Australia Speeds Up Purchase of Sea Mines to Shore Up Maritime Defense

Australia said on Monday it would accelerate plans to buy advanced sea mines to protect its maritime routes and ports from "potential aggressors" amid China's plans to increase its influence in the Pacific region.The so-called smart sea mines are designed to differentiate between military targets and other types of ships, a defence department spokesperson said in a statement."(Australia) is accelerating the acquisition of smart sea mines…

Ocean Geophysics Introduces ‘Recycling’ of Free Seismic Data for Wind Farms

Renewable energy industry supplier Ocean Geophysics has introduced a solution to recycle and reprocess freely available seismic data, which can help developers reduce cost and risk when deciding which wind farms to bid for or not.In Europe and Australia, historical seismic data – for example from the offshore oil and gas or offshore renewable industry – is often freely available through national energy authorities.This is the case in the U.K.…

UKHO Appoints Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) confirmed the appointment of Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair. Leslie will chair the UKHO Board in this independent position after a year as interim Non-Executive Chair and six years as a Non-Executive Director at the UKHO.The Board supports, challenges and validates the UKHO business strategy and oversees the organization's performance. Leslie leads the Board as Chair…

OceanAlpha Hosts First Marine USV Demonstration in the Middle East​

OceanAlpha, a leader in unmanned marine technology, recently concluded its L25 Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) demonstration at Port Rashid, Dubai, from May 26 to 29. The event, supported by partners SINO and Sitech Gulf, showcased tailored solutions addressing critical needs in offshore energy, hydrographic surveying, and smart port development across the Middle East.The event combined static displays of the vessel at the marina with dynamic demonstrations of autonomous navigation…

Shipbuilding RFP Issued to Build Hydrogen-Hybrid Research Vessel

UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a shipyard for the final design and construction of its new 163-ft. Coastal Class Research Vessel (CCRV), reportedly the first oceanographic research ship to primarily operate on renewable fuels.The vessel will feature a dual-powered hydrogen fuel cell and diesel-electric propulsion system, capable of conducting 75% of its missions using only liquid hydrogen.

Leidos and Nauticus Robotics Forge Strategic Alliance

Nauticus Robotics, a specialist in autonomous subsea robotics and software, has entered into a strategic alliance with Leidos to advance subsea autonomy solutions.The alliance builds on a successful prior collaboration between the two organizations and aims to combine the companies' complementary expertise to develop next-generation autonomous underwater systems capable of tackling increasingly complex missions.Nauticus will apply its expertise in commercial subsea vehicle development…

Wavepiston Snags New Investors

Wavepiston, a developer of turnkey wave energy technology, shared that two professional investors have invested about $980,000 in Wavepiston via the Dutch joint venture company, The Blue Line B.V. The Blue Line is an initiative from investors Connect the Drops, a Dutch investment fund with a focus on the water sector, and Unknown Group, a Dutch venture capital fund that, among other areas, focuses on investments in the energy transition.

Blue Ocean Seismic Services Completes Sea Trials

Blue Ocean Seismic Services reports it has completed a series of passive and active sea trials in the North Sea using a DP2 class Multi Role Vessel. When tested at various weights, the company’s underwater autonomous vehicle successfully and consistently coupled to the seabed and acquired high-quality ocean bottom seismic (OBS) data, data collection comparable to existing Ocean Bottom Node technology…

Nekton Aids Exploring Ocean's Potential

Oliver Steeds wants to dive to the depths, of both the oceans and maritime data, to push back the frontiers of knowledge and enable sustainable ocean development. It’s a mission that, he believes, simply cannot wait. For an optimist, Oliver Steeds sounds remarkably pessimistic. The CEO of Nekton, or Nekton Oxford Deep Ocean Research Institute to give it its full name, believes we are standing on “the threshold of catastrophe”…

SEA-KIT's USV Equipped with Innovative Connectivity Solution by Inmarsat

Maritime and offshore mobile satellite communications specialist Inmarsat has installed a new connectivity solution on SEA-KIT's uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Maxlimer using virtualized networks that the company says will establish higher standards for over-the-horizon uncrewed vessel control.The installation connects the USV Maxlimer to the best available network at all times by switching as necessary between Fleet LTE…

Taking UUVs Faster, Further & Deeper

Micro-UUV Technology is FlexibleIn 2015, veterans of the conventional UUV sector set out to change the dynamics of the industry, founding Riptide Autonomous Solutions. Riptide’s first product was the micro-UUV, a new, highly flexible, open source autonomous undersea vehicle that provides a state-of-the-art, low cost solution ideally suited for developers of autonomy and behaviors, power systems, subsea sensors, and other new payloads.

Proserv to Monitor Cables at Equinor's Hywind Scotland Floating Wind Farm Using 'Disruptive' Tech

UK-based Proserv said Wednesday it had secured a deal to supply its "holistic" cable monitoring system (CMS), ECG, at Equinor’s Hywind Scotland floating offshore wind farm.The 30 MW Hywind Scotland pilot park, consisting of five 6 MW turbines, is located off the coast of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. It was the world’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm when it launched…

ABB Takes Stake in Tidal Power

ABB has led a $12 million investment in Scotrenewables Tidal Power, (of Scotland), a provider of tidal turbine systems. The funding is being used specifically to roll out a larger and more advanced tidal energy conversion system known as the SR2000. The floating 2 megawatt turbine includes a number of innovations to deliver simplicity, low mass, rapid connection/disconnection and heightened survivability.

China Optimistic of Finding Gas off Vietnam

A Chinese oil rig whose deployment to waters claimed by Vietnam early this month triggered a rupture in ties has a good chance of finding enough gas to put the area into production, Chinese industry experts said. That would give China its first viable energy field in the disputed South China Sea, as well as make it a source of friction with Hanoi for years to come. For now, China has said nothing about the potential of the area.

Digitalisation to Boost Future Shipping

As a prelude to the 'e-Navigation Underway’ conference, which will take place during the next two days, South Korea's Director General for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Kwang-Youl Park, visited the DMA to talk about cooperation on digitalisation and e-Navigation. Director General Andreas Nordseth from the Danish Maritime Authority said: "We are pleased about our cooperation with South Korea. In 2014, Denmark and South Korea concluded a Memorandum of Understanding to develop e-Navigation.

New Inertial Sensors for Unmanned and Autonomous Vehicles

Embedded sensing systems developer LORD Sensing MicroStrain said it has expanded its portfolio of sensors for unmanned and autonomous vehicles for air, land and sea with the introduction of the 3DM­GX5 family of inertial sensors. “We have a large portfolio that shares the same software and protocol, allowing customers to move up and down the product line where they need varying levels of precision with MEMS Inertial Sensors or GNSS,” said Andy Winzenz, Commercial Director, LORD Sensing.

Geo Shipyard Delivers R/V Apalachee

Geo Shipyard Inc, New Iberia, La, delivered the R/V Apalachee, a 64x21x9’, aluminum catamaran for Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, St Teresa, Florida. Designed by Fyffe Yachts with NC lofting by Eli Ring, VP of Advance Fabricating, both of Kemah, Texas, the 48 passenger T-boat will support a verity of research missions in the Gulf of Mexico. DeJong and Lebet, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida provided construction oversight and plan review.

Hydro-Lek Business Facilities Move to Hampshire

Following the acquisition of Hydro-Lek, Saab Seaeye has announced that the Hydro-Lek business has now been transferred to Fareham and is fully operational. Effective from January 1, 2016, the combined companies will operate under the Saab Seaeye name. The Hydro-Lek brand will remain and customers can still reach Hydro-Lek sales and operation staff who are now based at Fareham. “We would like to reassure…

URI Scientist Seeks Technology Solutions

There is so much research going on in the state of Rhode Island that its Science & Technology Advisory Council (STAC) gives out annual research grants to research teams already working on projects to facilitate even more collaborative research. The goal is to give a boost to those projects that have the best shot at attracting significant follow-on funding from government agencies or commercial interest.

Atlantic Canada Profiles: Rutter

The world of onboard navigation systems is always changing, and as such, existence of convenient user-interfaces and powerful navigation capabilities are in constant evolution. Contributing to this evolution is Rutter Inc., which in the first quarter of 2017 is releasing an update to its flagship radar system, the sigma S6 Ice Navigator, adding Advanced Ice Analysis to the system. In addition, Rutter will release the new sigma S6 Ice Defense system…