HII Dry Dock Gate to Become Part of Sustainable Fish Reef
NNS needs to flood the dry dock. This particular gate, originally put into service at NNS in 1967, was part of a dry dock no longer in use at the shipyard.NNS crews worked to prepare the caisson gate, ensuring that it was environmentally ready to take on its new mission. That included stripping all loose paint, removing electrical items and ensuring all oils and solvents were removed. The gate was also ballasted for sinking to ensure it landed on the seabed properly.In late June, the gate left NNS, was towed offshore and sunk. It is now taking on new life as part of the VMRC Tower Reef, which is already
US Oil Spill Testing, Response Facility Gets Major Upgrade
from conventional or renewable sources.”“This is the largest, outdoor saltwater wave/tow tank facility in North America,” said Eric Miller, BSEE Oil Spill Preparedness Division chief. “BSEE engineers worked closely with the facility operator Applied Research Associates to repaint and refurbish the tank and bridges, and to conduct the first end-to-end concrete analysis of the nearly 50-year-old structure.”Large-scale maintenance occurs on the facility every five years, and includes the dismantling, removal and inspection of major equipment such as the tank’s three
Lander Lab #3: Buoyancy
of 300-ft (92m), up to 25-lbs/ft3 with a maximum test depth of 1,200-ft (366m). The material has high impact resistance, and is biologically inert. Standard sheet sizes are 10” x 24” x 100”, and 14” x 18” x 100”. The material is easy to machine, coat, and paint, is dimensionally stable, and compatible with many types of adhesives.Figure 4. Closed cell rigid polyurethane foam is dimensionally stable and easy to machine, with some densities rated for 1200-ft depth. (Photo courtesy of General Plastics)The outer edge of the continental shelf is
Farsounder Recommends Propspeed FoulFree for Sonar Transducers
coatings, received an endorsement from FarSounder, a pioneer in navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, which has tested the Propspeed Foulfree foul-release coating and recommends it for application by their customers, dealers and partner shipyards.“Our unique, patented technology is designed to paint a clear picture of what lies ahead underwater and along the bottom,” said Cheryl Zimmerman, CEO, FarSounder. “Marine growth on our transducers could limit the effectiveness of our products and potentially put a vessel in a hazardous situation. When choosing a partner, it is also important
Subsea Discovery: SOI Releases Images from Study of NW Australian Deep Corals
critical attention, as all reefs face a range of stressors including a changing climate. However, it may be that mesophotic environments are unique in their own right.”Australian artist Ellie Hannon sailed with the scientists in the Artist-at-Sea berth, capturing the beauty of Ashmore Reef in her paintings created on-board. She was also able to paint a panel for the deep-diving robot, SuBastian. The expedition was led by Australian Institute of Marine Science, and included scientists from the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Western Australia Museum with support from Parks
SUBSEA TECHNOLOGY: Underwater Acoustics Pick up the Tempo
, biodiversity, human activities, as well as their mutual interactions.” He believes that OBLP will allow managers and stakeholders to efficiently monitor marine ecosystem trends and perform data-driven decision making in conservation management.Sound MappingUnderwater acoustics, while excellent at painting an auditory map of the deep sea, can also paint a spatial one. Since GPS doesn’t work well underwater, as radio waves break down in liquids, scientists rely on acoustic signaling for locating undersea objects like drones or animals. Motivated by the massive amount of oceanic territory that
Metal Pollution is Leaving Scallops Helpless Against Crabs and Lobsters
, human activities have elevated their concentrations in many marine environments to the point where they have become toxic. This pollution comes from a variety of sources such as run off from mining, agricultural and industrial activity; offshore oil and gas exploitation; and leaching of anti-fouling paint from ships hulls. As a result, metal pollution tends to be highest in estuaries, around ports and in inshore waters.Despite stricter recent regulations controlling the use of metals in marine environments, they continue to be an increasing threat. This is because heavy metals are highly persistent
The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up
hair and explains why we found concentrations of over 12,000 particles per liter of sea ice — two to three times higher than what we’d found in past measurements.”In the Arctic snow, types of particles found included nitrile rubber, which is often used to make gaskets and hoses, and paints containing plastics, which are used to coat the surface of buildings, ships, cars and offshore oil rigs. In the ice floes, the scientists predominantly found similar paint particles and nylon waste from fishing nets.The question that remains is how these omnipresent particles impact living organisms
CGG's Sercel Buys Stake in Autonomous Robots Start-Up
France-based seismic data company CGG has informed that its subsidiary Sercel has acquired a 34% shareholding in AMBPR, a start-up company that designs and markets autonomous robots.The AMBPR robots are used for repairing (sanding and painting) of large metallic structures, used in the maritime and energy industries. "Sercel recognized the potential of AMBPR through Axandus, Sercel’s Industrial Accelerator program, which helps start-ups to scale up their industrial growth. The two companies have also signed an exclusive industrial partnership agreement whereby Sercel will manufacture