Powering the Seafloor: Put a Socket in It

There’s an energy revolution coming on the seabed.In efforts to boost subsea oil and gas production and reach fields further from shore, in deeper and even Arctic waters, a subsea power revolution is in progress. Several multinationals are developing systems to provide electric power across the seafloor – think subsea power sockets.Giving access to subsea power this way would help oil and gas firms move processing equipment to the seafloor, instead of hosting it on platforms.

Easier Access to UK Tidal Data

The U.K. Hydrographic Office has released a new ADMIRALTY application programming interface (API) that puts U.K. tidal data in the hands of software developers.The U.K. Tidal API gives developers access to accurate data from the U.K.’s largest authoritative network of tidal stations, allowing them to build tidal height and time predictions into their own online applications. These predictions can be useful for a wide range of coastal activities…

New UCP from TE Connectivity

Introducing a new addition to TE’s range of infrastructure management solutions for the data center or LAN environment. The new universal connectivity platform (UCP) is an advanced modular cabling concept designed for speed and flexibility, facilitating data center migration from one to 100 GbE. Supporting both copper and fiber component cabling, TE’s UCP delivers superior rack efficiency and is ideal…

New Ocean Technology Innovation Center Opened

Industry, partners and tenants gathered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wednesday to launch the new Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship, known as COVE.COVE is a world-class facility for applied innovation in the ocean sector and the only such hub of its kind in the world where start-up companies, small and medium sized enterprises, large firms and post-secondary expertise are housed together developing ocean technology.

Liebherr Reports Record Year for Offshore Cranes

With 87 units delivered in 2014, Liebherr offshore cranes achieved a new per year delivery record, more than doubling its delivery numbers from 2012. And according to Liebherr, well filled order books allow for an optimistic 2015 forecast despite a generally unstable world economic development. “Our distinctly increasing turnover figures wouldn’t be possible without our new production site in Rostock, Germany, as well as our worldwide sales and service network.

Independent Report: WMB-3250 Multibeam Sonar

Multibeam manufacturer WASSP Ltd. announced the release of an independent report on their WMB-3250 Multibeam Sonar. Based in New Zealand, WASSP Ltd. has been supplying its Multibeam systems globally since 2007 and have over 700 systems being used in the commercial fishing industry and other applications including survey, dredging, fisheries research and defense. Using advanced signal processing techniques coupled with the latest generation hardware platforms…

ABB Wins $26m Marine Repeat Order

ABB won a $26m order to supply electrical power and propulsion systems for two next generation ‘Ramform’ vessels, capable of three-dimensional (3D) seismic data acquisition for deep sea resource exploration. The ships will be constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and delivered in 2015 to Norway’s Petroleum Geo-Services ASA (PGS), a leading company in marine seismic and reservoir data acquisition, processing and analysis/interpretation services.

EMAS Wins Statoil Contract

EMAS AMC, the subsea services division of EMAS, a global offshore contractor and provider of integrated offshore solutions to the oil and gas industry, announced today that it has won a contract from Statoil for the transport and installation of subsea templates for the Norwegian Sea’s deepest offshore project – the Aasta Hansteen field development. EMAS AMC’s scope of work includes the transport and installation of two four-slot templates and one single-slot template.

Tome Choose Intergraph® Solutions for FPSO Topsides

Brazilian joint venture will use SmartMarine® Enterprise components for project with oil giant Petrobras. Tome Ferrostaal, a joint venture between Tome Engenharia and Ferrostaal in Brazil, has selected Intergraph® SmartMarine® Enterprise solutions, distributed by Sisgraph, as part of a project with Petrobras, one of the world's largest energy companies. Intergraph's enterprise engineering software will be used to construct the topsides of six identical floating…

LAGCOE Announces 2013 Officers

Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE) appointed its 2013 officers, according to LAGCOE Executive Director Angela Cring. Kirby Arceneaux has been named 2013 LAGCOE Chairman. Since 2001, Arceneaux has been an active contributor to the success of LAGCOE, serving continuously in leadership roles on Public Relations, Exhibit Judges and Executive Committees as well as serving on the Board of Directors.

Seatronics to Supply Subsea Multiplexer System

Seatronics secures £400,000 contract to supply RTS Gen 5 multiplexer (MUX) systems to Bibby Remote Intervention Ltd. According to Seatronics, the Gen 5 is the most versatile survey multiplexer system available on the market offering unprecedented communication links and 850W of power capacity subsea. The system enables a complete survey spread including but not limited to dual head multibeam echosounder…

Windwave Launches Damen FCS 2008

Windwave Workboats will be the first customer of Damen’s Twin Axe Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2008. The Twin Axe FCS 2008 is a smaller version of Damen’s FCS 2610 which launched in 2011. Based in Penzance, Cornwall, Windwave Workboats has been providing offshore wind farm support and crew transfer services to the renewable energy industry since 2008. This is the company’s first Damen vessel. Windwave Workboats Commercial Director…

Applied Acoustics’ Double Launch at Ocean Business

Applied Acoustic Engineering (AAE) reported that two major product launches are planned for this year’s Ocean Business Conference, both of which are to be demonstrated on board their dedicated survey vessel, the Coral Wind. In a shift away from their traditional sub-bottom profiling assemblies, AAE will be debuting their latest sparker system, featuring an advanced version of the market leading CSP…

A Breakthrough in Hybrid Underwater Vehicles

A collaborative effort has produced a new generation in underwater systems, breaking with tradition by uniquely combining several underwater systems into a single platform. The Fusion from U.S. manufacturer Strategic Robotic Systems is a breakthrough in hybrid underwater vehicles, combining AUV and ROV capabilities with diver navigation and propulsion – all in one system. Essential to making this forward…

Product Spotlight Remote Control Boats

A remote control boat equipped with a SonTek M9 Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) was employed with HydroSurveyor software to create a 3D map of a damaged (and still submerged) flood barrier, following serious damage that took place last December. Data from the survey enabled the Environment Agency to act swiftly and effectively to repair the damage and thereby protect local industry and residents. Extreme…

ROVs Work for Diving Companies and Entrepreneurs

Almost every commercial diving company is now employing an ROV in some part of their operation. Most recognize the ROV is not a replacement for the diver, but rather a tool to help make his job safer, faster and easier. Inspecting a site with a remote controlled vehicle before sending someone below, allows both diver and topside personnel to better understand the working environment, nature and extent of the job.

New Approach to Subsea Systems will Reduce Cost, Risk

Ashtead Technology is publishing a White Paper at Subsea Expo to demonstrate how a new approach to the installation and integrity management of subsea systems can significantly reduce risk and cost in subsea operations. A leading, independent provider of subsea technology and equipment has developed an advanced suite of integrated subsea monitoring and data systems to support critical aspects of construction and integrity management.

Bluefin Completes DARPA UUV Deep Testing

Bluefin Robotics has successfully completed deep-water testing of a specialized Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The system was developed under a Phase II subcontract from Applied Physical Sciences Corp. (APS) for the Deep Sea Operations (DSOP) Program. DSOP is part of DARPA's Distributed Agile Submarine Hunting program (DASH), which aims…

Optical Data Sheds Light on Environmental Change

To understand the role of the ocean in global environmental change and to progress oceanography in developing countries the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) will be leading a working group aiming to build the world’s largest database on carbon flux measurements from optical sensors. Called TOMCAT, this group will include research organizations from developed and developing countries and has today…

Holdren to Report on Obama Administration Science and Technology Policy

On May 8, 2013, Dr. John P. Holdren will be the keynote speaker in the President’s Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology President Nariman Farvardin. Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).