JAMSTEC Orders MHI Wide-area Seabed Research Vessel

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for construction of a wide-area seabed research vessel from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), and an agreement has been signed. The vessel on order will efficiently advance wide-area research into seafloor resources, its comprehensive research capabilities to include elucidation of mineral and ore deposit origins and formation conditions…

Alu Design, Oceaneering Strike Long-term Deal for Commander

Alu Design has signed an initial two-year framework agreement with Oceaneering, a world leader in providing specialized oilfield engineering products and services, for the supply of an advanced, newly developed operator chair. Christened Commander, the high-specification chair has been designed to meet NORSOK S-002 and other stringent international standards. The Kristiansand, Norway-based business…

MTR 100: Southwest Electronic Energy

No. The Case: Southwest Electronic Energy  is celebrating 50 years of providing innovative custom energy management solutions, particularly lithium and lithium-ion battery technology for oil and gas and subsea applications. SWE is at the forefront of providing advanced technology battery solutions, helping make offshore oil and gas more accessible and affordable. Today, SWE serves more than 300 customers…

Saudi Aramco Buys Teledyne Gavia AUV

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) has acquired an autonomous underwater vehicle from Teledyne Gavia. The Gavia Offshore Surveyor AUV system is expected to enhance Saudi Aramco's agility in meeting high demands for hydrographic survey services through the company's in-house survey operations. The Gavia system will be utilized predominantly for debris survey and pipeline inspection in the Arabian Gulf…

Kraken, Square Robot Form Robotics Partnership

Kraken Sonar Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kraken Sonar Inc., has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Square Robot, Inc. for the design, manufacture and support of advanced sensors and robotic systems for confined area inspection applications used by the worldwide oil and gas industry. The Boston headquartered Square Robot is a privately-held robotics company recently created by former Bluefin Robotics Corporation executives Eric Levitt, Dr.

Undersea Technology: A Strategic Rhode Island Advantage

In 1869, the U.S. Navy’s first research facility—the Naval Torpedo Station—was built on Newport, Rhode Island’s Goat Island. This rich history continues today, as the state is home to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, which provides the technical foundation to ensure the U.S. Navy’s undersea superiority. Fitting for “the Ocean State,” we have identified more than 170 Rhode Island organizations that touch undersea technology—and we believe that is a conservative count.

MMT Upgrades ROTVs for Geophysical Surveys

MMT has two remotely operated vehicles (ROTV) equipped with various survey equipment for complete geophysical surveys. MMT has now upgraded the systems to be fully equipped with side scan sonars and sub bottom profilers, in addition to multibeam echo sounders, inertial navigation system and doppler velocity log. This means a complete geophysical survey can be done from this platform in a speed of 6 knots and down to a water depth of 400 meters.

Channel Technologies Acquires H.C. Materials

An affiliate of Channel Technologies Group, LLC (CTG), a manufacturer of piezoelectric ceramics, transducers and complex sonar and navigation systems used in the defense, medical and energy industries, announced it has acquired the assets of H.C. Materials Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, HCM) from Dr. Pengdi Han. As part of the acquisition, Dr. Han will become an equity owner of CTG, as well as an active board member. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

UNOLS Seeks Research Vessel Feedback

The UNOLS Council and Fleet Improvement Committees have been working over the past few months on a response for the NSF to evaluate the need on the number of regional class research vessels to be built as part of the UNOLS fleet replacement efforts. As the UNOLS Council continues to discuss and research this issue, it is seeking reviews and input. UNOLS is asking the public to send thoughts to: [email protected].

Kongsberg’s Jalving Wins MTS Achievement Award

Bjørn Jalving, Executive Vice President Subsea at maritime, offshore and subsea technology developer Kongsberg Maritime has been given the Compass Distinguished Achievement Award from the Marine Technology Society. The award ceremony took place on September 16 at the OCEANS 2014 MTS/IEEE conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. This award is presented to an individual whose work has had significant impact on the fields of marine science and technology.

A New Age for Underwater Autonomy

It is an exciting era for ocean exploration in a time when several scientific fields are beginning a new phase of discovery through advancements in underwater technology. While the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been key to propelling scientific investigation forward, the complexity, time and resources needed to plan these missions have begun the quest of ‘true autonomy’ by engineers in the ocean communities.

Construction Milestone for RRS Sir David Attenborough

The stern section of Britain’s new polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, will be transported by barge this week from Hebburn-based shipyard A&P Tyne (Newcastle), part of A&P Group, to the Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead. The new ship is a major U.K. Government investment in frontier science. Commissioned by NERC, and built by the world famous marine engineering company Cammell Laird Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders Ltd.

EdgeTech Sonar Utilized in USS Indianapolis Discovery

Manufacturer of high resolution sonar imaging systems and underwater technology EdgeTech said its AUV-based side scan sonar system played a key role in the recent discovery of the USS Indianapolis wreckage 5,500 meters deep in the Philippine Sea. The sinking of the USS Indianapolis had the greatest loss of life from a single ship in the history of the U.S. Navy. The EdgeTech 2205 AUV-based sonar system…

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.

Marine Geo-engineering to be Regulated

Marine geo-engineering, including ocean fertilization, will be regulated under amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the international treaty which regulates the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea. The amendments, adopted recently by Parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, add a new article 6bis which states that “Contracting Parties shall not allow the placement of matter into the sea from vessels…

IHC Merwede to Deliver New AHC System

IHC Merwede has announced that it has signed a new contract for the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) delivery of an Active Heave Compensation (AHC) system. This equipment will be designed, built and supplied as a reliable solution for the deepwater subsea installation of heavy modules in dynamic sea states. The integration of the active heave compensator and winch system means that this system is unique.

Artemis Diver Sonar and Navigation

Artemis is a modular handheld console that can be configured as a diver target detection sonar and GPS underwater navigation aid. Intuitive and easy to use, the user can quickly interpret information presented via the simple menu interface and graphical display, while sonar, navigation and other apps are selected and controlled via a five-button interface. Artemis is neutrally buoyant, and its lanyard supplied can be attached to a D-Ring or other securing point on the diver…

Underwater Center Boosts SAR Training

The Italian Air Force Search and Rescue team has been expanding its skills and knowledge during a visit to subsea trials and training facility The Underwater Center, which is fast developing a reputation for supporting international rescue teams with its range of bespoke packages. Beniamino Panduccio, David Padula, and Massimiliano Lai – members of the Sardinian-based Italian Air Force Search and Rescue team – spent three days at the Center in Fort William…

DSS Secures HOS Jones Act MPSV for Gulf ROV Work

Delta SubSea Secures U.S.-Flagged DP-2 IMR/Construction Support Vessel for Deepwater ROV Operations in the GoM. Delta SubSea, LLC (DSS) has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS) for the HOS Bayou, one of Hornbeck’s recently constructed 300 class HOSMAX DP-2 multipurpose service vessels (MPSVs). The HOS Bayou is the newest U.S.-flagged Jones Act-compliant MPSV on the market today.

Rowe Adds New DVL to SeaPILOT Line

Rowe Technologies launched a new Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) for the SeaPILOT product line. The SeaPILOT OC (Observation Class) is the result of collaboration with several small ROV manufacturers to provide a compact, high performance DVL, designed specifically for observation/inspection class ROVs. The OC is small (5-in. [127mm] wide x 6-in. [152mm] tall and 8-in. [203mm] ), lightweight (~1 lb [0.45 Kg] in water)…