NSRI Announces Senior Appointments

A recently launched initiative aiming to coordinate research and development activities within the U.K.’s subsea oil and gas sector has appointed a chairman and project director. Peter Blake, Subsea Systems Manager at Chevron’s Energy Technology Company, has taken up the role of chairman of the National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI), and Dr. Gordon Drummond, Technology Manager at Subsea 7, joined as project director.

National Ocean Policy, Coastal & Marine Spatial Planning Raising Red Flags

This summer, the Administration released the innocuously named “Guide to Regional Marine Planning,” and across town, the House of Representatives passed the latest in a string of resolutions restricting the Administration from spending money on the implementation of the National Ocean Policy. The battle continues over an issue which could well redefine the future of offshore energy development, fisheries management…

Maine Marine Earns Grant to Study Ocean Turbine Stress Limits

Maine Marine Composites has been awarded a $249,976 federal grant from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to analyze the best ways to predict fatigue in the support structures of floating offshore wind turbines. A federal agency, the BSEE was created in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to promote safety, protect the environment and conserve resources in the exploration and development of the Outer Continental Shelf.

ICTINEU 3 Development of a Research Submersible

This article provides a short overview to the development of the manned submersible ICTINEU 3, a work class vehicle with high capabilities for research, ocean observation and underwater intervention, but also suitable for filming and leisure. It has been designed for 1,200m depth and a crew of three: one pilot and two observers (passengers, and will be certified and classified by Germanischer Lloyd).

NOAA Takes Delivery of New Fisheries Survey Vessel

NOAA has taken delivery of Reuben Lasker, the agency’s newest high-tech fisheries survey vessel from Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company. The 208-ft. ship will primarily support fish, marine mammals and turtle surveys off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. “Reuben Lasker represents a significant milestone in the agency’s efforts to provide world-class marine science platforms,” said Rear Adm. Michael S.

NOV, GE to Provide Integrated Solutions for FPSOs

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV) and GE Oil & Gas has agreed to collaborate on delivering integrated solutions for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. The agreement brings together the product offerings and engineering capabilities from the two companies to optimize engineering design and supply comprehensive topside solutions for FPSO projects. NOV engineers and manufactures advanced fluids pumping…

Mine Detection Robot Performs in Bahrain

As the demand for naval technology rapidly escalates globally, the Middle East remains a hotspot for investment and innovation. To this end, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), in support of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Manama, Bahrain, announced the successful demonstration of an unmanned mine-hunting mission. In the demonstration, the Mine Hunting Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MHU) was used in tandem with Northrop Grumman's AQS-24A Mine Detecting Sensor System in the Arabian Gulf.

ABB to Talk Productivity, Energy Efficiency, Investment, at Shangai's Marintec 2013

The power of integration - Sevan project, a case study. ABB will outline a complete solution for power, propulsion, automation and vessel control, including advances in power technology, Azipod propulsion, automation and how a single supplier can streamline the process. Update on next generation power solutions for shipboard application – to include status report on new classification notation, plus a case study on the first ferry project to feature Onboard DC Grid.

Mystery of the Red Lake

Set in a sheer-sided bowl of rock, accessible by climbing gear alone, the Red Lake in Croatia has never revealed the secret of its depths. Now, mountaineering skills and a Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV will offer the first ever insight into the third largest sinkhole lake in the world. Many attempts to survey the lake have failed, even thwarting an earlier team of underwater specialists. No one knows how deep it is, nor how it is fed, or if it is connected to other water systems.

General Dynamics Delivers Submarine Colorado

General Dynamics Electric Boat delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Colorado (SSN 788) to the U.S. Navy. The 15th ship of the Virginia Class, Colorado is the fifth of the eight-ship group known as Block III. According to the builder, these ships embody a Navy and industry commitment to reduce costs while increasing capabilities through an initiative comprising a multi-year procurement strategy, improvements in construction practices and the Design For Affordability (DFA) program.

Demand for Greater Lift Capabilities Calls for Subsea MacGregor Crane

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won a contract to deliver a 250-tonne SWL active heave-compensated (AHC) subsea crane for the 120m construction vessel, Island Intervention. The crane was ordered by Marine Procurement Ltd, part of the US company Edison Chouest Offshore. An existing vessel operated by the US / -Norwegian partnership between Edison Chouest Offshore and Island Offshore requires greater lifting capability; a MacGregor 250-tonne SWL AHC subsea crane fulfils the upgrade requirements.

Drydocks World Signs MoU with BIG Invest Consult AG

The leading-edge project is based on a unique concept that aims to provide the ultimate leisure experience and opens new horizons in tourism and housing in coastal areas, adding commercial value, while aiming to preserve the marine ecosystem. Drydocks World, signed an MoU with BIG InvestConsult AG, a Swiss company, operating in the area of innovative technologies transfer, as well as investment projects, brokerage and finance.

Research Vessel Refit at Alewijnse

Oceanographic research vessel Marion Dufresne II is celebrating her 20th anniversary in 2015 and has finished a major refit that will extend her life for a further 20 years. Leading electrical system integrator Alewijnse Marine Systems has successfully completed the electrical conversion. During a four month stay at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque from April to July 2015, the French scientific research vessel Marion Dufresne II underwent a major refit that included extensive work on her hull…

Klein's Side Scan Sonar, Then and Now

The company known today as Klein Marine Systems, Inc. has origins stretching back to the 1960s when Marty Klein, who many consider to be the father of side scan sonar, began building his own devices from his home in Lexington, Mass. As this iconic subsea technology company approaches 50, MTR speaks with Marty Klein as well as Klein Marine System’s general manager, Frank Cobis. When did you realize you were destined for a career in the subsea world? Marty Klein: Wow.

Divex to Supply US Navy with Helicom Matrix

Divex has been awarded a contract to supply the U.S. Navy with its diver communications system the HeliCom Matrix. Divex, a subsidiary of James Fisher and Sons plc, has received the order from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) through American partner, Chase Supply Inc. To be used at their deep trials and training facility in Panama City, Florida, the HeliCom Matrix is a fully digital diver communication system that provides communications for the chamber complex and wet test chamber.

Complex Steel and Cofferdam Repairs Carried Out Afloat

Hydrex has an in-house Research & Development department that can take care of the engineering aspects of an operation. In this way turnkey solutions can be offered for complex hull and other repairs that require the construction of specific equipment. All the projects are engineered and carried out in close cooperation with the customer and any third party suppliers. R&D evaluates the feasibility of an underwater repair…

NUWC Newport Dedicates New Research Facility

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport dedicated a new $24.9 million Virginia Payload Tube Facility (VPTF) with a ribbon cutting today, Wednesday, October 15. The ceremony was followed by an opportunity for businesses with an interest in the technology to tour the facility and learn about its capabilities. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Congressman James Langevin attended the ceremony.

Planet Ocean Get UK AXYS Watchman Contracts

Planet Ocean inform that they are supporting the UK Met Office and Plymouth Marine Laboratory to gather real-time Met-Ocean Data with their AXYS Watchman (WM-500) data acquisition and telemetry systems. The WM-500 can be configured to control a large variety of sensors providing data manipulation, logging and have the ability to interface with a variety of communication systems. The UK Met Office (UKMO)…

Metal Detector Added to Underwater Diver System

Shark Marine Technologies Inc. announced the integration of the Ebinger 725K Underwater Metal Detector with its own Navigator diver-held imaging sonar and navigation system. This integration provides the diver with another underwater tool whose collected data can now be completely geo-referenced to the location of the diver using it. Sensory data from the metal detector is recorded to the Navigators…

‘Fugro Chair in Geotechnics’ Created at UWA

Fugro is to fund the creation of a new ‘Fugro Chair in Geotechnics’ at the University of Western Australia’s Center for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS). The agreement, which also provides funding for three PhD scholarships, was signed by Professor Robyn Owens, UWA’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dr. Phil Watson, Director of Fugro Advanced Geomechanics (AG) in Perth and Fugro’s Global Service Line Manager GeoConsulting.