US Navy Using Advanced Equipment in AirAsia Search

An eight-member team from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 onboard USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) is supporting the ongoing Indonesian-led search effort for AirAsia flight QZ8501 with advanced Tow Fish side scan sonar systems capable of providing high-resolution images of the ocean floor. The Tow Fish side scan sonar system is used to identify objects on the seafloor and provide accurate imagery for analysis.

Rolls-Royce Unmanned Craft Mini Waterjet Development

Rolls-Royce, is to develop a new, highly efficient water jet to propel unmanned surface craft for the US Navy. The new water jet will be the smallest Rolls-Royce design to date, with a diameter of just 100 millimetres, and will quietly propel the craft through the water on remotely controlled missions that include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Rolls-Royce will develop the water jet part of the innovative small propulsion system…

Digital Ocean: Making Subsea Data More Easily Accessible

The digital ocean is a reality and U.K.-based digital communications marine technology firm Sonardyne International Ltd is one of the organizations driving innovation to enable the extension of electronic and communications connectivity into the subsea domain. Based on a presentation given by Tom Rooney, Lead Trainer at Sonardyne, at the Digital Ocean conference held in Galway, Ireland in June 2017…

Greek Survey Uncovers Underwater Antiquities

A marine geophysical and hydrographic survey off Methoni, Greece has uncovered a number of important underwater antiquities, including historical shipwrecks, the town’s ancient submerged pier and harbor, as well as ruins of the submerged prehistoric town – all mapped in 2D and 3D with the use of hydrographic and geophysical instrumentation. Led by a team of marine geophysicists from the Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography at the University of Patras…

Hydroid Introduces New High Speed, Low Cost Micro AUV

Marine robotics manufacturer Hydroid Inc., a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime, announced the release of the new REMUS M3V compact, one-man portable autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Low cost and ready to use right out of the box, this micro AUV supports numerous applications including search and survey; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); marine research; and multi-vehicle missions. The REMUS M3V can dive up to 300 meters in depth.

AUVs Under Ice: Past Milestones, Promising Future

The marine environments beneath ice are arguably some of the least accessible on earth. Ice is a formidable physical barrier that can range in thickness from centimeters to hundreds of meters—an impediment that has not diminished our desire to uncover the secrets that lie beneath. In the heyday of manned submarines, under-ice was seen as an important operating theater, where the ability to listen and monitor one’s foes was crucial.

Saab, Damen Jointly Pursue Submarine Contracts

Swedish defense and security company Saab has partnered with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards to explore future opportunities in the international submarine market, signing an exclusive teaming agreement to work together in pursuit of the potential Walrus-class submarine replacement program for the Netherlands. Additionally, Saab and Damen will also explore ways in which they might bid jointly on other submarine procurement programs.

Damen Completes Seismic Vessel Repairs on Time

Seismic Vessel 'Polarcus Adira' visits Damen Shipyards, Den Helder for repair, modification & installation work. Damen Shiprepair Den Helder (The Netherlands) was awarded the contract for modification work on the ‘Polarcus Adira’ operated by Dubai-based Polarcus, which operates one of the world's largest seismic vessel fleets. The vessel arrived on berth at Den Helder for insulation and lighting works in the Seismic Control Room…

Launching the Jamie Hanna

On August 14, 2012, more than 50 fellow lobsterman, boat workers, mechanics, family, and friends gathered to witness the launching of the 55-foot research and lobster vessel Jamie Hanna. A procession of cars made the 2 mile trip to the launching ramp at Outward Bound on Clarke Island, Maine. The lead car cleared the road to make way, as the 20 ton hydraulic trailer inched along and a crew on the pilothouse roof lifted phone lines and branches.

European Commission Finances Renewable Energy Projects

The Commission has awarded over €1.2 billion to 23 innovative renewable energy technology (RES) projects. The projects cover a wide range of renewable energy technologies from bioenergy (including advanced biofuels), concentrated solar power and geothermal power to wind power, ocean energy and distributed renewable management (smart grids). The projects will be hosted in 16 EU Member States: Austria…

Arctic Navigation Training Center Opened in Russia

OAO Sovcomflot opens its Saint-Petersburg captain & senior officer training & engineering centre (TEC) for Arctic offshore operations. The opening of the modern training centre in Russia’s maritime capital marks an important milestone in the implementation of the SCF development strategy which provides for an expansion of company participation in oil & gas projects in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Sovcomflot vessels provide year-round support for large offshore energy projects…

Next Generation of CTDs Smaller, Smarter and Tougher

CTDs are the core sensors for oceanographic measurements, providing information on water quality, water density, and speed of sound. Many CTDs are designed to operate in specific applications such as vertical profiling or long-term monitoring and include capabilities such as data logging, high-speed sampling, antifouling systems and additional sensor inputs. Although such systems can offer broad capability and good sensing performance…

Market and Technology Trends in Underwater Sensors & Instumentation

Underwater sensors and instrumentation have been developed for a broad range of activities – including mapping the seafloor, communicating underwater, locating underwater objects, and observing underwater animals and plants – carried out by government, industry, and the scientific research community. The Duke University Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness (CGGC) recently completed a study on the global value chains of ocean technologies…

Aker Solutions Sign Subsea Alvheim Contract

Aker Solutions sign contract with Marathon Oil Norge for the delivery of subsea trees to the Alvheim field on the Norwegian continental shelf. The contract includes the delivery of four subsea trees and associated equipment. The contract is part of the frame agreement, covering the North Sea and Europe, between Marathon Oil Norge, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation, and Aker Solutions.

Sonar Synthetic Aparture IP Rights Secured by Kraken

Kraken Sonar Systems acquires all Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the AquaPix® Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) technology platform from Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc. The SAS technology assets consist of all hardware and software intellectual property targeted to military and commercial applications. The transaction had an effective closing date of December 31, 2012. A number of different underwater activities rely on high quality seabed imaging.

Schlumberger Introduces Autonomous Directional Drilling

Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has this week introduced a service called Autonomous Directional Drilling, which, the company says, includes solutions to steer autonomously through any section of the wellbore. According to Schlumberger its intelligent and dynamic downhole automated control system instantly interprets and acts on data, enhancing well construction performance," the company said.Autonomous…

UK to Transfer Two Minehunters to Ukraine

Britain said on Monday it would transfer two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy, as it sets up a new maritime defence coalition alongside Norway to help strengthen Ukraine's sea operations.Britain said the two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels will enable Ukraine to better counter the threat from Russian sea mines, aiming to restore Ukraine's export routes via the Black Sea.The…

BeWild Project to Assess Impact of Offshore Wind Farms on Biodiversity

Dutch offshore survey services provider Fugro, together with other project partners, said Wednesday it would work to develop innovative methodologies and technologies for remotely collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) samples in the North Sea as part of a project called BeWild, aimed at measuring biodiversity at offshore wind farms. The project was recently launched at Fugro's TechCenter in Nootdorp…

Marine Telemetry: Shedding Light Below the Waves

Marine telemetry can help species conservation and management in a changing climateAn OTN Liquid Robotics Wave Glider. © Nicolas Winkler PhotographyThe end of 2022 marked a potentially significant time for climate activists, scientists, and policymakers worldwide with two United Nations climate conventions—the 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt and the 15th Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Canada.

Danos Wraps Coastal Restoration Work for Shell in Louisiana

In late 2021, Danos completed four coastal restoration projects in south Louisiana on behalf of Shell Pipeline Company. The work will provide shoreline protection through a combination of customized 3D printed modules, nicknamed “Cajun Coral,” and advanced satellite image monitoring with partner Natrx, Inc. The project designs and installation procedures were tailored to local site conditions in order…