Northwind NV To Build Wind Farm off Belgian Coast

Northwind NV received statements of compliance for site assessment and site specific design assessment from GL Renewables Certification (GL RC). The Northwind Offshore Wind Farm will be located on the Bank Zonder Naam (Lodewijkbank) off the coast of Zeebrugge, Belgium. Construction of the wind farm, which includes 72 Vestas V112 turbines, begins this year, with completion scheduled for 2014. The statements of compliance were presented to Frank Coenen…

iXBlue Debuts GAPS-NG

iXBlue launched its next generation underwater global acoustic positioning system, designated GAPS-NG. GAPS-NG, like its predecessor GAPS, is a truly portable and precalibrated ultra-short baseline positioning system (USBL) that incorporates INS and GPS technologies. GAPS is designed to work in demanding environments, notably acoustically challenging and/or extremely shallow waters, where other systems commonly fall down.

New Unmanned Vehicle for Maritime Warfare

Drawing on know-how derived from generations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) design, development and operation and its naval capabilities, Elbit Systems’ newest offering in the unmanned platform field is Seagull - an organic, modular, highly autonomous, multi-mission unmanned surface vehicle (USV) system. Seagull is a 12-meter USV with replaceable mission modules, with two vessels capable of being operated and controlled in concert using a single mission control system (MCS)…

Iver3 AUV Sold to Defense Research and Development Canada

OceanServer Technology has received a contract for an Iver3-580 EP system from Canada Public Works and Government Services for delivery to the Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC). The Iver3 AUV will be used to augment existing autonomous systems and provide a platform to continue R&D development in underwater research at DRDC Atlantic. OceanServer has sold several systems to DRDC with a wide range of sonar, software and sensors for research into areas such as mine counter measures.

Cammell Laird Awards Coatings Contract for RRS Sir David Attenborough

Subsea Industries’ Ecospeed hull protection system has been selected for RRS Sir David Attenborough, the polar research ship under construction at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Liverpool, U.K. The £150 million contract to build the vessel, which Cammell Laird won in 2015, represents the biggest commercial shipbuilding contract in Britain for 30 years. The ship has been commissioned by the…

Teledyne Benthos Portfolio Moves to Odom

Teledyne Benthos and Teledyne Odom Hydrographic announced the transfer of the Benthos geophysical sonar portfolio, including the Chirp III Subbottom profiler, C3D interferometic sonar and newly released SIS-1725 side-scan sonar to Odom Hydrographic. This realignment of products and technologies allows both organizations to better serve their primary markets and build upon their core competencies. Dr.

EvoLogics to Showcase at Ocean Business 2013

EvoLogics GmbH, a manufacturer of underwater communication and positioning systems from Berlin, Germany, will showcase its recent developments at the Ocean Business 2013 exhibition from April 9-11 in Southampton, U.K., including new products, developer solutions and latest updates. Offering more options for customers, EvoLogics GmbH recently extended its ranges of underwater acoustic modems (S2CR series) and combined positioning and communication devices (S2CR USBL series)…

Wyatt Earp Continues Antarctic Mission

The Royal Australian Navy's Antarctic Survey Vessel Wyatt Earp is currently conducting surveying operations based out of Davis, one of Australia’s Antarctic Stations. The vessel is conducting biological, oceanographic and meteorological experiments and observations as part of Operation SOUTHERN DISCOVERY. Wyatt Earp is fitted with equipment such as multi-beam echo sounders, sediment grabs, sub-bottom profilers and underwater cameras.

Yes, Oceanographers Can Help Predict Piracy Attacks

The US Naval Meteorology & Oceanography Command named a 2013 Computerworld Honors Laureate for its counter-piracy predictive modelling. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NAVMETOCCOM) received the award for a modeling capability developed by Naval oceanographers at Stennis Space Center that predicts the likelihood of pirate attacks. IDG's Computerworld Honors Program selected NAVMETOCCOM…

Bogazici Of Turkey Deliver Amapola 1

BOGAZICI A.S. of Turkey have recently delivered Amapola 1, the first Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 3000 tug, to International Offshore Engineering and Development Company, Panama for PDVSA of Venezuela. This new design rounds out the RAstar family of Terminal / Escort tugs, which to date encompasses lengths from 27m to 39m and bollard pulls of up 120 tonnes. The RAstar Class are a series of well-proven…

Comark’s Shipboard Applications Display Passes MIL-STD-901D Shock Testing

Comark Corporation completed full environmental testing of its latest version of the MDU19PC ruggedized COTS computer including MIL-901D grade-A lightweight shock test. The MDU19PC is an all-in-one display and computer designed and tested to meet military requirements for shipboard applications including propulsion, machinery control and ECDIS navigation. The panel is NEMA 4 rated when panel mounted and is available with an array of options including touchscreen…

Aker Solutions Wins Umbilical Contract in West Africa

Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract from Technip to deliver umbilicals for the Girassol Resources Initiative (GirRI) phase 2 development off the coast of Angola. Contract value is undisclosed. Aker Solutions will deliver two dynamic power and control steel tube umbilicals, one dynamic power cable and ancillary equipment. GirRI is located in Angola's Block 17, 210 kilometres west of Luanda. The development is 1,300 metres under sea level.

Partnerships Producing Game Changing Safety Innovations

Recent trends toward closer collaboration between operators and contractors—who after all share an interest in avoiding incidents and promoting safe operations—are a good sign for the industry. But it takes the right kind of partners to benefit from the arrangement—an operator must be willing to include its contractor partner in the early stages of engineering and risk assessment, and a contractor needs to have the expertise to advise and support the client effectively.

China-U.S. Ocean Thermal Energy Plant Development

Lockheed Martin and Reignwood Group to develop South China Sea ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant. A memorandum of agreement between the two companies was signed recently in Beijing. Following the ceremony, both companies met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry during his first official state visit to the People’s Republic of China. The 10-megawatt offshore plant, to be designed by Lockheed Martin…

Melting Sea Ice Opens Arctic Passages for Invasive Species

For the first time in roughly 2 million years, melting Arctic sea ice is connecting the north Pacific and north Atlantic oceans. The newly opened passages leave both coasts and Arctic waters vulnerable to a large wave of invasive species, biologists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center assert in a commentary published in 'Nature Climate Change' and excerpted here. Two new shipping routes have opened in the Arctic: the Northwest Passage through Canada…

GL RC Certifies Alstom Tidal Turbine Prototype

Tidal energy is a new realm of renewable energy. As technology advances, GL Renewables Certification (GLRC) is contributing its expertise by certifying Alstom’s tidal turbine prototype. Certification of tidal turbines is one of the key development areas for the tidal industry in the future, and represents a major milestone for Alstom on the REDAPT project. GL RC and Tidal Generation Limited (TGL, now…

Saab Seaeye Invests in Engineers

Manufacturer of electric underwater robotic systems Saab Seaeye has launched a recruitment drive to find software and electrical engineers at all levels, including senior engineering management, for its Fareham, Portsmouth, Head Office and manufacturing base. According to the company, the increased investment comes as rapid advances in miniaturization and control architecture are creating smaller, smarter robotic systems that are more agile…

JFD Debuts Bailout Rebreather System to Safeguard Divers Lives

JFD, the leading global subsea operations and engineering company, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has today announced the launch of its new Compact Bailout Rebreathing Apparatus (COBRA) for commercial divers, as a direct response to the urgent need for significant improvements in safety in the saturation diving industry. The system significantly extends the duration of the supply of emergency breathing gas, delivering 45 minutes of emergency life support at a depth of 120 meters.

Signet Maritime Acquires State-of-the-art Tractor Tug

Adding to its fleet of 37 conventional and ASD vessels, Signet Maritime Corporation took ownership of its ninth newly constructed tractor tug in six years. SIGNET ARCTURUS, a 105’ x 38’ Z-Drive, designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia was delivered by Patti Marine Enterprises of Pensacola, Florida on May 25, 2014. SIGNET ARCTURUS is powered by two Caterpillar model C175-16 main engines, each rated 3417 BHP at 1800 RPM.

iXBlue to Equip SAAB A26 Submarines

iXBlue will equip the two type A26 next-generation submarines with MARINS units, the state-of-the-art in fiber-optic gyroscope technology. Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, February 23rd, iXBlue, a global leader in navigation, positioning and imaging solutions, is providing MARINS inertial systems to outfit the Swedish Navy’s two future A26 class submarines. Scheduled to be operational in 2024, the A26 is a unique and high-tech submarine with proven modular design.