Schlumberger Sees International Growth in 2019
Schlumberger NV on Friday reported quarterly revenue that topped estimates and forecast single-digit growth in international markets this year even as crude prices have tumbled roughly 30 percent since October.With the drop in oil prices many producers were evaluating spending budgets for 2019, stoking concerns that a slowdown in activity would hurt oilfield service companies that have struggled to boost prices since the 2014 downturn.Schlumberger, a bellwether for the oilfield services sector, said recent volatility in crude prices has led to more uncertainty in the spending outlook for oil and gas
EdgeTech Delivers ERB for Deewater Acoustic Release Mooring Recovery
EdgeTech, a provider of high resolution sonar imaging systems, acoustic release systems and underwater technology, said it recently delivered an innovative solution for deepwater acoustic release mooring recovery.The Emergency Recovery Beacon (ERB) is a self-contained, programable acoustic command transmitter and transponder in a 6,000 meter rated nickel aluminium bronze alloy housing that can be lowered from the side of a vessel below any surface noise, shipboard noise or thermoclines.The ERB is programmed through a serial port using a computer running a terminal program and can transmit EdgeTech LF
Swire Seabed Orders a HUGIN AUV
, magnetometer and turbidity sensor.The vehicle will also make use of Kongsberg’s automatic pipeline tracking solution, which utilizes the SAS or multibeam echo sounder to track alongside or above a pipeline, to conduct survey and inspection tasks.Atle Gran, Kongsberg Maritime Area Sales Manager for Marine Robotics, said, “This HUGIN has a wide array of sensors and capabilities making it suitable for many different types of commercial applications including pipeline inspection, geophysical survey and hydrography.”Flexible and self-contained, the AUV will measure approximately 5.2 meters
Gardline Names Vermeijden CEO
Marine survey company Gardline has appointed Christiaan Vermeijden as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Vermeijden will replace Gardline's current interim CEO, Gerben Eggink.Vermeijden joins the U.K. based Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. subsidiary after leaving his position as CEO at Norway-based Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS). Prior to his role with EMGS, he was part of the Executive Management Team and Global Offshore Geotechnical Director at Fugro N.V.He holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Physical Geography from the University of Amsterdam and a Master of Business
iXblue Partners with Forssea
iXblue, a designer and manufacturer of advanced navigation, imagery and subsea positioning solutions, said it has joined forces with Forssea, a robotics startup that develops autonomous docking underwater technologies, to bring more agile and cost-effective subsea operations.Combining Forssea’s Atoll, an observation-class remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) that offers autonomous docking capabilities, with iXblue’s DriX offshore going unmanned surface vessel (USV) and its Gaps ultra-short baseline (USBL) embedded gondola, both companies are now offering a new method of long baseline
Oil Spill Cleanup Device Tailored for the Arctic
A new oil spill response device capable of cleaning up spills in arctic conditions has been launched in an effort to bolster Norway’s spill preparedness.The new device, dubbed Arctic FoxTail, is a winterized version of H. Henriksen’s standard Foxtail vertical adhesion band (VAB) skimmer, which filters out oil spills from the seawater using its sorbent mops. The system is capable of salvaging large quantities of oil after a spill, without much unnecessary water.Tonsberg-based H. Henriksen began to develop the arctic ready system through the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating
OSIL Unveils Microplastics Sampler
Oceanic microplastic pollution is a growing concern across the globe as new and existing marine litter continues to degrade and fragment through physical and chemical processes.Global environmental monitoring experts Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) has developed a new Microplastics Sampler for the collection of water samples for the analysis of plastic particles smaller than 5 mm including fragments, films, pellets/nurdles, granules/beads, filaments and foams.The unique device is a large volume water sampler that allows researchers to collect and characterize suspended and sinking particles
Aqueos Supports South Texas-Tuxpan Gas Pipeline
Aqueos Corporation said it has completed a major diving scope for the installation and commissioning of the South Texas-Tuxpan Gas Pipeline. The South Texas-Tuxpan Gas Pipeline is being constructed by a joint venture between TransCanada (60%) and Sempra Energy’s Mexican unit IEnova (40%), also known as Infraestructura Marina del Golfo (IMG). The $3.1 billion project is being sponsored by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) of Mexico.Carrying U.S. natural gas to Mexico from west Texas, this 42-in. pipeline is ~800km in length and runs offshore from Brownsville, Texas to a shore-end
Schlumberger Bags Equinor Contract for Subsea Boosting System
Norwegian oil and gas firm Equinor has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to OneSubsea, a Schlumberger company.The contract is for the supply of the industry’s first all-electric actuated subsea boosting system for the Vigdis Field in the Norwegian North Sea.The scope of the contract includes a pump station, with a manifold foundation and protective structure; and a pump module, topside equipment, umbilical, and all-electric controls with electric actuation.“We are delighted to be working with Equinor on the successful long-term development of the Vigdis
NATO Uses IoT to Study the Oceans
of Oldenburg’s work monitoring plastic debris in the North Sea and Spain’s coastal authority, Salvamento Maritimo, using SPOT Trace to devise oil spill disaster recovery procedures. The National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics and the “Istituto di Scienze Marine” of the Italian National Research Council use SPOT Trace to study surface currents in the Mediterranean and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science has used large quantities of SPOT Trace satellite trackers also for oceanographic and oil spill research
Seatools Unveils New Deepwater Excavator
Subsea technology company Seatools has introduced the Carrera E 3D motion-controlled precision flow excavation spread. The 630+ kW, all-electric deepwater excavator features Seatools’ advanced ROV DP technology and sets the stage for better accuracy, production and workability in the mass flow excavation (MFE).Seatools developed the Carrera E mass flow excavation spread leveraging its capabilities in heave compensation and ROV control technologies. The patent-pending spread features 3D motion control, which enables precision excavation operations at a minimum of seabed disturbance. Thanks to the
Vigdis Gets a Boost
company’s plant at Horsøy near Bergen. OneSubsea will use several subcontractors, including Framo Flatøy fabricating the pump and Luster Mekaniske Industri fabricating piping.“A contract for the work to be performed on the Snorre A and B platforms will be awarded later, whereas marine operations will be performed under Equinor’s framework contracts,” Rød said.Jez Averty, Equinor’s senior vice president for Operations South, said Equinor has continuously developed the Vigdis field through several phases of further development. When the field came on
Vestdavit to Equip Nexans Cable Layer
Bergen-based Vestdavit said has secured a contract to equip the Nexans flag ship cable layer Nexans Aurora with its MissionEase multi-boat handling system for mission bays.The cable laying vessel (CLV) has been designed by Skipsteknisk in Ålesund and will be constructed by Norwegian yard Ulstein Verft. At 149.9m in length, 31m width and with capacity to accommodate 90 personnel, she will perform power cable laying, cable system protection and trenching, and be capable of high maneuverability and DP3 station-keeping capabilities.Rather than using overhead cranes within the mission bay, MissionEase
ROV Innovation Saves Millions for Woodside
An innovative use of remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) technology for subsea jacket inspections at Australia’s largest oil and gas development has demonstrated substantial cost reductions and operational improvements.In March this year Fugro began a nine-month inspection campaign of Woodside’s offshore facilities on the Australian North West Shelf. Fugro said its novel platform deployed ROV (PDROV) for subsea jacket inspections was able to help Woodside reduce costs by around AUD 10 million per inspection cycle.“Very early in the project we identified an alternative to
Thailand Raises Shipwreck That Killed 47 Tourists
Thailand on Saturday raised the shipwreck that killed 47 Chinese tourists in July, part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of the boat capsizing, officials said."The Phoenix is an important piece of evidence to determine the cause of the accident," Tourist Police Bureau Deputy Chief, Major General Surachate Hakparn, told reporters."When the case is final, it will be able to restore Chinese tourist confidence," he said separately in a statement.The Phoenix went down in high seas in July off Thailand's west-coast island of Phuket with 101 people on board, made up of 12
Subsea ‘Smart Standardization’
Enpro Subsea & Kosmos Energy commit to subsea ‘smart standardization’ in Gulf of MexicoEnpro Subsea reached a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Kosmos Energy (formerly Deep Gulf Energy) aimed at providing enhanced subsea architecture and smart standardization via Enpro’s patented Flow Access Module (FAM) technology.FAM essentially creates an enhanced production ‘USB port’ within the jumper envelope. This enables the operator to use standard subsea Xmas Trees and Manifolds, with FAM providing life of field flexibility within the system design, delivering ‘Smart
Oil Removed from WWII Era Shipwreck
A U.S. Navy led team has removed 229,000 gallons of oil from a sunken World War II era German heavy cruiser that has been resting on the seafloor near the Marshall Islands for more than 70 years.After being transferred to the U.S. as a war prize, the cruiser Prinz Eugen was loaded with oil and cargo and used to assess survivability of warships during the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests in the Pacific. The ship survived two atomic blasts before being towed to Kwajalein Atoll, where it capsized and sunk in December 1946.Now, 72 years later, a project team led by Stephanie Bocek of the Navy's
ROVs to Investigate Lost Shipping Containers
Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) will be deployed to investigate containers lost from a cargo ship in heavy seas off Australia.The YM Efficiency, operated by Taiwan shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, was sailing from Taiwan to Sydney in early June when it lost dozens of containers overboard amid five-meter swells in the Tasman Sea, about 30 kilometers off Australia's east coast.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), citing serious potential impacts to local fishing and the environment, said it has been "extremely concerned at the lack of progress in
N-Sea Expands Its Middle East Capabilities
Inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) subsea services provider N-Sea said it has reinforced its commitment to the Middle East with expanded its service capabilities in the region.N-Sea, which opened its regional office in Dubai in 2016, said its TUP (transfer under pressure) Diving System has recently arrived in the Middle East for refurbishment and work in the regionDesigned and built in-house by N-Sea, the TUP Diving System is a mobile, surface-oriented closed bell diving system comprising a three-man bell, launch and recovery system, triple lock decompression chamber and gas diver control
Kreuz Glorious Mobilized for ONGC Project
Singapore-headquartered subsea services business Kreuz Subsea and Indian consortium partner Seamec Ltd completed the mobilization of the Kreuz Glorious vessel to commence a two-year project with India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).The scope of work includes the inspection of 27 offshore jackets in the Mumbai High North, Mumbai High South, Heera, Neelam and Bassien assets, located off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea.The construction work barge is specifically designed to work around complex jackets which are often inaccessible by more traditionally utilized DP2 diving vessels.
Tech Spotlight: JW Fisher’s CT-1 Cable Tracker
tracked is “dead,” then a signal will have to be induced into the cable. The signal injector is connected to the shore end of the target cable and, after the signal has been sent, the cable tracker probe is used to locate the electromagnetic signal along the length of the cable.Intercoastal Marine, LLC. was established in 2013 and has developed into a well-respected unlimited general contractor. Located in Castle Hayne, N.C., Intercoastal Marine began as a small commercial diving and service corporation supporting heavy construction, utility, and manufacturing industries throughout the Mid-Atlantic
Fugro Q3 Revenue Jumps
revenue on a comparable basis, driven by the expansion of offshore wind developments and a recovery in the global oil and gas market.Rising oil prices have helped Fugro by making it more economic to prospect for the hard-to-reach subsea deposits in which it specializes."In our early cyclical marine site characterisation activities we are experiencing sharp growth and improving prices, resulting in strongly improved profitability," Chief Executive Mark Heine said in a statement on Friday.Third-quarter revenue reached 434.7 million euros ($494 million). The company's backlog for the
Drafinsub Chooses Falcon ROV
Italian underwater works company Drafinsub chose the Saab Seaeye Falcon electric remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) for the wide ranging and complex tasks undertaken by the company.“We chose the Falcon because it's the industry standard for observation robotic vehicles,” said Andrea Dellacasa from Drafinsub. “It is reliable, scalable and suitable for most kind of works, from observation to non-destructive testing and survey.“Our company has more than 20 years’ experience with ROVs and we felt it was the right time to take a leap in quality, with the completion
Underwater Glider Goes Searching for North Atlantic Right Whales
gear.The 1.5-meter-long Slocum glider is a buoyancy driven underwater drone that rises and dives in the water to propel itself forward while gathering data. Onboard the vehicle, the OceanObserver system records the underwater sounds while running seven automated cetacean detectors that flag possible marine mammal calls. The glider comes to the surface every three hours to send the flagged events to shore. JASCO’s analysts review the events and send the confirmed detections to project stakeholders.“DFO’s unprecedented move this year to protect the remaining right whales is amazing
Angola’s New Fishery Research Vessel Delivered
Damen Shipyards Galati has made provisional delivery of the 74-meter fishery research vessel Baía Farta to the Angolan Ministry of Fisheries. The vessel will remain in Galati until November, when she will set sail for Angola where the final delivery will take place.With a 1,600 km Atlantic coastline, the development of the domestic fishing industry is a priority of the Angolan government and it currently employs over 100,000 people in both commercial and artisanal fishing.The Baía Farta, a Damen FRV 7417 type vessel ordered in July 2016 and officially launched in November 2017, is
UTEC Introduces New AUV Launch and Recovery System
UTEC, a global surveying company in subsea services group Acteon, recently commissioned its new launch and recovery system (LARS) for the fleet of seven autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) it uses for seabed surveys in the oil and renewables industries.UTEC’s new LARS is a floating garage that enables an AUV to be launched and recovered without needing a small boat, thereby simplifying operations and improving safety. It also increases efficiency and reduces costs by enabling AUV surveys in parallel with construction or laying activities, as the LARS can be deployed from the same work vessel.
Seismic From Below
of seismic data using nodes placed on the sea floor, Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) and its use in deep water with Ocean Bottom Nodes (OBN) have been growing rapidly in recent years due to considerable cost savings resulting from innovations in technology and operational concepts. Claudio Paschoa, Marine Technology Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil spoke to Stephan Midenet, CEO of Seabed Geosolutions about OBS technology in general and OBN operations in Brazil.Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) TechnologyOBS technology has been around for academic applications since before World War II. The first
Kraken, ThayerMahan Demonstrate SeaScout for US Navy
Kraken Robotics Inc. wholly owned subsidiary, Kraken Robotic Systems Inc., in cooperation with ThayerMahan Inc., demonstrated its SeaScout Expeditionary Seabed Mapping and Intelligence System during the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) held last month in Newport, R.I. This was the first at-sea test and evaluation carried out since both companies signed a strategic alliance agreement in February 2018.U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Michael Connor (retired), ThayerMahan’s President and CEO, said, “It’s our fundamental mission to integrate and deploy the latest sensors
Navy Divers to Have Automated Logging from Worn Dive Computers
at sea into a system known as the Dive/Jump Reporting System (DJRS). Manual entries can be time-consuming and allow human error.Enter the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global TechSolutions program, a rapid-response science and technology program focused on solutions to problems submitted by Sailors and Marines.ONR TechSolutions and industry partners have created a new tool called the Scuba Binary Dive Application (SBDA) 100 to digitally plan, record and report dive-profile information to DJRS. The application will accelerate the process of logging and uploading dive information, and will help eliminate
L3 Technologies Wins Navy Deal
L3 Technologies, Ocean Systems Division, Sylmar, California, was awarded a $49,364,268 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity sole-source contract to provide support and repair services for the TB-23 towed array systems and related test equipment. L-3 will evaluate, salvage, repair and refurbish TB-23/BQ Towed Array System modules and associated test equipment and provide inventory management services. Support services include the engineering and technician services for tasking in the following areas: engineering and technical services, depot operations, logistics
New ASV Delivered for Post-hurricane Surveying
sidescan/bathy multibeam echo-sounder (MBES), R2 Sonic 2022 MBES, Applanix WaveMaster POS MV inertial navigation system (INS), a SeaRobotics’ cast winch and a castable AML BaseX² sound velocity probe (SVP). The two multibeam systems were chosen to provide exceptional data quality in multiple marine environments, aiding in the rapid assessment of navigation hazards. The lightweight SeaRobotics’ cast winch deploys the SVP used to generate corrective sound velocity profiles by the onboard data acquisition computer.“The rapid deployment and ease of assembly of the ASV, as well as the
Transocean to Buy Ocean Rig in $2.7 Bln Deal
Offshore oil driller Transocean Ltd said on Tuesday it would buy peer Ocean Rig UDW Inc in a $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal, its second major acquisition this year as the company bets on a recovery in the offshore sector.The acquisition signals new optimism for offshore drillers, which were hit hard by the steep plunge in oil prices from 2014. Offshore projects, which are more costly than onshore work and take years to develop, became less attractive after oil prices fell to below $30 a barrel in 2016.Global crude prices have since recovered to above $70, renewing producer interest in offshore
AI Guides Rapid Data-Driven Exploration of Changing Underwater Habitats
A recent expedition led by Dr. Blair Thornton, holding Associate Professorships at both the University of Southampton and the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, demonstrated how the use of autonomous robotics and artificial intelligence at sea can dramatically accelerate the exploration and study of hard to reach deep sea ecosystems, like intermittently active methane seeps. Thanks to rapid high throughput data analysis at sea, it was possible to identify biological hotspots at the Hydrate Ridge Region off the coast of Oregon, quickly enough to survey and sample them
Equinor to Boost Drilling to Extend Norwegian Shelf Life
Oil producer Equinor aims to boost the recovery rate from its Norwegian fields to well above the global average to extend production from the mature basin beyond 2030.Equinor announced plans on Tuesday to drill up to 3,000 wells offshore from its native Norway in coming decades - almost as many as it has drilled since its startup in 1972 - to mitigate declining output from older fields, and extend the production lifetime of more than 20 installations.The company said it remained on track for to keep profitable oil and gas production in Norway towards 2030, but needed new measures to tackle a decline
ABS Issues Subsea Processing Advisory
ABS has developed the Subsea Processing System (SPRS) Advisory that provides an overview of the SPRS and associated sub-systems that are currently available and addresses its technology maturity level.The advisory also describes the role of ABS as an independent classification society in the verification and validation of subsea processing technologies including new/unproven technologies through the ABS New Technology Qualification services.The advisory is the first in a series of publications planned by ABS over the next few years. Future publications will include guidance notes, advisories and white
Shipping Companies Recognized for Efforts to Save Whales
off the coast of California.The companies participated in a Voluntary Speed Reduction initiative by slowing their ships to speeds of 10 knots (about 11.5 mph) or lower while transiting vessel traffic lanes outside the Golden Gate during whale feeding season, from May through mid-November.The national marine sanctuaries of North-central California - Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank and Monterey Bay sanctuaries - are prime foraging grounds for several endangered whale species, and through these same waters pass some of the heaviest shipping traffic in the world. In a spirit of “share the road,&rdquo
Enpro Subsea Supports First Oil for LLOG Exploration in Gulf of Mexico
In June, LLOG Exploration delivered first production from its Crown and Anchor field in the Gulf of Mexico. This milestone also represents a major achievement for Aberdeen based Enpro Subsea as it is the first of multiple deployments by LLOG of its patented Flow Access Module (FAM) technology.The FAM technology was selected by LLOG as it fully aligns with the company's strategic approach to fast track, capital efficient subsea tiebacks. FAM essentially creates an enhanced production ‘USB port’ within the jumper envelope. This enables the operator to use standard subsea Xmas Trees
Singapore's Offshore Industry Recovering
A big drag on Singapore's growth in recent years, the embattled offshore and marine industry, has broken a three-year losing streak. Yet industry executives aren't betting on a return to the glory days anytime soon.The industry, along with a top-class finance sector, has been a key pillar of Singapore's economic transformation into a first world economy since independence from British colonial rule in 1965 and a source of national pride. But a 2014 collapse in oil prices has resulted in thousands jobs lost, several defaults and billions of dollars in debt restructurings.Now, as oil prices
'Treasure Ship' Discovery Claim Raises Eyebrows
A South Korean company’s claims that it has discovered the wreck of a Russian warship containing $130 billion in gold “treasure” off South Korea has been met with scepticism from researchers and regulators in Seoul.Shinil Group, which was established last month, said on Tuesday it had discovered the wreck of the Dmitrii Donskoi, a Russian armored cruiser built in the 1880s and sunk in 1905 after battling Japanese warships.The company said the ship held 150 trillion won ($130 billion) in gold and it would provide evidence next week to support its claim. It was the “only entity
US Navy Testing New Anti-submarine Technology
LCS Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package Completes Two Testing MilestonesProgram Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) announced the successful completion of two Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package testing milestones, July 16.The first was a 10-day Dockside-1 test event on the Dual-mode ARray Transmitter (DART) Mission System Towed Body and associated launch-and-recovery assembly components in Fort Pierce, Fla. The second was a full-power, in-water test of the active array at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Seneca Lake Detachment's test facility in Dresden, N.Y.
Tidewater and GulfMark Announce Merger
Tidewater Inc. and GulfMark Offshore, Inc. announced Monday that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the two companies, creating the industry’s largest owner of offshore support vessels and continuing consolidation in the offshore sector.The combined company will be operated under the Tidewater brand and will be led by Tidewater president and CEO John Rynd, with the industry’s largest fleet and the broadest global operating footprint in the OSV sector, with an ability to support customers across geo-markets and water depths.
JW Fishers Showcases Tech for Firefighters
Present day fire departments not only fight fires, but also answer medical calls, conduct rescue missions, assisting in evidence recovery, and execute underwater search operations. Underwater equipment manufacturer JW Fishers Manufacturing provides tools for fire departments across the globe.In April of 2018, JW Fishers attended the annual Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first conference was held in 1929 in Chicago and was organized to discuss training measures, standards and firefighting best practices. By 1939, attendance had reached a high of 247 people
Kotug & the Remote Controlled Tugboat
Kotug demonstrated the sailing of the first remote controlled tugboat over a long distance today. The RT Borkum was controlled from the International Tug, Salvage & OSV Convention and Exhibition (ITS) ITS in Marseille, while the RT Borkum was sailing in Rotterdam. A captain of Kotug took over the control of the tug via a remote secured internet line and camera images. These cameras and controls of the tugboat were used on the demo consoles in Marseille. Kotug believes that unmanned remote controlled ships will be the first step to ultimately unmanned autonomous shipping. Various simple
JFD Completes First Phase of Open Sea Trials of its DSRV
JFD, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, completed the first open sea launch, dive and recovery of the deep search and rescue vehicle (DSRV) for the first of two 3rd Generation Submarine Rescue Systems being delivered to the Indian Navy, the company announced.The DSRV completed a full launch deployment, dive and recovery in open sea, replicating the operating conditions of a real submarine rescue operation. The completion of this phase of open sea trials represents a significant milestone in the ongoing delivery and acceptance of the 3rd Generation Submarine Rescue System, which is grounded in a
Multifunctional Plough Completes First Job for Assodivers
Subsea equipment designer and manufacturer Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) said its Multi-Mode Pre Lay Plough, delivered to Greek offshore contractors Assodivers Ltd in Spring this year, has completed its first offshore job in the Baltic sea.The Multi-Mode Pre Lay Plough is the newest addition to SMD's power cable installation and protection product range. This plough has configurations for boulder clearing, trenching and backfill. The boulder clearance pass clears a 13.0m wide route including surface and submerged boulders. The trenching pass creates an engineered ‘Y’ trench profile
New Underwater Inspection System for LA County Sheriffs
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has taken delivery of a new CodaOctopus Underwater Inspection System (UIS) to aid in real-time threat assessment, hazardous object identification and change detection.The UIS was sold and delivered by Coda Octopus Group, Inc. for a contract value of $665,000.“Members of LASD - Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) were extremely pleased to take delivery of this state-of-the-art piece of equipment, which they will use mainly for counter-smuggling/terrorism (CBRNE screening), seafloor search and recovery of evidence and targets and to assist in
Meet Kraken’s Tentacle Autonomous LARS
From elephant trunks to octopus legs, nature abounds with tentacles that are adept at precise manipulation.At Kraken Robotics, we wanted to see what nature could teach us about better manipulation methods for launching and recovering marine vehicles and equipment. Inspired by the sophisticated feedback loops and dynamic response times found in creatures such as the elephant, octopus and jellyfish—and even the occasional carnivorous plant—we undertook an 18-month research and development program into biomimetic design.Getting into or out of the water is by far the highest-risk operation for
Forum is Building a Submarine Rescue Vehicle
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (FET) said it has received an order from Submarine Manufacturing and Products, Ltd. (SMP) to supply a submarine rescue vehicle (SRV), a work-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and associated launch and recovery systems. The ROV and SRV will be delivered in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and integrated by SMP with additional equipment for delivery to a navy in the Far East.The SRV, an onboard piloted rescue submarine, is similar to Perry’s design of rescue vessels, and will incorporate a unumber of high-tech subsea vehicle technologies. The SRV will be capable of
Coast Guard Tests Underwater Oil Barrier System
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center oil spill response research team are testing an underwater barrier system designed to mitigate the impacts of sunken oil traveling along a river bottom.Mitigating or reducing the impact of oil is usually accomplished by minimizing the spread of oil on the river bottom and deflecting it, either to a collection area for recovery or away from sensitive areas. The underwater barrier system tested in Kalamazoo at the end of April 23 was specifically designed for deployment in inland water bodies such as rivers, streams and small lakes.Although
MacArtney, OSIL Partner in China
with Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL).The newly established strategy and business plans applying to the Asian markets, among others, have led MacArtney Singapore to enter into the exclusive sales agreement with OSIL, a provider of tailored integrated systems for environmental monitoring in all marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to full ocean depth.With such an agreement, MacArtney said it is confident of being able to cover the ocean science industry and improve business relations in the Chinese market as well as provide optimized after-sales service in a demanding market.Initiatives
Double Bibby Win for MDL
Maritime Developments (MDL) has won a flex lay project with Bibby Offshore just after completing an umbilical installation with the EPIC contractor.The recently concluded project in a North Sea gas field used the MDL RDS-400, a 400-mertic-ton reel drive system, operated by MDL offshore personnel and supported by the company’s 3mradius departure chute. The spread was used for the recovery and replacement of a 2km electrical umbilical.The subsequent project will use the same RDS model to install a riser in an oilfield offshore Aberdeen, Scotland.Dave Gardiner, MDL Business Development &
New Launch and Recovery System for USVs
The market for unmanned surface vehicles (USV) has exploded in recent years, leading to an increased availability and variation of systems for a wide range of operations.Having observed a lack of suitable launch and recovery options for these vehicles, U.S. based RC Dock has created a universal low-cost launch and recovery system (LARS) built especially for USVs.Many operators find that launching and recovering USVs, especially in rough seas at speed, prove difficult, limiting the overall usability of these systems, RC Dock said.The company’s LARS is a self-floating dock that can be operated
AUV Tracking System Tested in Loch Ness
A collaborative research project called Autonomous Surface and Sub-surface Survey System (ASSSS) aims to deliver an integrated system to provide a means of conducting low cost, shore based, full water column marine surveys using multiple unmanned systems. The project, part funded by Innovate UK, hopes to encourage wider adoption of unmanned systems.The project is being led by a U.K. based developer of unmanned and autonomous marine systems, ASV Global. It combines the advantages of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) to further data gathering opportunities.
Autonomously Operating Winches for Naval USVs
U.S. based aerospace and defense development and manufacture company Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has taken delivery of new purpose-built autonomous launch and recovery winch systems specifically designed for the high-endurance Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV).The custom-engineered winches were designed, manufactured, assembled, tested and delivered by MacArtney to adapt to Textron Systems’ specific requirements.In designing the winches, MacArtney said it placed special emphasis on tailoring the design and features to the conditions that they will be experiencing throughout their
Submarine Excursions Now Available in the Maldives
Relax by the pool, sip a cocktail on the beach, explore the marine environment in a submarine . . .Guests at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru are able to go beyond the typical vacation experience with an underwater flight excursion aboard the three-person DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S, a submarine designed specifically for underwater tourism.For $1,500.00 (+12% GST) per flight, a trained submarine pilot will take up to two guests below the surface to explore the beautiful Maldivian waters in DeepFlight Adventures’ newest 8-meter sub. Over the course of an hourlong dive, passengers
Kraken Achieves Military Standard Certification
VP Engineering, said, “Many of the tests that we undertook were expensive to perform and required special testing facilities. After several months and dozens of tests, successfully achieving MIL-STD certification ensures that the KATFISH-M can operate in harsh conditions onboard manned and unmanned marine vehicles virtually anywhere in the world. Certification of our KATFISH-M system underscores Kraken’s commitment to providing product reliability and quality for our customers.”Dr. Tom Tureaud, Kraken’s VP of Underwater Systems, said, “The KATFISH-M is a natural evolution of
Offshore: Nippon Foundation, Deepstar Sign MOU
Japan's Nippon Foundation and Deepstar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently which essentially will allow Japan to tap the expertise and resources of DeepStar to help Japan discover and recover new-found subsea resources, as well as educate future generations of Japanese. The MOU was signed on May 1, 2018 at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston, and speaking at the event Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa said "We need to acquire the resources to discover and reach (our) natural resources. There is no question that Houton is the hub of space exploration, but ehere are two
Emerson Launches Roxar Tempest 8.2
Emerson has launched Roxar Tempest 8.2 – the latest version of its reservoir management software, bringing advanced uncertainty analysis tools and increased support to the Big Loop workflow and robust risk analysis and reserves estimates across the seismic to simulation workflow. The announcement also further strengthens Emerson’s end to end Exploration & Production (E&P) software portfolio, helping operators achieve top-quartile performance and greater project certainty on investment and operational goals within new and established reservoirs.Enhancements to the Big Loop workflow
New Consortium for Offshore Decommissioning
.”Peter Pietka, Ardent CEO, said, “We bring to the consortium over 150 years of maritime retrieval experience, as a global leader in salvage and wreck removal. Through our expertise, we are in the unique position of being able to apply techniques and learnings from other sectors such as marine wreck removal, to improve how to tackle the increasingly important challenge of decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure.”The consortium aims to deliver smarter decommissioning activities with end to end project management and execution for operators in Europe, Asia and Americas
Icebergs Could Float to the Rescue of Cape Town Water Crisis
Marine salvage experts are floating a plan to tug icebergs from Antarctica to South Africa's drought-hit Cape Town to help solve the region's worst water shortage in a century.Salvage master Nick Sloane told Reuters he was looking for government and private investors for a scheme to guide huge chunks of ice across the ocean, chop them into a slury and melt them down into millions of liters of drinking water."We want to show that if there is no other source to solve the water crisis, we have another idea no one else has thought of yet," said Sloane, who led the refloating of the
