Columbia Class Subs Take Shape in Virginia

A plasma-burning machine cut the first steel plate that will be used to build Columbia (SSBN 826), the lead ballistic missile submarine. As Newport News continues its digital transformation, the event also marked the first class of submarines that will be built using fully digital blueprints.“Today is a historic day,” said Jason Ward, Newport News’ vice president for Columbia-class construction. “It has been a half century since Newport News Shipbuilding has constructed a ballistic submarine.

SBG Systems Unveils New IMU

Inertial motion sensing solutions provider SBG Systems has released the Horizon IMU, a FOG-based high performance inertial measurement unit (IMU) designed for large hydrographic vessels surveying harsh environments.Navsight Marine Solution consists in a powerful and ready-to-use inertial navigation solution dedicated to hydrographers. It is available at different levels of accuracy to meet the various…

AAM Delivers Survey Vessel for NV5-Geodynamics

Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) announced it has delivered a new research and hydrographic survey vessel for NV5-Geodynamics. The vessel was sea-trialed on Bellingham Bay, prior to shipping via cargo ship to its homeport of Beaufort, N.C.Built to service the growing offshore wind market as well as accomplish many other scientific survey missions, Shackleford is a 73- by 26.7…

VIDEO: Watch the Armach Robotics Hull Service Robot in Action

Armach Robotics, Inc. (Armach), recently passed a critical milestone during a trial of its Hull Service Robot in full over-the-horizon (OTH) mode.At the end of 2022, Armach’s hull service robot (HSR), in the water in Norfolk, VA, was monitored and controlled by staff at Armach’s command center in Plymouth, MA, using a 4G modem providing over-the-air connectivity. During the trial, the Plymouth-based operator was able to fly the robot from its launch point at the pier…

Exocetus Selects Greensea for Navigation and Control

Another Greensea system is entering the market – this time with the versatile, long duration, Exocetus Coastal Glider. Greensea is providing its commercially available navigation, control and automation product based on the patent-pending OPENSEA operating platform – the first operating platform for the marine industry – for the command and control of the Exocetus vehicle and sensors. The Exocetus AUV carries more payload and is faster than competing gliders, according to the manufacturer.

Hydrographic Surveys for MCA in the Shetland Islands

MMT has since 2006 been one of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency´s Civil Hydrography Program survey providers of high resolution multi-beam bathymetry, providing hydrographic data for updating nautical charts for safe navigation and efficient maritime transport. Currently MMT UK, based in Banbury Oxfordshire, is undertaking two hydrographic surveys in the Shetland Islands on behalf of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.

Hydro Group Completes MeyGen Contract

Aberdeen-based subsea cable and connector specialist, Hydro Group has completed a contract with technology developer and supplier of tidal turbines, Andritz Hydro Hammerfest (AHH). The agreement saw Hydro Group supply complete connection systems for three turbines on the world’s most advanced multi-turbine tidal stream energy development. This second MeyGen contract followed on from an announcement…

Dow and Telleborg Receive World Oil Award

Neptune  Advanced Subsea Flow Assurance Insulation System Named “Best Production Technology” of 2012. The winner of the 2012 World Oil Award for Best Production Technology is a breakthrough in subsea insulation developed by Dow Oil & Gas, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), in cooperation with multiple organizations, including Trelleborg Offshore, a leading provider of polymer and syntactic foam-based coating solutions for the offshore oil and gas industry.

OPT Teams Up with Brazilin Institute for Autonomous Ocean Developments

Ocean Power Technologies Signs (OPT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazil’s SENAI to advance autonomous ocean developments.OPT and SENAI, short for Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI Innovation Institute for Virtual Production Systems from Firjan) in Brazil, will jointly explore blue economy opportunities including deployment of WAM-V autonomous and unmanned surface…

Manned Submersible Divers to Study Sharks in the Bahamas

A yearlong expedition in the Bahamas has been planned to assess sharks and sea life hidden in the deep ocean. Beginning in October 2017, an exploration team aboard a manned submersible will aim to uncover new details on deep sea sharks and the variety of species that inhabit the waters off the Great Bahama Bank continental shelf. OceanGate Expeditions – a team undersea explorers, scientists, and filmmakers…

Meet The "Teledyne Twelve”

Teledyne Marine has steadily built an armada of technologies and brands serving nearly every facet of the subsea sector through systematic acquisition, investment and organic growth. Recently MTR solicited the insights of a quartet of executives representing the various brands to discuss the evolution and future direction of the Teledyne Marine brand. Executives offering insights included Bill Kikendall…

Accelerating Mapping, Surveys with High Speed ROV Ops

MMT completed offshore integration trials of its new high-speed remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with Sonardyne International’s SPRINT inertial navigation system. The 2,000 meter rated vehicle, named Surveyor Interceptor, has been developed by MMT to improve the speed and efficiency of seabed mapping and pipeline inspections surveys. Its design features a hydrodynamic hull and powerful drivetrain enabling the vehicle to travel at up to six knots…

Verlume Appoints Valor Ocean Technology As First Canadian Business Development Agent

Verlume, a leader in subsea batteries and power management systems, has appointed Valor Ocean Technologies as its first business development agent in Canada. The partnership follows the successful offshore deployment of three Verlume Charge systems in Canadian waters and signals a strategic expansion to meet growing market demand.Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Valor Ocean Technologies (formally known as ValorBPS) is a provider of advanced ocean technology systems…

Bombora Making Progress with 'World’s Most Powerful' Wave Energy Converter

Bombora Wave Power said this week it was entering the final test and assembly phase of the 1.5MW Pembrokeshire Demonstration Project, as it prepares to validate what it says is the world’s most powerful Wave Energy Converter."Rigorous testing of the key sub-systems is currently underway as the ocean energy specialist prepares to deliver the £20million project, financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the Welsh Government…

New Algorithm Could Simplify Decisions for Ship Channel Dredging

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash.

Transas will equip 2 tankers for Palmali Shipping

Transas Group and Armada Shipyard (Turkey) have signed a contract for installation of navigation and communication equipment on the two tankers built for the Palmali Shipping, a major oil cargo carrier. The tankers are built in accordance with new series of Armada project RST22M, DWT 7150. Within the contract Armada Shipyard will install a set of radio and navigation equipment including Integrated Bridge System…

Kongsberg Inks First Deal for HUGIN Superior

Kongsberg Maritime reports it has signed the first contract for the new HUGIN Superior 6,000-meter rated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).According to its manufacturer, the HUGIN Superior, introduced to the market in December 2018, is engineered to provide significantly enhanced data, positioning and endurance capabilities while building on the proven track record of the HUGIN AUVs. The complete…

Buoy Data Helps Mariners to Weather Storms

A team of U.S. Coast Guardsmen at the National Data Buoy Center helps to maintain a nation-wide network of data collecting weather buoys.Five Coast Guardsmen deploy with buoy tenders and other Aids to Navigation units to manage the system of weather buoys, according to Team Leader Chad Pool.“We organize, coordinate and manage the deployment, service and recovery of 106 NOAA meteorological weather buoys…

BIRNS Celebrates 65 Years

US-based lighting and connector systems manufacturer BIRNS celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, having played a role in the advancement of high performance lighting and connector systems for the subsea market for six and a half decades.When BIRNS got its start in 1954, when exploration in the subsea industry was in its relative infancy. In fact, some of the very first unmanned submersibles were introduced in the 1950s.

Fire Shelters Enhance Safety for Offshore Gas Project

Three passive fire shelters designed to protect the control electronics of automatic emergency shutdown and fire suppression systems on offshore gas production platforms in the Arabian Gulf are being supplied by the outdoor enclosure specialist Intertec. Fabricated using lightweight composite GRP (glass reinforced polyester) materials, the shelters employ patented techniques to resist fire for two hours, allowing critical electronic safety equipment to remain operational.