Loss of Diversity Near Melting Coastal Glaciers

Melting glaciers are causing a loss of species diversity among benthos in the coastal waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, impacting an entire seafloor ecosystem. This has been verified in the course of repeated research dives, the results of which were recently published by experts from Argentina, Germany and Great Britain and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in a study in the journal Science Advances.

Project Mars: The future of Autonomy

Innovation and technological advancement is central to propelling maritime industries into a new era of efficiency. While the idea of autonomy is now a welcome solution for several military and scientific applications, other sectors are yet to fully take the concept on-board. As autonomous systems are continually proven a success in the field, the spotlight has now turned to the maritime sector. World…

Kongsberg Launches Third Generation HiPAP System

The third generation of Kongsberg Maritime’s High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System – HiPAP, is now available. The new system, HiPAP 502, is smaller, lighter, more durable and accurate, according to the manufacturer. It is designed to support the performance and safety of offshore support, survey, subsea construction and scientific vessel operations. HiPAP 502 is the latest in a line of High Precision Acoustic Positioning Systems from Kongsberg Maritime.

Sonar Helps Find Missing Argentine Submarine

EdgeTech, a manufacturer of high-resolution sonar imaging systems and underwater technology, said its side scan sonar technology was used to help find the missing Argentine submarine, ARA San Juan, which was recently located in 900 meters of water off Argentina's Atlantic Coast after a yearlong search.The deepwater search was performed by Ocean Infinity and its advanced fleet of 6,000 meter rated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) equipped with EdgeTech 2205 Side Scan Sonars.

STR Appoints Elliott as General Manager

Subsea Technology & Rentals Ltd (STR); global specialists in the design, production and rental of advanced subsea technology for the offshore industry has announced the appointment of Paul Elliott as General Manager for the Asia Pacific Region.   Elliott will be responsible for working with STR’s existing customers and agents within the Asia Pacific region to support business and develop new opportunities and relationships.

SeeByte Software Supports USV

SeeByte, creator of smart software technology for unmanned systems, and ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK (AEUK), a specialist in delivery of innovative maritime systems, have together successfully integrated SeeByte’s Neptune software onto AEUK’s ARCIMS unmanned surface vessel (USV) mission system. ARCIMS is an USV specifically designed for multi-role applications including MCM, ASW, Hydrography and security. ARCIMS…

Rovco Dives into International Waters

U.K.-based startup Rovco has taken its firsts steps into international waters with the completion of two subsea survey contracts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The contract awards saw Rovco perform advanced subsea survey work in Fiji and Oman, utilizing its SubAtlantic Mojave, Seaeye Falcon and VideoRay Pro 4 ROVs. Launched in September, the company has also been awarded its first ROV consultancy project with one of a U.K.

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.

Yukon River Charts Produced with Satellite Images

Coast Survey has issued provisional charts for barge operators and others traversing Alaska's challenging Yukon River, relying solely on satellite images to create the electronic navigational charts that only display shoreline and shoals (shallow areas). The ENCs, which display no depth soundings, will give the mariners annually updated information to help their navigation along the changeable river. "The Yukon was literally uncharted," Kampia told the group.

ROV Roundup: Recent Tech Innovations

MTR highlights recent technological advances in the world of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV).SaabSeaeye: It’s ElectricOperators, from the Gulf of Mexico to offshore Australia, report multi-million-dollar savings as they switch to the new generation of electric work vehicles, and the Saab Seaeye Leopard it touted as the most powerful electric robotic work vehicle of its size in the world.Compared to a 66-ton hydraulic equivalent…

Easier Access to UK Tidal Data

The U.K. Hydrographic Office has released a new ADMIRALTY application programming interface (API) that puts U.K. tidal data in the hands of software developers.The U.K. Tidal API gives developers access to accurate data from the U.K.’s largest authoritative network of tidal stations, allowing them to build tidal height and time predictions into their own online applications. These predictions can be useful for a wide range of coastal activities…

New Small-form Subsea Positioning Transponders

Following on from the end of 2015 launch of its new generation underwater positioning system, HiPAP 502, Kongsberg Maritime is introducing a new range of mini medium frequency subsea transponders. With a smaller form factor, improved operational functionality and design, and the use of modern materials the new cNODE MiniS family supersedes the KONGSBERG Mini SSBL transponders (MST) range, which was first available in 2002.

C-Innovation Chooses Kongberg AUV Systems

C-Innovation (C-I), a member of the Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) group of companies and an integrated marine services company specializing in advanced subsea solutions has signed an agreement with Kongsberg Maritime to acquire four new Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). The order adds significant AUV capabilities to C-I’s already established Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) fleet. C-I offers comprehensive subsea field development services…

US Defense Department Orders 60 ROVs for Explosives Disposal

Manufacturer of underwater observation class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) Teledyne SeaBotix said it was recently awarded a multimillion dollar operational capability upgrade contract with the U.S. Department of Defense through distributor, Atlantic Diving Supply (ADS). Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Units have a long operational history with Teledyne SeaBotix ROVs and have utilized the capabilities of both the LBV and vLBV systems for several years.

AXYS Metocean Buoy Supports Offshore Wind

AXYS Technologies Inc (AXYS) has announced that a WatchKeeper meteorological and oceanographic data buoy has been recently deployed approximately 60km offshore along the Northern coast of Poland in the Baltic Sea. This buoy, procured by polish developer Baltic Trade and Invest (BTI), will be used as part of their upcoming Environmental Impact and Assessment campaign in the Baltic Sea. This campaign…

Methane: The Arctic's Buried Treasure

Trapped beneath permafrost and ocean sediments, the release of the world’s largest natural gas resource, methane, has become a hot topic for international research. As rising temperatures continue to warm the Arctic region, the vast frozen fields of gas, known as gas hydrates, grow unstable beneath the retreating ice. The Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment, and Climate (CAGE) strives to address…