Global Oceans Acquires 6000m ROVs and Towed Sonar System from Oceaneering

Global Oceans, a New York-based non-profit corporation focused on mobilizing commercial sector resources for ocean science has acquired, through a donation from Oceaneering International, three deep-sea exploration vehicles rated to 6,000 metres operational depth: the Magellan 725 ROV, the Ocean Discovery ROV and the Ocean Explorer 6000 Towed Sonar System, together with a full complement of infrastructure to deploy the vehicles including winches, cranes, power systems, operational modules, workshops and supplies. These vehicles have contributed to several historic projects, including the successful recovery of the lost Apollo Liberty Bell 7 space capsule from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and... (read more)

2021-01-15 11:20:15

Weddell Sea Depths Warming Five Times Faster than Elsewhere

Over the past three decades, the depths of the Antarctic Weddell Sea have warmed five times faster than the rest of the ocean at depths exceeding 2,000 metres. This was the main finding of an article just published by oceanographers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). In the article, they analyse an unprecedented oceanographic time series from the Weddell Sea and show that the warming of the polar depths is chiefly due to changed winds and currents above and in the Southern Ocean. In addition, the experts warn that the warming of the... (read more)

2020-10-27 08:57:39

Saab Seaeye Panther Selected for Pipeline Inspection in Gulf of Mexico

For pipeline inspection in the Gulf of Mexico, global maritime, survey and ROV services operator ACSM chose an electric Saab Seaeye Panther XT robotic vehicle over other ROV vehicle alternatives. The Panther inspected 261 pipelines totalling 2,340km in four fields in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), at depths ranging from 15 to 130 metres, in a less than 10-month project duration. ACSM chose the electric Saab Seaeye Panther because it can perform the full scope of work needed, yet is far smaller than hydraulic equivalents. Considerable savings come from deploying the 700kg Panther system rather than the much heavier hydraulic... (read more)

2020-09-07 09:22:03

Securing Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure with USVs

Employing commercial off-the-shelf USVs that can be rapidly reconfigured with a diverse range of sensors can enhance the ability to deliver energy to America and the world. This is a win-win for the energy industry, says George Caldorisi as he describes the securing of oil and gas infrastructure with Unmanned Surface Vehicles. While the exigencies of climate change have led to major strides in the development and deployment of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and others, the world’s energy needs will continue to be met primarily by oil and natural gas for the foreseeable future. As readers of Hydro International are well aware, the strategic implications of the United States’ transition from energy dependence to energy independence to becoming a net oil and gas exporter are being felt worldwide. While some saw this sea change coming, most did not, and the community of nations is still coming to grips with... (read more)

2020-04-06 09:50:21

What Are Underwater Gliders and How Do You Use Them?

What are underwater gliders and how do you use them? Answers can be found at the 2019 UK Glider Community Workshop, hosted at the NOC in Southampton on 14-15 November. Registration is open now. The workshop will take place on Friday 15 November, and will be preceded by a networking reception and dinner on the evening of Thursday 14 November at The Dancing Man Brewery. The event provides an opportunity for the UK research community to come together to discuss the latest technology developments and scientific discoveries related to ocean gliders. Marine Autonomy and Technology Showcase The UK Glider Community... (read more)

2019-10-22 09:01:14

Flanders Marine Institute in Belgium Takes Delivery of a Gavia AUV

Teledyne Gavia announced that it has completed the sale and recent Sea Acceptance Testing of a Gavia AUV to the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Oostende, Belgium. The VLIZ Gavia is rated to 1,000m depth in a low logistics form factor and includes an array of scientific instruments to meet current and future VLIZ research requirements. The modular nature of the GAVIA AUV allows sensors to be added as mission requirements dictate. The VLIZ Gavia is configured for diverse research applications and includes an iXblue INS, coupled with a Teledyne RD Instruments Pathfinder ADCP up/down for highly accurate navigation and... (read more)

2019-09-30 08:37:17

Launch and Recovery System for Academic Ocean Research Vessels

MacArtney Asia Pacific has provided a third, fourth and fifth Launch and Recovery System in the Asia Pacific market this year for academic Ocean Research Vessels, the R/V New Ocean Researcher 1, 2 and 3. The company accepted a full LARS order for two 500 GT (Gross Tonnage) Ocean Research Vessels and one 1,000 GT ORV (Ocean Research Vessel). Recently coming to fruition, this order marks a MacArtney milestone with the delivery of now five Ocean Research Vessels in the Asia Pacific. Sea Acceptance Tests The two 500 GT Ocean Research Vessels, the R/V New Ocean Researcher 2 and R/V New Ocean... (read more)

2019-08-22 03:57:23

AML Moving Vessel Profiler to Augment NSCC’s Seafloor Mapping Work

A newly acquired AML Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) will help Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) develop improved methods of mapping the seafloor. With its ability to conduct real-time, vertical profiles continuously and automatically, the MVP200 is expected to improve the efficiency and quality of data collection. Looking to add ground-truthing to the process of multibeam data acquisition, AML and NSCC are working together to integrate lights and a high-resolution camera to the tow body that houses the underway profiling system’s sound velocity (SV), conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD), or multiparameter instrumentation. Ground-truthing is a critical step in validating the seafloor characteristics for interpretation of... (read more)

2019-08-08 09:19:02

Acoustics Specialist RTSYS Unveils Latest Versatile Micro-AUV

After years of development, French Acoustics specialist RTSYS has unveiled its latest versatile micro-AUV named NemoSens. Less than 1 metre long, and easy to carry and launch (less than 20 pounds including payload), NemoSens can host any kind of payload, be it a CTD probe, side-scan sonar or any other sensors. Thanks to an open LINUX architecture, it can be programmed from a ROS or MOOS interface to complete various kind of missions. Acoustic Beacons Its battery provides wide autonomy (up to 8 hours at 4 knots) with a speed range from 2 to 8 knots, and its robustness allows it... (read more)

2019-07-09 02:58:45

CSA Completes Field Surveys Offshore Puerto Rico

CSA Ocean Sciences (CSA), under a subcontract to Jacobs, has announced the completion of a comprehensive environmental monitoring survey. The survey included physical, biological and chemical field sampling and data collection for 301(h) waiver demonstrations at the Aguadilla, Arecibo and Ponce Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (RWWTP) outfalls offshore Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Aqueduct Authority (PRASA). Since 1999, CSA has been helping to evaluate compliance with receiving water quality standards and describe environmental conditions. Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers During this recent survey, CSA deployed and retrieved acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs), a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) water profiler with ancillary sensors... (read more)

2019-05-13 11:17:58