Kraken Debuts AquaPix MINSAS

Kraken Sonar Systems Inc. announced the development of AquaPix MINSAS, a next generation Miniature Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar designed for operation to depths of 3,000m. The system integrates the latest electronics, transducer arrays and signal processing software and is optimized for the demanding size, weight, power and cost constraints of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) and high speed towfish platforms.

Seatronics Invests in iXblue RAMSES System

Seatronics announced its investment in iXblue’s RAMSES system, an acoustic synthetic baseline positioning system with self-contained computing. The software allows for simple real-time sparse array navigation, for high precision navigation with smooth and drift free positioning. Seatronics said it continues to develop its business through the provision and development of technology, providing clients with increased efficiencies through forward thinking solutions.

Thales, ASV Develop Unmanned Minewarfare Vehicle

Thales UK has signed a contract with Autonomous Surface Vehicles Ltd (ASV Ltd) to develop a re-configurable Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) to meet the challenges of future off-board Mine Countermeasures (MCM) operations. The low signature USV, which is 11.5m in length and 3.6m in beam, will have a maximum speed of around 25 knots. The vehicle is now under construction and will be undergoing acceptance trials later this year.

NOAA Engineers a Better Current Sensor for Mariners

Navigating into seaports is now safer and more efficient for mariners thanks to improved NOAA technology that ships rely on to give them information about currents. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) developed a more reliable, cost-saving version of a current sensor system that can now be placed at more remote locations along navigation channels. The updated Acoustic…

UK Partners Launch Autonomous Navigation Project

As unmanned surface vessels continue to gain ground globally, a new project in the U.K. sets out to address challenges relating to the coexistence of autonomous systems and traditional manned vessels in shared water space. The £1.2 million ($1.6 million) research project, dubbed SWANS (Shared Waterspace Autonomous Navigation by Satellite), is funded by the U.K.’s innovation agency Innovate UK. Project lead BMT will work with partners ASV Global and Deimos Space UK to enable beyond line of sight…

Ecospeed Applied on Rudder and Ice Belt of Icebreaker Tug

Last month the rudder and the ice belt of the harbor icebreaker tug Jääsalo were coated with Ecospeed in Naantali, Finland. The m/s Jääsalo is responsible for keeping the Veitsiluoto fairway open in the port of Kemi in Finland. The Port of Kemi in the Bothnian Bay is an excellent import and export harbor for the industry of the Barents Region. The harbor represents the fastest route to the northern areas of Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Murmansk area in Russia.

$140m Awarded for GoM Oil Impact Research

The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) has selected 12 research consortia to conduct scientific studies of the impacts of oil, dispersed oil, and dispersant on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and public health. These research investments focus on improving our fundamental understanding of the implications of events such as the Macondo well blowout, and on developing improved spill mitigation, oil and gas detection, characterization and remediation technologies.

Rovco Trials 3D Visualization Tech

Subsea cable survey and inspection work for the world’s largest and most technologically advanced offshore renewables test site, Wave Hub, was completed by U.K. based Rovco. The inspection program included the first commercial trial of Rovco’s 3D visualization technology to create scaled, high resolution models of subsea infrastructure with millimeter accuracy. Rovco also delivered a detailed bathymetric survey utilizing a multibeam echosounder (MBES)…

ABB Orders Cable-laying Vessel

ABB informs it has ordered a cable-laying vessel from Kleven shipyard in Norway. The new ship, scheduled to be delivered in 2017, will be custom-built to ABB specifications and measure approximately 140 by 30 meters. “This next-generation vessel incorporating state-of-the-art ABB technologies will be a key differentiator for our high-voltage cable business, enhancing flexibility and execution ability,” said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Systems division.

Sovcomflot Ups its Role in the Sakhalin-2 Project

Sovcomflot Group (SCF Group) said its fleet will have greater involvement in serving the Sakhalin-2 offshore platforms for Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy). SCF Group, Sakhalin Energy and Swire Pacific Offshore have signed several agreements that entail the purchase of two platform supply vessels from Swire Pacific Offshore by SCF Group. All the three platform supply vessels…

US Awards $20 Mln for Wave and Tidal Energy Projects

The U.S. Energy Department announced 10 organizations have been selected to receive more than $20 million in funding for new research, development and demonstration projects that advance and monitor marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy systems, which generate electricity from ocean waves and tidal currents. These projects will aim to improve the performance of MHK systems and advance environmental…

MTR100: Shark Marine

Canada-based Shark Marine Technologies Inc. develops and delivers innovative technologies for commercial diving, scientific research, survey firms, film production companies, search and recovery organizations and some of the most elite military and law enforcement agencies around the world, and has recently secured a pair of naval references. The company supplies video systems, ROVs and accessories…

MacArtney Delivers First dotOcean GraviProbe in the US

U.S. Survey Equipment Services (SES) has taken delivery of a dotOcean GraviProbe supplied by MacArtney. The geotechnical profiling system analyzes the underwater sediment layers during intrusion. A recent business partnership agreement between dotOcean and MacArtney covering the North American continent consolidates MacArtney’s position in key markets and provides customer access to the range of dotOcean sediment and soil measurement products.

Stork Showcases Subsea Asset Integrity Solutions

Following the recent divestment of its Subsea division to N-Sea Group, Stork is continuing to develop and invest in subsea integrity technology, cathodic protection, bolting, tensioning and tooling operations. The divestment of Stork’s Subsea division has been part of a strategic review of the business, which signals a continuation of the company’s commitment to offering  products, services and innovations on both a standalone and integrated basis…

Oceanology International '18: Conference Schedule Finalized

The Technical Tracks conference program for Oceanology International 2018 at ExCel, London (March 13-15, 2018) has now been finalized, constituting the most extensive and cogent analysis of advances in ocean science and technology available under one roof. “The sheer scope and magnitude of the sessions is impressive,” enthuses Conference Manager Ellen Burgess. The conference program gets under way on Tuesday…

Optech Announces Titan

Optech's latest addition to its innovative line of airborne laser terrain mappers (ALTM), the Optech Titan, allows multispectral active imaging of the environment by day or night, enabling new vertical applications and information extraction capabilities for lidar. In the past, single or dual-wavelength sensors were developed for specific market verticals and application requirements. Titan breaks away from this convention by combining three beams with separate wavelengths…

SeeByte Debuts Sonar Mosaic Tool for ROVs

SeeByte, a creator of software for unmanned maritime systems, announced the launch of a new Multibeam Imaging Sonar Mosaic Tool for use with the company’s SeeTrackCoPilot software. Users of SeeTrackCoPilot are now able to generate a multibeam imaging sonar forward-look mosaic. They can do this using a simple on/off button in the SeeTrackCoPilot interface. The tool can be used to quickly generate maps of the environment and improve ROV pilots’ situational awareness. Dr.

MTR100: RJE International

RJE International manufactures sonar beacons, diver navigation, diver sonar and underwater relocation products. RJE is a leader in acoustic marking and re-location systems, diver navigation, sonar underwater communications and small boat navigation for the military and divers worldwide. The company carries a broad range of products and also has the design and engineering capabilities to develop custom solutions.. RJE International sources and manufactures locally in the U.S.

Jasco has a Long History in Acoustics

A small Canadian company is using its “scientific excellence” in acoustics to advance human and industrial activities mainly in a marine environment. JASCO Applied Sciences has more than 30 years of experience in various aspects of marine acoustics. It has delivered its expertise internationally and has become one of the global leaders in marine acoustic data collection and analysis. The company was initially formed as JASCO Research in 1981 in Victoria, B.C. by Joseph A.

Warship Design Unveiled for UK's Next Generation GCS

The latest design of the Royal Navy's Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS), the next generation of warships, has been unveiled. The Ministry of Defence has released images showing the basic specification of the T26 GCS, which is a significant milestone in the development of this programme. The creation of the vessel will sustain thousands of jobs in the shipbuilding industry. The multi-mission warship…