Ports of Jersey Purchases Multi-Beam System

Ports of Jersey in the U.K. has taken delivery of a new Multi-Beam system from Swathe Services. Following an extensive trial period and tender process, Ports of Jersey selected Swathe Services to deliver the R2Sonic Sonic 2024 with TruePix and UHR 700 kHz capability. The comprehensive equipment, software and support package was chosen by Aaron Gavey, Deputy Marine Operations Manager, to enhance the organization’s new commercial survey capability.

Funding for Jee’s Excalibur system

Technologies which harness tidal energy (i.e. tidal energy convertors or TECs) are in the advanced stages of development. Single TECs have been tested in UK waters for some time but only recently has a fully commercial, grid-connected array been installed. Despite the rapid progress the tidal sector is relatively immature and the greatest challenge is to find a cost-effective method to deploy these technologies at a large scale.

Delving Deeper with AUVs

What lies beneath? Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and buoyancy-driven gliders have revolutionized the way the subsea industry gathers oceanographic data and despite the volatility of oil prices, it is predicted that the demand for this technology will continue to grow over the next five years and beyond. Although the sustained low oil prices have reduced budgets and put a cap on the development of new technology…

Morgan Advanced Materials Eyes Maritime Security Sector

As new threats in major oceans around the world continue to emerge, Morgan Advanced Materials has improved its production and design capability for piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) components and transducers used for underwater SONAR applications. Morgan is now able to offer a range of solutions which can be customized in terms of size, materials and sonar frequency to meet the technical demands of any underwater application.

World's First Low Velocity Tidal Energy Project

Xodus Group has delivered the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and licence application for Minesto’s Holyhead Deep project west of Anglesey for which consent has been confirmed by Natural Resources Wales. The consent is for a 0.5 MW Deep Green device which will demonstrate and prove the technology ahead of plans for installing a 10 MW array at the site. The installation site is located in the southern corner of Holyhead Deep…

Hull Cleaning Robot Deployed in Rotterdam

Recently the hull of the vessel Vlieborg from Wagenborg has been cleaned in the Port of Rotterdam by Fleet Cleaner and OH Ship Cleaning. The vessel was heavily fouled with slime and algae, which were all removed from the hull and captured by the installation. The collected wastewater was carefully filtered in order to comply with environmental regulations. Since the Vlieborg was not loaded during the cleaning, a large portion of the fouled hull had to be cleaned above water.

Philippines Completes Scientific Survey in Disputed Sea

The Philippines has completed an 18-day scientific survey in the South China Sea to assess the condition of coral reefs and draw a nautical map of disputed area, a top security official said on Thursday. Two survey ships, including an advanced research vessel acquired from the United States, conducted surveys around Scarborough Shoal and on three islands, including Thitu, in the Spratly group, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said.

Voices: Sean Halpin

From a sunken ship on Penobscot Bay to working with the world’s top oil and gas companies, Sean Halpin has always had a love of the ocean. Learn about his start and his perspectives on the role autonomous systems play for the future of offshore operations. From a sunken boat to becoming a geoscientist? I have always loved the ocean. My parents have pictures of me as a kid on a beach in Florida with a wild look in my eyes as I stared at the crashing waves.

Partners Advance Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology

Continually working to help improve oil spill response technologies, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) presented details on its latest efforts at the Arctic Oil Spill Response Research and Technology Workshop on April 26. There, Bureau staff presented results of several BSEE-funded projects including the development of a submersible skimmer prototype for oil recovery in and around broken ice.

Neptune Shows Versatility

Subsea experts swapped the wilds of the North Sea oil fields for the confines of inner city London’s river network as the potential for energy sector knowledge to be used in a diverse range of projects was underlined in advance of a major international marine event. Specialists from Aberdeen-based Neptune were mobilized to work on the Thames Tideway Tunnel development. The 20 day survey support project was completed in January as work on the landmark scheme continues.

STR Adds iXBlue Equipment to Its Rental Portfolio

Subsea Technology and Rentals (STR), a provider in the rental of marine equipment to support the offshore survey, IRM, subsea construction and renewable sectors, has increased its portfolio of specialized subsea rental equipment with the purchase of iXBlue’s OCTANS NANO. iXBlue, a navigation, positioning and imaging solutions provider, is supplying the OCTANS NANO subsea gyrocompass for utilization by STR clients in ROV and structure monitoring operations.

WHOI Helps Locate El Faro’s Voyage Data Recorder

A team of scientists and engineers from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), U.S. Coast Guard and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have located the voyage data recorder (VDR) of the U.S. flagged cargo ship El Faro, which sank during Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1, 2015, killing all 33 crew aboard. The VDR was located at approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday in the waters between Florida and the Bahamas at a depth of approximately 4,600 meters.

Big Data, 3D Printing and Robots

Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Gen. Robert B. Neller recently visited the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to get a close-up look at some of the latest technologies being developed for the U.S. Marine Corps—from autonomous systems to virtual reality training devices. During his visit, Neller met with Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Mat Winter, as well as department heads and program officers, and expressed his appreciation for the science and technology being designed for the future force.

Saab Seaeye: Meeting the Challenges of Renewables

The renewable industry presents special challenges for underwater robotic vehicle operations with its shallow waters, high currents, intricate structures and, in some locations, unexploded ordnance. Saab Seaeye has found good success in the sector with a range of vehicles specially suited for the challenging tasks involved in building and maintaining the structures and interconnections. With a range of robotic systems that are ideally suited for the sector.

High-tech Sensors Advance Tsunami Monitoring

Accurate and long-term measurements of sea level, tidal harmonics and tsunami activity are a growing requirement to address global coastal developments and risk mitigation programs. Real-time tsunami monitoring and warning systems are being developed to save lives, model wave propagation and quantify coastal hazards.The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) has recently taken delivery of five…

RRS Sir David Attenborough Launched

The hull of the U.K.’s new polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough was launched from Cammell Laird shipyard Saturday, marking a major milestone toward the completion of one of the world’s most advanced scientific maritime vessels.Shipyard workers, engineers, scientists and maritime industry experts were among thousands who gathered to celebrate the launch along with special guest speakers, including renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough…

Fugro Advances Bathymetric Lidar Mapping Capabilities

Fugro is introducing a new bathymetric lidar system that delivers industry-leading depth penetration and point densities for nearshore and coastal mapping. Known as RAMMS (Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping System), the field-proven technology promises to deliver an efficient and cost-effective solution, dramatically improving upon other bathymetric lidar mapping capabilities.“Traditional bathymetric lidar technology requires customers to compromise between price…

Aker Solutions to Supply Umbilicals for Liuhua FPSO

Aker Solutions said it has been contracted to deliver power umbilical systems to China National Offshore Oil Corporation's (CNOOC) Liuhua oil fields in the South China Sea, off Hong Kong.The order, which is said to be worth more than NOK 350 million ($36.6 million), was booked in the third quarter of 2018. The work scope includes more than 35 kilometers of dynamic and static power umbilicals for the Liuhua 16-2…

Shearwater to Buy Schlumberger’s Seismic Business

Norwegian marine geophysical services company Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the marine seismic acquisition assets and operations of Schlumberger’s geophysical services product line, WesternGeco.The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018.Houston…

All IOOS Regional Networks Are Now NOAA-certified

NOAA announced it has certified the last of 11 Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) regional associations as Regional Information Coordination Entities. Data coming from all IOOS partners now adheres to common federal collection, storage and management standards, meaning it can be integrated with other data, and help make "big data" research and development possible.IOOS is a coordinated network of regional associations that compile and distribute data on America’s coastal waters…