euRathlon Marine Robot Competitions at CMRE

The NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) has just concluded two intense weeks of student challenges with a multi-domain demonstration. After the Student Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge - Europe (SAUC-E), hosted for the fifth year in a row in CMRE’s sheltered harbor, from September 20 to 26, the first euRathlon sea robotic competition was held in the same venue from September 29 to October 3.

Reducing the Costs of Port and Terminal Ops

The global economic outlook is uncertain; this uncertainty is leading to depressed investment worldwide, particularly in energy and mining activity. The international ports and terminals sector forms an important part of the infrastructure supporting these activities. As the sector is exposed to restraints on investment, the emphasis is on reducing in operating cost. HR Wallingford advises clients on how their activities interface with the water environment.

STR Expands Dredging Equipment Offering

Global specialists in the design, manufacture and rental of advanced subsea technology for the offshore energy industry Subsea Technology & Rentals Ltd (STR) has expanded its offering of dredging equipment following a partnership agreement with Aberdeen based Subsea Tooling Services (STS) to hire, service and support its range of subsea dredging systems held mobilization ready at STR offices. The Predator and Gremlin range of dredgers will become the latest offering from STR.

Oil Steadies Above $92 on Signs of Global Growth

Brent crude oil edged down but stayed above $92 a barrel on Monday after a week of sharp falls, as strong U.S. employment data and a rally in global stock markets pointed to stronger economic growth and higher demand for fuel. Brent fell nearly 5 percent last week, its steepest decline since April 2013, as a strong U.S. dollar, weak demand and ample supply weighed on prices. "It is no surprise to see the price stabilising after the massive sell-offs last week…

UTEC Comes up Big Offshore

Offshore and onshore survey provider UTEC Survey says it has completed a significant ROV navigation and seismic node positioning project in deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The project, carried out for seismic nodal technology company FairfieldNodal and undertaken in 2,425 meters of water, involved use of the latest software and navigation technologies available to simplify operations, increase cost savings on an original scope of work…

Curtiss-Wright Winch Systems for US Navy Sonar

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division has been selected by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems to provide its winch system technology for use in a new Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) for the U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. Raytheon recently announced that it had been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to develop the VDS, a mission-critical anti-submarine warfare asset that will be deployed from the LCS to locate and track submarines.

OceanServer Wins US Naval Undersea Warfare Center AUV Contract

OceanServer Technology son a contract for one Iver3 AUV by the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)  in Newport, RI, a system that will include several Iver3 options just released including the Rowe Technologies, Inc. (RTI) SeaPILOT 600 kHz Doppler Velocity Log with ADCP. RTI’s SeaPILOT family of Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) represents some of the industry’s newest and state-of-the-art acoustic Doppler technology.

WASSP Debuts F3 Widescan Sounder

New Zealand based manufacturer of Multi-beam technology WASSP Ltd has introduced its second product for 2016, and the fifth in three years: the WideScan Sounder F3. The F3 Widescan Sounder is the latest addition targeting the coastal fishing market. With the success of WASSP sales in the higher end commercial fishing fleet, WASSP Ltd said it recognized the need for a more cost effective and compact solution for the coastal fishing fleet.

New Technology Measures Tidal Speeds

The Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE), in partnership with Nortek Scientific, announced the construction of the world’s first instrument to provide high-resolution, real time measurements of turbulent water flow at turbine hub height, called the Vectron. The Vectron is able to capture highly accurate measurements of turbulence at a specific height above the sea over long periods of time, beneficial to understanding turbine performance.

Another Milestone for RRS Sir David Attenborough Build

Rolls-Royce is marking another milestone on the journey toward the completion of Britain’s new polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough being built by Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird. The last of the vessel’s Bergen B33:45 engines/gensets have been craned into the ship’s hull at Cammell Laird ready to be connected to the RRS Sir David Attenborough’s Rolls-Royce propulsion system. The nine cylinder engines are carefully installed in three separate pieces.

Advanced Polymer Coatings, Reactive Services Ink JV Agreement

Advanced Polymer Coatings, based here, and Reactive Surfaces, Ltd., based in Austin, Texas, have signed a Letter of Intent to combine their technologies in a joint venture to develop exterior marine coatings functionalized with bio-based additives for submersed hull surfaces and stationary structures. Advanced Polymer Coatings is well-known for its premier polymer-based tank coating/lining system, MarineLine® used to protect maritime chemical and product tankers.

Sonardyne Awarded Contract from Magseis

Sonardyne International Ltd., UK said it has secured a contract from Magseis to supply seabed node acoustic positioning technology to support an expansion in the Norwegian seismic services company’s deep water survey activities. The equipment ordered includes a large quantity of Sonardyne’s newly developed SST 6 (Small Seismic Transponder 6), and associated vessel-based acoustic positioning system, Ranger 2 USBL (Ultra-Short BaseLine).

KEP Releases New HD Video Management Systems

Kessler-Ellis Products (KEP), a manufacturer of type approved displays, computers and peripherals, announced the release of its two new high definition video management systems, the HD-SDI (High Definition Serial Digital Interface) Professional and the HD Sport Cam. Able to record in high definition 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second, the new KEP cameras are IP68 waterproof rated– submersible to two meters for one hour.

EV Launch Offshore Well Intervention Video Line Equipment

EV, a specialist in downhole video technology, has launched its Optis HD Electric line camera to the well intervention market, which they say can provide vital well diagnosis saving time and reducing risk. The revolutionary new technology, which was three years in development, allows operators to stream colour video, using the latest video technology combined with sophisticated high speed telemetry and video compression techniques.

Seaweed: Fuel of the Future?

Scientists envision a future where fuel made from seaweed grown at large-scale offshore farms will be used to provide green power for homes and vehicles. Now with help from U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funding, researchers are working toward making that scenario a reality. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) received $5.7 million from ARPA-E's…

BMT, MSubs Develop Unmanned Craft Test Range

BMT Isis, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd (BMT) and supplier of safety and environmental risk management across sectors and Plymouth based MSubs Ltd, a principal supplier of manned and unmanned underwater submersibles for both military and commercial users are collaborating together to develop a fully instrumented Maritime Sea Range in which to test unmanned craft. A Memorandum of Understanding between the companies has been put in place while funding and permissions are secured.

New All-in-one Optical Incremental Encoder from Renishaw

Available to order from August 2016, VIONiCplus is Renishaw's new optical incremental encoder system launched as part of the VIONiC digital all-in-one encoder series. The VIONiC design combines all necessary interpolation and signal processing inside the readhead and eliminates the requirement for additional external interfaces. To this end, Renishaw said it has developed a new Versatile Interpolation ASIC (VIA) chip to perform all of the functions originally executed by the interface.

Unique Group Partners with INNOVO, Kongsberg

Integrated subsea and offshore solution provider Unique Group has entered into a cooperation agreement with Aberdeen’s INNOVO. As part of the agreement, the companies will collaborate to provide sales and rental equipment and engineering solutions for the marine and oil and gas market sectors in the Middle East and South-East Asia region. INNOVO provides services and high technology equipment for renewables, oil and gas and marine business sectors.

MTR100: Teledyne Marine Sensors & Systems (PART I)

Wrapping your arms around the subsea behemoth that is known as “Teledyne” starts at the top of each group, and the man sitting on top of the Marine Sensors and Systems Group is Bill Kikendall, overseeing a collection of 12 companies starting with Teledyne legacy company Geophysical Instruments and including recent acquisitions such as Oceanscience, Bowtech and SeaBotix. From sensors and seismic systems to geophysical to navigation to subsea vehicles…

MTR 100: VideoRay

No. Testing capabilities have always been an integral part of VideoRay’s facilities. Its headquarters in Pottstown, Pennsylvania includes a 5,000 gallon test tank and a pressure chamber. Every VideoRay ROV system and accessory undergoes a thorough inspection and in-water testing by one of our Quality Control managers before it is shipped. VideoRay’s Research & Development facility also contains several additional testing capabilities, including an outdoor pond.