RoboSub Competition: 20 Years of Fun and Learning

More than 300 high school and college engineering students tested their mechanical, electrical, computer and systems engineering skills, as well as their presentation skills and teamwork, while competing for cash prizes at the recent 20th International RoboSub Competition. The week-long competition, cosponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Association of Unmanned Vehicles International Foundation (AUVSIF)…

Oceanscan Invests in Tritech’s Gemini Systems

Tritech International Ltd, a Moog Inc. company, has secured a deal with Oceanscan for the purchase of multiple Gemini 720is and Narrow Beam Imaging (NBI) units from the company’s range of multibeam imaging sonars. Launched in March 2016, the Gemini 720is is an upgrade of the Gemini 720i combining the benefits of high-definition imaging with long-range target detection making it suited for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) platforms…

Two High-tech SSCVs Ordered in China

Holding OOS International Group B.V. confirms it has signed a fixed contract for the engineering and construction of two new build Semi-Submersible Crane Vessels (SSCV) with China Merchant Industry Holdings, a fully owned subsidiary of the China Merchant Group. “OOS took a quantum leap within the oil and gas/wind Industry,” said Léon Overdulve, Founder and owner of Holding OOS International Group B.V.

NASA May Send Submarine to Titan

NASA has unveiled plans to send a submarine into the depths of the largest ocean of Saturn's biggest moon, Titan in a bid to explore the depths of its largest ocean. The aim to find the chemical composition of the largest ocean of the moon, Kraken Mare and search for signs of life. Jason Hartwig, a NASA cryogenics engineer has disclosed the idea while he was giving a presentation at NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium in Raleigh, reports inverse.com.

MTR100: Liquid Robotics

Liquid Robotics is a leader in long duration, unmanned ocean robots, with its Wave Gliders deployed across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, travelling more than 1.1 million nautical miles to collecting some 131 million ocean measurements, operated through 17 hurricanes – having done all of this using only wave and solar energies; no fuel, no emissions. A private, venture backed company located in Silicon Valley…

MTR100: McLane Research Labs

McLane Research Laboratories is a leader in-situ time-series oceanographic profilers, samplers and flotation. In addition, McLane’s in-situ labs support emerging genomic and optical research methods for automated time-series oceanography and limnology. Founded in 1983 to provide advanced time-series samplers and engineering design services to the international oceanographic community, McLane Research Laboratories, Inc.

Teledyne RESON Wins Major Contract from Lockheed Martin

Teledyne RESON A/S said it has been awarded a double-digit million Euro contract by Lockheed Martin Global Inc. for the delivery of multiple SONAR systems for Mine Counter Measure applications for an international defense program. The award includes delivery of the new SeaBat 7123-MkII, which is an advanced dual use high resolution SONAR suitable for both commercial and military applications. Commercial applications include underwater inspection related tasks…

NOAA Releases Final Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap

NOAA has released its final Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap, which will guide the agency in more effectively and comprehensively managing ocean noise effects on marine life during the next decade. Sound is critical for the survival of many marine animals. It’s a primary means of communication, orientation and navigation, finding food, avoiding predators, and mate selection. Ocean noise can be caused by natural or human sources.

Marine Ecosystem Assessment Solution for Research Ship

Argentina’s National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) has selected an extensive suite of Simrad marine ecosystem assessment technology from Kongsberg Maritime for installation aboard its new oceanographic and fishing research vessel. Currently under construction at Spanish yard Astilleros Armon Vigo SA and due for delivery mid-2017, the new 52m research ship will be built as a silent vessel…

GM Deep Sea Mooring Secures Det Norske Oljeselskap Contract

Global Maritime Deep Sea Mooring, a provider of offshore mooring services in Norway, has signed a contract with Norwegian operator Det norske oljeselskap to support Prosafe’s semi-submersible Safe Zephyrus accommodation rig in the Ivar Aasen North Sea field. The contract also includes support to the Maersk Interceptor ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig. Deep Sea Mooring, which has already installed the pre-lay system…

WFS Appoint IMEC as Agent in Malaysia

WFS Technologies of Livingston, Scotland, has appointed Kuala Lumpur-based Independent Marine & Engineering Consultants Sdn Bhd (IMEC) as exclusive agents for the Malysian market. The two companies will work together to expand the use of subsea automation in this sector. IMEC was founded in 2010 to offer a network of technical expertise in Southeast Asia. It operates across a range of engineering and design disciplines including subsea support and installation.

A United Front in Ocean Observation

As the world’s oceans become increasingly exposed to rapidly growing pressures, long-term data sets are fundamental for monitoring these processes and understanding the complex and vast oceanic environment. In July 2016, the European Marine Board (EMB), a partnership of major national marine and oceanographic institutes in Europe, identified critical gaps within ocean observation and seafloor mapping capabilities.

iXBlue Delivers Sub-Bottom Profilers to SHOM

iXBlue, a global leader in navigation, positioning, and imaging solutions, is providing ECHOES sub-bottom profilers and DELPH seabed mapping software to SHOM for shallow water hydrographic applications. SHOM missions include ensuring safety of navigation, defense’s support and public policies such as cartographic reference. Sub-bottom profiling in shallow water always proved to be challenging for a few reasons.

New Ships Join the US Research Fleet

The nation’s newest oceanographic research vessel, the R/V Neil Armstrong (AGOR 27), has completed acceptance trials, and the U.S. Navy turned the ship over to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) on Sept. 23, which will operate the vessel as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF). “The U.S. Navy is proud to support the national research fleet by delivering state-of-the-art research vessels like the R/V Neil Armstrong,” said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm.

Five UC San Diego Professors Named AAAS Fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the nation’s largest general science organization, has awarded the distinction of fellow to 391 members, including five from Scripps Institution of Oceanography/University of California San Diego. New fellows will be honored for “their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished” on February 18 during the 2017 AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston.

Fugro Awarded a Three-Year Positioning Contract by PGS

Fugro has been awarded a three-year contract by PGS for the provision of precise satellite positioning systems for its entire seismic vessel fleet. PGS is a global provider of marine seismic and electromagnetic services, data acquisition, imaging, reservoir services and multi-client library data. Fugro, a provider of precise satellite positioning to the offshore oil and gas industry, will supply PGS vessels with a number of completely independent Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

Facebook, Google among Builders of New Transpacific Cable

Undersea communications technology company TE SubCom has partnered up with Facebook, Google and Pacific Light Data Communication Co. Ltd. (PLDC) to co-build a 12,800 km transpacific submarine cable system that will provide the first direct undersea route between Hong Kong and Los Angeles with ultra-high capacity transmission. Scheduled for commercial launch in summer of 2018, the Pacific Light Cable…

Makai Offers Advanced Course for Cable Lay Operators

Makai Ocean Engineering is now offering an advanced cable laying course for operators who have managed real cable installations at-sea using MakaiLay. In addition to filling any knowledge gaps that operators might have in basic lay operations, this MakaiLay Level-II training course focuses on more advanced scenarios that might arise at-sea. This course produces graduates who are better equipped to install subsea cable accurately…

NextGeo Signs Eight-Year Deal with 50Hertz for Seabed Survey Services

Italian offshore services provider Next Geosolutions (NextGeo) has signed an eight-year framework agreement with German transmission system operator (TSO) 50Hertz to deliver geotechnical seabed survey services for offshore substations (OSS) projects.Part of the Elia Group, 50Hertz is responsible for the development and operation of the high-voltage power grid across Northern and Eastern Germany.As a result of this agreement…

Australia Advances Ghost Shark AUV Investment

The Australian Government is investing A$1.7 billion ($1.1 billion) to acquire a new fleet of Australian‑designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles – known as the Ghost Shark – for the Royal Australian Navy.