Closed Bell Diving Courses Relaunched at The Underwater Centre
being key to maintaining the UK’s ability to train closed bell divers, given the need for them in the future. The industry relevant specialist equipment that The Underwater Centre now has puts it at the forefront of diver training globally.”Kevin Thomson, Vice President of TechnipFMC’s Marine Operations Services, said, “It is essential we are able to train divers in an environment which is as realistic, and safe, as possible and we have worked closely with The Underwater Centre to ensure the refurbished closed bell training facilities continue to closely mirror those you would find
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
Algoma Joins Whale Conservation Efforts
to an expanding network of whale watchers. For the first time, the crews on Algoma’s self-unloaders, bulkers, tankers and cement carriers will collect data about the whales they see on their journeys this summer."Algoma is committed to providing sustainable and environmentally responsible marine transportation,” said Gregg Ruhl, Algoma’s Chief Operating Officer. “Taking part in this conservation initiative and bringing the power of our fleet to gather more data and better understand the whereabouts of marine mammals will support research that can help minimize our environmental
Dräger Appoints Murray to Senior Management Team
Dräger Safety UK has appointed Kelly Murray as general manager of its North Sea operations base in Aberdeen. Murray, who has more than 20 years’ experience in operations, engineering and project management in oil and gas, believes Dräger’s manufacturing abilities and its multinational reach give the business opportunities in the wider energy sector. Mrs Murray was chief operating officer of Red Spider Technology and was subsequently UK interventions manager for the global oilfield service sector major. She joins Dräger as general manager, leading a
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
Kongsberg Wins Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 Contract
Equinor Energy AS has contracted Kongsberg Maritime to deliver the Safety and Automation Systems (SAS) for the recently announced phase 2 of the Johan Sverdrup development in the Norwegian North Sea.The phase 2 agreement includes delivery of SAS and digital technology for a new processing platform, which is due to start production in 2022. Kongsberg Maritime will also extend and modify already delivered systems for the field center, in addition to providing three Subsea Production System tie-backs and technology solutions for shore power at Haugsneset, near Haugesund.The core scope of supply for Johan
Looking to the Future of Satellite-derived Bathymetry
by EOMAP on June 6-7 to anticipate what’s to come for SDB technology in the next years and revealed future opportunities for providers and users.EOMAP CEO, Dr. Thomas Heege, commented, “The support for the SDB Day was fantastic. All relevant institutions – hydrographic offices, marine industry, service providers and research institutes – picked up on the themes of capabilities, data integration, requirements and quality standards. Joint considerations are really coming to the force, which is great to see.”Initially established as a reconnaissance tool for shallow water
Knifefish UUV Completes Sea Acceptance Tests
General Dynamics Mission Systems announced its team has completed all stages of formal Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) of Knifefish, the U.S. Navy's Surface Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system.Knifefish is a medium-class MCM UUV intended for deployment from the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship and other Navy vessels. The vehicle is designed to reduce risk to personnel by operating in the minefield as an off-board sensor while the host ship stays outside the minefield boundaries.The recent tests were conducted off the coast of Boston using Navy mine test targets and included
Deep Ocean Exploration is the 21st Century ‘Space Race’
A new version of the Space Race is happening, with researchers aiming for the deep ocean.Human history has shown us to be a resourceful species, always using the tools available to us to explore, understand and utilize the bounty of resources around us to create a better life. We have come a long way from the stone tools of our ancestors; the tools of today take the form of technology, computers, artificial intelligence and robots which we use very effectively in a number of areas including healthcare, education, transportation, manufacturing and communication. Many of these advances have been made
Canadian Hydrographic Service Grows Its USV Fleet
The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has taken delivery of two additional autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), bringing its fleet to four systems.The 2.5-meter USVs, built and delivered by Florida based SeaRobotics Corporation, are complete hydrographic systems including multibeam echo sounders, support sensors, cast winches, deployment carts and road trailers.The SeaRobotics USVs are being deployed across Canada supported by regional training performed by SeaRobotics. CHS, part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, has completed the first year of operation and the analysis of the efficiency and
New Onboard Hull Cleaning Solution Launched
of waters by alien species.With maritime regulations and rules governing hull cleaning getting tighter, HullWiper offers a compliant solution for owners and operators seeking the benefits of a clean hull including lower carbon emissions.“The need for owners and operators to proactively manage marine fouling on their vessels, and prove that they have a cleaning management plan in place, can be the difference between being allowed into a port and being turned away,” says Simon Doran, HullWiper’s Managing Director. “Leasing a ROV and keeping it onboard means they can clean whenever
Autonomous Vessels: FAU Gets $1.25m for Research
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as “motherships” for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones, thereby enabling multi-vehicle, multi-domain capability that may serve as a mobile coastal monitoring
New Hydrographic Survey Vessel for USACE
waterjet allowing for quick mobilization and response at high speeds in excess of 34 knots and survey speeds up to 10 knots. It has crew accommodations, a galley, lounge and three surveyor stations.Technology Associates, Inc. (TAI) was the prime design-build contractor of the vessel. TAI and Aluma Marine personnel worked together on the construction of the Ewell under TAI’s supervision at Aluma’s facility in Harvey, La. It was designed and built to Lloyd’s Special Service Craft rules.“This vessel design and build program was delivered on budget and on schedule,” noted
The Underwater Centre Under New Ownership
gas and other high-risk industries. “Being even more closely aligned with the leading subsea contractors under this new structure will ensure that the Centre can further tailor its offering to meeting current and future industry needs.”Kevin Thomson, Vice President of TechnipFMC’s Marine Operations Services, said, “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to join our peers in helping secure the Centre’s future. ‘Achieving Together’ is one of our company’s core values, and we are delighted to demonstrate this by playing our part in ensuring this key
US Navy-owned Research Vessel Back in Action
stem to stern, throughout all five of its decks. It received new cleaner and more efficient diesel engines, the latest navigation and ship-positioning systems, as well as sophisticated sonar, allowing it to map the ocean floor in sharper detail and even differentiate between species of fish and other marine life.The Thompson's laboratories were updated to include advanced IT infrastructure to better support scientific data collection and analysis at sea, while also enabling improved real-time communications with shore. Several critical sensor systems also were replaced, providing upgraded scientific
Fugro to Train Saudi Students in Marine Technology
Fugro’s new partnership with KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) was marked recently with the inauguration of the KAUST - Fugro Center of Excellence for Marine Technology. The new center will provide training in ROV operations and hydrographic survey within the Kingdom as part of the Saudization program.KAUST’s facilities and location, on the shore of the Red Sea, are ideal for addressing the challenges associated with mapping the Red Sea, large tracts of which remain unexplored due to extreme depths, temperature and salinity.“This close working relationship
Teledyne Bringing Its Technology Workshop to Europe
Building upon Teledyne Marine’s Teledyne Marine Technology Workshop (TMTW) event hosted biennially in the U.S., the company has decided to host this event in Cannes, France on October 9-11, 2018 to address the needs of customers in Europe and the surrounding area.As with the U.S. based TMTW, this event will allow speakers, influencers and attendees from around the globe to explore, learn and share their experiences on a broad range of marine and inland technologies. This three-day workshop will once again include customer presentations, product/software training, networking opportunities
UKHO Purchases Multibeam Survey Equipment
NORBIT said it has been appointed by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) as the single framework supplier until August 2020 for survey equipment and associated engineering support to enable British Overseas Territories and other Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) develop their own hydrographic survey capability to meet IHO standards.NORBIT iWBMS equipment installations will be conducted in cooperation with local government authorities who will provide suitable vessels and facilities, ultimately enabling the growth in knowledge and capability of local hydrographic services. NORBIT will
Newbuild Kreuz Challenger Mobilized for Brunei Shell Contract
, DNV class standards and IMCA regulations. The vessel can accommodate 105 personnel and is equipped with a 100-ton active heave compensation crane, a 12-man saturation diving system, and a self-propelling hyperbaric lifeboat.Kreuz Subsea has entered into a joint venture (JV) with Bruneian offshore marine services company, SPHI Marine Sdn. Bhd. The partnership has seen SPHI Marine acquire an equity interest in the firm’s Brunei operations.As part of the JV, Kreuz Subsea has committed to developing local personnel with competencies in the field of offshore commercial diving and ROV services through
Italian Navy Divers Practice with Explosives
A team of Italian specialist Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers carried out mine-countermeasures training on Friday, April 13, to prepare for potential threats that may affect international shipping and delay essential sea cargoes.As part of the training, the EOD divers from Italian Navy Frigate ITS Margottini put a floating ‘dummy’ mine into the sea and then carried out a controlled explosion.ITS Margottini is currently deployed on counter-piracy operations as part of EU NAVFOR’s Op Atalanta. EU NAVFOR warships have been committed, since December 2008, to ensure the
SMD to Supply Work Class ROV to China
Subsea equipment design and manufacturer Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) has signed a contract to supply its Atom Mk1 1000m 100hp Work Class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system to Chinese power specialist China Southern Power Extra High Voltage Power Transmission Company (EHV, CSG), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Southern Power Grid (CSG). The ROV will be used for inspection of the 31km physical power cable connections in the Qiongzhou Strait between Hainan Island and mainland China. The Qiongzhou strait often experiences high currents so it was essential that CSG chose
Oceanex Joins Fleet of Trained Whale Watchers
The intermodal transportation firm Oceanex has swelled the ranks of sailors volunteering as whale observers for the Réseau d’observation de mammifères marine (ROMM). The crews of the Oceanex Sanderling, the Oceanex Connaigra and the Oceanex Avalon will be given special training to qualify them to gather whale observation data during their voyages. Véronique Nolet, a biologist and Green Marine program manager, will conduct the onboard training starting tomorrow. "Oceanex is proud to participate in ROMM’s data collection as a way to concretely help in whale
ASV Global, BMT Team-up for Autonomous Navigation Project
navigation. The project team will use deep learning machine vision systems trained with a combination of simulated and real world data. Part funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, this project will enhance situational awareness enabling the USV to operate in extreme and congested marine environments. The Synthetic Imagery training for Machine Vision in Extreme Environments (SIMVEE) project will build upon ASV’s existing, COLREG cognisant, autonomous collision avoidance and path planning capability. The project will use BMT’s REMBRANDT simulator to train and
MacArtney Supplies Survey Equipment to Geo Group
SVP, QINSy Survey. This equipment has been supplied to a new-built trailerable vessel and represents the first dual head multibeam system for the GEO Group to operate in shallow areas and in nearshore inland projects. Geo Offshore has taken delivery of iXBLUE Hydrins and Septentrio AsteRx-U MARINE FULL to be used for offshore projects. To extend their own GRS-Geo Reference Service, Geo Ingenieurservice NordOst bought two AsteRx-U MARINE BASE to provide high accuracy GNSS corrections in the Baltic. Featuring superior acoustic quality and high accuracy, the products supplied
OSIL: Oil Spill Monitoring Buoys Fuel International Interest
Integrated systems manufacturers Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) reports high levels of interest in its oil spill monitoring buoys following several recent installations in the Middle East and exposure at the ocean technology and marine science exhibition Oceanology International. The buoy systems are designed to integrate a real time noncontact hydrocarbon sensor in the high visibility top frame design, which is equipped with a pulsed UV LED beam and optical photo-detector with on-board software to enable the buoys to detect oil spills on water autonomously and immediately
Seismic Software donated to Delft U of T
CGG GeoSoftware has donated its Jason and HampsonRussell seismic reservoir characterization software suites to Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. The donation of a full HampsonRussell suite and the renewal of an enhanced Jason package will enable students at the Department of Geoscience & Engineering to expand their theoretical and practical knowledge of quantitative reservoir characterization and inversion techniques. Myrna Staring, PhD student at TU Delft, said: "A team of students are currently using our new HampsonRussell software suite to take part
Offshore Achievement Award winners Announced
Winners of the 2018 Offshore Achievement Awards were announced last night {22 March} in a celebration of industry talent, innovation and enthusiasm. The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section revealed the 11 winners to an audience of more than 450 people, with categories covering technology innovation, company performance and individual achievement across the UK offshore energy sector. Ray Riddoch, UK managing director at Nexen was named this year’s Significant Contribution winner thanks to three decades of shaping and influencing the offshore energy industry. Other
Kongsberg to Deliver Fisheries Training Simulator
process. “While helping to educate and protect commercial fishermen, who often operate in extreme conditions exposed to risk, simulator training also contributes to UN Sustainability Goals, especially number 14, which has been established to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources,” said Tone-Merete Hansen, Sr. Vice President Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg Digital. “With over 50 million people depending directly on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods and over 1 billion people in poorer countries reliant on fish to sustain a balanced, healthy
US Navy Submarines Surface in the Arctic Circle
A pair of U.S. Navy submarines recently surfaced in the Arctic Circle as part of multinational maritime exercise north of Alaska. Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) and Seawolf-class fast attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22) surfaced in the Arctic Circle March 10 during the multinational maritime Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2018. Both submarines, as well the UK Royal Navy submarine HMS Trenchant (S91), are participating in the biennial exercise in the Arctic to train and validate the warfighting capabilities of submarines in extreme cold-water conditions
Klein Marine Offers Side Scan Sonar Training
Klein Marine Systems, a manufacturer of side scan sonars, will be hosting a three day side scan sonar training at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye Beach, N.H. Practical sessions on UNH Gulf Challenger, based in Newcastle, N.H. Participants will develop a thorough understanding of sonar image analysis as well as get hands-on experience with single beam sonars such as the dual-frequency Klein 4900 and the high-speed, Multi-Beam Klein 5000 V2 . Training Topics Principles of underwater acoustics (Sonar Record Analysis, Targets & Shad-ows, reflectivity of underwater materials
Simulation Meets Automation to Enhance ROV Training and Analysis
Forum Subsea Technologies and BluHaptics, Inc. have announced a joint agreement enabling technologies from both companies to be combined to provide solutions for ROV and subsea engineering applications. The VMAX Software is a 3D ROV simulation product, which is used for training and evaluation of ROV pilots as well as by subsea engineering teams for modelling and verification of procedures involving intervention tasks related to installing and maintaining subsea equipment. As Forum’s VMAX ROV Simulator provides a variety of ROV training scenarios designed to test pilots’
iSURVEY Investing in Training
iSURVEY, a provider of survey and positioning services to the global oil and gas, offshore renewables and telecommunications markets, said it has invested more than £40,000 in staff training. In order to meet client demand, iSURVEY staff were educated in rapid and accurate acquisition and processing of seabed survey data, the company said. During February and March, the staff gained a deeper understanding and awareness of the key elements of multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) acquisition and data management. Training was carried out through a combination of instructor-led
Xiamen University Selects AML’s Moving Vessel Profiler
Xiamen University has purchased a Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) for the research vessel Jia Geng. The university’s State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science will use the deep water underway profiling system, MVP300, to collect CTD, sound velocity and environmental data in support of both hydrographic and ocean science applications. The ability to collect high density data in real-time while the vessel is underway will produce higher quality results than can be achieved with static profiling systems, and in a fraction of the time. The contract was secured through
US, Thai, Korean Navies Working Together Underwater
Underwater construction teams (UCT) from the U.S. Navy, Royal Thai Navy and Republic of Korea Navy are training and operating together on the Thung Prong Bay Sattahip Navy Base in Thailand throughout the 37th annual Exercise Cobra Gold, which ends February 23. "We are here to perform underwater inspection techniques and also to talk about maintenance plans," explained U.S. Navy Construction Mechanic 1st Class Matthew Ramirez. The main operation of the day for the UCTs was the inspection for the deterioration of Thrung Prong Pier, which was originally built in the 1970s and
Titanic Survey Personnel to Receive Helicopter Safety Training
The expedition team due to survey the Titanic shipwreck in a few months’ time will receive helicopter safety training before diving down to the historic shipwreck this summer. The group leading the 2018 Titanic Survey Expedition, manned-submersible services provider OceanGate Inc., said Falck Safety Services Canada will provide Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET) for the expedition crew, mission specialists and content experts who will fly about 400 miles due south from St. John’s, Newfoundland to rendezvous with the dive support ship at sea in June. In preparation
Sparrows Wins BP Contract in Angola
BP has awarded Sparrows Group a three-year contract to manage crane operations and maintenance, and deck services off the coast of Angola. The contract covers four cranes utilized on two Floating Production Offloading and Storage (FPSO) vessels, the Greater Plutonio and the PSVM, located in Blocks 18 and 31 respectively, which are situated 160km north-west of Angola’s capital Luanda. Sparrows has two bases in Angola located in Talatona and Malonga and first worked with BP in the region in 2006. This latest scope of work, which was won as part of a competitive tender, will
Ocean Microstructure Glider Workshop Announced
Rockland Scientific and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences announced a specialized training program for Rockland turbulence measurement systems that are integrated with ocean gliders. Ocean Microstructure Glider (OMG) 2018 will be hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Glider Initiative & Collaboration (MAGIC) at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences St. Georges, Bermuda from May 28 to June 1. Classroom and field training will be optimized for both scientists and technicians and facilitated by instrument specialists from Rockland Scientific. Fees to attend OMG 2018 are $1
University of Vienna Acquires New Multibeam Equipment
A project to create 3D models of pile dwellings in Austrian lakes thousands of years ago has resulted in the acquisition by the University of Vienna of a multibeam solution supplied by MacArtney. The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology is a research institute dedicated to the development of new techniques and methodological concepts for landscape archaeology. Its research program combines geophysics, aerial imaging, computer science and geomatics to develop efficient and universally applicable approaches for non-destructive detection, documentation
Fairbank Joins SBG Systems’ Sales Team
MEMS-based inertial motion sensing solutions supplier SBG Systems has hired Chelsea Fairbank as Sales Engineer in North America. She will team up with Jack Mawson, Sales Manager North America at the company’s U.S. office in Huntington Beach, Calif. and will be in charge of the marine and education segments. Fairbank has an extensive background in the hydrographic industry, starting her career as hydrographic surveyor. During her five years with Fugro, she worked on international hydrographic and cable route surveys working with a broad range of Inertial Navigation Equipment integrated
DMA Promotes e-Navigation
Co-hosted by The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and IALA, the conference ’e-Navigation Underway’ was held for the 8th time. 150 participants from 5 continents joined the hosts on a conference cruise departing from Denmark earlier this week. The debate at the conference was lively with a strong focus on applying digitalization to real world uses. President and CEO at DFDS, Niels Smedegaard, said during his speech at the conference: “We have to speed up on understanding and applying the new possibilities that new technology provides. The development is too
NASA, US Navy Practice Spacecraft Recovery at Sea
A joint team of NASA and U.S. Navy personnel are testing new equipment and practicing procedures for recovering astronauts that have splashed down in the ocean upon returning from space travel. NASA’s deep space exploration systems will send a crew through space at 25,000 miles per hour, travelling some 40,000 miles beyond the Moon before coming back home. When returning to Earth, the Orion spacecraft will slow to a mere 300 mph as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, eventually slowing to 20 mph before it safely splashing down in the Pacific. The astronauts will
TechSurge: Advancing Oil Spill Research
The Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) are collaborating on an upcoming TechSurge event in New Orleans on February 5, 2018 that will focus on the effects of oil spills on the environment and public health. Recent investigations have yielded research results and technological advancements that will improve future studies and impact modeling efforts. The goal of this meeting is to bring together the GoMRI and MTS communities, share research findings, and begin discussions of how the two communities might work together to better prepare for the next oil
US Navy to Test Saab’s Antisubmarine Training System
Defense and security company Saab said it will demonstrate its antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training system for the U.S. Navy (USN) as it investigates a replacement ASW training systems for its Undersea Warfare Training Range. According to Saab, the Navy will evaluate Saab’s AUV62-AT – an artificial acoustic system that mimics a submarine – against USN systems through the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program. The demonstration is planned for summer 2018, with an option to continue testing into 2019. “With submarine usage on the rise, antisubmarine
Subsea NE Names Heppenstall Regional Chairman
The regional advocacy group for the North-east of England’s subsea sector has appointed Bruce Heppenstall as its new chairman, taking over the reins of Subsea North East from Andrew Hodgson. CEO of BEL Valves and former general manager for the GE Oil & Gas Wellstream division, Heppenstall will be tasked with promoting the North-east sector on a global scale to maximize opportunities, while working with Subsea UK, the national industry body to provide a forum for collaboration, diversification and technology development. With the region’s subsea sector
As US Opens Up Offshore Waters, Eastern GoM Beckons
President Donald Trump's administration has proposed opening up nearly all of America's offshore waters to oil and gas drilling, but the industry says it is mainly interested in one part of it, now cordoned off by the Pentagon: the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The industry's focus on an area located near a sprawling network of existing platforms, pipes and ports could ease the path to new reserves, and assuage the drilling opponents near other places offered under the Interior Department's proposed drilling plan issued last week, like California's Pacific
SEAIOCMA Extends Cable Maintenance Contract
Offshore and subsea services company Global Marine, part of the Global Marine Group (GMG), said its maintenance contract with SEAIOCMA (South East Asia and Indian Ocean Cable Maintenance Agreement) has been extended for five-years, running to the end of 2022. The SEAIOCMA maintenance zone agreement, which is a cooperative club managed by 46 cable owners, provides the repair of submarine cables that carry international telecommunications traffic. SEAIOCMA spans the area between Djibouti in the west, Perth in the south, Guam in the east and the northern tip of Taiwan. This is the third
Don't Let the Ocean Knock You Down
;t have to guess what is happening subsea. The Author Dean Steinke is co-founder and Director of Operations, Dynamic Systems Analysis. He combines a mechanical engineering education with hands-on offshore experience. (As published in the November/December 2017 edition of Marine Technology Reporter
Students Bring Robotics to US Naval War College
A group of students from the robotics teams at Slater Junior High School and Shea High School from Pawtucket, R.I. visited U.S. Naval War College (NWC) on Tuesday, December 12. The students brought two robots which they designed and built to NWC to demonstrate to the NWC students, staff and faculty how they operate and what tasks each robot could complete. Beginning in 2013, the goal of the Slater and Shea's robotics team was to increase the number of students who may choose to pursue high-tech careers in the engineering and technology fields. Robotics introduces the
Argentina Sticking with Submarine Program despite Disaster
Argentina and other South American countries are likely to maintain or increase their submarine programs despite the scrutiny that has followed the fatal loss of an Argentine sub in South Atlantic waters last month, defense specialists said. The disappearance of the ARA San Juan with 44 crew members aboard has put pressure on Argentine President Mauricio Macri to consider boosting spending for the military, including the country’s two remaining submarines. Military spending sharply decreased after the end of Argentina’s dictatorship in 1983. “Macri has to take
UK Partners Launch Autonomous Navigation Project
tools to facilitate both improved over the horizon navigation for ASVs, as well as pilot training on how to interact and manage ASVs in congested waterways. Only by bridging this knowledge gap can we accelerate the wider adoption of unmanned systems and increase trust in their feasibility by mariners around the world.&rdquo
Kawasaki Tests Prototype AUV in UK Waters
sophisticated underwater vehicle technologies fostered in-house over the years, with support from a subsidization project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The AUV verification test was carried out from November 6 to 20, 2017 at The Underwater Centre, a marine testing and training facility in Fort William, Scotland. Tests at sea used a prototype AUV and a charging station, and included automated docking of the AUV to the charging station, contactless charging, and large-capacity optical communication operations. During the testing period, representativ
Hydrographic Survey Vessel Converted for Autonomous Ops
ASV Global said it has converted a 26ft hydrographic survey launch to enable it to operate autonomously using the ASView control system, while maintaining its ability to operate in a conventional manned mode. The launch, which is part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) fleet dedicated to the survey operations of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), will be used as a test platform for unmanned survey work. This delivery to the CHS marks ASV Global’s 10th unmanned conversion of a customer vessel using the ASView system. ASView enables the launch to follow planned
K-MATE Autonomy Controller Put to the Test
Supported by KONGSBERG experts and technology, the GEBCO-NF Alumni Team, one of 19 semi-finalist teams competing in the $7 million Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition, has completed technology readiness tests of its unique unmanned surface vessel (USV) / autonomous underwater vessel (AUV) concept and associated combination of communications hardware and software to process and transmit data remotely. The test event was held on the fjord outside KONGSBERG’s factory in Horten, Norway on Thursday, November 23. All Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE teams will hold testing site visits around
SeeByte to Extend US Navy Unmanned Capability
SeeByte said it has been awarded a Naval Sea Systems Command contract valued at $22.59 million over five years to provide engineering, technical support and training services for the MK18 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Family of Systems (FoS). The award allows the government to execute task orders with SeeByte for the provision of various supplies and services including but not limited to upgrades to the SeeTrack Common Operator Interface for Navy (COIN) EOD software modules, purchasing of autonomy software (SeeByte’s Neptune autonomy engine) licenses for MK18 UUVs, MK18 software and
Hydroid Names Rogers VP of Engineering
variety of corporate positions including executive vice president and general manager; senior vice president and group director, technology solutions; vice president and group director, survivability; and director, integrated defense solutions. Dr. Rogers holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in applied marine physics from the University of Miami and a B.S. in physics from Siena College. He received an executive education from the Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School; the Sloan Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute
Klein Plans 2018 Side Scan Sonar Training
Side scan sonar manufacturer Klein Marine Systems will host three days of side scan sonar training, including a one day on-water practical training, from January 29-31, in Pensacola, Fla. The training, organized with the support of Higgs Hydrographic Tek, will help participants to develop a thorough understanding of sonar image analysis as well as hands-on experience with single beam sonar such as the dual-frequency Klein 4900. Training topics include: Principles of underwater acoustics - sonar record analysis, targets and shadows, reflectivity of underwater materials
Teledyne Marine Hosts its 2nd Technology Workshop
More than 270 customers from around the globe converged in San Diego from October 15-18 to attend Teledyne Marine’s second biennial users’ conference, the Teledyne Marine Technology Workshop (TMTW). There, more than 50 customer presentations detailed utilization of Teledyne Marine products and technologies for applications spanning offshore energy, defense, ports and harbors, oceanography, aquaculture, dredging, hydrography and hydrology. The event also included several afternoon plenary sessions presented by Teledyne Marine’s OneTeam, which detailed the group’s joint
New Program Sets Out to Limit Drones’ Impact of Wildlife
minimize or eliminate resource disturbance issues due to scientific or recreational drone operations. “Inexpensive, off-the-shelf drones have the potential to revolutionize biological monitoring and inspire a whole new generation to research, explore and photograph our ocean coastlines and marine environment,” said Matt Pickett, Director of Oceans Unmanned, “but they also pose a challenge to wildlife, as previously inaccessible habitats are exposed to new disturbances. ECO-Drone will engage and educate the user community to ensure all wildlife and their habitats are respected
Penobscot Bay Survey in Focus at NOAA Stakeholder Meetings
Bay. Lt. David Vejar, NOAA northeast navigation manager, highlighted various products and services, including how to access NOAA charts and data, the upcoming Gulf of Maine Operation Forecast System, nowCOAST, and various planning tools such as SeaSketch and Northeast Data Portal. Allison Wittrock, from Marine Charts Division, presented the National Charting Plan with a focus on how it will provide great benefit to stakeholders. Various groups attended the event, including local harbor committees, regional U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Department of Marine Resources, NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries
Kongsberg Naval Sonars for Göteborg-Class Corvettes
Kongsberg Maritime said it has been selected to deliver ST2400 VDS (Varial Depth Sonar) systems for Anti-Submarine Warfare applications (ASW) to the Royal Swedish Navy as part of SAAB’s upgrade program for the Göteborg-Class Corvettes fleet. The main purpose of the ST2400 VDS is to detect submarines, mines and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in Littoral waters. The ST2400 VDS upgrade will strengthen the Göteborg-Class Corvettes Anti-Submarine capability operating in the Baltics. The ST2400 VDS is a medium-frequency sonar designed with an emphasis on improving performance
