Ushering in the Age of the Autonomous Workboat

While the topic of unmanned vessels has sparked vigorous debate and grown vociferous skeptics in all four corners of the world, Michael Gordon Johnson and his team at Sea Machines are intent on bringing an Autonomous Workboat to full-scale real-world trials by the end of the year. Michael Gordon Johnson is and entrepreneur, founding two companies and serving in various roles – offshore, heavy lift…

MTR100: SBG Systems

No. SBG Systems is a supplier of MEMS-based inertial motion sensing solutions. The company provides a wide range of inertial systems from miniature to high accuracy. Combined with cutting-edge calibration techniques and advanced embedded algorithms, SBG Systems products are ideal solutions for Aerospace, Land, and especially Marine (surface and subsea) projects such as vessel motion monitoring, ROV and AUV control, Hydrography, and Buoy positioning.

NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel to Meet in Long Beach

NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel, which advises the NOAA administrator on products and services related to navigation, water levels and currents, and positioning, will meet April 8 to 10 in Long Beach, California, to receive updates on regional activities and resource needs. The panel will consider information presented at this meeting in making recommendations to the NOAA administrator for improving NOAA’s suite of navigation and positioning data, products and services.

MacArtney, EMS Formalize Partnership

MacArtney informs it has signed a representative agreement with its long standing business partner, EMS Sistemas de Monitorización Medio Ambiental in Barcelona, to promote and support MacArtney across all Spanish and Portuguese marine related markets. According to MacArtney, the moves comes as part of an ongoing push to provide global access with local support to its solutions in all key underwater technology markets.

New Survey Vessel to Fugro

Fugro America, built by Thoma-Sea Marine Construction in Louisiana, was delivered to Fugro in mid-March. The new vessel is designed to Fugro’s specifications, fitted with the latest geophysical survey equipment and houses some of the most advanced instrumentation in the field. Fugro Americas is optimized for working in the Gulf of Mexico, but is also suited for operations in other geographical areas…

2G Robotics Laser Scanner Now Interfaced with QINSy

2G Robotics announced that the ULS-500 underwater laser scanner is now compatible with the QPS hydrographic data acquisition, navigation and processing software, QINSy. The QINSy suite can be used for various types of surveys, ranging from simple single beam surveys up to complex offshore construction works. According to 2G Robotics, QINSy has a reputation for producing fully corrected and geo-referenced multibeam point clouds in real-time.

Portsmouth Pilots Use High Detailed Charts

Portsmouth Pilots are now using bathymetric ENCs in combination with official ENCs on their Portable Pilot Units. For many years Portable Pilot Units (PPUs) with SevenCs pilot information systems have been successfully used by a large number of pilot organizations. As a result of this collaboration, SevenCs has developed a brand new system, called ORCA Pilot G2. It includes the typical functions of a navigation system for touchscreen operation…

MakaiLay Suite Adds Features for Power Cable Installers

Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. said it continues to address issues experienced by the subsea power cable industry by enhancing submarine cable lay software, MakaiLay, and its desktop simulation sister product, MakaiPlan Pro. 1. Cable Top Angle. MakaiLay now has the option to use the cable departure angle, or “Top Angle”, which can be measured at the over-boarding point. When high quality measurements of top tension are not available…

Singapore Trials IHO S-100 Aboard Italian Navy Training Ship

The International Hydrographic Organization - Singapore Innovation and Technology Laboratory (IHO-Singapore Lab) is conducting trials of next generation IHO S-100 standards and dual format Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) on a prototype S-100 ECDIS [2] aboard the Italian Navy's training ship, Amerigo Vespucci.This is known as the “dual fuel” mode within the international hydrographic community…

Accelerator Targets Subsea AI Development

Subsea software-as-a-service provider Elementz Digital has announced a new accelerator program for subsea AI development.The program is backed by Elementz Digital’s strategic advisory board which was formed in May this year and includes representatives from energy operators including Aker BP and Shell.Designed to transform how artificial intelligence is developed, validated, and adopted across the subsea energy sector…

Seatronics Expands Inertial & Acoustic Product Range

Seatronics Ltd invests in iXBlue's inertial and acoustic products used for positioning in deepwater projects. Seatronics Ltd, an Acteon company, has expanded its equipment rental pool to include more iXBlue inertial and acoustic products in response to increasing market demand for inertial navigation technology to enhance positioning for deepwater projects in West Africa and Brazil. The order, which brought the company’s total 2012 expenditure with iXBlue to more than €3 million…

Stern Tube Sealing: Hydrex Use 'Mobdocks'

Hydrex flexible Mobdocks (mobile mini-drydock) enables underwater repairs that keep vessels out of drydock. Hydrex has carried out repairs and replacements on all types of seals on site, and in most cases underwater, for a number of years now. This helps owners to extend their vessel’s drydock interval and eliminates the loss of time and production brought about by drydocking. Using the new generation of Hydrex flexible mobdocks…

McCrometer To Demo V-Cone Flow Meter

Visitors to OTC 2013, May 6-9, Houston, who stop by Booth 8819 will learn more about McCrometer’s advanced V-Cone Flow Meter, a fluid measurement solution for rugged offshore production environments. McCrometer’s exhibit at OTC will feature a new flow demonstration unit. This live demo will show how the V-Cone Flow meter conditions flow unlike any other flow technology. Conditioning the flow in the pipe ensures accurate, reliable dP flow measurement in any environment.

Kongsberg on board South African Navy Survey Vessels

Kongsberg Maritime, through its Cape Town-based business partner Unique Hydra (Pty) Ltd, has been selected to deliver a cutting-edge integrated hydroacoustic and bridge system technology package for The Replacement of the SA Navy Hydrographic Capability Project.Kongsberg technology will be used on a state-of-the-art new Hydrographic Survey Vessel being built by Southern African Shipyards (SAS) in Durban.

L-3 Klein to Provide Side Scan Sonar for Royal Canadian Navy

L-3 Klein Associates, Inc. has received a $4.3 million award from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) of Canada to supply four of its S5900 side scan sonar systems and accessories for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Route Survey System Life Extension (RSSLE) Program. The RSSLE Program will provide required updates for certain subsystems of Canada’s Integrated Survey and Inspection System (ISIS), operated in the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defense Vessels (MCDVs).

Sustainable Ocean Summit Final Program Available

The SOS 2013 program will take on the issues that are challenging access to ocean areas and resources by responsible industry operators. Click here to see the program. This global gathering of the diverse ocean business community is not a conference to discuss the issues, enjoy some networking and hope someone else will do something. The SOS is a working meeting to advance industry leadership and collaboration on shared ocean sustainability risks and opportunities through WOC programs.

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)…

Ashtead Technology Increase Subsea Equipment Rental Stock

Ashtead Technology announce at the U.K.'s Ocean Business 2013 expo that it has purchased Sonardyne 6G acoustic positioning equipment value £1.3 million. This latest acquisition is the second significant order placed by the company for 6G in the last 12 months, further strengthening the Ashtead Technology fleet of Compatt 6 transponders, including various sound velocity, digiquartz and inclinometer sensors…

OceanGate Developing Manned Submersible With University of Washington

OceanGate Inc., (OGI) a global provider of deepsea manned submersible solutions, has announced a collaboration with the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab (APL-UW) on Project Cyclops, a new 3,000-meter manned submersible which will usher in a new era of increased access to the deep ocean for commercial exploration and research ventures. Scheduled to debut in 2015, Cyclops will allow up to five engineers…

Keppel FELS Delivers Second Jackup Rig to Oro Negro

Keppel FELS delivered a second KFELS B Class jackup rig to offshore Mexican oil field services company, Integradora de Servicios Petroleros Oro Negro. Named Laurus at Keppel FELS today, the rig was delivered eleven days early and with a perfect safety record, Keppel noted. Laurus is the second of two high-specification jackup rigs that Keppel FELS has built for Oro Negro which will be chartered to PEMEX, Mexico's national oil company, for deployment in offshore Mexico.