North Sea Compression Services Contract for Technip

Technip inform they have been awarded by Statoil a substantial contract for future intervention services on the Asgard Subsea Compression Stations situated on the Norwegian contenental shelf. Ranking among the largest developments on the Norwegian continental shelf, the Asgard field lies on the Halten Bank in the Norwegian Sea, about 200 kilometers off Norway. The Asgard subsea compression facility is the world’s first project of its kind…

OceanGate Submersible Refit Part of 3,000m Deep Project

OceanGate Inc., a global provider of manned submersible solutions for commercial, research and military applications, say they have started on a comprehensive refit of the 'Lula 500' submersible to transform the vessel into a fully functional 'Cyclops' prototype with depth capabilities to 500 meters. The renamed Cyclops 500 will function as a test platform for software, technology and equipment to be deployed on the 3,000-meter Cyclops submersible, scheduled for launch in 2016.

Diving Deep for Conservation

The California coast is lined with 27 offshore oil and gas rigs that can be seen jutting out across the horizon—a reminder of humans’ dependence on fossil fuels. Below the surface, however, these platforms are home to some of the most dynamic ecosystems in the world, harboring everything from mussels and scallops to garibaldi and rockfish. As many of these enormous rigs are approaching the end of their viable production lives…

FMC, Sulzer Complete Subsea Pump Tests

With a focus on pioneering the next generation of technologies to increase production and maximize oil and gas recovery, FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FTI) and Sulzer Pumps Ltd are collaborating in subsea applications. Together, the two companies have developed a powerful new multiphase pump system optimized for harsh subsea environments. The new pump system leverages Sulzer Pumps’ field-proven pump hydraulics with FMC Technologies’ advanced…

NOAA Boots Up Its New Supercomputers

U.S. weather models are about to become more accurate and efficient thanks to faster supercomputers and more storage. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the two Dell systems added to its IBMs and Crays at data centers in Reston, Va., and Orlando, Fla. elevate its combined weather and climate supercomputing system to among the 30 fastest in the world, with the ability to now process 8 quadrillion calculations per second.

MarineLink.com Gets a Facelift

MarineLink.com – the commercial maritime industry’s longest running online news site, launched a newly designed version today. The new mobile-friendly site features a sleek new look, enhanced search and archive functions, easier navigation, videos and much more. The new MarineLink will bring the latest news and editorial, as well as insightful archives to the palm of your hand. Marinelink.com, has…

Shell Advances Peterhead Clean Energy Project

Shell has signed an agreement with the U.K. Government to progress the Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project to the next phase of design. The project, led by Shell, with strategic support from SSE, owners of the Peterhead gas power station in Aberdeenshire, aims to capture10 million metric tons of CO2 over 10 years. This will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes a year.

US Navy Tests Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

The U.S. Navy completed tests on the GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS), Dec. 11. GhostSwimmer is the latest in a series of science-fiction-turned-reality projects developed by the chief of naval operations' Rapid Innovation Cell (CRIC) project, Silent NEMO, an experiment that explores the possible uses for biomimetic, unmanned underwater vehicles in the fleet.

AXYS Deploys LiDAR at Chesapeake Bay

AXYS Technologies Inc. announced the deployment of one of their WindSentinel Land Stations on a man-made island at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay as part of a project headed by WeatherFlow Inc. The Vindicator III LiDAR, packaged in the WindSentinel Land Station, has already been deployed for a field verification period next to a tall met mast at Stumpy Point, North Carolina. It is now deployed…

Bhagwan Dryden Delivers Dive Support Vessel Solution

Incat Crowther’s first-of-type Catamaran Dive Support Vessel, Bhagwan Dryden, has set a new standard for catamaran dive support vessels since its launch and delivery earlier this year. Operational feedback has been positive for the vessel, which has already received high praise for initial operations, including mooring inspection carried out by ROV and operations under four point mooring and DP in shallow, rough seas.

L-3 SAM Electrical Package for Pipelay Vessel

L-3 SAM Electronics announced today that it has been awarded a major contract to provide complete electrical packages, as well as integrated navigation, automation, communications, energy distribution and propulsion systems for Ceona Amazon, the 199-meter offshore construction and pipelaying vessel to be delivered this coming October to Ceona, a London-based subsea contracting organization. The turnkey supply work…

BAE Systems to Upgrade UK Navy Torpedoes

BAE Systems has been awarded a £270 million contract from the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) to upgrade the Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo for the Royal Navy’s submarines. Following the completion of the design phase, existing torpedoes will be upgraded by BAE Systems at its Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth to the new design with initial deliveries in 2020 continuing until 2024. The contract secures 100 skilled engineering jobs for BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business at Broad Oak…

Tritech Unveils New Multibeam Imaging Sonar

The new 720im sonar from U.K. manufacturer Tritech International Limited is said to be the world’s smallest multibeam imaging sonar. As the latest addition to Tritech’s Gemini range, the small sized and competitively priced sonar brings multibeam imaging technology to situations not previously possible. At 500g and 63mm wide, the 720im is significantly smaller than comparable sonars, yet it delivers…

Bibby Reports Thriving Subsea Business

Bibby Offshore’s newest international division, Houston-based Bibby Subsea, said it has gone from strength to strength since its launch in October last year, having trebled the team in the past four months. The subsea installation contractor developed the base in North America as part of its continued global growth strategy and to meet the growing demand of its clients in the region. In a bid to further strengthen ties with the region…

Polar Onyx Readies for Brazilian Depths

The offshore construction vessel Polar Onyx was delivered on March 4, 2014 from Ulstein Verft to GC Rieber Shipping, as the latest addition to their growing investments into the subsea segment. The vessel’s first assignment will be to work for deepwater projects serving as pipelay support vessel for Petrobras offshore Brazil. The 130-meter long and 25-meter wide Polar Onyx is based on ULSTEIN’s SX121 design…

Satellites Help Gauge Speed of Subsurface Waves

The speed of a wave located 80 meters below the ocean’s surface has been measured directly from a single satellite image. The new technique developed by researchers from the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science advances the study of these skyscraper-high internal waves that rarely break the ocean surface. “This is the first time internal wave velocities could be calculated from data acquired during a single overpass of a satellite…

ADCP-based Monitoring System Aids Operations in Darwin Harbor

Located in Australia’s northern Top End, the port of Darwin has long been a strategic gateway to/from Asia. Founded in 1869, today Darwin is a major multi-modal port serving shipping and cargo markets. Ships range from container and general cargo to cruise and naval vessels. Exports include livestock and minerals as well as bulk liquids like LNG. As well, the port provides services for offshore oil and gas rigs.

Virtual Aids to Navigation Mark Research Equipment

Vesper Marine designed its Virtual AIS Beacon in 2010 and installed the first solution in 2011. Developed to address the need to make hazards at sea visible when costly physical infrastructure is not appropriate or is impossible to deploy, the VAtoN technology that Vesper Marine has created is based on the international standardized AIS, which all large ships must use and many smaller vessels are now choosing to install due to the safety and collision avoidance benefits it provides.

TrackLink 1500HA USBL System Delivered to Japan

LinkQuest recently delivered a TrackLink 1500HA USBL tracking system to Akasaka Tech Co. in Japan via its distributor SEA Corp. It is the third TrackLink 1500HA system purchased by Akasaka Tech and extends a trend of purchases of TrackLink systems from Japanese users in recent years, the system’s developer said. With advanced Broadband Acoustic Spread Spectrum technology, LinkQuest's TrackLink systems…

Introducing FLEXUS - More than an ROTV

MacArtney introduced the FLEXUS, a new data acquisition system developed by the MacArtney Group. The FLEXUS was recently premiered at the 2014 version of Oceanology International in London. Based on a simple and rugged, yet extremely flexible remotely operated towed vehicle, the FLEXUS composes a highly versatile and user friendly system suitable for a multitude of oceanographic, monitoring and survey applications.