
Sonardyne Suite for Dive Technologies’ AUV
DIVE-LD autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) program.Founded in 2018, Dive Technologies’ rapid development program has included support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and technology partnerships with organizations including the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics at Virginia Tech. A key part of the development has been to opt for high-performance, off-the-shelf systems for its DIVE-LD AUV, a 19-ft. long, 48-in. diameter vehicle designed for operations down to 6,000 m water depth. It is currently in production in the U.S. with sea testing ongoing in New Bedford.The scope

First Building Complete at HII's New Unmanned Systems Campus
this Center of Excellence,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of Technical Solutions’ Unmanned Systems business group. “This facility solidifies HII’s commitment to advancing development of unmanned systems for our current and future customers.”HII partnered with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the city of Hampton and the Hampton Roads Alliance to secure the project. More than 250 high quality jobs will be created to support unmanned systems design and production at the facility. Employees began working in the first building on Dec. 28, 2020

HII Acquires Autonomy Business from Spatial Integrated Systems
of SIS’s autonomy business follows other recent unmanned systems activity by HII, including the acquisition of Hydroid, a strategic alliance with Kongsberg Maritime, an equity investment in Sea Machines, and the groundbreaking on a new HII Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence in Hampton, Virginia.The transaction closed on Dec. 31, 2020 and approximately 50 employees from SIS, primarily located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, have joined HII Technical Solutions’ Unmanned Systems business group. Sam Lewis, president and chief operating officer of SIS, will lead the company’s USV efforts

Huntington Ingalls Industries Building Unmanned Systems Hub
, HII said.The site will be located on the Hampton Roads Center – North Campus. The first 22,000-square-foot building will be completed by the end of this year, followed by the main 135,000 square-foot-facility scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021.HII said it partnered with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the city of Hampton and the Hampton Roads Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. More than 250 jobs will be created and will enable collaboration with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, which has advanced undersea system engineering capabilities

Interview: RDML Gallaudet Steers NOAA’s Path Toward Uncrewed Maritime Systems
swimmer and I keep that up with my girls. I surf when I can and we love to boat, I love to fish when my kids let me. Really, anything ocean related, from museums to aquariums, we do for fun. I consider myself lucky to have a job in a field that I love.NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in port in Norfolk, Virginia, following the completion of the Windows to the 2019 expedition. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2019

General Atomics Wins Naval Propulsor Contract
in Tupelo, Miss.This effort supports the NSWCCD Advanced Propulsor Management Office requirement for the design and development for prototype propulsors, shafting and bearing components, mechanical design specification, and manufacturing plans to support the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program Office, the VIRGINIA Class Submarine Program Office, and future R&D activities towards the next generation of propulsor and shafting systems

More Than $5.9 Mln Invested in Marine Debris Cleanup Projects
activities to remove marine debris, including derelict fishing gear and other medium- and large-scale debris.Approximately $1.4 million will support 13 marine debris prevention projects in Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington. These projects will provide the knowledge and resources necessary to change behaviors, raise awareness and promote the long-term prevention of marine debris.Marine debris is not only a threat to wildlife in our ocean, Great Lakes and waterways, but can adversely affect navigation

The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up
thousands of different particles that all react uniquely in nature; the lack of technology needed to properly collect, analyze and identify miniscule pieces; their lengthy lifespan due to an inability to breakdown naturally; and how they’re spreading over land, sea and air, and to what distance.Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) professor Rob Hale, who is also lead author on a recently published paper titled “A Global Perspective on Microplastics,” explained the need to understand these particles. “People often assume that all plastics are the same and behave identically

The Emerging U.S. Offshore Wind Industry in a Post-COVID-19 World
energy providers to end power supply contracts for the project in 2015. Indeed, just one project – the five-turbine (30 megawatt) Deepwater Wind farm off Block Island – is up and running so far. But, there are a slew of other projects in the pipeline. The two-turbine (12 megawatt) Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind facility – a “test” construction in advance of the planned 2,640-megawatt Dominion Energy Wind Farm – has already started construction and reportedly remains largely on schedule.Several other large projects are in the pipeline to start construction within the