Navis Survey Acclaims AI
Global container terminals are expected to embrace automated decision making powered by artificial intelligence (AI) as they pursue ways to improve operational consistencies and enhance equipment utilization.According to TechValidate customer survey by Navis, 88% of respondents indicated that automated decision making will be very if not extremely important for the future of innovation at terminals.Further, 83% plan to increase their AI investments over the next one-to-three years, signaling growing confidence in the use of innovative technologies to improve terminal efficiencies and gain
TSR Obtains Magnetometer to Aid in Treasure Hunting
Treasure & Shipwreck Recovery, Inc. (“TSR”), currently trading on the OTC market under the ticker symbol BLIS, announced that its brand-new cesium magnetometer was delivered. The following is an explanation of what this means by TSR chief operating officer and internationally known shipwreck expert Dr. E. Lee Spence:“This isn’t an off-the-shelf item that you can buy at your local dive shop or treasure hunting store. It’s a state-of-the-art piece of scientific equipment, costing almost $40,000.“Our new magnetometer is a model G882AR/4, made to special order
Blue Robotics Intros Ping360 Scanning Sonar
California-based Blue Robotics announced its newest product, the Ping360 Scanning Sonar, which offers small remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROVs) the ability to navigate in low visibility water conditions.The Ping360 is a mechanical scanning sonar – it uses a small acoustic transducer mounted on a motor that rotates it in one-degree increments.As it rotates, it transmits and receives acoustic pulses to build a 360-degree image of the surroundings. This is similar to laser scanners and LIDARs used for ground robotics and autonomous cars but using sound waves instead of light.When mounted on
COVE Announces Five New Board Members
The Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) welcomes five new members to its Board of Directors.The new board members include Mark Jollymore, President of Innovasea Systems Inc., Melanie Nadeau, Director, Strategic Initiatives of Emera, Aubrey Palmeter, President & CEO of East Point Engineering, Denise Pothier, Vice President of Practice Services and Vice President of Indigenous Relations of Stantec, and Ken Walker, President of PGS Consulting. Finishing their term on the board are Janet MacMillan, Senior Counsel at NATIONAL Public Relations, and Mike Roberts, Chief Human Resources
General Dynamics Launches New Bluefin-12
General Dynamics Mission Systems released the new Bluefin-12 autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle at Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2019.This new vehicle builds upon the proven Bluefin autonomy and uses shared Bluefin Robotics’ core capabilities, increased mission modularity and embedded intelligence to complete users’ long endurance, high-consequence and changing missions.The base Bluefin-12’s extended modularity supports the integration of user-designated sensors and payloads to deliver new mission-critical capabilities.The Bluefin Robotics core autonomy with
MacArtney to Supply Swedish Research Vessel
a range of technology, from camera and light systems, to more recently, the co-design and upgrade of a Lobster Sledge with fiber optic multiplexer and interfaces.Now MacArtney has delivered a fully integrated scope of supply including the MacArtney TRIAXUS and FOCUS 2 ROTVs (Remote Operated Towed Vehicles) and a customized CTD (Conductivity, Temperature and Depth) carousel with water sampling and drop-camera system comprising of LUXUS Power LEDs, Laser Pointers and HD Zoom Camera.Operating this integrated system solution is the R/V Svea, a brand new research and survey vessel built at the Armon
OPT Announces PB3 PowerBuoy Contracts
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTT), a leader in innovative ocean energy solutions, has announced the signing of two new contracts with Enel Green Power Chile (EGP), a subsidiary of Enel Chile, part of the Enel Group, a multinational energy company and a leading global integrated electricity and gas operator. The combined value of the contracts exceeds US$1.9 million and includes the sale of a PB3 PowerBuoy and the development and supply of a state-of-the-art, turn-key integrated Open Sea Lab that will be OPT’s first deployment off the coast of Chile.The first contract with Enel
EOMAP Wins Funding for Next-Gen Satellite-Derived Bathymetry
EOMAP has been awarded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to further develop its physics-based method of mapping the depth of the sea from satellite observations.Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB) uses data gathered by satellites and aircraft to generate depth measurements and seafloor characteristics for regions of shallow water. Developed 20 years ago by EOMAP scientists then at DLR (Germany) and CSIRO (Australia), SDB’s potential to create a continuously updated global database of shallow-water bathymetry is hampered by the heavy computing power required to process the large amounts of data
#Oi2020 History
In 1980, NOAA established the National Undersea Research Program (NURP), which at the time, was America’s only federal scientific program that specialized in providing access to undersea technology to help better-manage Earth's last frontier. NURP made undersea technologies available to the scientific community, supported creative partnerships, and conducted groundbreaking research towards the advancement of marine and Great Lakes science. The program continued until 2007, when it was merged within NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). Known as the only
Study: How Much of Corals’ Nutrition Comes From Hunting
When it comes to feeding, corals have a few tricks up their sleeve. Most of their nutrients come from microscopic algae living inside of them, but if those algae aren’t creating enough sustenance, corals can use their tentacles to grab and eat tiny prey swimming nearby.A new study from researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of New Mexico, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography is revealing that more of corals’ nutrients come from this sort of hunting than previously expected, information that may help predict the fate of coral reefs as global ocean
Teledyne Optech Introduces Galaxy T2000
Teledyne Optech, a Teledyne Technologies [NYSE:TDY] company, and leader in lidar sensing has announced the next evolution of its Galaxy platform, the Galaxy T2000. A compact lidar-mapping sensor, the Galaxy T2000 provides a unique feature set for maximum collection efficiency and point density, and is the next step in the evolution of modern aerial surveying. Coupled with a new G2 mounting system, the Galaxy T2000 leverages its compact size to co-mount two sensors over a single aircraft portal, making it quite simply the most flexible commercial lidar system on the market today.The Galaxy T2000
Ashtead Supports Subsea Template Installs
a 25-day period. This saw the project completed well ahead of schedule and resulting in significant cost efficiencies.During the placement of the structures, the DMS systems were configured for autonomous independent operation, communicating data to one of the installation remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV). Ashtead Technology utilized a range of measurement sensors and positioning tools along with special techniques to enhance the accuracy of the data collected, ensuring maximum performance of the system.The Aberdeen headquartered business provided field engineers to support the operations
Greenland Research Vessel Picks MAN Hybrid Propulsion
The Astilleros Balenciaga S.A. shipyard in Spain ordered a complete MAN propulsion package – including MAN 27/38 and 175D engines, a five-blade MAN Alpha propeller and both remote-control and MAN HyProp systems – in connection with the construction of a research vessel for the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.The 61-m, ice-class trawler is designed by Norwegian company, Skipsteknisk. Delivery of the propulsion package is scheduled for Q1, 2020 with the vessel expected to enter service from spring 2021. MAN Energy Solutions further reports that a large number of fishing vessels
Sercel Launches New Ocean Bottom Node
has ensured GPR’s performance is precisely tailored to meet today’s industry requirements. It has a compact design and benefits from the fidelity and ultra-quiet performance of QuietSeis as well as flexible deployment options.GPR nodes can be deployed by either remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) or node-on-a-rope (NOAR). GPR's fully integrated all-in-one compact design incorporates an optional acoustic transponder to optimize operations and the 3C MEMS and hydrophone to record high-fidelity data.Pascal Rouiller, Sercel CEO, said, “GPR is a significant addition to CGG&rsquo
CODA Elects Plumb to Board of Directors
Coda Octopus Group, Inc. (CODA) (Nasdaq: CODA), a leader in real-time 3D sonar technology and real-time subsea intelligence, announced the election of J. Charles Plumb, Captain, USNR (Ret.) to its Board of Directors. Captain Plumb was elected at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders.Captain J. Charles Plumb is a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot and former Vietnam Prisoner of War. He retired from the United States Navy after 28 years of service, and his military honors include two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the P.O.W. Medal. Since his
Woodside Backs Seismic Data Acquisition Company
(BOM) to invest in seismic data acquisition company Blue Ocean Seismic Services (BOSS).BOSS is developing a solution that that aims to make ocean bottom seismic data acquisition cheaper and more accessible. The concept, jointly developed by Woodside and BOM, focuses on using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) in place of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) to place nodes on the ocean floor that capture and record soundwaves. The BOSS-designed AUVs are small submarines that are pre-programmed to self-deploy to the ocean floor and reposition multiple times. This method will improve efficiencies
DOF Subsea Upgrades ROV Fleet
Subsea has equipped a further three of its Brazilian offshore vessel fleet with hybrid acoustic and inertial navigation technology from Sonardyne Brasil Ltda.Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav all-in-one subsea navigation instruments are now supporting five Forum Energy Technologies (FET) remotely operated vehicles (ROV) on board the three vessels. This latest order takes the total number of DOF Subsea’s Brazilian vessels equipped with SPRINT-Nav aided ROVs to six.SPRINT-Nav combines Sonardyne’s SPRINT sensor, Syrinx 600 kHz Doppler velocity log (DVL) and a pressure sensor in a single housing
First Hybrid Fish Farm Boat On the Water
Danfoss Editron has delivered two 105kW motors that will help power Edel, the first hybrid vessel built for the aquaculture sector by Norwegian shipyard Moen Marin. Edel is also the first diesel-electric vessel in the fleet of NRS Farming, Norway’s leading producer of sustainable salmon.The 13.5 by 7.5m vessel will become part of NRS Farming’s fleet and be used for sustainable fishing in salmon farms located in Norway’s fjords. As it has an operating pattern of predominantly short trips, NRS Farming plans to run Edel mainly on battery power. However, the boat will operate in diesel-ele
ABB Propulsion Takes Ship to North Pole
Norwegian Coast Guard ship KV Svalbard is the first vessel powered by an ABB Azipod propulsion system to reach the North Pole.The ship is equipped with twin 5MW Azipod icebreaking units which enabled it to sail through polar ice at speeds of up to 6 to 7 knots when it took part in an international scientific expedition, the Coordinated Arctic Acoustic Thermometry Experiment led by Norwegian research foundation The Nansen Center.The Azipod electric propulsion system is designed to make s ships highly maneuverable, being based on an electric drive motor located under the ship’s hull in a submerged
Lifeboat Converted Into Unsinkable Solar-Powered Arctic Excursion Boat
A new solar vessel that can theoretically be submerged and remain unharmed has been produced by repurposing a lifeboat that could originally accommodate 100 people.Two British architects, Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel, recognized that the craft could be converted into an adventure vessel that could explore the Norwegian Artic while offering its occupants all the comforts of home.“We wanted to experience a range of different cultures, different approaches to living by the sea, different landscapes, different climates. And if you are creating an expedition boat that will take you 3100 miles
V.Ships Manages REV Ocean Expedition Ship
Norwegian ocean research organization REV Ocean has appointed V.Ships Leisure as ship management partner for the world’s largest research and expedition vessel.V.Ships Leisure, part of V.Group, will provide a tailored suite of ship management services for the new vessel, which is scheduled for completion in 2021. The ship will be equipped for conducting research that covering the whole of the marine ecosystem using advanced technology developed by Norwegian knowledge clusters and will be used for innovative research expeditions exploring issues such as the impact that carbon dioxide emissions
New Tech for Wind Blade Inspections
Drones and crawling robots outfitted with special scanning technology could help wind blades stay in service longer, which may help lower the cost of wind energy at a time when blades are getting bigger, pricier and harder to transport, Sandia National Laboratories researchers say.As part of the Department of Energy’s Blade Reliability Collaborative work, funded by the Wind Energy Technologies Office, Sandia researchers partnered with energy businesses to develop machines that noninvasively inspect wind blades for hidden damage while being faster and more detailed than traditional inspections
Offshore Survey Vessels: Ready for Faster Sensors
existing UxVs, scaling to larger, faster platforms. The second would see high-speed, medium-to-large vessels being designed with autonomous technology as a fundamental operating system. In my mind, the ultimate solution is quite evident and based on the physics of the ocean. Added mass of water requires vehicle mass in order to counteract momentum; hence, I side with the concept of starting with substance and building from there.From our perspective, all efforts to improve efficiency on the ocean are important. Eliminating people at sea, using smaller, more efficient platforms with longer endurance, better
French Frigate Sonars Get an Upgrade
Since summer 2017, four vessels equipped with analog sonars have been upgraded using RTsys AS3i technology (Analog Surface Ship Sonar Improvement), which digitalized and improved the processing of signals rendered by sensors.Brittany-based company RTSYS does not only deals with AUV, subsea recorders and buoys, but can also display a full range of sonar systems such as handheld devices for divers or sonar retrofit. The latter of which led the French SME to lately offer in summer 2017 its services to the French Navy by upgrading analogue sonars on four frigates.In accordance with the ACORES public
AIS Data: History & Future
The Automatic Identification System (AIS) was developed with the sole goal of improving maritime safety by allowing ships in proximity to one another to automatically exchange information regarding their name, course, speed, type, cargo, etc. The exchange of this information would allow conning officers on each ship to make better decisions regarding the possibility of close encounters and the need to change course and/or speed. It would also make it easier for one ship to contact the other by radio-telephone to hopefully remove any doubt. To that extent, AIS has largely worked as
