Sensor Systems Improve Marine Navigation Near US Naval Bases

Maritime navigational safety near two U.S. Navy installations in Kings Bay, Ga., and Portsmouth, N.H. has been improved thanks to new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems, also known as PORTS, installed by NOAA and the U.S. Navy. They are the first new PORTS in two years, and the 34th and 35th in the nationwide network.The system near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the East Coast home to America’s Ohio-class submarines…

New Full Color 3D Underwater Laser Imaging System

Kraken Sonar Inc. subsidiary Kraken Robotik GmbH will introduce its new SeaVision system at the Ocean Business conference to be held in Southampton, U.K. from April 4-6, 2017. The SeaVision RGB underwater laser imaging system offers the resolution, range and scan rate to deliver dense full color 3D point cloud images of subsea infrastructure with millimeter accuracy in real time. The initial system…

Unmanned Surface Vessels: Wave Glider SV3

In recent years, the proliferation of unmanned surface vessels deployed for hydrographic missions has mushroomed as the collaborative effects of propulsion, software and sensor technologies has cumulatively made these vessels, large and small, more capable for a multitude of missions. In this edition, and on the heels of the Ocean Business exhibition last month in Southampton, Marine Technology Reporter examines recent developments.

Hull Inspection Systems Delivered to the US Navy

Bluefin Robotics has delivered new vehicles to the U.S. Navy that aim to increase the Navy's capability to remotely search and investigate ship hulls, harbor sea floors and other underwater infrastructure for limpet mines, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other objects of interest. The Navy accepted delivery of Bluefin Robotics’ ship hull inspection systems 4 and 5 under the “Explosive Ordnance Disposal…

UUV Manufacturer Aims Big by Going Small

Unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) trace their history to the Special Purpose Underwater Research Vehicle (SPURV) developed by the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory in 1957. While the UUV was conceived decades ago it was the remotely operated undersea vehicle (ROV) market, with offshore oil and gas providing a significant driver, which initially saw significant technical and product developments.

MacArtney Connectivity for Navy Bow Sonar Systems

MacArtney Underwater Technology supplied SubConn underwater connectivity solutions for the bow mounted sonar systems that are essential to the impressive undersea threat detection and response capability of the advanced FREMM frigates currently operated by the French, Italian and Moroccan navies. In close cooperation with naval defense technology contractors; Thales (France) and WASS (Italy), MacArtney…

Water Linked Launches Underwater GPS System

Norwegian technology supplier Water Linked has launched a new Underwater GPS system that leverages traditional GPS along with Water Linked’s unique underwater acoustic positioning technology. Designed to enable underwater positioning in a wide new range of marine technology applications, this system is priced at $4,800, half the cost of existing underwater positioning systems. The Underwater GPS Developer Kit is available for order with the first deliveries expected in June 2017.

Technip Secures new subsea deal from trio

Technip was awarded a new framework agreement by Statoil, Exxon Mobil and Gassco for diving, subsea intervention and repair contingency services. Under the terms of this framework agreement, a replacement of an existing frame agreement held for eight years, Technip will provide these services for the next four years. This contract, effective from December 1st 2014, also includes an option for additional periods up to seven years.

Teledyne RDI U Webinars Return

Teledyne RD Instruments announced that the company will once again host free online webinars for its customers via Teledyne RDI University. The first series of webinars will be focused on the company’s navigation product line, offering 30-minute sessions focused on the many facets of the company’s Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) for precision surface and subsea navigation applications. Sessions range from basic system set up to theory of operation…

Van Oord First to Adopt Tritech Gemini

Dutch contracting company, Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V. [Van Oord], have purchased a suite of Gemini 720is multibeam imaging sonars. The Gemini 720is sonars, combined with customized Gemini SeaTec software, will enable Van Oord to automate basic tasks such as monitoring the touchdown point of pipelaying operations on Stingray, the shallow-water pipelay barge; thus eradicating the need to deploy a highly-skilled operator and reducing the overall project time and costs.

MATE Center Announces ROV Competition Winners

At the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center’s International Student ROV Competition, the prevailing teams represented countries from all over the world. During the event, which concluded last week, student teams competed using ROVs that they designed and built. Hosted at Michigan’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the winning teams participated in mission tasks, such as identifying a simulated shipwreck, collecting microbial samples, inventorying invasive species and removing trash.

Advanced Logistics Launches Software Upgrades

Advanced Logistics LLC, a provider of offshore marine and logistics management software, recently launched updated versions of its Satellite Assisted Marine Management (SAMM) and Preventer (preventative maintenance) software packages as well as its comprehensive, web-based Logistics Management Suite family of applications. The latest versions of SAMM and Preventer allow a vessel to generate numerous operational reports onboard and transmit the data to shore in a real time environment.

Kongsberg Introduces cNODE IQAM

The capabilities of Kongsberg Maritime’s cNODE series of transponders for underwater acoustic positioning and data link are expanding with the introduction of cNODE IQAM at Ocean Business. In a first for the established technology-leading transponder range, Kongsberg is offering the ability to log internal sensors and/or customers’ external sensors, transforming cNODE into a compact, self-contained subsea monitoring system…

NovAtel Unveils Oceanix Nearshore Service

NovAtel, a OEM supplier of high precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning technology, has unveiled its Oceanix Nearshore correction service at Ocean Business in Southampton, UK. Oceanix Nearshore, a subscription-based GNSS correction service for Precise Point Positioning (PPP), provides sub-decimetre positioning for marine applications such as dredging, hydrographic survey, mapping and coastal patrolling.

Navigation, Tide and Weather Information via Twitter

Whereas the proliferation of social media has generally not had dramatic impact on the b2b community, particularly in the technical realm, an interesting new service from Ohmex Ltd. was a hot topic in the hallways in Southampton: Using Twitter to deliver near real time navigation, tide and weather information direct from sensors. The original suggestion for a Twitter based service came from a Navigation Pilot working at a small port on the N.E.

Ezra to Consolidate EMAS Marine into EOC

Ezra Holdings Limited today announced plans to consolidate its Offshore Support Services division, EMAS Marine, into its associated company, EOC Limited, which is listed on the Oslo Børs, Norway. Upon completion of the transaction, the enlarged EOC Group will be one of the largest offshore support operators in Asia Pacific by asset value, managing an offshore services platform comprising over $1 billion in offshore support assets.

Submarine Minnesota Delivered on Budget and Ahead of Schedule

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division delivered the submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) to the U.S. Navy. The boat, the last of the Block II Virginia-class submarines, delivered nearly 11 months ahead of schedule. Construction of Minnesota began in February 2008, and the keel was authenticated in May 2011. The 10th Virginia-class submarine, named to honor residents of Minnesota and their continued support of the U.S.

Teledyne TSS’s Saturn AHRS and INS

Teledyne TSS’s Saturn AHRS and INS (Attitude and Heading Reference System and Inertial Navigation System) is now market ready. The Saturn product family is based upon fiber-optic technology developed and manufactured by Teledyne TSS. The family also incorporates advanced digital signal processing and algorithm design to deliver a highly accurate and reliable product to meet the demanding needs of the marine market.

Ultra-High Accuracy G2+ Positioning Service

Fugro introduced another  advance in the field of GNSS augmentation with its high accuracy G2+ service, designed to benefit offshore operators around the globe who require positioning and measurement accuracy at centimeter level. G2+ is an enhancement of Fugro’s G2 service (based on GPS and GLONASS) and uses GNSS augmentation algorithms developed in-house. The code and carrier-phase signals transmitted…

Deepwater Market Surge Spurs Ensco Drillship Order

UK-based Ensco has ordered an additional advanced-capability DP3 ultra-deepwater drillship based on the Samsung GF12000 hull design. The vessel, ENSCO DS-10, will be the eighth Samsung DP3 drillship in the Ensco fleet, further extending the benefits of Ensco’s fleet standardization strategy. It will be built at the Samsung Heavy Industries, Co. Ltd. (SHI) shipyard in South Korea, with delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2015.