Canada’s Ocean Supercluster Announces Three Ocean Innovation Projects Valued at $15m
Barge ProjectThis project introduces Lilypad, a mobile floating charging station designed to accelerate maritime electrification. The solution provides a flexible, cost-effective charging infrastructure for electric vessels, reducing reliance on permanent installations, and supporting clean marine transportation. The mobile solution operates like a floating gas station for electric boats in coastal waters.The project is led by Victoria, BC-based Mostar Labs, in partnership with St. John’s, NL-based Engage Creative Technologies. By integrating smart grid technology and emergency power capabiliti
ABL to Support Installation of UK’s Offshore ‘Electricity Superhighway’ Link
superhighway to enable the simultaneous transfer of power between Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, and Drax, North Yorkshire.ABL's scope of work includes the technical review and approval of project and procedural documentation, the provision of suitability surveys of the fleet proposed for marine transportation and installation operations, and DP assurance where required.Deemed as sizeable by the company, the contract is valued between $1 million and $3 million.The company will also review and approve all warranted operations with on-site attendances, with cable laying operations expected to take
Coast Guard Establishes Robotics Office
through comprehensive sustainment planning.A central element of this effort will be advancing the Coast Guard’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Strategy. The office will facilitate the Coast Guard’s efforts to forge the partnerships and capabilities necessary to defend the U.S. Marine Transportation System and safeguard National Special Security Events.The office’s responsibilities span the full capability lifecycle, including requirements definition and prioritization, managing acquisition and contracting, overseeing system development and integration, managing fielding and deployment
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Welcomes Admiral Tim Gallaudet As New Trustee
Administration (NOAA). Under his leadership, Gallaudet steered the agency, managing national marine sanctuaries and coastal waterways, fisheries, weather satellites, weather services, and environmental research. He oversaw the agency’s Blue Economy strategies and activities to advance marine transportation, sustainable seafood production, ocean exploration and mapping, marine tourism and recreation, coastal resilience, and spearheaded the development and execution of the NOAA science and technology strategies for Artificial Intelligence, Uncrewed Systems, ‘Omics, Cloud, Data, and Citizen
Rocket Lab to Convert Barge for Rocket Landings at Sea
Rocket Lab, a company specializing in launch services and space systems, has acquired a barge which will be modified to specialized ocean landing platform for rockets returning to Earth.Rocket Lab acquired the Oceanus barge from New Orleans-based, private marine transportation company Canal Barge.The barge, renamed Return on Investment, will be customized to serve as an at-sea landing platform with propulsion systems to maintain the platform’s target position and thermal protection systems to conserve electrical and other support equipment installed on the deck.Expected to enter service in 2026
Tidewater Appoints New Vice President of Marine Operations
Tidewater has appointed Chris Mack as the company's new Vice President of Marine Operations.Mack brings over two decades of industry experience to the Tidewater team.He earned his Bachelor's degree in Maritime Transportation from the California Maritime Academy and received his Master of Marine Transportation and Engineering Management from California State University Maritime Academy in 2023. He began his maritime career as an Able Seaman, progressing to the role of Captain within the Ocean Towing Fleet. Over a span of more than 20 years at Foss Maritime, Mack held various shoreside positions
Technology Time - Newfoundland & Labrador Style
.Nditive3D specializes in real-time gas detection and predictive analysis using an AI-powered monitoring system and patent-pending sensor technology. Ideal for high-risk industrial environments, Nditive3D serves chemical plants, manufacturing facilities, offshore energy, the mining industry and marine transportation.Kraken KATFISH towed synthetic aperture sonar system and autonomous launch and recovery system.© Kraken RoboticsKraken Robotics provides complex subsea sensors, batteries and robotic systems, with a focus on seabed intelligence. The company is driven not only by NL’s dynamic
Spaces & Places: Inside the ‘Crown Jewels’ of Newfoundland & Labrador
we're going to be focusing on that piece. So, are we full? Are we dynamic? Do we have the great mix of the businesses that are operating across the province? Are we representing a variety of industries?”New HorizonsCommon themes across the conversations above—climate change, green marine transportation, maritime cybersecurity, automation and autonomy, digitalization, and the growing use of AI. The Rock may not be alone in facing challenges in these opportunities, but Newfoundland and Labrador should be poised for success. “If it works here, it will work anywhere. So that's why
Apply Now for the Fourth Ocean Startup Challenge
discussions with industry leaders and experts to identify gaps and opportunities in specific areas within the ocean sector. These discussions are reflected in the Challenge Statements, which include areas of focus such as: sustainable seafood, renewable ocean energy, decarbonized shipping and marine transportation, marine bioresources and biotechnology, and autonomous vessels and robotics.Applications for the 2024 Ocean Startup Challenge are open until September 15, 2024. Information sessions in both French and English will be held throughout the summer to assist prospective applicants in preparing
December 2025
