Teledyne Marine Pays Tribute to Doug Webb

Douglas Webb, an esteemed Oceanographer Emeritus from Woods Hole, MA, and founder of Teledyne Webb Research, received recognition for his lifelong contributions to science at the Teledyne Marine facility located in North Falmouth, MA, in early June.

Teledyne staff members Clara Hulburt, Shea Quinn, and Clayton Jones delivered an informative and historical talk about Webb’s legacy as an engineer, scientist, innovator, and world changer.

Webb contributed significantly to developing low-frequency acoustic sound sources such as SOFAR, RAFOS, and Tonpilz for water mass tracking, long-range navigation, and tomography. He played a key role in the development of Vertical Current Meters (VCMs) to measure water chimney convection and profiling floats (ALACE). He commercialized this development (APEX) which became part of the ARGO program. He invented and developed the Teledyne Slocum gliders. Mr. Webb pioneered the development of the buoyancy systems used in these floats and gliders, revolutionizing how scientists approach ocean data gathering. Argo is the most successful ocean observing program, contributing critical information about climate and sea level change.

Webb was also honored by Rutgers University’s undergraduate class of 2024 with a letter of appreciation after the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) received the 2024 TOS Ocean Observing Award for innovation and excellence in sustained ocean observation at the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

Mills Joins Cellula Robotics as CCO

Cellula Robotics announced that Richard Mills has joined the company as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Mills has more than 16 years in the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) industry. Mills began his career in the subsea industry with International Submarine Engineering (ISE) Ltd. in Vancouver, Canada, then spent a decade leading Kongsberg Marine Robotics' sales team.

Richard has been an active member of the Society of Underwater Technology's Panel on Underwater Robotics and a life member of the Marine Technology Society. He has volunteered as a technical reviewer for the IEEE OES Oceans conference for over a decade and served as a board member for Eelume AS.

"I am excited to be joining Cellula at such a pivotal time in the AUV industry," said Richard Mills. "The adoption of long-range systems by the subsea and seabed warfare community across the defense sector is accelerating. We are also seeing offshore energy operators evaluate long range autonomous vehicles, especially where lifecycle emissions are a growing consideration. When we couple long endurance with the ability to loiter, deploy, and potentially recover off-platform assets, the operational future is almost unlimited across defence, commercial, and science applications. The Solus range of hydrogen-powered AUVs provides a real opportunity to do something quite different."

Hydrogen-Hybrid Research Vessel earns AIP

Glosten was awarded an Approval in Principle (AIP) by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design of UC San Diego’s new hydrogen-hybrid Coastal-Class Research Vessel (CCRV). The CCRV will be operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography and feature a propulsion system that uses hydrogen fuel cells for zero-emissions operation. Glosten and the project’s electrical integrator, Siemens Energy (SE), completed the preliminary design for the CCRV in March 2024. As an uninspected, California Air Resource Board (CARB)-compliant, ABS-classed vessel and an alternative design under SOLAS, the CCRV faced a complex regulatory regime.

In 2018, Glosten, Scripps Oceanography, Sandia National Laboratories, and DNV conducted a feasibility study that became the genesis of the CCRV. The study evaluated the technical, regulatory, and economic feasibility of the Zero-V concept, a vessel powered by fuel cells and liquid hydrogen designed to meet performance and environmental criteria established by Scripps. While the study confirmed that technology had advanced enough to make a hydrogen-powered research vessel possible, regulations around the use of hydrogen fuel are still in development.

Prior to submitting the design for AIP, Glosten successfully completed a week-long risk assessment workshop with the USCG, Scripps, SE, and major equipment providers, Ballard Power Systems and Chart Industries.

AIP shows that the CCRV design meets the technical requirements and safety standards of ABS, but more broadly, it validates the use of hydrogen-fuel-cell propulsion for medium-sized coastal vessels. The CCRV will help Scripps and its researchers study the marine ecosystem along the California coast, running entirely on emissions-free hydrogen fuel cells for 75 percent of its missions.

Blue Armada Robotics buys HydroSurv USV

Blue Armada Robotics has acquired its first USV, a REAV-60 from HydroSurv, marking a move to capture the uncrewed marine data collection market in the Baltic Sea, with further aims to address emerging opportunities in North America and Asia.

The decision to select the REAV-60 came after a demonstration at Ocean Business in 2023. “I attended Ocean Business to find a proper USV that would suit our specific requirements, but after leaving the exhibitor’s hall without seeing exactly what I was after, I saw a REAV-60 on the water, owned and operated by a third party," said Michal Latacz, Co-Founder & CEO of Blue Armada Robotics. "I had to play cat and mouse to find out who actually built it. Fortunately, it led me to David Hull, CEO of HydroSurv, and their approach to constructing sea machines, and in particular the REAV-60 platform, fits very well into the long-term strategy of Blue Armada Robotics' service development and technological integration plan.”

HydroSurv’s REAV-60 measures six meters long with multi-day endurance with a battery hybrid powertrain. Its payload allows for a diverse range of onboard equipment, including inspection-class ROV systems. Blue Armada has fittingly named their first REAV-60 ‘Arctos 1’, Latin for ‘Bear.’ Latacz described it as “Strong, resilient, and reliable—our bears of the sea.”

This particular USV is just the beginning for the Blue Armada Robotics fleet. The company aims to acquire several more USVs from HydroSurv in the next year. These acquisitions are set to revolutionise the remote inspection of offshore wind farms in Poland. Additionally, the REAV-60 will showcase Blue Armada’s capabilities to conduct a range of services including pre- and post-construction surveys (MBES, SSS, SBP, UXO), cyclic and on-demand asset supervision with Balance-of-Plant integrity checks including, but not limited to, foundations, monopiles, jackets, inter-array, and export cables.

The ‘Arctos 1’ will enable real-time data transmission, including from multi-beam sonars and close-to-object imagery, directly to asset-owning clients and Tier 1 suppliers both domestically and internationally. Delivery of the REAV-60 is scheduled for July 2024, with demonstrations in the Baltic planned for later this year. This partnership marks a significant step forward in marine robotics and data services in the Baltic, promising enhanced efficiency and sustainability for the offshore industry and beyond.

HBC Group orders Saab’s Seaeye Cougar-XTi

HBC Group, a leading provider of offshore inspection services, has recently purchased Saab’s Seaeye Cougar-XTi, a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) known for its advanced capabilities.

Saab’s Seaeye Cougar-XTi were attractive to HBC out due to its carrying capacity, a crucial factor for HBC Group's operations. The Cougar-XTi is depth rated to 2000m, fitted with six 500 Volt, DC thrusters that provide thrust for stable vehicle operations in high current environments.

These features allow the transport of survey equipment that was previously too large for HBC Group’s existing ROVs, catering to the specific needs of clients, particularly those in offshore wind farms.

The versatility of the Cougar-XTi extends to carrying specialised tools for hydrographics and geophysical services. HBC Group utilises PMAC Group’s system for cathodic protection measurements, and the manipulator arms play a crucial role in non-destructive testing.

Exail, RTsys and ABYSSA join Forces

Exail, RTsys, and ABYSSA, announced a strategic partnership in the CARMA (Mineral resources mapping by AUVs swarms) project. Co-funded by Bpifrance under the #France2030 initiative and designed to advance knowledge of great depths, the CARMA project focuses on developing swarms of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for efficient ocean floor mapping. This project aims to develop an innovative solution for precise seabed surveying at great depths. The ongoing development involves creating a solution in which a multi-sensor underwater drone capable of diving to 3,000 meters will coordinate multiple AUVs to increase the surface of the exploration area. The research program also includes the development of advanced collaborative navigation, acoustic communications, positioning, and innovative mapping capabilities. CARMA supports the French authorities' strategy to develop extensive deep-sea exploration capacities.As part of this stra tegy, Exail will improve the capabilities of its deep-water AUV A18-D to serve as the leading AUV to guide the swarm. Improvements will enable navigation down to 3,000 meters, at close altitude from the seabed over sloped terrains, and to accurately geolocate swarm’s acquired data. RTsys will extend the capabilities of its newly developed AUV COMET-3000 to dive up to 3,000 meters. Multiple units will be provided to act as followers, along with the development of an innovative launch and recovery system for the AUV swarm. ABYSSA will focus on developing exploration strategies for deep-water swarms of AUVS. Additionally, ABYSSA will process the magnetic data collected to map the magnetic anomalies on the seabed. This project will result in the deployment of an operational demonstrator at sea in 2026, paving the way for future commercial phases. Concurrently, the project will carry out a preliminary study on extending exploration capacity to 6,000 meters depth.

NORBIT Acquires INNOMAR

NORBIT has acquired INNOMAR Technologie GmbH, a leader in parametric sub-bottom profilers. Based in Rostock, Germany, INNOMAR has nearly 30 years of experience and serves customers in over 80 countries. INNOMAR's parametric sub-bottom profilers provide high-resolution imaging of the seafloor and subsurface layers. They are used for sediment mapping (e.g., for the installation of offshore wind farms, dredging, and construction), geological surveys, and detecting buried objects like pipelines and archaeological artefacts. The operations of INNOMAR will continue in Rostock Germany under the INNOMAR brand as INNOMAR, a NORBIT Company.

Kraken Appoints COO, Marketing Director

Kraken Robotics announced that effective July 9, Nathaniel Spencer has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kraken. Spencer joined Kraken in August 2021 with the acquisition of PanGeo Subsea, where he was the Vice President of Service Delivery. For the last 18 months, Spencer has been the Managing Director of Kraken’s subsea power business, and he has more than 12 years in the marine sector, including founding a subsea inspection business that was sold to Oceaneering in 2016.

Kraken also announced that Erica Kierstead has joined as Director of Global Marketing. Based in Boston, Erica spent 2 years at MITRE in marketing and communications most recently focused on the AI and Bluetech sectors, and prior to that spent 9 years at Hydroid and then HII in marketing. With over 10 years of experience in ocean technology and the defense industries, Erica is a welcome addition to lead Kraken’s marketing efforts.

MacArtney, Elettra Work to Enhance Subsea Monitoring

MacArtney announced a partnership with Elettra Tlc to deliver critical subsea infrastructure for the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), enhancing its capacity for environmental monitoring and research. The scope of this collaboration involves installing and connecting a new subsea power, communication and data transmission network located 2,200m deep and 35km offshore from Catania, Italy, where INGV will strongly enforce its existing marine site as part of the ITINERIS project (Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System).

Elettra and MacArtney have joined forces to supply essential and dependable subsea infrastructure, ensuring high-quality performance and data efficiency for INGV's operations.

In this partnership, Elettra and MacArtney will handle different but complementary responsibilities.

Elettra will supply the main electro-optical submarine cable (MEOC). Their scope also includes ensuring robust connections and managing the installation and testing of the complete system at the operating site.

MacArtney will provide the cable termination assembly (CTA) and a customized cable termination frame (CTF) as integral components of an advanced subsea sensor platform. The CTF serves as both a distribution hub and connection point for the sensor platform, allowing for seamless integration of scientific instruments into the power network and efficient data transfer to and from the ground station, using hybrid ODI penetrators and ROV-mateable connectors. At the heart of this platform is the medium voltage conversion system (MVC) and PBOF transformer canister, which are essential for its smooth operation.

The scope also includes a power supply and control system, a remote management system for INGV's operational oversight and maintenance, and factory and site acceptance testing to check and verify compliance with the preapproved specifications.

Together, Elettra and MacArtney enhance INGV's capacity to monitor and study environmental processes in Southern Italy and Sicily, regions known for seismic and volcanic activities. As a key contributor to the ITINERIS project, INGV will be able to install new multidisciplinary submarine observatories (including oceanographic, geophysics, and seismic sensors) on the final slopes of the Etna volcano at a depth of more than 2,000 meters in the southern part of the Messina Strait.

Sonardyne Project with Shell, Petrobras and SENAI CIMATEC Advances

Sonardyne announced the next phase of the pioneering On Demand Ocean Bottom Node (OD OBN) development project in Brazil. The project, which began in 2018, involves a collaboration between industry partners including Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda, Petrobras and SENAI CIMATEC and is supported under the Research Development and Infrastructure funding clause of the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

These nodes might lead to the next generation of geophysical monitoring systems in the offshore oil and gas industry. Using Sonardyne’s optical and acoustic communications technologies, and drawing on its extensive experience of seabed monitoring, OD OBN expects to provide a versatile, lower cost, more resilient solution for time-lapse seismic and subsidence monitoring of producing reservoirs with better data and the capacity to be placed on the ocean floor for up to five years without human intervention.

The idea is that data from these nodes can be extracted using Sonardyne’s through water optical communications system to a nearby Autonomous Underwater Vehicle such as ‘Flatfish’ which was developed by Saipem and SENAI CIMATEC under another ANP funded program sponsored by Shell and Petrobras.

This latest phase was confirmed by the signing of contracts between SENAI CIMATEC and Petrobras in August 2023 and between Shell, SENAI CIMATEC, and Sonardyne in April 2024, to produce a pilot array of 600 prototype nodes expected to be deployed towards the end of 2025 at a preselected field offshore Brazil.

This pilot array is planned to be manufactured at a newly created pilot plant facility constructed by SENAI CIMATEC at CIMATEC PARK, in an industrial region called Camaçari, close to the city of Salvador in Brazil. The pilot plant has a design capacity to produce 600 nodes per year, featuring state of the art facilities including specialist parts machining and metals treatment, surface mount electronics production, a large and flexible manufacturing area and various environmental and functional testing apparatus, all of which are required to turn raw materials into completed nodes.

Shell and Petrobras have been trialling OD OBN prototypes during conventional OBN seismic campaigns, including at Sapinhoá and Itapu, in over 2,000 metres of water off the coast of Brazil.

FET to Supply Electric Obs-Class ROV for Ocean Research

Forum Energy Technologies (FET) won a contract from a major North American ocean research facility to supply an electric observation-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV), further reinforcing the organization’s commitment to exploring the deep sea.

The Mohican ROV system will be used to document sea floor communities and species of interest at various depths up to a rating of 2,000 meters. Anticipated areas of focus will include proposed and established marine protection areas as well as other biologically significant locations of interest in the marine environment on the continental shelf.

The ROV will be used to support ongoing research related to marine conservation targets in high currents and areas of steep bottom topography. The ROV is designed to carry a payload skid for navigation and sensors, as well as being capable of manipulation and intervention.

CSignum, ANB Sensors Target Water Quality Monitoring Innovation

CSignum announced its collaboration for wireless solutions for water quality monitoring, a collaboration that expands the reach of water quality monitoring solutions by interconnecting ANB's advanced sensor technology with CSignum's innovative EM-2 wireless communication platform. CSignum and ANB Sensors bring together high-precision sensors and battery powered, wireless communication to provide a comprehensive monitoring system capable of operating in the most challenging and difficult to reach environments.

ANB’s sensors provide precise measurements of key parameters such as pH, temperature, and conductivity. The CSignum EM-2 solution wirelessly transmits sensor data from beneath the water to the topside without the need for a permanently wired equipment installation on the riverbank or shore.

Echoexplore 4 aims to Simplify Hydroacoustic Data Management

Echoview Software released Echoexplore 4 a tool which aims to help catalogue large numbers of hydroacoustic files effortlessly. To do this, Echoexplore identifies compatible echosounder and sonar data files on a local computer or local network, extracts metadata, and then creates a spatial catalog that allows users to browse the data that has been located. Whether searching for specific hydroacoustic data sets, sorting and browsing through lists or maps, or filtering based on parameters like geographical position, date, time, hardware model, pulse duration, transmitted power and more, Echoexplore aims to help simplify hydroacoustic data file management.

Key highlights of Echoexplore 4 include: New file format support; Expanded licensing: File indexing; and Windows versions - Echoview 4 is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems.