Argeo Builds the Tools to Bridge the Data Gap

[As published in the March/April 2023 edition of Marine Technology Reporter]Argeo is an offshore service company, created in 2017 and on the move, driven by its mission to transform the ocean surveying and inspection industry via autonomous surface and underwater robotics solutions. We recently caught up with Argeo CEO Trond Crantz for a far-reaching discussion on the company and its recent innovations in the surface and underwater vessel sector…

Hydrothermal Vent Temperatures Used to Forecast Eruptions

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides scientists with a new tool for monitoring and predicting tectonic activity deep beneath the seafloor at mid-ocean ridges—vast underwater mountain chains that form where Earth’s tectonic plates diverge.The study, titled “Hydrothermal vent temperatures track magmatic inflation and forecast eruptions at the East Pacific Rise…

Alliance Says No Link Between Offshore Wind Surveys and Mammal Deaths

The EnerGeo Alliance has sent a letter to New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy and Assemblyman Christopher Tully, Chairman of the state’s Committee on Science, Innovation and Technology in advance of the Assembly’s hearing on marine mammal deaths scheduled for Thursday May 18, 2023.There have been at least 11 whales that have washed up dead along New Jersey's coastline since December 5, prompting concern…

Argeo Listen - Electromagnetic Subsea Cathodic Protection Measurement

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV’s) have been introduced as efficient tools for subsea pipeline inspections. It has also been demonstrated that AUVs can be used to perform contactless and continuous electric field measurements of the Cathodic Protection (CP) systems along pipelines. In this article we present a newly developed and commercialized sensor system for accurate and low noise electric field measurements.

Autonomy: iXblue ramps up DriX USV Production

iXblue has been ramping up its production of DriX Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USV) to meet the growing need for efficient and sea-proven autonomous platforms.With more than 20 DriX in operation worldwide, iXblue USV, that was launched back in 2017, has already been acquired, deployed or trialed by several industrial companies and scientific institutes for seabed mapping missions and other subsea positioning operations…

Schmidt Ocean Institute, National Geographic Society Partner on Diversity

Schmidt Ocean Institute and the National Geographic Society announced a program to advance diversity and equity among ocean scientists. The partnership is intending to provide seagoing opportunities to underrepresented, historically marginalized and local scientists and National Geographic Explorers.The collaboration aims to strengthen project leadership, encourage career development, and amplify diverse perspectives in ocean-related work.

AeroVironment Launches Mission Specialist Wraith UUV

AeroVironment Inc., a leading provider of all domain autonomous systems, announced the launch of the Mission Specialist Wraith, the newest addition to the Mission Specialist Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) series developed by its wholly owned subsidiary, VideoRay. Designed for demanding subsea operations, Wraith delivers a new level of agility, power, and control in a compact, expeditionary-ready platform.Engineered for extreme agility and precision in challenging subsea environments…

HII Mission Technologies Unveils New REMUS 130 UUV

HII Mission Technologies has introduced the REMUS 130, a new unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) model based on the highly successful HII REMUS series of UUVs, at the Oceanology International 2024 conference and exhibition.The REMUS 130 is the third generation of REMUS 100 vehicles and is designed to enhance underwater operations with maximum flexibility, advanced capabilities and innovative features…

Unplugged: Resident AUVs & ROVs Powered by Wireless Inductive Connectors

Unplugged, an engineering company for industrial inductive modules, presented their paper, "Enabling Resident AUV and ROV Subsea Operations: The Role of Wireless Inductive Charging and Docking Stations," at the Offshore Technology Conference 2025. The paper explores the potential of wireless inductive charging technology, enabling the deployment of Subsea Docking Stations (SDS) as a cornerstone for the operation of resident autonomous underwater drones.

OPT and Unique Group Team Up for USV Services in Middle East

U.S.-based marine power, data, and services company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) and UAE’s subsea technology and engineering services firm Unique Group have partnered up to offer unmanned surface vehicle (USV) services in the Middle East.Unique Group and OPT will collaborate to deploy OPT’s existing WAM-V USV in the UAE and other countries in the Gulf Collaboration Council (GCC) region.By integrating…

NUWC Division Newport Awards Recognize 12 Patent Inventors, Published Authors

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport’s newest crop of inventors and authors were celebrated during a ceremony that recognized the latest patents and journal articles on May 30. The event capped a technical focus theme of “Innovation” held throughout May and coincided with National Inventors Month.Plaques featuring 12 patents and an equal number of peer-reviewed publications were on display as Chief Technology Officer Dr.

Bedrock Picks Exail’s Phins 9 Navigation for Next-Gen AUV

Exail has concluded its first sale of the Phins 9 Compact Inertial Navigation System (INS) to Bedrock, an underwater data acquisition platforms specialist.The Phins 9 Compact INS will be integrated into Bedrock’s new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).Bedrock's AUV is a purpose-built, modular platform designed for deployment for geophysical surveys and monitoring.Equipped with Multibeam Echosounder (MBES)…

Supersize It: The U.S. Navy Is Seeking an Ultra-Large AUV

In late May of this year, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) issued a broad agency announcement (BAA) seeking the rapid design, build, and testing of an ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (UL-AUV) capable of conducting long-range, high-endurance missions while carrying large modular payloads. The initial demonstrator vehicle, "Ocean Explorer" (OEX), will establish the technical feasibility of such an unprecedented platform…

Forcys to Equip Ocean Aero's Triton AUSVs

U.K. based Forcys announced it has been selected by Ocean Aero as a payload provider for its autonomous underwater and surface vehicle (AUSV), the Triton.Completely solar and wind powered, Triton can travel at speeds of up to 5 knots and can submerge for up to 5 days at 2 knots. It can be used as a force multiplier for defense operations, offering easy logistics, launch and recovery while evading detection…

Greensea IQ Nets $1.9M NAVSEA Contract to Enhance ROV System

Greensea IQ has secured a Phase II contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to enhance the capabilities of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) platform by integrating manipulators and providing one-operator control of the ROV and manipulator system.The contract, including options, is valued at $1.9 million and spans up to three years if all options are exercised.The integration of the systems will allow ROVs to perform increasingly complex tasks in marine environments…

New Discoveries: Three Tiny Species Added to South Africa’s Spectacular Marine Life

South Africa’s marine realm is globally unique because of the two major ocean currents that meet here. The cold, slow-moving Benguela and the warm, fast-flowing Agulhas currents create a special environment that supports high levels of biodiversity. Over 13,000 marine species are currently known to live in these waters. About 30% of these are endemic, meaning they occur nowhere else.Biodiversity metrics (the number or abundance of species) are dominated by invertebrates such as sponges…

WHOI: Dive Team Awarded by International Organization

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s dive team was recently received a top international award for its commitment to quality training, safety, and the support of scientific missions in multiple facets of diving techniques. The honor was recognized by the International Academy of Underwater Sciences and Techniques at the European Dive Show.The WHOI dive team is comprised of about 50 divers, making approximately 1200 dives a year, in locations around the world.

Fascinated by Shipwrecks? Hear what James Delgado has to say

“The biggest museum we have sits at the bottom of the sea.” James P. DelgadoShipwreck discoveries often hit the news and can be captivating tales of exploration, trade, and war in times gone by.Behind these discoveries are the stories of the ships, their crews, and what life was like for them. But we may forget there are also intriguing tales of those who devote their lives to the work of finding, documenting…

Schmidt Sciences Fosters AI Research

Schmidt Sciences has named 25 scholars working at the forefront of AI as AI2050 fellows and will award them up to $12 million to advance research that realizes the potential of AI to benefit humanity.The AI2050 program asks researchers to imagine the year 2050 where AI has been hugely beneficial and to pursue projects that help society realize this.The program will fund senior researchers and early career scholars for two years.Previous senior fellows in the first two cohorts include Prof.

RSS Sir David Attenborough Delivered to LR Class

Britain’s new polar research ship, the RSS Sir David Attenborough, has been formally presented with Lloyd's Register (LR) certification after a four-year-long construction period, the classification society said.The high-profile vessel, the U.K.’s largest commercial newbuild for over 30 years, was delivered to Natural Environment Research Council and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders.