EU-Backed Project Deploys OTEC Demonstration Unit off Canary Islands

A new storm-resistant ocean energy prototype has been installed off the coast of Gran Canaria, developed under the EU’s Horizon Europe-funded PLOTEC project, as a next step in harnessing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) as a source of renewable energy.The deployment marks the first long-term offshore operation of an OTEC platform in decades, following early temporary demonstrations such as the historic Mini-OTEC and OTEC-1 projects…

Glosten Tapped toDesign new Research Vessel for KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) selected Glosten to design a new ship with advanced capabilities for Red Sea research.The new oceanographic research vessel (RV) will replace the existing RV Thuwal, designed to bring advanced research capabilities for work in both shallow reef and deepwater environments with a reconfigurable deck for multipurpose jobs and equipment and weather…

Analytics System for Subsea Power Cable Maintenance Launched

Indeximate, a provider of fiber sensing-based subsea power cable health monitoring to the offshore wind energy industry, has officially launched its Scattersphere® platform.Scattersphere is a non-intrusive, hardware-agnostic solution to replace one-off alarms with analysis of continuous health behavior and highlight cable failure risks before they become a threat to asset integrity.Proprietary data…

Rovco Nets $6.5 Mln Investment

Subsea technology firm Rovco announced it has secured £5 million ($6.5 million) in new funding to support international expansion and continued development of 3D computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) subsea technology.The funding includes a £3.9 million ($5.1 million) Series A investment from Foresight group via the Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund and Foresight VCTs as part of a larger round including funds from existing shareholders.Formed in 2015…

AeroVironment to Deliver Mission Specialist Defender ROVs to USGC

AeroVironment, Inc., a provider of underwater robotic systems, announced it has been awarded a $4.8 million United States Coast Guard contract through its wholly owned subsidiary, VideoRay, to deliver Mission Specialist Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) as part of the Service’s Force Design 2028 modernization initiative.The Defender will enhance the Coast Guard’s maritime response capabilities by enabling rapid underwater inspections…

ROVs: Superyacht Security Success for Falcon

Another superyacht security contract win for MarineGuard sees it order another Saab Seaeye Falcon underwater robotic vehicle as part of its security resource package.As superyachts become larger and more technologically sophisticated, MarineGuard see the Falcon, with its intelligent future-flexible control technology, playing an increasing role in the growing world of superyacht security. For underwater…

Kraken Wins $50+ Million Contract for Royal Canadian Navy Minehunting

Canadian marine technology company Kraken Robotics Inc. on Wednesday announced it has been awarded a prime contract with the Government of Canada to provide Remote Minehunting and Disposal Systems (RMDS) for the Department of National Defense (DND). The contract consists of an estimated 24-month acquisition program followed by an initial five-year Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) program, which includes options for additional equipment…

Glosten Tapped to Design Scripps' New Hydrogen-hybrid Research Vessel

UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography today announced that naval architecture and marine engineering company Glosten has been selected as the naval architect for the university’s new California coastal research vessel. The new vessel will feature a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system.Selected after participating in the university's request for proposal process, Glosten will provide the preliminary design…

3D at Depth Acquires Hybrid AUV/ROV

Subsea laser LiDAR (SL) technology and 3D data visualization solutions specialist 3D at Depth Inc. has acquired Saab Sabertooth Hybrid AUV / ROV. The company said that the multi-million-dollar investment will complement 3D at Depth's SL Subsea LiDAR laser technology systems and 3rd party geophysical equipment, giving the company "an impressive spread of integrity measurement equipment.""The Hybrid…

New Undersea Cable to Link Iceland to Europe

A new high-speed undersea cable system will soon connect Iceland and Ireland, improving the diversity of adequate connections to support the continued growth of Iceland’s modern community and international business environment.SubCom and Farice ehf today announced that a contract is in force to supply and install the cable system, which is expected to be ready for service by the end of 2022.Farice…

BAS to Study Future Sea-level Rise in Antarctica

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers are aiming to develop new and ambitious ideas to tackle critical global environmental challenges, such as global sea-level rise from Antarctica, with the help of new funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).NERC has awarded £2.3 million (about $2.8 million) to BAS for the new science program SURface FluxEs In AnTarctica (SURFEIT).SURFEIT…

"World's First" - Fugro Personnel Certified to Operate Uncrewed Surface Vessels

Dutch offshore survey services firm Fugro said that its personnel from its Middle East office has completed "the world's first" Maritime Autonomous Surface Systems (MASS) professional certified training delivered by SeaBot XR at the training academy CEbotiX, the National Centre for Operational Excellence in Marine Robotics based in Southampton, UK."This certification marks a landmark step in the development…

OPT Buys Autonomous Surface Vehicle Maker MAR

Wave energy solutions provider Ocean Power Technologies has acquired Marine Advanced Robotics, Inc. ("MAR"), a California-based developer and manufacturer of autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs). "This acquisition immediately provides OPT with an established, innovative offshore product line that features roaming capability and highly complements the OPT business strategy," OPT said.Founded in 2004, MAR is the developer of Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) technology…

Meet FlipiX: iXblue Launches New ROTV

At Ocean Business 2021 in Southampton, iXblue today launched a new ROTV -- FlipiX -- designed to enhance autonomous survey scope.Designed to be operated autonomously from iXblue DriX Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) or from a light vessel, FlipiX enhances autonomous survey capabilities and allows to conduct multi-sensor operations in a single run.Leveraging advanced motion control and a reduced operational footprint…

MTR100: When it Comes to Drones, Big is Good. <1m is Better.

Over the last couple of decades, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) have become fully established work horses of ocean mapping and surveillance. That doesn’t mean there’s not room for some innovation. Elaine Maslin takes a look at some activity in the sub-1m collaborative drone market.New breeds of AUV are on their way. Some are bigger, but there’s also a host of companies developing small (<1m)…

MacArtney Launches NEXUS 8 Multiplexer

Underwater technology specialists MacArtney unveiled its latest addition to the NEXUS multiplexer family at the biannual Ocean Business 2021 exhibition, held October 12-14 in Southampton, U.K.Continuing MacArtney's long tradition of developing products in consultation with the marketplace, the NEXUS 8 is the result of considerable customer and end-user input to ensure the product will fit the need…

Corps Building Underwater Sill to Halt Saltwater Intrusion in Mississippi River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District began construction of an underwater sill October 11, 2022, across the bed of the Mississippi River channel to prevent further upriver progression of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico.The Mississippi River’s volume of water has fallen to a level that allows salt water to intrude upstream. Saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico moves upriver in a wedge…

English Channel 700MW Windfarm Project

Plans for a giant wind farm off the coast near Brighton advance as developer E.ON submits initial planning application to the Government. The energy giant, which was granted the rights to the Hastings Round 3 offshore wind development zone back in 2010, withdrew its first application for a development consent order (DCO) late last year after it emerged it had failed to consult neighbouring councils in Sevenoaks and Surrey, reports REVE.

Gavia AUV Gets a Sonar Upgrade

Teledyne Gavia has continued the enhancement of its modular, versatile, low-logistics subsea survey solution, the Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), this time with the addition of a new Side Scan/Bathymetry module. Incorporating Klein Marine Systems’ new UUV-3500 high-resolution side scan sonar with optional bathymetry sonar, the system is another high quality option for customers interested in utilizing the Gavia AUV for geophysical survey…

Teledyne Benthos Acoustic Modems Meet NATO’s New JANUS Interoperability Standard

From May 21-25, Teledyne Benthos took part in a five-day JANUS Interoperability Fest hosted by the NATO STO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), based in La Spezia, Italy, at which various vendors tested their JANUS protocol capabilities. The Teledyne Benthos UTS-9400 deck box and ATM-900 Series Modems were tested and proved their ability to provide an interoperable real-time implementation…