Construction Starts on OSU's Research Ship
with OSU to build a second similar research vessel, which will be operated by a consortium led by the University of Rhode Island.“This new class of modern vessels will support future research focused on the physical, chemical, biological and geologic processes in coastal waters,” said Roberta Marinelli, dean of Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. “This research is critical to informing strategies for coastal resilience, food security, and hazard mitigation not only in the Pacific Northwest but around the world.”The ships will be equipped to conduct
UK Hydrographic Office Wins National STEM Inspiration Award
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been awarded Highly Commended at the STEM Inspiration Awards, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to encouraging young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.According to a press statement, held at the House of Lords on November 1, and attended by guests across industry, education and government, the STEM Inspiration Awards, organised by STEM Learning, celebrated the work of individuals and organisations in inspiring young people into STEM careers. Finalists in the large employer category included Nissan, Just Eat, Legrand
New Research Vessel Ordered for Belgium
new oceanographic research vessel for Belgium. The IMO polar code compliant vessel will be designed to carry out research and survey tasks in the North Sea and its adjacent sea areas, but also in the Mediterranean and more northern areas.The research vessel will cater for the requirements of the Belgian marine scientific community when performing advanced marine research and education at sea – today and in the coming years. This will include research within the fields of geology and sedimentology, fisheries, biology, chemistry, oceanography (including meteorology). In addition, the vessel will be
L3 OceanServer Expands
L3 OceanServer, a developer and manufacturer of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), has recently added 4,700 square feet of space at its headquarters location in Fall River, Mass. This doubles the operational footprint of the business and will accommodate the company’s rapid growth while continuing to leverage its waterfront location for daily vehicle testing and operations. Additionally, a 46-foot research vessel, R/V Cassiar, has been dedicated to customer training and vehicle testing at L3 OceanServer’s San Diego location.“The decision to expand our physical assets was based on
Interview: TMA's Michael Jones on BlueTech Week
Marine Technology Reporter interviews Michael Jones, the ubiquitous leader of The Maritime Alliance and the architect of the Blue Tech Week in San Diego. The theme for the 10th Annual Blue Tech Week is “UN Sustainable Development Goals – Industry Solutions”.For MTR readers not familiar with BlueTech Week, please give a synopsis in a sentence or two.The Maritime Alliance (TMA) creates a Blue Voice via unique events, information sharing, national & international outreach, networking, research, and workforce development. The 10th annual BlueTech Week (BTW) scheduled for November
Subsea State? Steady with Waves of Optimism
and gas still suffering from a poor reputation among many young people, not helped by the recent downturn, it’s even more imperative that we demonstrate to the next generation that subsea is an industry in its own right; an industry which works across many diverse vertical markets in oil & gas, marine renewables, aquaculture, defence and ocean science.Against this backdrop, Subsea UK provides leadership to help the sector deliver the growth and high value performance that ensures it makes a valuable contribution to the economy. It’s worth reminding ourselves of the vital role subsea plays
Hands-on Robotics Training in Australia
Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has begun training students to operate their new Saab Seaeye Falcon remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV).This follows Falcon training for CSIRO staff at the organization’s facility in Hobart, Tasmania, by BlueZone, Saab Seaeye’s distributor in the region.The course was adapted to give hands-on practical training for CSIRO staff in a week-long training program that includes theory and practical sessions, set near dockside facilities in Hobart. The training focuses on real world practicalities.
Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Finalists to Compete off Greece
, and Culture and Sports. The operational team is also working with multiple other organizations, including the National Centre of Scientific Research Demokritos, Office of the Mayor of Kalamata, Municipal Port Fund of Kalamata, Hellenic Coast Guard/Central Port Authority, and the Hellenic Center for Marine Research to ensure smooth operations by providing logistical assistance. Competition organizers also continue to work with Fugro, an industry leader in ocean mapping; and Esri, the global leader in geographic information system (GIS) software. XPRIZE is also partnering with Singularity University
A BlueTech Future
;s Blue Economy is not only its size, but also the innovation occurring in the sector. While companies all over the world are searching for ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into their products, San Diego-based startup Aquaai has built autonomous, fish-like drones that can closely monitor marine environments without causing a disturbance. While many companies are racing to produce and sell lab-grown meat and poultry, one of San Diego’s newest BlueTech startups, BlueNalu, has raised $4.5 million to produce tasty, healthy, environmentally friendly seafood from fish cells. And while the
Swathe Services Takes Over as HYPACK Distributor
Swathe Services will take on responsibility for sales and maintenance of HYPACK software solutions in the U.K. and Ireland following the closure of HYPACK’s U.K. partner Del Norte Technology.U.S. company HYPACK – A Xylem Brand is a supplier of hydrographic survey and data processing software for single beam, multibeam, side scan sonar and many other applications in the hydrographic survey and dredging industries.Swathe Services, the Cornwall, U.K. based hydrographic survey services company specializing in Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) surveying, takes over HYPACK distributor duties for
Unique Group to Provide Survey Vessel Package to Major Government Entity
Subsea and offshore solution provider Unique Group announced that its Marine & Subsea division has entered into a high value contract with the Southern African Shipyards to provide a turnkey package for hydrographic survey vessels and hydrographic office set up.The project will include multiple new build vessels - main vessel and support vessels. Unique Group will act as a technology partner to the shipyard and provide the vessel’s dynamic positioning systems and Navigational equipment package. As part of the project, Unique Group will also provide complete integration of the Hydrographic
Voices: Jill Zande, MATE II
the only next step for me career-wise was to go back to graduate school, get a Ph.D., have a lab and take on graduate students. I saw the academic, Ph.D. path as my only realistic option; but I also knew down deep that it wasn’t for me. I started exploring the idea of making a career switch into marine education, which included looking at DISL’s Discovery Hall and the fantastic education programs it offers.Then my former major professor at Louisiana State University told me about MATE. He had just returned from Monterey where he participated in the MATE Forum, which was hosted at MBARI. This
The Maritime Alliance Seeks Executive Director
The Maritime Alliance in San Diego is search for an executive director, a full-time salaried position with a compensation range from $75,000 to $100,000.The executive director would help manage operations of a leading BlueTech cluster organization and oversee day-to-day programs. The TMA Mission Statement is “Promoting Sustainable, Science-Based Ocean & Water Industries”. The ideal candidate understands the need to balance conservation and economic development and has a passion for working with academia/education, industry and government/policy makers (the Triple Helix) to promote a
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
Hydra Preparing for Offshore Upturn
gas industry’s rebound,” Davis said. “We’re hoping to meet the needs of this new market with an efficient vessel and well-trained team.”Subsea ResponderBuilt: 1998Length: 217 ftBreadth: 54 ftPropulsion: 3,900 BHPDeck Area: 2,771.02 ft2ROVs: Heavy Work Class ROVCrane: 1 x TTS Marine AHC Subsea Crane-60 MT @ 12 m radius for water depths 2,000 m-38 MT @ 12 m radius for water depths 2,800 mAccommodation: 57Dynamic Positioning: DP2Class: AB
Subsea Defense: Extending Unmanned Capabilities
The defense sector is looking for ways to extend its reach and capabilities, with underwater robotic and autonomous systems and sensors.Extending the capabilities of submarine warfare systems without the need for humans is a key focus in the marine defense space. Navies feel under threat; they have limited budgets and worries about resurgent maritime forces from Russia and China, while new technologies – robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems – are increasingly available to an ever-wider range of players, creating what are termed asymmetric threats in an ever-wider
Competitor Preps for XPRIZE Final with 24-hour Sea Trial
on the collaborative approach, Yulia Zarayskaya, training program alumnus and Project Lead, noted that “the skills acquired by the alumni through the data processing development, as well as working alongside team partners and suppliers, puts them at the forefront of rapidly developing autonomous marine operations and the modern processes of transforming data into useful information.”It is hoped that the team’s technology will find wider applications once the XPRIZE is completed, and discussions are ongoing with The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project to see how this might be
Teledyne Gavia Introduces ASW Training Target Module
payload module is capable of receiving and retransmitting sonar signals for training sonar operators. The STM consists of a flooded transducer compartment, an electronic compartment and a hydrophone that is towed behind the Gavia AUV. The STM is programmable to emulate different types of realistic submarine target characteristics including sizes and speeds for cost effective and reusable ASW training applications.When a Gavia vehicle is not utilizing the STM module, it can be configured for a variety of other applications including MCM, SAR and REA operations. STM modules are suitable for use with all
MultiBeam EchoSounder Enables First-of-its-kind Research
, there is a concern that rising ocean temperatures could lead seafloor methane hydrate deposits to dissociate, which would result in a greater volume of methane released in the ocean, and potentially reaching the atmosphere, and therefore causing a high risk for humanity.Scholars at the MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany, and the University of Washington in Seattle are working on a project initiated in 2017 called M3, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) that monitors the natural release of methane at the Southern Hydrate Ridge (SHR)
Greensea Names Yopak Applications Engineer, Service Manager
Greensea, creator of OPENSEA, the universal open software architecture for the marine industry, has appointed Regina Yopak as Applications Engineer, Service Manager.Yopak comes to Greensea with extensive at-sea experience having spent several tours as Lead Navigator and Mapping Specialist on board E/V Nautilus for the Ocean Exploration Trust. In addition to her offshore experience, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Environmental Science, and a Master of Science degree in Ocean Engineering from the University of Rhode Island.In her new role, Yopak will work as a bridge between
MTR’s “Top 10” Ocean Influencers
Out today is the 13th Annual “MTR100”, Marine Technology Reporter’s profiling of 100 leading companies, people and technologies in the subsea space. This year for the first time the editorial staff, with input from the global industry, delivers a listing of the “Top 10 Ocean Influencers.” Marine Technology Reporter’s Top 10 are profiled in short below; for the full editorial see the July/August 2018 edition at: https://magazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MarineTechnology/201807/No. 1Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman, Nippon FoundationYohei Sasakawa, Chairman, Nippon
New Site Hosts Corps’ Hydrographic Survey Training
What do hydrographic surveys ― the scientific measurement and description of physical features at the bottom of bodies of water ― have to do with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and marine construction? In a word, plenty.Francis Postiglione, chief of the New York District's Survey Section, Operation's Division, said, "Surveying is at the root of all projects in coastal and inland waterways," adding, "Surveying also plays a large role during the bidding process and awarding of contracts, especially with estimating costs."Importance of SurveysHydrographic surveys are important
Unique Group Enters into West Africa JV
, Buoyancy & Ballast, On-Site Engineering and Specialized Boats will be active from the Port Harcourt office.The new operations will be managed by Mark Severn, who will head up Business Development. Mark brings 26 years’ experience in the oil & gas industry, working on numerous offshore marine construction projects.Mark Severn commented, “This new venture represents an excellent fit for both Unique Group and Charkin Maritime & Offshore Safety Ltd. It positions us well for further expansion in the African region and the permanent base in Nigeria will facilitate a better relationship
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
