DOE Seeks Input on Mooring & Anchoring Systems for Floating Wind

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking input on research needs related to floating offshore wind energy mooring and anchoring systems. For this, DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI).Apart from input on research priorities, DOE is seeking information on state-of-the-art innovative technologies, state-of-the-practice common operations, and aspirational targets to help meet deployment goals…

Schmidt Ocean Institute, National Geographic Society Partner on Diversity

Schmidt Ocean Institute and the National Geographic Society announced a program to advance diversity and equity among ocean scientists. The partnership is intending to provide seagoing opportunities to underrepresented, historically marginalized and local scientists and National Geographic Explorers.The collaboration aims to strengthen project leadership, encourage career development, and amplify diverse perspectives in ocean-related work.

Crete Opens First Dedicated Diving Park

An EU-funded project has successfully launched Crete’s first dedicated diving park in Stalis to advance the island’s vast potential for sustainable marine tourism.The park was developed by the non-profit Diving Parks of Crete, established by the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and local municipalities.It began in 2014 when a diving enthusiast on the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce board saw Crete’s potential as a top diving spot.

Major Gas Hydrate Mapping Campaign Completed in Japan

Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc. (OFG), in cooperation with Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co. Ltd. (Fukada), has completed a third high resolution Controlled Source Electromagnetic (CSEM) survey of near surface gas hydrates using the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps) Vulcan system for the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japanese waters.Following the CSEM surveys and 3D inversion models completed in 2014 and 2015…

Ocean Infinity Orders Six 85m Robotic Offshore Vessels from VARD

U.S.-based seabed survey and ocean exploration firm Ocean Infinity has hired VARD to design and build a new series of six multi-purpose offshore vessels that will all be operated from shore and will eventually run on green ammonia.This order of six, 85-metre, optionally crewed robotic vessels will take Ocean Infinity’s remote vessel fleet to 23 vessels, which the company says is the largest in the world.

ASV Global, BMT Team-up for Autonomous Navigation Project

ASV Global (ASV) is leading a new £1.2 million research project in partnership with BMT to enhance the safety and reliability of autonomous navigation. The project team will use deep learning machine vision systems trained with a combination of simulated and real world data. Part funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, this project will enhance situational awareness enabling the USV to operate in extreme and congested marine environments.

Petrobras Extends Deal for Use of CGG's Seismic Processing Software

French offshore seismic data services company CGG said Wednesday that it had recently signed an expanded five-year licensing agreement with the Brazilian oil company Petrobras for Geovation seismic processing and imaging software.CGG said the deal would give Petrobras geoscientists access to advanced technology innovations, including full-waveform inversion (FWI), and significantly enhance their imaging capabilities.Peter Whiting…

Teledyne to Acquire TransponderTech from Saab

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the TransponderTech business from Saab AB. The acquisition includes a portfolio of connected commercial maritime products, including Automatic Identification System (AIS), VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies.Based in Sweden, TransponderTech provides class-leading…

US Launches Process for Offshore Mineral Lease Sale

The US Department of the Interior has announced it is initiating the process to evaluate a potential mineral lease sale in the waters offshore American Samoa.This marks the first such action by Interior in over 30 years and could pave the way for future extraction of critical minerals from the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.“Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation's resilience and safeguarding our national interests,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

UNOLS Seeks Input on the Regional Class Research Vessel

Over the past few months, the UNOLS Council and Fleet Improvement Committees have been working on a response for the NSF to evaluate the need on the number of regional class research vessels to be built as part of the UNOLS fleet replacement efforts. The UNOLS Council said it continues to discuss and research this issue and seeking community views and input. The UNOLS office will collect the feedback in advance of our Council meeting discussion in October 2014.

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…

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…

JFC Acquires Ortega Submersibles

JFD, a part of James Fisher and Sons plc, acquired all the assets, IP and designs rights of Ortega Submersibles BV, a Netherlands-based submersible boat designer and manufacturer. The acquisition will enable JFD to expand further its offering of advanced Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) and to develop new vehicles and capabilities in order to meet increased market demand for specialized small and medium-sized craft.JFD…

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…

Higher Learning & SINTEF’s Existential Rise

Sure, basic (open-ended) research gave us penicillin — but thousands of applied (commercial, finite) research projects carried out for governments and industry yield facts and non-stop innovation. At SINTEF, Norway’s premier research body, the breadth and number of research undertakings are mostly targeted for industrial and national clients, but the results speak of wide-ranging societal impact.Over our decades of SINTEF coverage…

HAL Buys Offshore Installation Equipment Firm IQIP from Royal IHC

HAL, the Dutch investment subsidiary of HAL Holding, has acquired IQIP, a supplier of foundation and installation equipment to the offshore wind, coastal & civil, and oil & gas markets from Royal IHC for an undisclosed fee.IQIP is active worldwide and both sells and rents out equipment. According to HAL, IQIP's revenue over the financial year ending December 31, 2022, amounted to € 102 million. IQIP…

Warship Design Unveiled for UK's Next Generation GCS

The latest design of the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS), the next generation of warships, has been unveiled. The Ministry of Defence has released images showing the basic specification of the T26 GCS, which is a significant milestone in the development of this programme. The creation of the vessel will sustain thousands of jobs in the shipbuilding industry. The multi-mission warship…

Shell Starts Second Deepwater Facility in GoM

Production is now underway from the Cardamom development, the second major deepwater facility Shell has brought online in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico this year, following the start-up of Mars B in February. Oil from the Cardamom subsea development (100% Shell) is piped through Shell's Auger platform. When at full production of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d), Auger's total production capacity will increase to 130,000 boe/d.

TGS Continue GofM Seismic 3D Survey

TGS says it is continuing its Explorer Series seismic acquisition program in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Panfilo 3D will add 11,500 km2 to TGS' multi-client library in the Lund and Henderson Central Gulf of Mexico protraction areas. Acquisition will commence in Q4 2014 with the M/V Polarcus Adira towing ten kilometer streamers to image regional stratigraphy and deep basin structures. Data will be available in late 2015. This project is supported by industry funding.

SS260 Series Deep Blue Vector

SIDUS Solutions, LLC, a manufacturer of surveillance equipment, positioning devices and integrated systems, introduced its newest pan and tilt positioner – the SS260 Series Deep Blue Vector. Able to withstand subsea, deep sea and hazardous areas, this electrically driven, high torque two-axis positioning device has a single turn resolution of 0.001° (precision of movement) and the repeatability of position of .01° incorporates superbly machined…