Underwater Center Boosts SAR Training

The Italian Air Force Search and Rescue team has been expanding its skills and knowledge during a visit to subsea trials and training facility The Underwater Center, which is fast developing a reputation for supporting international rescue teams with its range of bespoke packages. Beniamino Panduccio, David Padula, and Massimiliano Lai – members of the Sardinian-based Italian Air Force Search and Rescue team – spent three days at the Center in Fort William…

DSS Secures HOS Jones Act MPSV for Gulf ROV Work

Delta SubSea Secures U.S.-Flagged DP-2 IMR/Construction Support Vessel for Deepwater ROV Operations in the GoM. Delta SubSea, LLC (DSS) has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS) for the HOS Bayou, one of Hornbeck’s recently constructed 300 class HOSMAX DP-2 multipurpose service vessels (MPSVs). The HOS Bayou is the newest U.S.-flagged Jones Act-compliant MPSV on the market today.

Rowe Adds New DVL to SeaPILOT Line

Rowe Technologies launched a new Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) for the SeaPILOT product line. The SeaPILOT OC (Observation Class) is the result of collaboration with several small ROV manufacturers to provide a compact, high performance DVL, designed specifically for observation/inspection class ROVs. The OC is small (5-in. [127mm] wide x 6-in. [152mm] tall and 8-in. [203mm] ), lightweight (~1 lb [0.45 Kg] in water)…

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…

Charting the Shift of Oceanic Boundary Currents

Global warming results in fundamental changes to important ocean currents. As scientists from the Alfred-Wegener-Institute show in a new study, wind-driven subtropical boundary currents in the northern and southern hemisphere are not only going to increase in strength by the end of this century. The Kuroshio Current, the Agulhas Current and other oceanic currents are shifting their paths towards the pole and thus carry higher temperatures and thus the risk of storms to temperate latitudes.

BMT Debuts VENARI-85 MCM Concept Design

BMT has launched VENARI-85, a new mine countermeasure (MCM) concept design said it be capable of clearing mines faster over a greater area and with less risk to the crew, while simultaneously providing broader utility to navies around the world. According to BMT, VENARI-85 offers a flexible platform that is capable of a spectrum of roles which is future-proofed and able to evolve as technology advances in the unmanned and offboard systems markets take shape.

Hook-Up Operations Added to QINSy

Software design company Quality Positioning Services BV (QPS) has upgraded its hydrographic data acquisition, navigation and processing software package QINSy (Quality Integrated Navigation System). The latest version, 8.10.2015.06.29.1, includes a new feature called Hook-Up Operations for Anchor Handling, for pre-laid anchors powered by Orcaflex of Orcina. Traditional anchor handling, including showing the catenary, was already possible with QINSy.

Remote Ocean Systems Bags Subsea LEDs Order

Aberdeen-based Remote Ocean Systems Ltd. (ROS) announced it has sold a significant number of subsea LEDs to ROVOP, an independent provider of subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Following technical demonstrations and trials, ROS is providing ROVOP with 32 L300 LED floodlights and 24 MVLED-II spotlights for ROVOP’s newest FMC Technologies Schilling Robotics Ultra-Heavy Duty and Heavy Duty Work Class ROVs.

GofM Shelf Exploration Projects by TGS

TGS informs of the first two ocean bottom projects in the shelf region of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico under its collaboration agreement with FairfieldNodal. The Calypso Full Azimuthal Nodal (FAN) survey is located in the Eugene Island protraction area and will cover 136 shelf blocks. Historical production from Upper and Lower Miocene reservoirs will be complemented by new long offset full azimuth nodal data that will identify new reserve potential in this geologically complex area.

U.S. Maritime Security: The Portunus Concept

The mission of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is to strengthen United States’ security through development and application of world-class science and technology. LLNL seeks to enhance the nation’s defense; reduce the global threat from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction; and respond with vision, quality, integrity and technical excellence to scientific issues of national importance.

Keppel Wins US$1-Billion Transocean Jackup Rig Order

Keppel FELS Limited has secured a repeat order from a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd. (Transocean) to build 5 KFELS Super B Class jackup rigs for US$1.1 billion. The rigs are scheduled to be delivered progressively from 1Q 2016 to 3Q 2017. In addition, Transocean has options to build up to another five similar jackup rigs with Keppel FELS. Tailored to suit Transocean's requirements, the KFELS Super B Class rigs are designed to operate in 400 feet water depth and drill to 35,000 feet.

Subsea Tech Helps Solve Riddle of Lost World War II Ship

An Aberdeen-headquartered firm has donated specialist subsea equipment to help solve one of the most tragic mysteries of the Second World War. Ashtead Technology has been supporting attempts to discover exactly what caused the loss of 645 crewmen when the HMAS Sydney sunk on November 19, 1941. In addition, an independent provider of subsea equipment rental, sales and services to the offshore industry…

Cable Trackers Help Diving Companies and Military

Trying to locate subsea power and communications cables has always been a difficult job. Regulations require cables be buried from several feet to several meters under the ocean bottom to prevent snagging by boat anchors and fishing trawls. The amount of overburden on a cable often means it’s too deep to be located with conventional metal detection equipment. The device that has proved most effective in finding them is a cable tracker. This system has two parts, a signal injector and a probe.

AUV Deployment by the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet

The U.S. Navy has made significant changes to its mine countermeasures (MCM) operations over the past decade as its Avenger-class MCM ships and Sea Stallion helicopters approach the end of their service life. One of the most significant developments has been the introduction of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) into regular deployment by the Navy. The MK 18 Mod 2, a specialized version of the REMUS 600 AUV built by Hydroid, Inc.

Subsea Training Center Revamps ROV, Bell Courses

New modules added with support from industry. Students undertaking ROV Pilot Technician and Closed Bell training at the Fort William-based subsea facility, The Underwater Center, are to benefit from newly revamped courses providing even more contextual modules. The Center has been working with industry to identify areas of its ROV and Closed Bell training suites which can be enhanced and courses for the remainder of 2015 will reflect this with major developments across the board.

ARGUS Enviable Technology, Unlimited Potential

System is designed to universally interface with a vessel’s existing navigation equipment and autonomously deliver water depths seen by the vessel to a central server. Almost four years and 100 million soundings later, the concept is a reality. Almost two years after we first reported on an innovative, depth sounding recorder device that made wide swaths of data available to perhaps anyone who wants it…

Kraken Bags $1.6 Mln Contract

Kraken Robotics Inc. said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kraken Robotic Systems Inc. has been awarded a contract worth more than $2 million (US$1.6 million) for the delivery of advanced sensors, underwater robotics and software. Delivery of the entire contract is expected in 4Q 2017. Karl Kenny, Kraken President and CEO said, “We’re delighted with this contract award from a highly valued customer. Over the past 18 months…

CARIS 2014 – Call For Presentations

CARIS, a leader in the development of marine GIS software, has announced the acceptance of abstracts for CARIS 2014, the 15th International User Group Conference, which will be held June 2-5, 2014 in Brest, France. Users of CARIS software are invited to submit an abstract for this international event. Under the conference theme, Developing the Blue Economy, CARIS 2014 will celebrate the work of its users.

Improving Monopile Installations with Fugro’s InclinoCam

The offshore wind market is developing rapidly. More wind farms and larger wind turbines are being built, increasing the requirements for verticality, and therefore the need for accurate, efficient and safe verticality monitoring. This in turn has led to the development of Fugro’s newly launched InclinoCam, which is featured on Fugro’s stand (30A100) at EWEA Offshore 2013. “The need to measure verticality of wind turbines starts with the foundation…

First Keillor Fellow in Place: Adam Bechle

For nearly 30 years, Phil Keillor worked as a coastal engineer for Wisconsin Sea Grant, retiring in 2003. During his career, Keillor earned a national reputation his for technical assistance, guidance, and educational services to coastal communities along Wisconsin’s shores, throughout the Great Lakes, and beyond. Along the way, he impressed colleagues and co-workers with his competence, integrity and respect for everyone he encountered, on the job and off. Keillor died rather suddenly in 2009.