Seatools Debuts Subsea Compensator Range

Dutch subsea technology company Seatools has introduced its new subsea hydraulic compensator range: the Advanced series. This new subsea compensator range, based on the preceding Hyco range, delivers improvements in robustness, durability and standardization, according to the manufacturer. Seatools, a specialist in subsea hydraulic systems, said it performed an extensive development trajectory that led to the Advanced series.

Shape-shifting Underwater Robot Unveiled

A Texas based tech company started by team of former NASA roboticists has unveiled a new multipurpose underwater robot unlike any other on the market.Aquanaut is a new subsea vehicle that employs a patented shape-shifting transformation from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), removing the need for vessels and tethers.According to Aquanaut’s developer Houston Mechatronics…

Lowrance Debuts High Powered HDS Multifunction Displays

Lowrance announced today the release of a high-performance addition to the HDS series of fishfinders/chartplotters – Lowrance HDS Carbon. The new Lowrance HDS Carbon adds a high-performance dual core processor, multi-touch SolarMAX HD screen, dual channel CHIRP and Network Dual Sounder to the proven features that have made HDS multifunction displays the choice of anglers at all levels. The HDS Carbon series includes 12-, 9- and 7-inch models.

NCS Subsea, Partners Begin Geohazard Survey Project

NCS SubSea and partners secure industry underwriting for SAFE-BAND with the first multi-client geohazard ultra-high-resolution 3D (UHR3D) survey in the Gulf of Mexico. The first phase of Acquisition starts June 1, 2014. NCS Subsea, GeoTrace and SpecPartners announced the start date for a multiphase large scale innovative project called SAFE-BAND. It will be the first multi-client geohazard survey on a regional scale utilizing Ultra-High-Resolution 3D Seismic (UHR3D).

Product Spotlight: FLEXUS More than an ROTV

MacArtney introduced FLEXUS, a new data acquisition system. Based on a simple and rugged, yet flexible remotely operated towed vehicle, the FLEXUS composes a versatile and user friendly system suitable for a multitude of oceanographic, monitoring and survey applications. Like the more advanced MacArtney TRIAXUS and FOCUS-2 ROTV systems, FLEXUS is based on a towed vehicle featuring a broad range of innovative features and benefits.

Survey: O&G Research Spending to Increase

New research from Lloyd's Register Energy explores the drivers for technology and innovation in the global oil and gas industry. The Technology & Innovation Radar survey results are released today, May 5, 2014, from booth #2173 at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston by Lloyd’s Register Energy. It provides insight into the adoption and development of new technologies which are fundamental for the advancement of the Oil and Gas sector in addressing the global demand for energy…

US Coast Guard Tests Environmentally Friendly Buoy Moorings

The U.S. Coast Guard uses navigational buoys to direct water traffic and to protect vulnerable benthic ecosystems such as seagrass communities and coral reefs in U.S. waters. However, most buoys are currently attached to the seafloor by concrete anchors, also called sinkers, and heavy metal chains that can have a significant impact on marine life. Sinkers can damage life on the seafloor under their heavy footprint…

MacArtney Upgrades MMT FOCUS-2 Systems

MacArtney has performed a major upgrade of two FOCUS-2 ROTV systems belonging to Swedish marine survey contractor and specialist, MMT. Both vehicles have been fitted with new state-of-the-art equipment to carry out geophysical survey missions for clients within oil, gas and renewable energy industries. Complementing the side scan sonar and sub bottom profiler already onboard, the MMT FOCUS-2 systems have been fully equipped with a multi beam echo sounder…

Underwater Glider Goes Searching for North Atlantic Right Whales

JASCO Applied Sciences and Teledyne Webb Research have teamed to deploy a Slocum G3 underwater glider fitted with JASCO’s OceanObserver intelligent acoustic monitoring system in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.With the support of Dalhousie University and the Ocean Tracking Network, the glider was deployed September 15 in the Orpheline Channel on a six-week test mission to attempt to detect and record North Atlantic right whales.

High-tech Sensors Advance Tsunami Monitoring

Accurate and long-term measurements of sea level, tidal harmonics and tsunami activity are a growing requirement to address global coastal developments and risk mitigation programs. Real-time tsunami monitoring and warning systems are being developed to save lives, model wave propagation and quantify coastal hazards.The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) has recently taken delivery of five…

Deep-sea Submersible Purchase by OceanGate

OceanGate Inc., provider of deep-sea manned submersible solutions, buys 3-person, diesel-electric submersible 'Lula'f rom Portugal's Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation. The submarine, which can operate at a depth of 500 meters (1,640 feet), was purchased to meet the increased demand for manned submersibles in commercial applications focused on biological and environmental surveys, monitoring, and inspection.

Fugro Commences Deep Sea Mining Support

Fugro is commencing its first project supporting deep sea polymetallic nodule mining under a contract awarded by seafloor mineral exploration company Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), a subsidiary of DeepGreen Metals Inc. In the deep waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, its specialist marine geoscience team will perform detailed site characterisation surveys. The project, which began on 19th April, will advance NORI’s polymetallic nodule project.

Expedition to Study Ocean’s Role in Glacial Melting

Australian scientists are stepping up efforts to understand how the Southern Ocean is changing and how these changes are likely to affect the East Antarctic ice sheet. A team of around 30 scientists, technicians and PhD students from CSIRO, the Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems CRC (ACE CRC), the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, and the Australian Antarctic Division will leave from Hobart on Australia’s icebreaker Aurora Australis today (Thursday).

Airborne Hydrographic Survey Commissioned After NZ Earthquake

Fugro’s LADS technology is being deployed in New Zealand to assist in relief efforts following the damaging 7.9 magnitude earthquake near Christchurch on November 14, 2016. At the request of the New Zealand Government, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS) Flight is to conduct a rapid hydrographic survey of the seafloor in the coastal margins of the north east coast of the South Island.

Sonardyne Unveils Fusion 2

Underwater positioning and navigation specialist Sonardyne International Ltd. has launched a new integrated acoustic and inertial positioning platform for marine survey contractors and offshore construction companies.Available from today, Sonardyne’s Fusion 2 Long BaseLine (LBL) and Inertial Navigation System (INS) software has been written from the ground up to offer a single solution aiming to make field development projects faster and easier.

Teledyne RDI Improves DVL Bottom-tracking Range

Teledyne RD Instruments (TRDI) has released a new proprietary Extended Range Tracking (XRT) option which is capable of extending the bottom tracking range of its’ Pathfinder and Pioneer Doppler Velocity Logs (DVL) by 60 percent. According to the manufacturer, this development allows users to attain bottom lock faster and more efficiently than ever before.TRDI said extensive in-house and customer testing has proven this extended range in a wide array of conditions and terrains…

Academia’s Climate Change Challenge is Far from Academic

Highlighted in Marine Technology Reporter's MTR100 is the work and technology ongoing in the halls of academia. The most recent report released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasized our warming planet, an expected announcement for many in the scientific community. Faced with the confirmation that human activities have caused an increase in global temperatures, research has turned to seeking answers in the planet’s natural systems.

MCI Signs EchoPilot Deal

Marine Components International (MCI) in the UK has been chosen by Denmark’s Daniamant to distribute its British-designed EchoPilot forward-looking 3D sonar systems (FLS 3D).Dorset-headquartered maritime company supplies a wide range of high-end marine products to leading yacht builders and shipyards worldwide. MCI managing director Andy Scott said he is delighted to welcome EchoPilot to MCI’s portfolio.“EchoPilot…

Diver6 Gen2 for Diver Communication, Awareness

Azimuth Inc, the developer and manufacturer of the Diver6 mobile support system, has released the Gen2 product line. The Gen2 version advances the design of the system with a reduced product weight, faster communication and new features in the monitoring software.Diver6 is a modern Diver and Dive Operations mobile support system.This ADVISORY system allows divemasters to monitor and track divers beneath the surface of the water for greater situational awareness.

New EMODnet Bathymetry Data Product

A new upgraded version of the EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model (DTM) for the European Seas offers higher resolution, powerful 3D visualization functionality and extended coverage of Europe’s seas. The recently launched bathymetry product is available free of charge for viewing and downloading, and sharing by OGC web services from the EMODnet Bathymetry portal.The EMODnet DTM is a tool used for a whole range of applications in marine science…