Aerial Drones Take Flight Offshore

Oil and gas companies are using unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology to improve safety and efficiency in a growing range of applications, from infrastructure and maintenance inspection to security, emergency response and environmental and regulatory compliance. Today’s UAS programs are supported by payloads including high-definition video equipment, high-resolution still cameras, thermal imaging cameras and emission sensors – and there are many ways…

Wärtsilä Introduces its Smart Marine Ecosystem Vision

The smart technology group Wärtsilä is at the forefront of harnessing the changes taking place in the shipping industry to deliver value and optimisation for its customers. By orchestrating these developments through the use of high levels of connectivity and digitalisation, Wärtsilä intends to lead the industry’s transformation towards a Smart Marine Ecosystem. “The world is moving towards a future that is more and more connected, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the shipping sector.

Loss of Diversity Near Melting Coastal Glaciers

Melting glaciers are causing a loss of species diversity among benthos in the coastal waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, impacting an entire seafloor ecosystem. This has been verified in the course of repeated research dives, the results of which were recently published by experts from Argentina, Germany and Great Britain and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in a study in the journal Science Advances.

Project Mars: The future of Autonomy

Innovation and technological advancement is central to propelling maritime industries into a new era of efficiency. While the idea of autonomy is now a welcome solution for several military and scientific applications, other sectors are yet to fully take the concept on-board. As autonomous systems are continually proven a success in the field, the spotlight has now turned to the maritime sector. World…

Kongsberg Launches Third Generation HiPAP System

The third generation of Kongsberg Maritime’s High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System – HiPAP, is now available. The new system, HiPAP 502, is smaller, lighter, more durable and accurate, according to the manufacturer. It is designed to support the performance and safety of offshore support, survey, subsea construction and scientific vessel operations. HiPAP 502 is the latest in a line of High Precision Acoustic Positioning Systems from Kongsberg Maritime.

Yukon River Charts Produced with Satellite Images

Coast Survey has issued provisional charts for barge operators and others traversing Alaska's challenging Yukon River, relying solely on satellite images to create the electronic navigational charts that only display shoreline and shoals (shallow areas). The ENCs, which display no depth soundings, will give the mariners annually updated information to help their navigation along the changeable river. "The Yukon was literally uncharted," Kampia told the group.

New Small-form Subsea Positioning Transponders

Following on from the end of 2015 launch of its new generation underwater positioning system, HiPAP 502, Kongsberg Maritime is introducing a new range of mini medium frequency subsea transponders. With a smaller form factor, improved operational functionality and design, and the use of modern materials the new cNODE MiniS family supersedes the KONGSBERG Mini SSBL transponders (MST) range, which was first available in 2002.

C-Innovation Chooses Kongberg AUV Systems

C-Innovation (C-I), a member of the Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) group of companies and an integrated marine services company specializing in advanced subsea solutions has signed an agreement with Kongsberg Maritime to acquire four new Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). The order adds significant AUV capabilities to C-I’s already established Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) fleet. C-I offers comprehensive subsea field development services…

SBG Names Swathe Services as UK Distributor

SBG Systems has appointed Swathe Services to be an authorized sales and support distributor for the marine hydrography market in the UK and Ireland. This includes all products within the Ellipse, Ekinox and Apogee product lines and includes the Split-Box with associated components. SBG Systems offers a complete line of high performance and miniature Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), Motion Reference Unit (MRU)…

ROV Roundup: Recent Tech Innovations

MTR highlights recent technological advances in the world of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV).SaabSeaeye: It’s ElectricOperators, from the Gulf of Mexico to offshore Australia, report multi-million-dollar savings as they switch to the new generation of electric work vehicles, and the Saab Seaeye Leopard it touted as the most powerful electric robotic work vehicle of its size in the world.Compared to a 66-ton hydraulic equivalent…

Easier Access to UK Tidal Data

The U.K. Hydrographic Office has released a new ADMIRALTY application programming interface (API) that puts U.K. tidal data in the hands of software developers.The U.K. Tidal API gives developers access to accurate data from the U.K.’s largest authoritative network of tidal stations, allowing them to build tidal height and time predictions into their own online applications. These predictions can be useful for a wide range of coastal activities…

High-tech Sensors Advance Tsunami Monitoring

Accurate and long-term measurements of sea level, tidal harmonics and tsunami activity are a growing requirement to address global coastal developments and risk mitigation programs. Real-time tsunami monitoring and warning systems are being developed to save lives, model wave propagation and quantify coastal hazards.The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) has recently taken delivery of five…

RRS Sir David Attenborough Launched

The hull of the U.K.’s new polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough was launched from Cammell Laird shipyard Saturday, marking a major milestone toward the completion of one of the world’s most advanced scientific maritime vessels.Shipyard workers, engineers, scientists and maritime industry experts were among thousands who gathered to celebrate the launch along with special guest speakers, including renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough…

Fugro Advances Bathymetric Lidar Mapping Capabilities

Fugro is introducing a new bathymetric lidar system that delivers industry-leading depth penetration and point densities for nearshore and coastal mapping. Known as RAMMS (Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping System), the field-proven technology promises to deliver an efficient and cost-effective solution, dramatically improving upon other bathymetric lidar mapping capabilities.“Traditional bathymetric lidar technology requires customers to compromise between price…

Aker Solutions to Supply Umbilicals for Liuhua FPSO

Aker Solutions said it has been contracted to deliver power umbilical systems to China National Offshore Oil Corporation's (CNOOC) Liuhua oil fields in the South China Sea, off Hong Kong.The order, which is said to be worth more than NOK 350 million ($36.6 million), was booked in the third quarter of 2018. The work scope includes more than 35 kilometers of dynamic and static power umbilicals for the Liuhua 16-2…

Shearwater to Buy Schlumberger’s Seismic Business

Norwegian marine geophysical services company Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the marine seismic acquisition assets and operations of Schlumberger’s geophysical services product line, WesternGeco.The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018.Houston…

Valeport MIDAS SVX2 Selected by Saab Kockums

Oceanographic, hydrographic and hydrometric instrumentation manufacturer Valeport said it has secured a contract to supply four customized MIDAS SVX2 probes to Saab Kockums. The MIDAS SVX2 is an advanced probe, combining sound velocity with salinity and density technologies to provide a versatile instrument which delivers superior data profiles. The MIDAS SVX2 was selected for its commercial off the shelf (COTS) status which contributed to project cost and lead time efficiency, Valeport said.

Rovco Secures Funding for 3D Visualization Project

Subsea technology company Rovco said it has secured Innovate UK funding to develop a cutting-edge 3D visualization system as part of a two-part Artificial Intelligence demonstrator project potentially worth £1 million. Working in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the first phase of the project will see Rovco develop the equipment and software required to produce live 3D data from challenging and extreme subsea environments.

Offshore Wind: Seajacks Scylla Ready to Roll

Gibdock was selected for the afloat mobilization of Seajacks Scylla, the largest and most advanced windfarm installation jack-up ever built. Following delivery to Seajacks by Samsung Heavy Industries at the end of 2015, Scylla was discharged to Gibraltar waters from the heavylift transporter Osprey before being towed into Gibdock for reactivation works at the yard’s South Mole. Seajacks Scylla completed…

Long Beach Police Choose HYPACK Marine Search

HYPACK has sold its HYPACK Marine Search to the Long Beach, Calif. Police Department, to be integrated with the department’s existing Edgetech 4125, Kongsberg MS 1000 and Diver 6 equipment. HYPACK said its Marine Search is a simplified and user-friendly software package suited for police/fire/marine departments. The package is designed to enhance search operations by improving efficiency and safety of divers through better real time navigation information and reduced time spent on the water.