A Sea of Robots

A team of researchers from the Institute of Telecommunications at University Institute of Lisbon and from University of Lisbon in Portugal are the first to demonstrate a swarm of intelligent aquatic surface robots in a real-world environment. Swarms of robots have the potential to scale to hundreds or thousands of robots and cover large areas, making them ideal for tasks such as environmental monitoring, search and rescue and maritime surveillance.

TechnipFMC to Expands in Saudi Arabia

UK-based energy industry company in TechnipFMC has broken ground on its new state-of-the-art manufacturing, aftermarket and training facility in Dhahran in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.The 52,500-square-meter facility greatly expands TechnipFMC’s footprint in Saudi Arabia with a major investment and 140 new jobs focusing on Saudi talents.The new facility will offer a broad range of manufacturing…

Ashtead Technology Acquires Welaptega

Subsea equipment solutions specialist Ashtead Technology said it has bolstered its inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) services and capabilities with the acquisition of Canadian-based underwater inspection company Welaptega.The transaction comes 10 months after the company completed a joint venture with Forum Energy Technologies, creating an independent provider of subsea survey and ROV equipment services with a fleet of 19…

STR First to Order Sonardyne Syrinx DVL

Sonardyne International Ltd., UK, announced that Subsea Technology and Rentals Ltd (STR), a multi-disciplinary technology expert specializing in the design, production and rental of innovative marine survey equipment, has become the first company to invest in its new Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL). The order for two 4,000 meter depth rated units was placed at the recent Ocean Business exhibition…

WASSP Debuts F3 Widescan Sounder

New Zealand based manufacturer of Multi-beam technology WASSP Ltd has introduced its second product for 2016, and the fifth in three years: the WideScan Sounder F3. The F3 Widescan Sounder is the latest addition targeting the coastal fishing market. With the success of WASSP sales in the higher end commercial fishing fleet, WASSP Ltd said it recognized the need for a more cost effective and compact solution for the coastal fishing fleet.

MTR100: SubC Imaging

SubC Imaging develops advanced underwater optical imaging systems for a worldwide clientele. The private ocean technology company was founded in 2010 by a former ROV pilot and offshore project manager and creates technologically advanced and capable video equipment for the offshore and subsea markets. Its product portfolio includes cameras, lasers, multiplexers, batteries, and topside media management systems.

Halls of Higher Learning

The subsea industry and the institutes, institutions, universities and colleges are inextricably linked. Picking just five to feature in our MTR100 was no easy feat, but our U.K.-based contributor Kira Coley, as always, gave it her best shot. No. Since 1903, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has evolved into one of the world’s most influential centers for marine biology, ocean, atmospheric and earth research.

‘World’s Most Powerful Mass Flow Excavation Tool’

Mass flow excavation business James Fisher Subsea Excavation, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, has brought to the market what it is calling “world’s most powerful mass flow excavation tool” to support clients with large scale excavations. The SP12000 produces more than 6 metric tons of thrust at full power and a significant volume output of 12,000 liters of water per second, making it ideal for large seabed preparation projects…

‘A Step Forward in Submarine Radar Technology’

Kelvin Hughes, a U.K. baesd designer and supplier of navigation and security surveillance systems, announced that it can now bring all the benefits of its SharpEye radar technology to submarines. Traditionally, submarines only use radar for navigation in and out of port because a high power RF transmission can compromise its ability to remain undetected. However, with its low power output – up to 300W…

MTR100: Blue Robotics Inc

Blue Robotics is a young and innovative company in the marine robotics industry. Since launching its T100 Thruster through a Kickstarter campaign in 2014, the company has expanded to offer nearly 100 products designed to make marine robotics more accessible, including its recently released BlueROV2, one of the most affordable and capable ROVs available. The BlueROV2 combines many other Blue Robotics…

Unique Group Expands European Rental Pool

Hydrographic survey and diving equipment specialist Unique Group said it has selected subsea vehicle positioning and navigation technology from Sonardyne International Ltd. to add to its expanding equipment rental pool. The SPRINT Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and Syrinx Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) will be held at the company’s regional headquarters in Aberdeen and made available to support survey and construction projects using ROVs and AUVs in water depths up to 4,000 meters.

Remote Surveillance for Subsea Equipment Manufacturing

The oil price collapse of 2014 triggered a wave of cost reduction among upstream businesses that saw global oil and gas companies slash capital expenditures by about 40 percent between 2014 and 2016. For DNV GL, the message was clear: everyone in the supply chain must advance cost reduction strategies for the offshore industry to remain competitive. With innovation and cost savings in mind, DNV GL developed a solution for remote surveillance service for subsea equipment manufacturing.

Sonardyne Ranger 2 for RRS Sir David Attenborough

Ocean science technology company Sonardyne International Ltd said it has been awarded the contract to supply subsea acoustic tracking and position reference equipment for Britain’s new polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough. The Ranger 2 Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) system will be used by scientists to precisely track the position of, and communicate with, scientific instruments and robotic vehicles deployed from the vessel, including the now famous Boaty McBoatface AUV.

Manned Submersible Built to Explore Titanic Shipwreck

The titanium and carbon fiber wound pressure vessel for a new deep sea manned submersibles has been constructed in preparation for the first human exploration of the Titanic shipwreck since 2005. Once completed Cyclops 2 will be the latest addition to the fleet of OceanGate, Inc., capable of reaching more than 50 percent of the ocean to increase human exploration of the undersea world. “Construction of Cyclops 2 is a significant step in advancing human exploration of the ocean.

Liquid Robotics Debuts Next Generation Wave Glider

Long-duration unmanned surface vehicles manufacturer Liquid Robotics has rolled out its next generation Wave Glider, featuring advancements to the platform’s operational range, and performance for missions in high sea states and high latitudes. Other updates include advancements for expanded sensor payloads and increased energy and storage capacity required for long duration maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring and observation missions.

Building a National Resource Offshore Brazil

CGG has been present in Brazil for over 55 years, since the company began working with Petrobras in 1961. Its long-established Rio de Janeiro Subsurface Imaging Center, with its strong reservoir characterization group, has the largest computer capacity and greatest expertise in the region. In 2010, CGG also opened a technology center in Rio with a world-class R&D team, working with Petrobras and other local agencies to focus on solving local geoscience challenges.

Rovco Joins NVIDIA Inception Program

UK-based subsea company Rovco has announced plans to take artificial intelligence (AI) to new depths after being selected to join the NVIDIA Inception Program. Designed to nurture start-ups that are revolutionizing industries with advances in AI and data science, the virtual incubator program supports members overcome critical stages of product development, prototyping, and deployment. Being selected by NVIDIA will see Rovco benefit from hardware grants…

Unmanned Forces: Building a Multi-Domain Autonomous Fleet

Success on the frontline relies largely upon harmonious operations between all sectors of the armed forces, whether that is Army, Navy, Air Force or Amphibious units. Naturally, each unit is assigned operations according the capabilities it brings to the battlefield and together bring the best of each domain. While this concept seems a clear choice for manned operations, multi-domain collaboration is rarely seen in unmanned operations.

Teledyne Marine Hosts its 2nd Technology Workshop

More than 270 customers from around the globe converged in San Diego from October 15-18 to attend Teledyne Marine’s second biennial users’ conference, the Teledyne Marine Technology Workshop (TMTW). There, more than 50 customer presentations detailed utilization of Teledyne Marine products and technologies for applications spanning offshore energy, defense, ports and harbors, oceanography, aquaculture, dredging, hydrography and hydrology.

MTR100: Hydroid Inc.

Pocasset, Mass. Facility: 40,000-sq. ft. Square Footage: 40,000-sq. ft. Testing Capabilities: The new facility features a testing tank and pressurized water chamber. The tanks are used for ballasting vehicles and ensuring that the systems are ready for at-sea testing. Hydroid also utilizes two boats for testing. The larger boat is equipped with a launch system. No. Part of Kongsberg Maritime’s AUV Group…