Brix Marine Delivers Research Vessel for Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii

Port Angeles, Wash.-based Brix Marine has delivered the Pacific Whale Foundation's new research vessel Kaiao, custom-built to support marine research, conservation and education.Founded in 1980 and based in Maui, Hawaii, the PWF is a nongovernmental organization that has been at the forefront of whale research and public education, striving to safeguard the marine environment and prevent the destruction…

Canada Installs Radar to Detect Tsunamis

Ocean Networks Canada—an initiative of the University of Victoria—together with ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. of Victoria BC, Northern Radar Inc. of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Helzel Messtechnik GmbH of Germany, announced the installation of a WERA NorthernRadar system that will detect near-field tsunamis. The WERA system was installed at the Tofino Airport so that tsunamis generated off the west coast of Vancouver Island can be measured.

VideoRay eWorkshop to Showcase New Products

VideoRay has released several new ROV technologies and accessories over the last few months. New accessories like the Rotating Manipulator Arm and Recovery & Retrieval Kit expand the Pro 4 ROV's capabilities and make it possible to complete more advanced underwater tasks. To showcase its new offerings, VideoRay will host a New Products Overview on Wednesday August 12 at 11 a.m. ET. The live online eWorkshop will allow users to get a look at some of VideoRay’s latest products…

Oceans 15 MTS/IEEE Focuses on Change

The premiere North American conference and exhibition on marine technology will be held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on National Harbor from October 19-22, 2015. The conference is now accepting abstracts for technical presentations. The Technical Program draws its topics from the areas of interest of the co-sponsoring professional societies, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Oceanic Engineering Society of IEEE (OES).

MacArtney Connectivity for Navy Bow Sonar Systems

MacArtney Underwater Technology supplied SubConn underwater connectivity solutions for the bow mounted sonar systems that are essential to the impressive undersea threat detection and response capability of the advanced FREMM frigates currently operated by the French, Italian and Moroccan navies. In close cooperation with naval defense technology contractors; Thales (France) and WASS (Italy), MacArtney…

Design of Hydraulic Systems for Subsea Applications

More than two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water, and there are many potential resources there that await exploration and development. Industries involved in this new frontier include mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, energy generation and natural science. These activities all involve complex and highly technical systems. Many of them, particularly those performed beneath the sea’s surface…

The Future of Unmanned Underwater Systems

Launched to listen to the songs of humpback whales, Liquid Robotics has evolved into a harvester of data from the sea. Graham Hine of Liquid Robotics shares with MTR his insights on the future direction of unmanned underwater systems, and more specifically, his company’s role. Mr. Hine, please tell us a bit about yourself. I am Graham Hine, Senior Vice President of Product Management and one of the founders of Liquid Robotics.

VideoRay Bolsters Subsea Mine Detection Robot with Blue Ring Imaging Acquisition

VideoRay, the producer of the Mission Specialist Defender robot recently selected by the US Navy for underwater mine detection and disposal, said Wednesday it had acquired Blue Ring Imaging, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based innovator in 3D visualization, multi-view perception, and simulation for unmanned systems.According to VideoRay, Blue Ring Imaging, known for its OctoView mixed reality software and OctoCAM multi-view 360°camera…

U.S. Revives Cold War Submarine Spy Program to Counter China

On a windswept island 50 miles north of Seattle sits a U.S. Navy monitoring station. For years, it was kept busy tracking whale movements and measuring rising sea temperatures. Last October, the Navy gave the unit a new name that better reflects its current mission: Theater Undersea Surveillance Command.The renaming of the spy station at the Whidbey Island naval base is a nod to a much larger U.S.

What is a Sonar Pulse and How Can it Injure Humans Under Water?

Last month, the Australian government revealed that its navy divers had sustained “minor injuries”, likely due to sonar pulses from a Chinese navy vessel.The divers had been clearing fishing nets from the propellers of HMAS Toowoomba while in international waters off the coast of Japan. According to a statement from deputy prime minister Richard Marles, despite HMAS Toowoomba communicating with internationally recognized signals…

Fincantieri Set to Acquire Remazel Engineering

Fincantieri has set the main terms and conditions for the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Remazel Engineering S.p.A. from Advanced Technology Industrial Group S.A. Remazel is a leader specialized in the design and supply of highly customized and complex topside equipment.The transaction enables Fincantieri to acquire highly specialized capabilities in the design and supply of cutting-edge top side equipment…

Hydromea Unveils Underwater Inspection Robot with Proprietary Wireless Communication Technology

Subsea robotics and communications specialist Hydromea is set to introduce a new product at Oceanology International in London on March 12-14, 2024. The event will mark the official commercial launch of EXRAY™ – an advanced underwater inspection robot equipped with state-of-the-art proprietary wireless communication technology LUMA™.The Hydromea team has dedicated significant time and resources to…

PNNL's New Research Vessel Launched

Seattle shipyard Snow & Company has launched a new 15-meter hybrid catamaran research vessel that will be operated by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.The plug-in hybrid research vessel, Resilience, will be delivered to the Department of Energy's (DOE) PNNL-Sequim marine research facility in 2024.The Incat Crowther designed vessel, equipped with both standard diesel engines and electric motors, will be the first hybrid vessel in the DOE fleet.

CGG Rebrands to Viridien

French seismic company CGG has changed its name to Viridien.At the Annual General Meeting on May 15, 2024, shareholders approved the resolution to change the company’s corporate name from CGG to Viridien. “Our new name, Viridien, connects our company’s history to our future, confidently positioning us for accelerated growth as an advanced technology, digital and earth data company,” said Sophie Zurquiyah…

Tech File: NewtComm DSP Acoustic Telephone

The NewtComm DSP Acoustic Telephone is a through-water communication system, designed to provide robust communications channel through the most challenging under water environments. Built with a digital signal processor, the NC-50S is a surface station that can communicate with other phones that use the same frequency. The subsea unit, NC-50S-S, is available for direct integration into submersible vehicles, bells or habitats.

Cargotec Proceeds with MacGregor Sale as Offshore Wind Dispute Gets Resolved

MacGregor has settled the dispute with a monopile installation vessel customer as its parent company Cargotec goes forward with the sale of the business.As announced on April 30, 2024 in Cargotec’s interim report January–March 2024, MacGregor has had a dispute related to one and only monopile installation vessel project.MacGregor and the customer have now settled this dispute, which will have an approximately…

Hellenic Cables to Wire Polish Offshore Wind Farms

Hellenic Cables has signed a contract with Seaway 7 to supply inter-array cables for the Bałtyk II and Bałtyk III offshore wind farms in Poland.Hellenic Cables was appointed by Seaway7 as the key subcontractor for the design, manufacturing, testing and supply of up to 205 km of 66kV subsea inter-array cables and related accessories for these projects.Seaway 7, par of Subsea 7 Group, secured a ‘substantial’ contract…

Bekaert Joins Tailwind Floating Wind Moorings Innovation Project

Belgium-based offshore mooring systems specialist Bekaert has joined the Tailwind project, which aims to develop advanced mooring solutions for floating wind industry.The Tailwind project, launched in January 2024, will aim to deliver advanced station-keeping technologies, designed to maintain the position of floating offshore wind energy farms through innovative mooring lines and anchoring systems.The…

Black Whale Pictures Takes Innovative Approach to Underwater Cinematography

In the vast expanse of the ocean lies a realm of mystery and beauty waiting to be discovered. Black Whale Pictures, a pioneering filmmaking company, brings innovative underwater cinematography to life using cutting-edge technology to capture the enigmatic world beneath the waves.At the heart of the French production company lies a profound connection with the ocean. Its founder, Antoine Drancey, who has experience as a camera operator…

EnergyPathways Gets Subsea Support for Low-Emission Gas Field in Irish Sea

Mermaid Subsea Services has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EnergyPathways and MCS Group, through its UK subsidiary MCS Subsea Solutions, to advance the development of the Marram field.Under the terms of the MoU signed on February 9, Mermaid and MCS Group have agreed to jointly undertake FEED, project support, procurement and offshore construction services to EnergyPathways, the owner and operator of the East Irish Sea project.As part of the work scope…