Newport News Authenticates Keel of Virginia-class Attack Submarine Oklahoma

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division authenticated the keel today for Virginia-class attack submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802).“We enjoy participating in Navy traditions like this one because they remind us of the important role we play in our nation’s defense,” NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. “The nuclear submarines we build help ensure our peace and freedoms, and we take great pride in being a nuclear shipyard.”The ship’s sponsor is Mary “Molly” Slavonic, an Oklahoma native.

Hydrex Ready to Mobilize at Port of Rotterdam

To enable a fast mobilization throughout the entire Rotterdam port without delaying a ship’s commercials operations, Hydrex dive support vessels are stationed in Rotterdam. These workboats are fully equipped with hydraulic cranes, winches, a dive spread and control room.This allows Hydrex to offer simple maintenance operations as well as repairs on all parts of the underwater ship propulsion system and the hull.

First Underwater Drone Crossing of the English Channel

Earlier this year, the YUCO became the first micro–Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to successfully cross the English Channel from Folkestone, England, to Wissant, France. The crossing, a partnership between RS Aqua and SEABER, took less than 8 hours.The AUV measures just under one meter long and weighs 10 kg, small but mighty enough to battle its way through the highly variable weather conditions…

Israel to Build Subsea Electric Cable with Possible Europe Link

Israel on Tuesday unveiled plans to build an underwater electric cable that will run along its Mediterranean coast and offer the possibility to connect to electricity grids in Europe.The proposed 150 km (93 mile) cable will carry electricity from solar energy farms in Israel's southern Negev desert to cities to the center and north, the Energy Ministry said.

Need a Survey? There’s a USV for That

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind…

The Value of Friends in “High-Latitude” Places

Who do you call when you need a job done on short notice, in total darkness, under 100-percent ice cover, thousands of meters at the bottom of the sea? In the case of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), you call your friends in Norway. That is exactly what the Chief of Naval Research Rear Admiral Lorin C. Selby did when he enlisted the help of the Norwegian Coast Guard icebreaker and offshore patrol vessel, the CGV Svalbard, to retrieve oceanographic moorings containing irreplaceable data.

ABS Issues Safety, Technical Guideline for Floating Offshore Wind Substations

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has published requirements addressing safety and technical standards for floating offshore wind substations in what has been described as an industry first. Together with input from offshore wind project developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of substations, and transportation and installation (T&I) companies, ABS developed the Requirements for Offshore Substations and Electrical Service Platforms which…

Navy Provides Realistic, Operationally-relevant Test Environment for Technology

“Synergy” is an overused word. But in the case of the “Advanced Naval Technology Exercises” that are held around the country, ANTX is truly a sum greater than its parts.ANTXs are conducted by the Naval Research & Development Establishment (NR&DE) and hosted at the various Naval Warfare Centers to demonstrate emerging technologies and innovations aimed at solving Navy and Marine Corps problems and addressing mission priorities and gaps.

OPT Bags $1M Contract from US Navy for Autonomous Maritime Tech

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) been awarded a follow-on contract valued at $1 million to further advance the operational capability of its autonomous maritime technologies to support the U.S. military and its allies.OPT secured the follow-on contract as a subcontractor to EpiSci after the successful 12-month demonstration of its autonomous surface vehicle technologies during the Mission Autonomy Proving Grounds (MAPG) as part of Project Overmatch.With this award…

The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up

The science and technology surrounding discovery, mitigation and clean-up of microplastics in the world’s environment makes this year’s “MTR100.” Here we offer insights on the organizations, people and technologies taking the lead.As marine journalists, scientists, technologists, activists and enthusiasts, we are aware of the large-scale impact that consumer macro-plastic products have on aquatic ecosystems.

The Rise of the Aquanaut

The feeling of awe and planetary connection experienced by astronauts observing Earth from low space orbit is known as the “overview effect,” a term coined by Frank White, the author of numerous books on space exploration and science. Now researchers from Northeastern University have documented a similar cognitive shift among aquanauts, people who live and work under the sea. They call it the “underview…

Ice Navigation: Every Voyage is Different

It’s late in the season so Captain Duke Snider, sailing on a resupply voyage from New Zealand to Antarctica, is expecting virtually no sea, just glacial ice.Snider has been an ice navigator for decades, and he has seen the ocean change, not just here in the polar south, but in Arctic waters as well.“Variability is much greater than in the past when we could expect an ice breakup to occur within a calendar week, year after year, whether it was the Arctic or the Antarctic,” he says.

FarSounder Introduces 3D Sonar Web Application

FarSounder, a leader in 3D Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) technology, has released its new web app with an intuitive user interface (UI). The highlight of this release is a powerful and integrative web app compatible with tablets and laptops, with plans to expand compatibility with multi-function displays (MFDs). This versatility allows captains and officers to access the advanced 3D display from virtually anywhere on board…

Subsea Europe Services, FLANQ Appointed as a Distributor of Voxometer Survey System Across Mainland Europe

Subsea Europe Services, together with its defense division, FLANQ, has been appointed as a mainland Europe distributor for the Voxometer multi-aspect survey system developed by Malta-based R3Vox. This partnership marks a milestone in Subsea Europe Services’ commitment to delivering hydrographic survey and underwater inspection technologies to commercial, academic and, through FLANQ, defense customers…

Viridien, TGS Kick Off Next Phase of Laconia Sparse OBN Survey in US Gulf

Seismic firms TGS and Viridien have started the Laconia Phase III ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the Gulf of America, building on the previously completed Phases I and II.The goal of the Laconia Phase III is to extend extra-long-offset-low-frequency full-azimuth sparse OBN data coverage in the Paleogene trend.Supported by industry funding, Laconia Phase III, covering approximately 150 OCS blocks in the Keathley Canyon protraction areas…

Exail Opens New Office in Norway

Eying growth in the Scandinavian region, Exail announced the opening of a new business office in Norway. Located in the Oslo area, this new office is led by Lars Sorfang, who is acting as general manager for Exail AS, as well as regional sales manager for Scandinavia.A former officer for the Norwegian military, Sorfang previously held various business development positions at Kongsberg working on strategic defense programs…

Hydroid Bags AUV Order from Japan

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUVs) manufacturer Hydroid, Inc., said on Monday it has received an order for a New Generation REMUS 6000 AUV from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science Technology (JAMSTEC).The New Generation REMUS 6000 is based on the legacy vehicle design and features a modular architecture that allows for the addition of multiple payloads including customer sensor packages, forward fins and additional battery sections, the manufacturer said.

Flying new Routes Subsea

North East England-based Modus Seabed Intervention Limited is a relatively small business but its goals are ambitious and focused. Elaine Maslin reports.After four years spent developing a hybrid AUV/ROV (HAUV) based on a modified Saab Sabertooth AUV system, Modus Seabed Intervention has now bought its second, deep water rated Sabertooth, which will be delivered this summer.The acquisition of its latest 3…

Robotics: The Next Gen in Subsea Vehicles

MUMs (and daughters) of invention: Sea nymphs and MUMs are inspiring a new generation of underwater systems and vehicles. Elaine Maslin takes a look.The list of applicants to enter the underwater domain is growing fast. The concepts vary, from underwater autonomous motherships able to carry an array of payloads over long distances to swarms of drop deployed ocean bottom nodes that can find their way to pre-programmed locations.At energy:connected…

Cougar ROV Helps Cut Costs of Anode Repairs

An advanced anode repair concept is said to save up to 75 percent in costs compared to hydraulic delivered anode repair systems.The new concept, created by SubC Partner, has been launched with the help of Saab Seaeye’s Cougar XT electric e-robotic underwater vehicle as a development platform. It can be adapted for any size and shape of sacrificial anode, whether surface mounted or welded, and offers…