Free Workshops: Earth Observation for Marine Environments
The European funded SpaceWave project is hosting four workshops to identify the current capabilities and opportunities for businesses of using Earth Observation capabilities in marine areas sea fisheries, aquaculture, environmental monitoring and water-level rise and coastal erosion monitoring.The free workshops can be attended in person or online via webinar to learn about opportunities and technologies for using Earth Observation techniques, including, satellites, high altitude platforms, drones, remote sensors, etc.•Sea Fisheries - July 9, 10:30-12:20 a.m. at Harwell, Oxfordshire or online via
Average Sized Dead Zone Expected in the Gulf of Mexico
in groundwater, higher drinking and wastewater treatment costs and wasted fertilizer applications.“The Gulf’s recurring summer hypoxic zone continues to put important habitats and valuable fisheries at risk,” said Steve Thur, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. “Although there has been some progress in reducing nutrients, the overall levels remain high and continue to strain the region’s coastal economies.”NOAA issues a dead zone forecast each year, and refines the models used by the Hypoxia Task Force to set nutrient reduction
New Range of Underwater Connectors
Immersible connectors have to meet a variety of mechanical and chemical constraints. SOURIAU has been active in this market for a very long time, continuously adapting its product range to customer requirements in the field of military submarines, oceanography, geophysics and the oil industry. With SWIM, SOURIAU is launching a new range of connectors designed for new markets.The new SWIM range (Shallow Water IMmersion) is designed for marine applications in depths down to 300 m, which are considered shallow immersion. These connectors are designed for innovative applications like surface drones for
Aquabotix to Support U.S. Navy
UUV Aquabotix, an underwater robotics company with operations in Australia and the U.S., announced its agreement to support the U.S. Navy’s Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost (FDECO) program as a member of the Innovative Undersea Prototype Development Consortium (iUPDC).Historically, unmanned underwater vehicle use has been challenged by limitations in endurance and difficulties in transferring data. FDECO’s publicly-stated mission is to seek to prototype a forward deployed, open, scalable and coordinated undersea energy replenishment, data management, and communications
Meet Kraken’s Tentacle Autonomous LARS
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 any piece of oceanographic equipment. It involves multiple dynamic components, impacted by wave heights, vessel motions, wind direction and currents. Since equipment is delicate and costly, great care must be taken during its launch and recovery.Kraken’s Handling Systems Group, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
ION, Greensea Ink Joint Marketing Agreement
ION Geophysical Corporation and Greensea Systems, Inc. will work together to provide underwater navigation solutions for manned and unmanned underwater vehicle operators under a new joint marketing agreement.The partnership will aim to accelerate the adoption of ION’s technologies into larger, less cyclic adjacent markets offshore and in the military while providing Greensea with options to integrate ION sensor technology into a growing number of navigation systems. Greensea and ION have already collaborated to integrate ION’s optical magnetic heading sensor into Greensea’s INSpect
Taking UUVs Faster, Further & Deeper
Micro-UUV Technology is FlexibleIn 2015, veterans of the conventional UUV sector set out to change the dynamics of the industry, founding Riptide Autonomous Solutions. Riptide’s first product was the micro-UUV, a new, highly flexible, open source autonomous undersea vehicle that provides a state-of-the-art, low cost solution ideally suited for developers of autonomy and behaviors, power systems, subsea sensors, and other new payloads. The micro-UUV features open hardware and software interfaces giving users a reliable and robust platform to advance technology development. The vehicle design is
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
Unmanned Vehicles May Soon Take Up Residency Subsea
not easy to develop this type of system. In 2015, Saab Seaeye demonstrated that it had everything needed to have autonomous behaviour – auto-docking, station keeping, 3D terrain navigation. Eni Cleansea is 10 years ahead of Statoil.”FreedomOne of the latest concepts to emerge on the market is Oceaneering’s Freedom. Oceaneering says that the 3.3m-long vehicle will be able to perform inspection, advanced survey, and light intervention work, under a modular design.This will mean it can be configured for the mission it’s required for.“Freedom will be autonomous or with real-time
Sensors Switched-out at the Bourne Tidal Test Site
Two Nortek Signature 500 acoustic doppler current profilers (ADCP) at the Bourne Tidal Test Site have been removed and replaced with new, freshly charged Signature 1000 systems.The data that is being collected is part of the research being conducted by Soroush Kouhi a PhD candidate at the University of Rhode Island (URI). He and his team of students are working out the details of how best to measure and characterize the water flow resource at tidal turbine sites. The Bourne Tidal Test Site is a great place to learn about how to deploy, calibrate and manage these sensors in the turbulent waters of the
Real-time Oceanographic Equipment Installed at Port Everglades
Real-time tides, currents, water levels and other metrological information at Broward County’s Port Everglades is now readily available to the public thanks to an advanced sensor device developed and installed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).“Boaters and commercial mariners will be able to make safer choices based on the data from this equipment because it gives real-time information and forecasts,” said Port Everglades Deputy Port Director Glenn Wiltshire. “Before this equipment went into service, mariners had to rely on data for Lake Worth in
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
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 cost effectiveness of USV usage. A profile of high-productivity, cost-reducing activities is being developed for both traditional survey tasks and survey tasks in previously denied, and currently unsurveyed
Wave Gliders to Study Arctic and Southern Oceans
Oceanographers will deploy long duration unmanned ocean robots called Wave Gliders as a sensor platform to conduct advanced scientific research in inhospitable and remote regions of the Arctic and Southern Oceans.Using Liquid Robotics’ wave and solar powered Wave Gliders, scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps) and the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington (APL-UW) will obtain real time data and rare insights into the dynamic conditions that drive the world’s weather and climate. This data is critical for scientists to understand and improve
Bathymetric Processing Workflow Simplified
Teledyne CARIS has announced the release of HIPS and SIPS 11.0. This release introduces several improvements making it easier for users to start new projects and process data, as well as an enhanced user experience while interacting with survey data.For users looking for the simplest way to open and process their data, HIPS and SIPS now supports Drag and Drop for raw sensor files. When you Drag and Drop files onto the application, the raw data is automatically processed, georeferenced, and a gridded surface is created.Version 11.0 also offers one-step processing. The new Georeference Bathymetry
MH370 Search Comes to a Close
able to crack one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries.Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. It’s believed someone may have deliberately switched off the plane’s transponder before diverting it over the Indian Ocean.Following an unsuccessful $160 million search effort conducted by Australia, China and Malaysia that was called off in January 2017, Malaysia this year agreed to pay Ocean Infinity, a technology company specializing in collecting high resolution seabed data, up to $70 million if it found the plane
AIRMAR Sensors Offer Optimum Performance for AUVs
The increased demand for maritime systems that can collect information for organizations and governments in sectors such as defense and security, oil and gas, oceanography, and hydrography is driving today’s development of Unmanned Maritime Vessels. Growth in the commercial exploration segment of the market is attributed to the expanding use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) in applications such as surveys and seabed mapping, offshore drilling, and pipeline inspection. “We’ve experienced considerable growth in our
Autonomous Vessels: FAU Gets $1.25m for Research
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 system, as well as training and education of graduate and undergraduate students in ocean engineering. The project will leverage and collaborate with FAU’s ongoing Naval Engineering Education Consortium effort in conjunction with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, which involves use of two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) for adaptive subsurface sensing in
Remote Acoustic Metrology Put to the Test
An acoustic jumper metrology was conducted using the Sonardyne Connect software in conjunction with 4D Nav’s remote survey system in a joint program between 4D Nav and i-Tech Services. The metrology took place as part of remote survey trials during a Subsea 7 project earlier this year in the Gulf of Mexico.Acoustic long baseline (LBL) data and pressure sensor data were collected at a network operations center (NOC) onshore in Houston. The direct interface to the Sonardyne 6G transceiver (ROVNAV) enabled by the Connect software allowed full control of LBL data collection as well as logging of
Scientists to Investigate Human Impacts in the Ocean
An international group of scientists aboard the high-tech research vessel RRS James Cook left Southampton on May 19 for the Porcupine Abyssal Plain – Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean on an expedition that aims to answer fundamental questions about how potential environmental and ecological stressors are influencing the open ocean from surface to seabed.The researchers will track the flow of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the air into the surface ocean, and the eventual fate of this carbon in the ocean depths. They’ll also make detailed measurements of
Valeport Unveils New Probe
A new probe that combines the power of the SWiFT SVP and a turbidity sensor has been launched by British oceanographic and hydrographic instrument specialist Valeport. The new SWiFTplus uses Valeport’s high accuracy sensor technology which incorporates turbidity observations with sound speed, temperature and pressure sensor technology to also provide computed conductivity, salinity and density. This is coupled with Bluetooth connectivity and a rechargeable battery.The handheld profiler, constructed from Titanium, has been designed from the outset with the intention of a seamless workflow and has
MG3 & Satellite Derived Bathymetry
Operation of marine survey vessels in shallow-water coastal environments is a dangerous endeavor. A subsurface obstruction can tear a multi-beam sonar from its tow cable, resulting in loss of the expensive device and potential delay in the expedition. Lost equipment, however, is a minor inconvenience compared to the equally real possibility of the ship running aground in poorly charted waters, endangering the safety of its crew and incurring millions of dollars in damage.For this reason, survey vessel operators invest considerable time and money to minimize the risk involved in each voyage. They are
Reducing Aquaculture Die-offs in Real-time
In 2017, Atlantic Sapphire lost 250 tonnes of salmon in a mass die-off due to hydrogen sulfide poisoning from accumulated organic matter, an all-too-common problem in aquaculture with significant economic losses.Growing salmon in land-based tanks in which water is continuously circulated (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, RAS) means low waste discharge and high-levels of water re-use, but also sporadic toxic microorganism outbreaks that cause costly mass fish stock die-offs.FluoRAS, Horizon 2020 COLUMBUS and EMFF ECO-AQUA are putting in place aquaculture trials of a fluorometer sensor system
ROV Roundup: Recent Tech Innovations
MTR highlights recent technological advances in the world of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV).SaabSeaeye: It’s ElectricOperators, from the Gulf of Mexico to offshore Australia, report multi-million-dollar savings as they switch to the new generation of electric work vehicles, and the Saab Seaeye Leopard it touted as the most powerful electric robotic work vehicle of its size in the world.Compared to a 66-ton hydraulic equivalent, its 25-ton complete package brings considerable savings in footprint, mobilization, maintenance and staff.Operators report the Leopard reducing costs by up
US Navy-owned Research Vessel Back in Action
University of Washington and the National Science Foundation, extended the Thompson's life by another 15-20 years. By comparison, it would cost around $200 million to build a new research vessel."The refit of the R/V Thompson provides a continued global capability of support to Navy and national oceanographic research objectives," said Dr. Tom Drake, head of ONR's Ocean Battlespace Sensing Department. "It also enables additional years of service, hundreds of thousands of ocean miles sailed, research opportunities for thousands of scientists, and the training of the next generation
A Record-setting Journey to the Atacama Trench
A Chilean-led expedition to explore the ocean trench off it’s own coast succeeded in launching and recovering a benthic lander named DOV Audacia (Audacity), three times to deeper than 8,000 meters, the last to a record depth of 8,081 meters deep. Using a Mocness Trawl the expedition also collected plankton at a record depth of 5,000 meters. The Atacamex 2018 expedition represent a milestone for marine science in Chile, as researchers there pursue seminal work in deep-sea exploration and research.The hadal zone is the deepest region of the ocean, from 6,000 to 11,000 meters below sea level.
Teledyne: Custom ROV for Saudi Aramco
Teledyne Marine and Research Products Development Company (RPDC) have agreed to collaborate on global commercialization of new technologies developed within Saudi Arabia.“We are pleased to have entered into this cooperation agreement with RPDC,” said Mike Read, President of Teledyne Marine. “It formalizes our support of new technology and collaboration in the offshore oil industry with the belief that it will facilitate new and innovative solutions.”A first success under this agreement is the award of a development contract, which will integrate a unique sensor design developed
Self-compensating Magnetometer for Gavia AUV
OFG self-compensating magnetometer (SCM) added to Teledyne Gavia sensor suiteTeledyne Gavia, manufacturer of the Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), has completed trials of the AUV self-compensating magnetometer (SCM) from Ocean Floor Geophysics (OFG).Now, following successful integration and field trials in Iceland, the sensor system is being offered as part of the expanding suite of tools available to Gavia AUV users.CEO of OFG, Matthew Kowalczyk elaborated on the principal advantage of the SCM system: “There are many magnetometer technologies available on the market. The requirement
PDI to Supply Centerboard for OSU's New Research Vessel
University (OSU)'s new Regional Class Research Vessel (RCRV).Gulf Island Shipyards is building the vessel under a contract from OSU, with an option for two additional vessels. OSU has engaged with naval architecture and engineering firm Glosten to lead the design contract of the next class of oceangoing research vessels for the National Science Foundation (NSF).These state-of-the-art 193-foot ships will be highly flexible, multimission platforms that maximize energy efficient design concepts. The first vessel will be built in Houma, La., and will be delivered to OSU in the fourth quarter of
MacArtney: Custom EMO Multiplexer
Upgrading the subsea survey and camera interfaces of an ROV represents the primary purpose of the MUX having been deployed in Singapore. The requirements for reliable transmission of large amounts of data and video from ROVs, ROTVs, ocean observatories and instrumentation packages are contantly being sharpened. Gathering high-quality data from the deep sea is an im¬mense undertaking, which calls for ensuring that multiple sensor and equipment types work in perfect unison and that all data are efficiently transmitted to the surface for analysis. Custom ROV MUX System A custom
Ocean Autonomy: Norway to the Fore
Marine autonomous systems working independently and in connected systems are fast becoming a growth sector within the ocean industry space, including the oil and gas industry.The emergence of new marine autonomous systems appears to be a weekly occurrence. As costs have reduced in numerous areas, from sensors to satellites, some of these systems are also coming within the grasps of ordinary citizens, as well as ocean scientists, looking to unlock the secrets of the deep.Part of the drive for these systems, in the oil and gas industry at least, is to reduce use of manned surface vessels, which are
Boaty McBoatface Completes First Antarctic Mission
The National Oceanography Center’s (NOC) autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Autosub Long Range (ALR), known affectionately around the world as ‘Boaty McBoatface’, was recovered last month following its first under-ice mission beneath the Filchner Ice Shelf in West Antarctica.From January to February 2018, the AUV was deployed in the southern Weddell Sea during RV Polarstern cruise PS111 as part of the Filchner Ice Shelf System (FISS) Project – a collaboration involving leading U.K. research institutions including the NOC, British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Met Office Hadley Center
Aquabotix Unveils New Swarm USV/UUV
situations, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and sophisticated, coordinated assaults through tracking, trailing and overwhelming targets. In addition to defense and security applications, SwarmDivers can be deployed in research, harbor management and oceanography.The key details of SwarmDiver are set out below:miniaturized – weighing just 1.7kg at a length of 75cmvertical dive capabilityability to operate as both a UUV (diving underwater) and a USV (on the surface)50 meter dive-deptheasily deployable and recoverablewireless data feedback upon
Kraken AUV Prequalified for Canada’s BCIP
the BCIP. This is yet another significant milestone in Kraken’s evolution to becoming a vertically integrated underwater robotics company.” The ThunderFish AUV is a marine robot designed for ultra high-resolution seabed imaging and mapping applications. It can be used for a wide range of oceanographic and military tasks including underwater surveys, environmental monitoring, habitat mapping, marine archaeology, inspection of submerged structures, searching for downed aircraft and naval mine countermeasures. ThunderFish carries an array of sensors and custom payload modules, including Kraken&rsq
UW’s New Research Vessel Ready for Work
The University of Washington School of Oceanography took delivery of the former R/V Aora last August in Hartlepool, England after purchasing the vessel from a private party. The vessel, renamed R/V Rachel Carson, underwent a drydock maintenance period at MacDuff Shipyard in Scotland and was transported to the Pacific Northwest via two cargo ships. Since the vessel’s arrival at UW on December 28, 2017, UW has been preparing and transforming the former fisheries research vessel into a capable Local Class oceanographic research vessel. R/V Rachel Carson's first research cruise starts
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
Expanded Underwater Robotics Ready for Oil Spills
Matt Toberman6, Dionisio Tudela1, Jüri Vain8, Emily Venables6. 1Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT), 2University of Porto, Underwater Systems and Technology Laboratory (LSTS), 3University of Zagreb, Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies (LABUST), 4University of Cyprus, Oceanography Centre, 5SASEMAR, Spanish Maritime Safety Agency, 6Irish Coast Guards, 7The Scottish Association for Marine Science - SAMS, 8Tallin University of Thechnology - TUT, 9University of Girona - UG, 10University of the Balearic Islands - UIB, 11Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskatelige Universitet
The World’s Largest Ocean Garbage Patch is Growing Rapidly
The world’s largest heap of ocean garbage is growing at an alarming rate. The 600,000-square-mile collection of ocean plastic and trash floating halfway between California and Hawaii known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch now contains four to 16 times more plastic than previously estimated, with pollution levels increasing exponentially, new analysis reveals. It’s estimated some 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic weighing 80,000 metric tons are currently afloat in the area, and it is rapidly getting worse, according to a study published Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal
ADCPs: Action in OOI's Cabled Observatory
a change in pitch; this is the Doppler Effect. It tells how fast the current is moving and in what direction. Sound waves propagate through the water column so echoes are returned and processed from many depths. The vertical range of this collection of measurements - called a profile of ocean current velocities - is greater for lower frequency sound waves. Introduction Thanks to a spirited cadre of marine scientists and engineers, high-tech ocean observatories are now operational. These sites provide a continuous presence in the ocean for sustained and interactive observing
ASV Global to Supply USV to University of Southern Mississippi
to ASV Global for the provision of a C-Worker 5 Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV). The 18’ USV will be used for testing, training, and establishing procedures and protocols for use of the system by NOAA on future hydrographic programs. Monty Graham, Director of USM’s School of Ocean Science and Technology (SOST), said, “The C-Worker 5 from ASV Global will be a great addition to support USM’s growing capabilities in Unmanned Marine Systems Certification and our research toward improved mapping and charting in the Hydrographic Science Research Center.”
Next Generation AutoNaut USV Unveiled
deployment system – for launch/recovery from ship or direct from slipway. An enhanced rudder system makes the USV even more maneuverable – able to keep station within a 25-meter radius. Finally, the 5-metre has additional space and power to allow for multiple sensor, including: MetOcean, ADCP, Passive Acoustic Monitoring, Surveillance and as a Communications Gateway. Pete Bromley, Technical Manager at AutoNaut, said, “We’ve learned a lot from all the missions conducted in the last year or so and the growing team we have here have brought some great ideas to
L3 OceanServer Unveils Iver PW AUV
L3 OceanServer announced its new Iver Precision Workhorse (Iver PW) autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The new Iver PW is the first in a family of highly capable commercial AUVs to address a wide variety of customer missions, including survey research and mapping, sub-surface security, and environmental monitoring. “Undersea missions are evolving, and L3 is uniquely positioned to develop military and commercial solutions using next-generation processing, autonomy and power technologies to enable new capabilities and missions,” said Daryl Slocum, General Manager of L3 OceanServer.
InSTREAM Project Characterizes and Models Turbulence
The recently completed InSTREAM project assessed fundamental differences in turbulent flow measured in the field, generated in a tank and simulated in a numerical model. To mitigate the risk and uncertainty associated with turbulent flows in tidal channels, developers often use tank experiments and numerical simulations to assess the power and loading performance of a turbine. However, it remains unclear if these controlled flows can be accurately scaled up to represent the natural turbulence present in tidal channels. Project Desciption The difficulty in translating
Forum Energy Technologies Launches Electric ROV Range
a new range of electric ROVs as confidence begins to return to a depressed market. The XLe Spirit is the first vehicle in the range with innovative features which will meet the expectations and requirements of operators.” The XLe Spirit will be displayed on Forum Technologies stand F400 at Oceanology International 2018, March 13-15, ExCel London
BMT Rolls Out New Big Data Product: BMT Deep
the performance of offshore assets,” said Soma Maroju, Product Development Lead for BMT Deep. “Using AI and machine learning we have been able to build advanced models that reinforce the platform’s capabilities. Couple this with our extensive global network of in-house naval architects, ocean engineers, data scientists and metocean consultants, we can deliver a robust platform that improves the design, operability and integrity of offshore assets.” Harnessing big data to deliver a clear picture, BMT Deep can store, manage, integrate, post-process and visualize vast data
Digital Ocean: Making Subsea Data More Easily Accessible
The digital ocean is a reality and U.K.-based digital communications marine technology firm Sonardyne International Ltd is one of the organizations driving innovation to enable the extension of electronic and communications connectivity into the subsea domain. Based on a presentation given by Tom Rooney, Lead Trainer at Sonardyne, at the Digital Ocean conference held in Galway, Ireland in June 2017, this article describes the current state of play in the subsea acoustics and optical communications technology field, presents examples of the many ways these technologies are being applied and considers
An Industry in Change
the right a balance between innovation and reliability to thrive in an increasingly competitive space. I spoke with two companies – an established adaptor and one of the most successful start-ups this decade – about how to thrive within the shifting landscape and what the future holds for the ocean technology industry. Since the mid-70s, RBR has been designing and manufacturing oceanographic equipment for use in a range of environments from the deep depths of the ocean’s abyss to the extreme climates of the polar regions, and all in between. Over the last 4 years, RBR have published
ATLAS MARIDAN to Offer AUV Rental Services
ATLAS MARIDAN ApS. of Rungsted Kyst (Denmark), a subsidiary of the German naval systems supplier ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, has launched an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) rental service. The opportunity to rent ATLAS ELEKTRONIK’s latest unmanned underwater technology shall support customers within the offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, UxO and naval markets. The AUV SeaCat has recently finalized its serial maturity process and concluded certifications covering a wide range of requirements for system robustness, environmental conditions, navigational accuracy and transport safety.
Real-time Mapping, Visualization in CARIS Onboard 2.0
over which files are processed. By creating up to four File Monitors, each with a unique filter and unique Process Model, a single installation of CARIS Onboard can process data from all sensors on a given survey platform. The official release date of CARIS Onboard 2.0 is March 13th, coinciding with Oceanology International 2018.
Unique Group Invests in Subsea Laser Scanning
Unique Group announced a further addition to its line of subsea technology with the addition of underwater laser scanners from Newton Labs to its equipment rental inventory. The underwater laser scanners provide images and 3D modelling of subsea structures and the seabed and are part of a wide range of products with scanning ranges out to 10 meters and resolutions to 0.01mm. With its most comprehensive in the world line of subsea scanners, Newton is the largest and oldest worldwide manufacturer of underwater laser scanners. The scanners are available for rental through the Unique
WiSub’s Universal AUV Connector
;s early career was based in the development, delivery and offshore operation of work-class remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) and related systems, where the limitations of underwater connectors can be readily observed. “Having used low-speed inductive modems as an ROV pilot during oceanographic science operations, I was convinced that pin-less connectors should be developed for the oil and gas industry as well, though it took another decade, a few changes of country, and the right timing before I took the leap to build a company that would deliver such solutions. Officially the
UK pupils set ultimate subsea STEM challenge
Industry body Subsea UK has launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging school pupils to consider a career at sea. The STEM Challenge, led by Subsea UK and supported by The Smallpeice Trust, will see teams of year nine students compete in a design-and-make challenge for the marine industries. The regional competitions kicked off this week at Falmouth Marine School with further events at the universities of Strathclyde (February 27), Southampton (March 6), and Newcastle (March 28). Schools will compete to design and build an ROV using Lego Mindstorms, a platform produced by Lego
OSIL Calibration Department in Demand
UK-based OSIL’s (Ocean Scientific International Ltd) in-house calibration department said it continues to experience high levels of demand, particularly for salinometer servicing and repairs from its global client base. OSIL are global representatives for Guildline salinometers, holding common components in stock to ensure a quick turnaround, and are ideally placed regarding calibration standards for conductivity and salinity as OSIL operates the IAPSO Standard Seawater service from within its facilities. OSIL provides support, calibrations and repairs for a wide range of hydrographic instrument
Meet the Future of Visualization and Mapping Sonars
environmental condition such as scour. A number of our customers have reported significant productivity gains when using real-time 3D technology included in offshore wind energy projects. These have included recent cable installation projects such as Race Bank inter-array installation with DeepOcean. In this project the real-time 3D output was invaluable in being able to both image the power cable as it was laid to ensure none of the vital cable properties were exceeded and additionally to record the as-laid position of the cable on the sea bed as the cable was installed. This removed any requirement
Glider-Based Ecosystem Study
On January 9, 2018, a post-doctoral researcher and undergraduate student of Dr. Grace Saba (Assistant Professor, Rutgers University, Center for Ocean Observing Leadership) deployed a Teledyne Webb Slocum Glider with an integrated ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) 38, 125 and 200 kHz instrument in the Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica). The deployment lasted 3 weeks and the glider was recovered on January 31, 2018. The purpose of this deployment was to obtain mesoscale and sub-mesoscale measurements of hydrographic processes and
Wave Buoy Measurements on a Hexapod
MARIN has recently expanded its facilities with a hexapod. This system can be used to generate forced oscillations in six degrees of freedom, either on a standalone basis or under the carriage of one of our basins. It is a useful tool to assess the efficiency of anti-roll tanks, sloshing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks, safety of cruise ship swimming pools or drop tests with a free-fall lifeboat from a moving platform. As the positioning system of the hexapod is very accurate, another useful application is the validation of measurement equipment. Recently, MARIN used it to evaluate the
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
Expanded Waterfront for Oi18
Visitors to Oceanology International 2018 (Oi18) at ExCel, London (March 13th-15th ,2018), will once again be able to participate in a series of live product demonstrations from the event’s waterside exhibitor area on the Royal Victoria Dock. As one of the most popular attractions for Oceanology International visitors, this year’s dockside and on-water demo programme has been expanded and will now comprise daily demonstrations to offer an even more valuable experience for those attending, whilst allowing exhibitors to share their product’s effectiveness in a marine environment.
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
PicSea: A New Concept for Ocean Autonomy
fraction of the cost of other AUVs. Through PicSea, Durrant aims to make underwater data more accessible to those within the scientific community that lack access to large budgets or advanced technological resources. Durrant said, “There’s a very limited subset of people who not only want ocean data but can afford access to AUV technology. For example, I know a group of biologists who want to carry out lots of environmental surveys using AUVs, but their budgets just don’t allow for it. This sort of thing is widespread across the scientific community, and it’s something I am
