DOE Announces $25 Million for Wave Energy Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $25 million in funding to support increased research, development, and demonstration of technologies that harness wave power to create electricity. Wave energy converters, which capture and convert waves into carbon-free electricity, require testing in realistic conditions to be deployed at scale.The DOE funding supports eight projects that will make up the first round of open-water testing at the PacWave South test site off the Oregon coast…

XLUUV: If You Build It, They Will Buy

In August, 2021, after years of delays, cost overruns, and rising tensions, the Australian government canceled a A$90 billion order with France’s Naval Group for 12 conventionally powered submarines intended to replace the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)’s aging fleet of six Collins-class attack subs. Overnight, the future of the RAN’s undersea warfare capability was cast into uncertainty. The very next month…

LOC Offering 3D Digital Inspections

LOC announced, as part of its digital services, the launch of a new technology offering enabling remote advanced surveying by use of aerial drones and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV), which will be applied to a range of assets both onshore and offshore.Survey data results are collated and reproduced in 3D imagery, by using high resolution visual, thermal, LIDAR and SONAR imaging, to create a virtual walkthrough of vessels and both offshore and onshore structures.

NOAA, Vulcan to Explore and Map the Deep Ocean

NOAA has forged a formal agreement with Vulcan Inc. to share data resulting from the two organization’s ocean work.Both NOAA and Vulcan share a mission to advance the public’s understanding of the value and importance of the global ocean. Through a new memorandum of understanding, NOAA and Vulcan intend to deepen their current work together through additional collaborative opportunities.“The future of ocean science and exploration is partnerships…

BOSS' Ocean Bottom Seismic Robotic Vehicle Prototype Passes Sea Trials

Blue Ocean Seismic Services (BOSS), the company developing autonomous subsea vehicles for seismic survey applications, said Tuesday it had completed sea trials navigating a test prototype version of its underwater vehicle autonomously underwater using BOSS’ electronics and software system during a series of sea trials completed in Perth, Australia. BOSS said that its long endurance self-repositioning…

Huntington Ingalls Industries Debuts Proteus USV

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) debuted the 27-foot Proteus unmanned surface vessel (USV) for testing and development of autonomy capabilities. Proteus, outfitted with Sea Machines Robotics’ SM300 autonomy system, completed a successful demonstration off the coast of Panama City, Fla., on May 14.“We are thrilled to launch our Proteus USV. The vessel performed exactly as expected with the SM300 system’s proven and safe autonomous capability…

UKHO supports Montserrat with Seabed Mapping Data Survey

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has conducted a seabed mapping data survey in Montserrat to improve the safety of navigation around the island and to help with understanding, managing, and protecting its marine life.For this project, funded by the UK’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF), the UKHO worked alongside the Montserrat Hydrographic Survey Team to collect data from the waters around the island.

The Troubled History of Protecting Marine Assets

The history of protecting marine assets is a tale of endless perseverance. From the moment humans have put infrastructure in the water, it has been damaged by other humans. Despite incredible advances in technology and installations, incidents still occur at an unacceptable rate. The types and volume of marine assets have exploded since the 1850s when the first submarine telegraph cables were laid.

New Survey Boat Launched for South African Navy

Paramount Maritime, a Paramount Group company, said it has launched the first of three next-generation Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) to the South African Navy in continued support of its programs to enhance the capabilities and infrastructure of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO).In addition to the three Survey Motor Boats to be delivered to the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO)…

Robosys Autonomy for New Survey USVs

Robosys Automation received a contract award from BRANKA Marine Robotics of Spain for its Voyager AI Surveyor software to go on board Branka’s  solar powered, all electric drive, 6 Metre Oceanographic Survey USV, the Ranger 6.0 Electric.The USV is due to complete build in April and to be fully operational by the end of June.Voyager AI Surveyor software will be integrated aboard the Ranger and with…

Helping to Keep Waterways Navigable in the Netherlands

Maintaining the narrow navigational channels through the shallow tidal flats of the Wadden Sea in the Netherlands is a constant battle, due to the high rate of sediment deposition. Nortek’s Signature VM instrumentation has proved to be a valuable weapon in this fight, providing vital information on particle density and current flows through the water layers.The Dutch jokingly say that God created Earth…

Good Undersea Vehicles Come in Small Packages

The holiday season has just passed, and many may have heard the phrase, “good things come in small packages.” Does this hold true for today’s undersea vehicles? Indeed it does. One of the most striking recent trends in the field is the proliferation of compact and affordable, yet highly effective, undersea vehicles. The past decade has seen new remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) produced that are easily carried and deployed by one person.

Challenges of Underwater Structure Monitoring for Offshore Operations

As the global energy industry enters a period of increased offshore deepwater exploration driven by economic viability, the demand for international underwater monitoring services looks set to strengthen into the new decade. According to a report from TechSci Research1, the value of global underwater monitoring services for the oil and gas sector is projected to grow from around $1billion in 2018 to…

Equinor Taps into DUG's Tech for Seismic Processing

Norwegian energy giant Equinor has signed a multi-year deal with supercomputer group DUG Technology, covering seismic processing and imaging technology.Under the agreement, DUG says, Equinor will replace existing third-party technology with an integrated solution using DUG McCloud, a platform that allows clients to mix and match DUG's high-performance computing as a service (HPCaaS), seismic processing and imaging (P&I) services…

Seismic Firm CGG Sells GeoSoftware Business

French seismic data firm CGG has signed a deal with Topicus and Vela Software, for the sale of CGG’s GeoSoftware business.According to the description on CGG's website, GeoSoftware product suite, among other things, helps oil and gas operators unlock the maximum hydrocarbon potential from their reservoir assets with advanced seismic interpretation features."Being a perpetual owner of businesses, Topicus…

Xerox and DARPA Partner to Develop IoT Ocean Sensors

PARC, a Xerox company, announced Thursday it has been awarded a contract by the U.S.' Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the next development phase in the Ocean of Things, a project to expand what scientists know about the seas.Initially announced by DARPA in 2017, the Ocean of Things project is deploying small, low-cost drifters in the Southern California Bight and Gulf of Mexico to collect data on the environment and human impact.

Dutch Flood Defense, The Natural Way

When the Dutch government and research institutions wanted to monitor how waves and currents would affect the pioneering use of artificial sand banks to protect a levee in a non-tidal freshwater system, Nortek was selected to supply key measuring instruments and set up the data telemetry system.The Houtribdijk is a 25 km long levee, or dike, separating two large artificial lakes, the IJsselmeer and Markermeer.

COVE Internship Project Begins Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

The Center for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) has announced the Internship Pilot Program is proceeding on time. The project has been revamped to be delivered using virtual means which allows the interns to help the participating companies transition through the COVID-19 pandemic.The ten participants from various interdisciplinary studies are working on projects for DeepSense, Precise Design, Pisces RPM, and IGNITE.

AssoJet III Mk2: Asso.subsea Unveils its Most Advanced Jetting ROV

Offshore installation services firm Asso.subsea on Thursday announced the development of a newly built jetting vehicle for cohesionless soil: AssoJet III Mk2."The AssoJet III Mk2 is the most advanced of the ASSO’s jetting ROVs, based on full in-house design which incorporates the vast Asso Group experience in jetting operations," Asso.subsea said.Equipped with more than 1.5 MW of available power, the…

ASL and Sofar Ocean Engage in
Marketing, Distribution Partnership

ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. has announced a new strategic marketing and distribution partnership with Sofar Ocean, bringing innovative oceanographic solutions to Canada and Alaska. This collaboration strengthens ASL’s position as a trusted supplier of advanced ocean monitoring technologies while enhancing Sofar’s reach in northern markets.At the center of this partnership is the Sofar Spotter Platform a compact…