Manned Submersible Built to Explore Titanic Shipwreck

The titanium and carbon fiber wound pressure vessel for a new deep sea manned submersibles has been constructed in preparation for the first human exploration of the Titanic shipwreck since 2005. Once completed Cyclops 2 will be the latest addition to the fleet of OceanGate, Inc., capable of reaching more than 50 percent of the ocean to increase human exploration of the undersea world. “Construction of Cyclops 2 is a significant step in advancing human exploration of the ocean.

TGS Continue GofM Seismic 3D Survey

TGS says it is continuing its Explorer Series seismic acquisition program in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Panfilo 3D will add 11,500 km2 to TGS' multi-client library in the Lund and Henderson Central Gulf of Mexico protraction areas. Acquisition will commence in Q4 2014 with the M/V Polarcus Adira towing ten kilometer streamers to image regional stratigraphy and deep basin structures. Data will be available in late 2015. This project is supported by industry funding.

Underwater Laser Scanner Aids 3D Mobile Mapping

Subsea technology company Sonardyne International Ltd. recently mapped the seabed in Monterey Bay, Calif. using 2G Robotics’ underwater laser scanning equipment. This high-resolution deepwater dynamic mapping of Sur Ridge was performed using 2G Robotics’ ULS-500 underwater laser scanner mounted to a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). For the survey, the ROV was equipped and navigated using Sonardyne’s inertial navigation sensor SPRINT interfaced with a Syrinx 600 kHz DVL…

Teledyne Acquires CDL

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced that its subsidiary, Teledyne Limited, has acquired C.D. Limited (CDL). Headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, CDL is a supplier of subsea inertial navigation systems and motion sensors for a variety of marine applications. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CDL designs and manufactures a variety of sensors including gyrocompasses, attitude and heading reference systems, and inertial navigation systems.

MakaiLay Suite for Cable Layers

Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. said it continues to address issues experienced by the subsea power cable industry by enhancing submarine cable lay software, MakaiLay, and its desktop simulation sister product, MakaiPlan Pro. 1. Cable Top Angle. MakaiLay now has the option to use the cable departure angle, or “Top Angle”, which can be measured at the over-boarding point. When high quality measurements of top tension are not available…

Almarin Launches Balizamar Mooring Buoys

Following on from the design of Balizamar navigation buoys, Almarin has launched the new range of mooring buoys used for mooring of vessels, as well as for containment booms and supporting floating cages used in aquaculture. The new mooring buoys are manufactured with a galvanized steel structure with a safe working load (SWL) of 12,000kg and a foam filled rotomoulded polyethylene hull. There are four available hulls with standard diameters of 1…

DeepSea Improves SeaLite Sphere LED Light

The SeaLite Sphere has evolved to offer field-serviceable connector replacement for a quick and easy repair in the field. The ability to change the connector without any special tools or the need to send the light back to the manufacturer has reduced downtime to a matter of minutes, saving users time and money. The SeaLite Sphere advances beyond other LED lights by separating the connector from other internal electronic components to avoid downtime and costly repairs due to connector failures.

TE to Showcase New Wet-mate Connector

TE Connectivity (TE) said it will display a selection of products from its underwater portfolio at its SEACON booth at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen, September 5-8, 2017. Among its many connector systems, TE will specifically feature the new HydraElectric wet-mate connector. TE’s SEACON portfolio includes more than 2,500 underwater electrical and fiber optic connectors for complete submerged connectivity systems.

General Dynamics to Christen U.S. Navy Submarine

General Dynamics Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, will christen North Dakota (SSN-784), the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced nuclear-attack submarine, at its shipyard here on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. Katie Fowler, wife of retired Vice Adm. Jeff Fowler, is the ship’s sponsor. The event’s principal speaker is Vice Adm. Michael J. Connor, commander – Submarine Forces. The submarine North Dakota is the 11th ship of the Virginia class, the first U.S.

IOOS Awards $31 Mln for Ocean Observation

More than $31 million has been awarded in grants from the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to support ocean, coastal and Great Lakes observing efforts throughout the United States, Caribbean and Pacific. IOOS said the funds, which are to be distributed primarily as five-year cooperative agreements, are augmented by contributions from other federal offices and agencies, as well as outside…

Kongsberg Awarded Several New Asian Projects

Kongsberg Maritime was recently awarded separate contracts with three major shipyards in Asia for major technology deliveries to specialist offshore vessels. Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Korea, and Cosco Shipyard in China have each selected Kongsberg “Full Picture” solutions for, in total, nine advanced Offshore Drilling Units, an Accommodation Unit, a Multipurpose Construction Vessel and four LNG vessels with Integrated Automation Systems.

Leak Detection Methods for Subsea Pipelines

According to the U.K.’s Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Offshore Division (OSD), almost 400 offshore hydrocarbon releases had been reported between April 2010 and April 2013, around 45% of which were classified as major or significant incidences. Regardless of their size, subsea leakages are a foremost concern for the industry. This issue extends beyond the considerable costs of product loss and repairs, but considers human injuries as well as significant environmental impacts.

Norvestor to Become PG’s Largest Shareholder

Norvestor VI, L.P., a fund advised by Norvestor Equity AS, announced it has signed an agreement to invest in Ing Per Gjerdrum AS including its subsidiaries PG Hydraulics AS and PG Construction AS. The transaction is expected to close end of October 2014, subject to customary approval from the Norwegian Competition Authorities. Following the acquisition, Norvestor will become the largest shareholder in PG with about 63 % of the shares…

DeepOcean Working with New Teledyne TSS Cable Trackers

A recent investment by DeepOcean in four pipe/cable tracking systems from Teledyne TSS is now bearing fruit with the company putting them to work on a number of different subsea projects. DeepOcean took delivery of two TSS 440 and two TSS 350 systems at the start of the summer season and has been using them regularly since then. The four systems are occupying an essential role in DeepOcean’s high technology equipment inventory.

TGS Start Offshore Madagascar 2D Seismic Surveys

Norway-based TGS, in partnership with BGP, has commenced acquisition of 2D seismic, gravity and magnetic multi-client surveys offshore Madagascar utilizing the 'M/V Challenger'. The surveys, MAJ-13 and MS-14, will add 7,025 km of new 2D seismic data to extend and infill the existing 33,315 km of 2D data acquired by TGS in the region. Data processing will be performed by TGS using its proven Clari-Fi(TM) broadband processing technology. Final data will be available to clients from Q3 2014.

euRathlon Marine Robot Competitions at CMRE

The NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) has just concluded two intense weeks of student challenges with a multi-domain demonstration. After the Student Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge - Europe (SAUC-E), hosted for the fifth year in a row in CMRE’s sheltered harbor, from September 20 to 26, the first euRathlon sea robotic competition was held in the same venue from September 29 to October 3.

Reducing the Costs of Port and Terminal Ops

The global economic outlook is uncertain; this uncertainty is leading to depressed investment worldwide, particularly in energy and mining activity. The international ports and terminals sector forms an important part of the infrastructure supporting these activities. As the sector is exposed to restraints on investment, the emphasis is on reducing in operating cost. HR Wallingford advises clients on how their activities interface with the water environment.

STR Expands Dredging Equipment Offering

Global specialists in the design, manufacture and rental of advanced subsea technology for the offshore energy industry Subsea Technology & Rentals Ltd (STR) has expanded its offering of dredging equipment following a partnership agreement with Aberdeen based Subsea Tooling Services (STS) to hire, service and support its range of subsea dredging systems held mobilization ready at STR offices. The Predator and Gremlin range of dredgers will become the latest offering from STR.

Oil Steadies Above $92 on Signs of Global Growth

Brent crude oil edged down but stayed above $92 a barrel on Monday after a week of sharp falls, as strong U.S. employment data and a rally in global stock markets pointed to stronger economic growth and higher demand for fuel. Brent fell nearly 5 percent last week, its steepest decline since April 2013, as a strong U.S. dollar, weak demand and ample supply weighed on prices. "It is no surprise to see the price stabilising after the massive sell-offs last week…

UTEC Comes up Big Offshore

Offshore and onshore survey provider UTEC Survey says it has completed a significant ROV navigation and seismic node positioning project in deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The project, carried out for seismic nodal technology company FairfieldNodal and undertaken in 2,425 meters of water, involved use of the latest software and navigation technologies available to simplify operations, increase cost savings on an original scope of work…