features on-site system storage and maintenance facilities and will
12-meter Ship Aims to Be First to Cross Atlantic Without a Crew
Final preparations are underway for a 12-meter-long ship to set sail from Canada and attempt the world's first transatlantic crossing without a crew.The USV Maxlimer, an unmanned surface vessel, is bound for the south coast of England and will conduct deep sea surveys on the way, guided by a skipper in a control station in Britain.The voyage is expected to take about 35 days.The ship was built by Sea-Kit International, which develops vessels for the maritime and research industries, for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, a competition to autonomously survey the sea bed.It can launch and recover
NKT to Supply Shore Power Cables for Equinor
NKT has been awarded the turnkey project from Equinor for the 132 kV high-voltage cable connecting the oil and gas platforms Johan Sverdrup 2 and Gina Krog.Equinor has selected NKT as the turnkey supplier for the high-voltage cable project connecting the Norwegian offshore platforms in the North Sea. The order has a value of approximately €29 million in market prices (approximately €25 million in std. metal prices) and comprises supply and installation of 62 kilometers of a 132 kV AC XLPE high-voltage power cable solution.Connecting the platforms allows Equinor to power Gina Krog from shore
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,
MarineNav ROVs for Marine Inspections
MarineNav, located in Montague, Prince Edward Island, Canada, has been showcasing its latest technologies and equipment serving defense, aquaculture, law enforcement and first responder needs in marine operations. The company’s offerings include marine-grade navigation components such as computers and displays; advanced vessel monitoring (AVM) and fleet management systems; and customizable industrial underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).Interchangeable ROV componentsFor its ROVs, MarineNav has developed units that are designed to enable quick and easy exchange of interchangeable modular
UMass Dartmouth to Host Renewable Energy Conference
Entrepreneurship to host renewable energy conference on May 23. Massachusetts Clean Energy Center-sponsored event will bring together experts in offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy.On May 23, at 10 a.m., the UMass Dartmouth Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting the second Annual Marine Renewable Energy Conference entitled Pioneering Ocean Energy Innovation in New England: Wind and Water at 151 Martine Street in Fall River.The event, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, will gather experts in offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy from government, utility, and stakeholde
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
Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 Plan Approved
Norwegian authorities have formally approved the plan for development and operation (PDO) of the second phase of the Johan Sverdrup field, Equinor announced on Wednesday. The Norwegian energy company said the NOK 41 billion ($4.7 billion) project received broad support in Norway’s parliament at the end of April, and today the partnership received the formal approval by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE).“This is a big day for Equinor and the other Johan Sverdrup partners comprising Lundin Norway, Petoro, Aker BP and Total,” said Anders Opedal, executive vice
Vattenfall Starts Hollandse Kust Zuid
Development of the first unsubsidized offshore wind farm is well underway off the Dutch coast after bouts of bad weather delayed the project earlier this year, said Swedish power company Vattenfall.The European energy company is building the 750-megawatt Hollandse Kust Zuid 1 & 2 wind farm off the coast of The Hague and Noordwijk. Vattenfall said it expects the wind farm will begin generating electricity by the end of 2022, ultimately supplying power to up to 1.5 million households.Dozens of researchers at the North Sea will be working day and night through the summer to learn as much as possible
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
BHGE Wins Subsea Award from Beach Energy
Beach Energy has awarded Baker Hughes, a GE company, a contract to supply subsea production systems for its Victorian Otway Basin brownfield development project located in offshore Victoria, Australia.The Otway Basin is approximately 500 kilometers long from Cape Jaffa in South Australia to northwest Tasmania, covering both onshore and offshore.BHGE said its contract was awarded in the first quarter of 2019 and includes medium water horizontal Xmas trees and associated subsea control Semstar5 systems, in addition to wellheads.With this project, BHGE aims to demonstrate the benefits of Subsea Connect
Sonardyne Equips Latest Oceaneering Vehicles
Sonardyne announced Tuesday it has received an order from Oceaneering International to provide hybrid navigation systems for its subsea resident vehicles Freedom and E-ROV. The two resident vehicle systems are to be fitted with Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav an all-in-one navigational instrument. SPRINT-Nav combines a SPRINT INS sensor, Syrinx 600 kHz DVL (Doppler velocity log) and a high accuracy intelligent pressure sensor in a single unit, Sonardyne said.Oceaneering’s E-ROV has already proven the ability for battery powered remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) working in the oil and gas
Modus Acquires Second Sabertooth HAUV
UK-based underwater vehicle services company Modus Seabed Intervention has agreed with Saab Seaeye to buy its second Sabertooth hybrid autonomous underwater vehicle (HAUV).The 3,000-meter rated Sabertooth will be equipped with extended autonomous endurance and increased thrust for high speed survey and ready for the integration of advanced and high-resolution sensors for different types of applications and operations.Modus has been increasing the capability of its HAUV fleet and, following trials in 2017, its existing HAUV was ready for commercial operations in 2018. Trials included launching the HAUV
UK Govt Backs Aberdeen Subsea Engineering Hub
The UK government said it will back industry plans for a multimillion pound underwater engineering hub in Aberdeen.The planned Global Underwater Engineering Hub will bring together underwater technologies from both industry and academia from up and down the country to build on UK expertise in subsea robotics, remotely-operated underwater vehicles and maritime support vessels.The hub is also intended to help the country’s oil and gas sector diversify and support the UK’s transition away from fossil fuels toward renewables, the government said in an announcement of Friday.Prime Minister
SubConn Expands Its Production Facility
Connectors manufacturer SubConn has grown its production capacity in the US, with first connectors expected to come out of its new facility by October 2019.The company has invested in a 2,300-square-meter new location that combined with its existing 2,500-square-meter space to nearly double its existing production facilities.With new premises and investments in production equipment and staff recruitment, SubConn now has the infrastructure to meet current demand and supply future growth, according to major shareholder the MacArtney Group.MacArtney and SubConn share a long history after a handshake
Efficient Wave-Generated Power … Really!
system and as added power source, energy storage, and wave damping units co-located with existing or future offshore wind farms.Meet the “Old New” CompanyA driving force behind the new performance projections for Wave Energy Converters (WECs) is Martin & Ottaway, a New Jersey-based marine engineering firm that has been in continuous operation since 1875 which incubated SurfWEC LLC in December of 2018. SurfWEC, with university and industry partners -- Stevens Institute of Technology, ABB, Airline Hydraulics, Bosch-Rexroth, Deeptek, HYDAC, ISCO Pipe, Wire Co./Lankhorst Ropes, and others
Aker Solutions Raises 2019 Forecasts
Norway's Aker Solutions ASA raised its 2019 revenue outlook on expected higher spending on the offshore oil services and reported better than expected first-quarter profits, lifting its shares on Tuesday.The upbeat sentiment on oilfield spending is a result of record cashflows accumulated by oil companies on the back of cost-saving measures instigated since the 2014 oil slump and rising crude prices as the market has recovered.Oslo-listed Aker now expects revenue to rise by close to 10 percent in 2019, citing a strong order intake and continued high tendering activity, with its underlying core
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
Subsea Monitoring Equipment Put to the Test
Equipment that will be used to monitor the interaction between tidal turbines and marine mammals in the Pentland Firth has been put to the test in Aberdeen.The linear actuators that underwent hydrostatic testing at the Balmoral Subsea Test Center form part of a marine mammal monitoring station anchored to the sea floor. Utilizing both passive- and active-acoustic tracking techniques, the station will collect data on the underwater movements of marine mammals around operating tidal turbines.Data will be used by the tidal energy industry and regulatory authorities to make informed decisions about marine
Valeport Launches New Environmental Range
Valeport has launched a new Enviromental range of optical sensors.Hyperion Turbidity – A standalone turbidity sensor with such a small footprint to combine Nephelometer and OBS readings in the same instrument. Created for inshore, coastal and oceanographic monitoring, this new sensor delivers a minimum detection level of just 0.03 NTU (nephelometer) and can measure turbidity up to 6,000 NTU (OBS). The titanium housing, data output up to 16Hz and low power requirements ensures this sensor can be placed in situ for extended periods with easy access to highly accurate data.SWiFTplus
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
ASL's 2019 Early Career Scientist Contest
, post-doctoral fellows and others involved in oceanographic or freshwater work.With the unmatched combination of multiple frequency operation with low power and extended endurance, the ASL Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) offers a new, economical way of obtaining reliable measurements of marine environmental conditions in the water column. The AZFP can monitor the presence and abundance of zooplankton and fish within the water column by measuring the acoustic backscatter returns at multiple ultrasonic frequencies. Other sonar targets realized from the sonar backscatter data include bubbles
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
Vattenfall Taps Seaway 7 for HKZ Installs
Swedish power company Vattenfall has tapped Seaway 7 for installation work at the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) 1 & 2 offshore wind farm development offshore the Netherlands.Seaway 7, a subsidiary of Subsea 7, will perform a work scope including transport and installation of 76 monopile foundations and the laying of the inter-array cables, all led from Seaway 7’s main office in the Netherlands.The HKZ 1 & 2 wind farm is being developed by Vattenfall as the first subsidy-free wind farm in the Netherlands and is located approximately 30 km from the coast in the North Sea. Once fully operational
Offshore wind: The making of a (supply chain) star
and power are said to be “laid” when they could be better “distributed.”To “catapult” a new wind supply chain into the fore, Norway is inviting supply chain hopefuls from around the world to an incubator program aimed at making offshore — and especially floating marine wind installations — as efficient as surface and subsea operations in offshore oil and gas. The Norwegian start-up program features The Sustainable Energy Test Center at Bomlo near coastal city Haugesund, where Equinor has left in place a floating offshore HyWind turbine so suppliers
Falcon Helps Endangered Rockfish
in Washington’s Puget Sound were being fished to levels that threatened extinction.Now scientists at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are undertaking an important conservation study into the threatened rockfish species using a Saab Seaeye Falcon underwater robotic vehicle.Senior Marine Fish Research Scientist, Dr. Dayv Lowry, explains that managing the conservation and recovery of rockfish populations in Washington’s Puget Sound, depends on the accurate monitoring of rockfish populations, depleted through overfishing and ecological degradation.“Of the tools we&rsquo
Hydramec Delivers ROV LARS to NZ Navy
Hydramec Offshore has completed the supply, integration and operational testing of a fully active heave compensated (AHC) launch and Recovery system (LARS) for a Saab Seaeye Cougar XT remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to the New Zealand Navy.The New Zealand Navy having acquired Ostensjo’s EDDA FONN multipurpose vessel for conversion to a diving support vessel required an ROV to assist with Diving support and other operations.Ostensjo’s chose the Saab Seaeye Cougar XT ROV as it fulfilled all the requirements the NZ Navy were looking for.The Supply Brief for the LARS system was very
Subsea Power Hub Tested in Aberdeen
Subsea energy storage and power generation specialists EC-OG said it has demonstrated the capabilities of its Subsea Power Hub (SPH) for powering subsea production equipment using battery power alone, during a recent workshop test program in Aberdeen.During the trials, supported by the Oil & Gas Technology Center (OGTC) and a North Sea operator, the SPH was used to power a commercial Subsea Control Module (SCM) and local power distribution system. By operating the SCM using lithium ion battery technology, located within EC-OG’s proprietary Energy Storage and Intelligent Energy Management
Contract award for OOSV
Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) has awarded BCS Automation Ltd. (BCS) a contract for work on the Government of Canada’s new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV).BCS has been in operation for 30 years and specializes in automated systems for the marine, offshore and cement industries. BCS represents one of almost 80 Ontario suppliers to date that Seaspan is working with to meet its commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).BCS will supply a ship control and monitoring system for the OOSV. The system is designed to provide ship personnel with all the basic alarms and status
Kongsberg Introduces GeoPulse USV
Kongsberg Maritime is launching the GeoPulse USV at Ocean Business 2019 in Southampton today. A flexible new Unmanned Surface Vehicle featuring GeoPulse Compact, Kongsberg’s newest cost-effective and lightweight sub-bottom profiler, GeoPulse USV can map environments beyond the limits of conventional platforms, fully autonomously or remote-controlled up to a range of 2km.The GeoPulse USV’s electric motors provide six hours’ endurance at a survey speed of six knots, with a conveniently interchangeable battery pack. Its compact form factor and class-leading agility enables coverage
MacArtney Unveils New Connectors
the globe.The TrustLink (MS) series includes cutting-edge power and signal connectivity solutions for critical subsea and offshore applications. The TrustLink MS series is manufactured from stainless steel and comes in three shell sizes compatible with industry standards. Suitable for the harshest of marine environments due to their rugged reliability and high-density these compact modular designed connectors are easy to use and designed to fit where limited space is a factor, the manufacturer said.TrustLink MS connectors are available in several configurations and can range from 4 – 37 electrical
DOF Subsea Orders Three Forum ROVS
Forum Subsea Technologies announced Tuesday it has secured orders from DOF Subsea to supply three of its Ultra Compact Perry XLX-C work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROV). DOF Subsea will deploy the vehicles onto three of its ROV support vessels for recently awarded projects in Brazil.The systems will be manufactured at Forum’s UK facility at Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire and delivered in the first quarter of this year.The compact 2,000m rated 150HP XLX-C vehicles, which are coupled with compact Dynacon LARS designs, are the first of their kind to be delivered to the market. Forum has engineered
TechnipFMC Wins Subsea Contract off Brazil
TechnipFMC said on Tuesday it has secured a contract to supply flexible pipes for oil production, gas lift and gas injection as well as associated accessories for the Lapa field, located in the pre-salt Santos Basin, under the BM-S-9A concession, at 2,150 meters of water depth offshore Brazil.The field will be connected to the floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) Cidade de Caraguatatuba, already in operation.The deal was awarded by Total E&P do Brasil Ltda., on behalf of the Lapa Field Consortium, comprised of Total (35%), Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda. (30%), Repsol Sinopec
Hydro Group Secures Japanese Partner
International underwater connectivity manufacturer Hydro Group announced Monday it has established a new partnership with Japanese electrical and optical products company Riken Dengu Seizo Co., Ltd.The Tokyo-headquartered firm will be the official distributor and business partner for Hydro Group’s subsea connectivity product range, including subsea electrical/optical cables and connection assemblies, in the Japanese market.Riken Dengu Seizo specializes in the sale of electrical and optical fiber cables and connectors, and also supplies electronic subsystems and componentry for the defense and
Japan Group Buys Stake in Taiwan Offshore Wind
A group of Japanese investors - JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy, Sojitz Corp and other Japanese firms - have joined German wind farm developer Wpd in the 640MW Yunlin offshore wind project off Taiwan.The Japanese group will take a 27% stake in in Taiwan's Yunneng Wind Power for an undisclosed sum, said a joint press release. By December 2021, Yunneng plans to construct a 640MW wind farm offshore of Yunlin County and sell power to Taiwan Power Company over a 20-year period, using a feed-in tariff scheme under Taiwan’s Renewable Energy Development Act.The project supports Taiwan’
EDS Scores 15-year O&M Contract
High voltage engineering specialist EDS HV Group, part of the UK marine services company James Fisher and Sons, announced Friday it has secured a 15-year operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for OFTO assets at the Greater Gabbard wind farm off the coast of England. The contract has been awarded by Equitix Investment Management which own the concession and who will rely on EDS to help maximize the availability of the high voltage network.EDS said its team of engineers and technicians will provide a full turnkey solution for two offshore platforms, the onshore substation and grid connection at
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
Wesmar Equips National Geographic Endurance
by Wesmar’s M-18 hoist. A small self-contained hydraulic unit powers the hoist.“Lindblad has a very strong name in the cruise ship industry, and is a leader in the expedition cruise category, so we are honored by this repeat business,” noted Roger Fellows, President and Owner of Western Marine Electronics (Wesmar). “The meteoric rise of the cruise ship industry has clearly caught our attention, and we look forward to having another Lindblad vessel with Wesmar aboard.”Vessel construction is well underway, and Wesmar’s sonar is slated to be installed in April 2019. National
Subsea Cables Installed for NASR Phase 2
Jan De Nul Group said it has completed the cable installation scope for the Phase II Full Field Development of the NASR offshore oil field approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Abu Dhabi.The dutch services company said it was subcontracted by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries for the cable loading, transport, laying and protection of three 132-kilovolt subsea power cables (total length 147 kilometers) and 10 11-kilovolt subsea power cables (total length 57 kilometers) for the NASR oil field project, part of the ADNOC strategic development program to increase the field’s capacity to
DNV GL To Perform Hywind Tampen Study
DNV GL said on Monday it is working with Equinor to undertake a third-party verification study of the Norwegian Hywind Tampen floating wind farm, expected to be the world’s first offshore wind farm powering oil platforms.Situated in the North Sea approximately 200 kilometers west of Florø, Norway, north of Gulfaks and south of Snorre, the Hywind Tampen project will consist of 11 8 MW turbines capable of meeting 35% of the annual power demand of the two oil fields, including the the five Snorre A and B, and Gullfaks A, B and C platforms. The introduction of floating offshore wind could cut
Ocean Geo-Frontier Tallies Survey Contract
to meet an expected demand increase for offshore surveys after Japan’s Cabinet Office approved the Third Basic Plan on Ocean Policy for the development of domestic resources, including oil and gas, in the seas around Japan.The company, jointly owned by Japanes shipping company NYK (45%), Norwegian Marine surveyor PGS Geophysical (34%) and Japanese conglomerate Hitachi (21%), submit its tender to JOGMEC in February 2018.OGF will use JOGMEC’s seismic vessel for a range of activities, including basic geophysical surveys (for domestic petroleum and natural gas), vessel operation and management
Eni Pilots Wave Energy Converter
Italian multinational oil and gas company Eni has activated the Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter (ISWEC), offshore Ravenna, capable of converting energy generated by waves into electricity, which will in the future enable Eni to convert mature offshore platforms into renewable energy generation hubs.The pilot plant was installed at the Ravenna offshore site by Eni’s Central Northern District and has been integrated into a hybrid smart grid system featuring photovoltaics and energy storage.It reached a peak power output of over 51 kW, or 103% of its nominal power. This technology is suitable
Mainstay to Build Wave Energy Device
Welsh workboat builders and marine engineers Mainstay Marine Solutions said it has won a contract to build and assemble the main structure for an Australian wave energy developer’s demonstration device.Measuring 75m long, 17.5m wide and 5m high, Bombora’s 1.5MW mWave wave energy converting device harnesses the potential of marine energy in the form of pressure on the seafloor. mWave features a series of membranes which rests beneath the ocean’s surface on the seafloor, and as waves pass over the device, air inside the membranes is pushed into a duct and through a turbine to generate
Aleron Acquires IMPAQ
Aberdeenshire-based subsea firm Aleron Group said it has acquired electrical drive engineering specialist IMPAQ as part of a plan to expand beyond offshore oil and gas into new markets including military, defense and nuclear industries.“This acquisition signals our intent to expand upon our reputation for supplying reliable, robust subsea support equipment, and grow the business in new global markets,” said Aleron Group Commercial Director, Gary McConnell. IMPAQ-Technologies has already opened us up to a new area – the academia sector – and we will be targeting the defense
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
C-Automation Buys Proserv Drilling Services
Aberdeen-headquartered controls technology company Proserv has agreed to sell its drilling services business (TIC) to pressure control systems specialist C-Automation.The divested business will now trade as C-Automation Services, said a press release. The financial terms of the deal are undisclosed.As a part of the sale agreement, Proserv and C-Automation will work in partnership to offer shared products and services. Proserv will supply its drilling controls products, including its Gilmore branded valves and field-testing equipment, while C-Automation will provide welding, electrical, piping, flushing
Penguin Wave Energy Converter Sinks
After a long deployment on March 22, the Penguin wave energy converter (WEC) prototype sank at EMEC Billia Croo test site, off the west coast of Orkney. This marks the end of first devices test period in the EU funded (CEFOW-project), which will continue with the new devices.The prototype was launched in 2010 and had been deployed four times altogether. During the testing period the device fulfilled expectations and accomplished what the prototype was built for, having survived waves of over 18 meters, proving technology, mooring construction, cable connection, control software and power take off
Jan De Nul Wins TenneT Contract
Jan De Nul Group said it has been awarded a framework agreement for repairs of TenneT’s offshore high-voltage cables in the German Bight.The Dutch firm has been appointed by TenneT to mobilize in the event of high-voltage cable system faults or failures within the contractual period, to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity in the operator’s high-voltage grid. The contract covers a period of 24 months, with two optional extensions of 12 months each.The scope entails repairs of all TenneT’s existing HVAC cable systems connecting individual wind farms to the offshore
iXblue Expanding in Australia
Navigation, positioning and imaging firm iXblue said it is expanding its local capabilities in Australia. In 2019, it will focus on developing the company’s local expertise in Inertial Navigation Systems for both defense and civil markets.“We have been present in Australia for over 10 years with a dedicated Brisbane-based team of highly qualified engineers, hydrographers, geophysicists, program managers and equipment sales staff,” said Fabien Napolitano, CEO of iXblue. “Australia being a key market for iXblue, it was only natural for us to expand our capabilities in the region.
MacArtney Equips North Sea Cable Layer
the ASN Ile de Class cable laying vessel will facilitate the laying of seismic cables on the seabed of the Johan Castberg oilfield in the Barents Sea for Equinor’s new permanent reservoir monitoring system.MacArtney’s MERMAC R40 active heave compensated (AHC) winch purchased by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), part of the Nokia Corporation, will be utilized aboard the vessel in the laying of seismic cabling and sensors that will be permanently deployed on the Barents’ seabed to enable more frequent and improved 4D seismic interpretation of the subsurface.The AHC works to reduce the
The Decommissioning, Marine Life Connection
Data sharing and better understanding of how marine life interacts with manmade structures is the target for the next phase of the Insite program.What to do with offshore structures is a sticky problem for oil companies, regulators and policy makers alike, as many structures are starting to cease production in the North Sea, where some fields have been producing oil and gas since the early 1970s.Regulations, which include the OSPAR (Oslo Paris convention) state that a clear seabed should be left behind, once production has ceased, with some exceptions (platforms over a certain age and weight). But
MeeMaken Buys Into Blue Offshore
Venture capital company MeeMaken BV has acquired a majority stake in Dutch carousel and tensioner manufacturer Blue Offshore Group. Blue Offshore’s management team will maintain ownership of a minority of the company’s shares.Blue Offshore, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, supplies basket carousels and tensioners for the offshore installation, transportation and storage of export cables, array cables, umbilicals and flexible pipelines in the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as the offshore renewable energy sector.MeeMaken, which has a large global network and a portfolio
NKT Names Kara CEO
Cable systems manufacturer NKT said its board of directors has appointed Alexander Kara as President and CEO. He will join NKT August 1, 2019.Kara joins NKT from ABB where was most recently Senior Vice President, HUB Business Unit Manager CSE, High Voltage Products with responsibility for all ABB high-voltage product plants and markets in Central and Southern Europe. Prior to that, he has held several key positions at ABB from 1987. From 2012 to 2014, he was head of ABB’s global power cables business in Karlskrona, Sweden, now owned by NKT.When Kara joins NKT, he and CFO Roland M. Andersen will
Martin Linge Hooked Up to Shore Power
emissions annually once the field comes on stream in the first quarter of 2020. Using shore power will also help to reduce maintenance, noise and vibration on the platform.NKT said it specially designed, engineered, manufactured and installed the cable order comprising the 145 kV three-core XLPE HVAC submarine cable including fiber optic links with a 55 MW capacity. Furthermore, a 3.5 km long, 17.5 kV infield cable was installed - including 500 meters of dynamic cable. The dynamic cable that connects the platform to a floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO) anchored outside the platform, was intensely
TechnipFMC Wins Johan Sverdrup 2 Contract
TechnipFMC said on Wednesday it has secured a contract from Norwegian operator Equinor for the delivery and installation of the subsea production system the at Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 development offshore Norway.The award covers the delivery and installation of the subsea production system including integrated template structures, manifolds, tie-in and controls equipment. Equinor said the production system consists of five templates and a total of 18 X-mas trees with associated components.TechnipFMC did not specify an exact dollar amount, but said the contract is worth between $75 million and $250
NRG Systems and ZX Lidars Partner
NRG Systems, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of smart technologies for a range of wind, solar, and meteorological applications, has announced that it will now sell and support ZX Lidars in North America. This will include the ZX 300 for onshore vertical profiling applications and the ZX 300M for near-shore or platform-based offshore applications. Both models capture finance-grade wind measurements from 10 to 200+ meters and are fully IEC classified and accepted by DNV GL as Stage 3 Bankable Lidars.To support the sale of ZX 300 and ZX 300M units, NRG will also offer custom power solutions
Prysmian to Supply Cables for French Floating Wind Farm
Cable systems manufacturer Prysmian Group said on Tuesday it has been awarded a contract worth approximately €30 million to develop of a turnkey submarine cable system for EDF Renewables' Provence Grand Large (PGL) floating offshore wind farm project in South France.The system will includes 3 km of submarine dynamic inter-array cables and 19 km of export cables for a total of 22 km, in addition to the land cables for a route of 9 km, Prysmian said. The 25 MW floating wind farm will include three Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW wind turbines installed on float systems in the so-called Faraman zone
Ørsted Joins Dutch Offshore Wind Tender
Danish wind giant Ørsted has submitted a bid for the 750MW Hollandse Kust Zuid lll and lV offshore wind zones in the Dutch North Sea.As part of its proposal to the Dutch government, Ørsted has already taken the final investment decision on the project and is working to establish green hydrogen projects based on power from its Dutch offshore wind farms.Henrik Poulsen, CEO and President of Ørsted, says: "We're strongly committed to the Netherlands, and we believe that our bid for Holland Coast South 3&4 offers significant benefits for the Dutch society in terms of clean
