Rolls-Royce Designs UK's New Polar Research Vessel

Cammell Laird has selected a Rolls-Royce design for the U.K.’s future polar research ship, which, when built, will be one of the most advanced scientific maritime vessels ever constructed. Rolls-Royce will also supply machinery and equipment for the vessel in a deal worth $43.6 million. The 128 meter long ship, which will be named RRS Sir David Attenborough, will be built at the modular construction hall at Cammell Laird’s site in Birkenhead on Merseyside.

ROV Winch Supplied for Antarctica Expedition

Antarctica expedition benefits from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) winch supplied by MacArtney Underwater Technology. An icebreaking polar supply and research vessel is to map out underwater conditions in the icy waters in terms of subsurface and marine life. The winch system, which was acquired through Swedish SubSea Solutions on the part of University of Gothenburg, will be put to good use on board South African icebreaking polar supply and research vessel S.

MTCS UK Set to Impress China's COOEC

During the recent state visit to Britain by China's President, Xi Jinping, U.K. based, MTCS (UK) Ltd (Maritime Training and Competence Solutions), were on location in Shenzen, delivering High Voltage training to COOEC personnel, China’s offshore engineering construction company. U.K. Ministers were expecting more than £30 billion of trade and investment deals to be struck during the President's visit…

New Autonomous Control System Launched

Sea Machines Robotics of Cambridge, Mass. announced the release of its Autonomous Control System (ACS), an advanced vessel control system which converts manually piloted hulls to self-piloted Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). It is designed to be integrated into company-developed Sea Machine USVs or other commercial production hulls. The ACS allows for seamless transition between unmanned and manned operations and can be integrated into most OEM vessels…

US Accounts for $7 Bln in Ocean Data Activity Annually

New U.S. IOOS Ocean Enterprise Industry Study: Report details $7 billion in U.S. economic activities related to collection, use of ocean data. The NOAA-led U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), in partnership with The Maritime Alliance and ERISS Corporation, issued the first national-level assessment of the scale and scope of the "ocean enterprise." The study shows that the ocean enterprise…

OI North America 2017 Registration Open

One year on from its official launch, online registration is now open for the debut Oceanology International North America (OINA) exhibition and conference. Taking place at the San Diego Convention Center, California on February 14 – 16,2017, OINA is an exciting new biennial series that will bring together 1000s of professionals from the ocean science and marine technology communities across the Americas and globally.

US Shore Landing for Monet Submarine Cable

TE SubCom said it has completed the U.S. shore landing for the Monet Submarine Cable, a 10,556km cable that will connect Boca Raton, Fla. to Fortaleza and Praia Grande, Brazil, where shore landings were completed earlier this year. Monet is owned by Google, Algar Telecom, Angola Cables and ANTEL. The 100G-capable cable system will provide a low latency route from Brazil to North America with a minimum bandwidth of 60 Tbps.

Effler Appointed Business Manager, Alfa Laval PureBallast

Beginning December 2016, Kristina Effler will assist marine customers navigating ballast water treatment alternatives as the new Global Business Manager for Alfa Laval PureBallast. Effler assumes the role just as the global shipping industry prepares for the implementation of the IMO BWM Convention’s entry into force in September 2017. Effler brings 12 years of experience in various positions throughout the Alfa Laval organization.

Ichthys Completes Subsea Installation

INPEX has announced the successful installation completion of the complex network of subsea infrastructure and equipment to safely and efficiently extract gas and condensate from the Ichthys Field for the Ichthys LNG Project. The final laying of 49 kilometres of umbilicals and flying leads yesterday, marked the last placement of an intricate subsea network, spread across a 400 square kilometre area  of the Ichthys Field, in the Browse Basin, about 220 kilometres offshore Western Australia.

Sonardyne Hires Lynch

Navigation and positioning technology company Sonardyne International Ltd. UK, has appointed Derek Lynch as its new Global Business Manager for Marine Vessel Systems, with immediate effect.Lynch brings with him more than 25 years of experience working within the offshore energy, maritime and naval sectors. A former serviceman in the RAF and licensed avionics engineer, Lynch has held senior management positions with several technology companies involved in positioning…

UKHO Conducts Seabed Mapping in Tonga to Support Blue Economy

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has chartered a motor launch to survey the waters in the Kingdom of Tonga as part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Program. State-of-the-art multibeam sonar equipment will be used to map key areas of the seabed in the approaches to the harbor of the capital, Nuku'alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu. This information will be used to update nautical charts and publications…

SMD Delivers Atom Mk1 ROV Systems to JFD

Subsea design and manufacturing specialist Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) has delivered two 1,000-meter Atom Mk1 work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems to JFD Ltd, an underwater capability provider serving the commercial and defense markets. The Atom systems, both equipped with ultra-compact launch and recovery systems (LARS) and SMD purpose-designed control and workshop cabins, provide a complete turnkey solution…

The Evolution of Ocean Models

During the 1970s, the first global ocean models emerged at research centers across the U.S. Back then, their construction was basic by modern standards, but like the models of today the researchers creating them aimed to simulate the world’s oceans by coding the mathematical equations of fluid motion on a sphere. Those efforts made use of the most sophisticated computing power available at the time, but realistic simulations of the ocean were years away. Today, things have moved along.

Expanded Underwater Robotics Ready for Oil Spills

Javier Gilabert1, João Sousa2, Zoran Vukić3, Georgios Georgiou4, Laura de la Torre5, David McMyler6, Mark Inall6, Juhan Ernits8, Martin Ludvigsen9, Marc Carreras10, Gabriel Oliver11, Maria João Costa2, António Sérgio Ferreira2, Dan Hayes4, Nadir Kapetanović3, Francisco López-Castejón1, Milan Marković3, Miguel Massot11, Dula Nad3, Petter Norgren9, João Luís Pereira2, Núria Pujol12, Manuel António Ribeiro2…

Oceanex Joins Fleet of Trained Whale Watchers

The intermodal transportation firm Oceanex has swelled the ranks of sailors volunteering as whale observers for the Réseau d’observation de mammifères marine (ROMM). The crews of the Oceanex Sanderling, the Oceanex Connaigra and the Oceanex Avalon will be given special training to qualify them to gather whale observation data during their voyages. Véronique Nolet, a biologist and Green Marine program manager, will conduct the onboard training starting tomorrow.

NOAA Reveals Names of its New Mapping Vessels

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed the names of two new charting and mapping vessels it ordered from Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors in 2023.The names Surveyor and Navigator were chosen from a list of suggestions by NOAA staff, adhering to the agency’s naming policy that emphasizes vessels named for their missions.The name Surveyor holds significant historical weight.

Kongsberg Discovery Acquires Sonatech, Expands in the United States

Kongsberg Discovery announced on June 17 the signing of an agreement to acquire Sonatech, an expert in the field of underwater acoustics.This strategic move will support Kongsberg Discovery’s growth ambitions and enhance access to the U.S. Navy for the company’s product portfolio. The acquisition is expected to close later in 2025, subject to the necessary governmental approvals.With over 50 years of experience…

WHOI Presents Centennial Medal to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) presented His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco with its inaugural series Centennial Medal, in recognition of his extraordinary work to raise awareness, inspire action, and advance ocean science and technology for the global good. The award was made at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), currently underway in Nice, France.His Serene…

Argeo Picks Henriksen's LARS for Argus USV

Argeo has become the first commercial customer for the new Henriksen SOLUS launch and recovery system (LARS) for unmanned surface vehicles (USV). Argeo employs a range of unmanned and autonomous vehicles for providing its advanced offshore survey and inspection services. The new SOLUS system now makes it possible for an uncrewed USV to be recovered by the mothership even in unfavorable sea conditions.The…

Aker Solutions, Kongsberg Discovery Partner on Offshore Drone Detection

Aker Solutions and Kongsberg Discovery have teamed up to deploy a drone detection system aimed at protecting offshore infrastructure, beginning with a demonstrator at Aker Solutions’ site in Stavanger.The system uses Kongsberg’s Drone Detection Radar and is part of a broader plan to roll out surveillance technologies across the North Sea to bolster situational awareness around energy assets and transit lanes.Kongsberg Discovery develops navigation…