AHayward

Successful Underwater Surveillance Test with Novacavi's Hybrid Cable

Novacavi recently supported the successful deep mine shaft test of Image Soft’s UNWAS – a special underwater surveillance system - with one of its special fibre optic cables. With its hybrid water-blocked configuration, this underwater cable solution acted as a strategic component of the specialised system designed for and used to detect and warn of any potential actions against sensitive critical infrastructure such as pipelines, subsea cables, ports and harbours. “We really appreciate the durable construction and high quality of the Novacavi’s cable, which allowed our divers to take the sensor really deep, into a water-filled mine shaft that was full of sharp corners for some special testing” said Tuomas Pöyry, Vice President for Image Soft.

Since 1975 Novacavi has specialised in the design and manufacture of special electric cables used in the most varied and extreme conditions in both civil and military environments. The company has been active in the underwater sector for almost 30 years, producing technologically advanced solutions identified by its Aquancable® line, special cables for marine and underwater technologies.

Image Soft Oy is a Helsinki, Finland-based technology company that delivers passive underwater surveillance systems to the defence market.

by AHayward

Innovatum Acquire Majority Stake in Suffolk Survey & Subsea Services (S4)

Two Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk based companies within the offshore energy and marine survey & subsea inspection services sectors, have joined forces.

Innovatum based in Ingham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk have acquired a majority stake in Suffolk Survey & Subsea Services (S4) based in Risby, Bury St Edmunds.

This strategic acquisition allows both companies to continue operating providing their core services to existing and new clients, but also in the provision of combined turnkey marine survey (multibeam, geophysical, pUXO), positioning and inspection ROV (subsea cable, pipeline & structures) services, with full delivery.

Provision of ROV, Survey & Inspection services is targeted primarily within both companies’ significant specialisms, experience and track record of the nearshore environment from intertidal zone/ shallow water to 25-30m water depths, but also for offshore scopes up to 50m water depths.

Combined services can be provided to client vessel options or fuller turnkey solutions will be considered via the below.

Existing key collaborative partnerships with fit for purpose vessel, UAV, geotechnical, benthic, equipment rental and processing companies allow for greater magnitude turnkey solutions and operations to be fulfilled.

Innovatum and S4 combined direct experienced/ competent personnel resources for ROV, survey and subsea inspection as well as reputable recruitment company collaborations allow for balanced/ experienced nearshore/ offshore and management teams to be provided.

The S4 name will remain but operate as an Innovatum Group Company from the mother company’s Ingham offices/ headquarters.

S4 will primarily continue to provide existing and new clients its model for marine survey operational services and processing/ final delivery but reduce many of its historical management consultancy support activities as a result of the acquisition and strategic focuses. However, S4’s provision of modular training & personal development, feed & desk study, cable route engineering and data processing/ data analysis & reporting services, will continue.

Robert Nunn, Managing Director of Innovatum commented “The Acquisition of S4 was a good fit to expand the services and expertise that Innovatum can offer our clients. I am pleased to welcome Arron into the Innovatum fold having worked on several projects over the years; Arron’s survey and inspection knowledge will allow Innovatum to offer a turnkey solution to clients in the nearshore zone.”

Arron Burrows, Director of S4, commented “Having known Rob for nearly 15years, worked collaboratively on several S4 and previous company’s projects (cable/ pipe tracking & subsea inspection), likeminded management ethos, approaches & processes as well as both being Bury St Edmunds based companies, made this conversation and outcome a formality.
Combining S4 considerable survey & ROV inspection experience to provide greater Innovatum ROV fleet utilisation with a focus on the challenging nearshore zone, allows us to offer an exciting new turnkey option and solution to the UK and NW European marketplace.”

Innovatum have over 30 years' experience in the business of submarine cable and pipeline surveyance. Innovatum develop a number of in-house products which have been designed and manufactured from there Bury St Edmunds premises.

• Smartrak
• Cable Magnetising
• Smartsearch
• Tone Generator

These products support the offshore industries complete lifecycle of submarine cables and pipelines and are generally used for their location, tracking and survey.

The company also owns and operates a fleet (5 of) of all electric Saab Seaeye ROV’s (Remotely Operated Vehicles) for subsea survey, cable/ pipeline tracking and inspection – comprising 3 x free swimming Falcons and 2 x free swimming Cougar Compacts along with the above Smartrak/ Smartsearch systems (as well as TSS 660 options) and a range of Innovatum owned subsea payload sensors, dredge pumps, DVR suites and subsea/ topside survey & positioning & integrated PC/ communications systems.

Home - Innovatum

Suffolk Survey and Subsea Services (S4) have nearly 6 years of track record providing management consultancy services & solutions to the marine survey/ geoscience and offshore energy sectors.

Home - Suffolk Survey and Subsea Services

by AHayward

Impact Subsea Partners with Ashtead Technology Singapore to Enhance Access to Underwater Sensor Solutions

Impact Subsea, a leading provider of high-performance, underwater sensor solutions, has announced a distributor agreement with Ashtead Technology Singapore. This collaboration will broaden access to Impact Subsea's innovative sensor technology for ROV and AUV applications within the region.

This agreement builds upon the existing relationship between the two companies, following Ashtead Technology's acquisition of Seatronics last year. It leverages Ashtead Technology Singapore's established presence, market expertise and comprehensive service offerings to provide customers with another avenue to access Impact Subsea's cutting-edge sensors.

Impact Subsea develops cutting-edge subsea sensors and systems, including sonar, altimeters, depth/temperature, AHRS and a Flooded Member Detection System. Their solutions are compact, reliable and used on ROVs, AUVs and in various underwater applications. Their technology is widely used in inspection, survey and monitoring applications across various industries, including offshore energy, oceanographic research, and subsea construction.

Through this distributor agreement, Impact Subsea's range of sensor solutions will be available for purchase and rental through Ashtead Technology Singapore. This partnership provides customers in the region with increased flexibility and choice when sourcing advanced underwater technology.

Ben Grant, Managing Director of Impact Subsea commented:

"Collaborating with Ashtead Technology Singapore is an important step in expanding the reach of our advanced sensor technology. Their established presence and reputation in the local subsea market, combined with their commitment to customer service, makes them a valuable partner. This agreement provides sensor users with another convenient way to access our high-performance sensors and benefit from their expertise."

Artur Gaylin, Regional General Manager, Ashtead Technology Singapore added:

"We are pleased to partner with Impact Subsea and offer their innovative sensor solutions to our customers in Singapore. Their technology complements our existing portfolio, further enhancing our ability to provide a comprehensive range of high-quality equipment for subsea projects. We look forward to working with Impact Subsea and supporting our customers with these advanced solutions."

by AHayward

GeoAcoustics Ltd strengthens presence in Southeast Asia with new channel partnership in Singapore

Great Yarmouth, UK: Leading hydroacoustic technology manufacturer GeoAcoustics Ltd has appointed Oceanscan Singapore, a division of the UK-based Oceanscan Group, as its new channel partner for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The partnership boosts GeoAcoustics' regional presence and ensures that customers in these key maritime markets receive dedicated support and access to its industry-leading bathymetric sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and side scan sonar products.

As part of Oceanscan Group, Oceanscan Singapore brings extensive experience in subsea technology and survey equipment provision. With established operations in Singapore, Oceanscan will focus on integrating GeoAcoustics' subsea products in its extensive service and product portfolio for the region, reinforcing its commitment to supporting hydrographic and geophysical survey professionals in Southeast Asia.

With this agreement, GeoAcoustics' technology will be more accessible to marine survey companies, scientific institutions, and offshore operators across the four countries in focus. Oceanscan’s regional expertise will enable enhanced sales, support, and service, ensuring customers benefit from cutting-edge solutions for bathymetry, sub-bottom profiling, and high-resolution underwater imaging.

“We are thrilled to partner with GeoAcoustics through this channel partner agreement," said Sathish Kumar Selvaraj, Regional Director, Oceanscan Singapore. “This partnership represents a significant step in expanding our reach and delivering top-tier solutions to our customers. By joining forces with such an innovative and reputable company, we can offer enhanced value and strengthen our position in the market. We look forward to the shared success and continued growth that this collaboration will bring”

The collaboration aligns with GeoAcoustics' global strategy of working with expert local partners to ensure that its hydroacoustic solutions are supported by specialists who understand regional industry needs. Continued international growth and presence, and commitment to delivering high-quality hydroacoustic solutions to customers worldwide is a key reason GeoAcoustics was honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2023.

"With a strong presence in Singapore and extensive experience across the region, Oceanscan is the ideal partner to support our continued growth in Southeast Asia," said Richard Dowdeswell, Chief Commercial Officer, GeoAcoustics Ltd. "Our advanced hydroacoustic systems are proven in diverse marine environments worldwide, and this partnership ensures that customers in these markets benefit from ease of access with dedicated local expertise and support."

As a trusted provider of hydroacoustic technology for offshore energy, marine research, and hydrographic surveying, GeoAcoustics’ product portfolio includes the AI-powered GeoSwath 4 bathymetric sonar, GeoPulse sub-bottom profiler, and Pulsar side scan sonar. All are designed to deliver accurate data in challenging environments, supporting applications ranging from seabed mapping to subsea infrastructure inspections.

by AHayward

NOC awarded more than £11 million to enhance climate tipping point early warning systems

Scientists at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are to lead critical research into forecasting a major climate tipping point – the potential collapse of the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre.

Through more than £11 million in funding, from the UK’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), NOC will lead the development of novel and innovative new ways to detect early warning signs of a change in the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre.

Sitting just south of Greenland and Iceland, the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is a key component of the global ocean’s circulation system, transporting heat around the planet, helping to regulate temperatures in Europe and North America.

Its collapse could have a major global impact on our weather, food and security, but existing climate models and ocean observations are too limited to accurately forecast a tipping point which could signal its collapse.

The funding, part of ARIA’s, five-year, £81 m Forecasting Tipping Points programme covers eight projects, three of which are being led by NOC’s world-leading scientists and worth more than £7 million.

One is an ambitious project exploring the use of novel earth observation platforms, such as airships or high-altitude pseudo-satellites, while a second will unlock the potential of existing international undersea communications cables to become a vast sensor network, starting in the North Atlantic.

The third project will use artificial intelligence (AI) and models to push the limits of existing ocean observations and to transform our ability to detect the early warning signs of Subpolar Gyre collapse, including identifying gaps and uncertainty in data.

NOC is supporting a further five Subpolar Gyre focused projects, led by other organisations and institutes, with more than £4 million funding.

NOC Chief Scientist Professor Penny Holliday says, "This transformative funding from ARIA comes at a critical moment for ocean and climate science, helping to fulfil an urgent need to address gaps in our understanding of Subpolar North Atlantic tipping points.

“NOC will be at the forefront of this ambitious programme developing pioneering innovative approaches—from AI-driven modelling to revolutionary ocean observation technologies—to bridge those knowledge gaps.

“By harnessing our world-leading science and pioneering technology, we will lead and collaborate on multiple projects to enhance our ability to detect early warning signs and better understand the future of our changing ocean."

The NOC-led projects, which are subject to final contract negotiation, are Full Ocean Fibre, Aerial Experimental Remote sensing of Ocean Salinity, heaT, Advection and Thermohaline Shifts (AEROSTATS) and Subpolar gyre Observations, models and artificial intelligence to Resolve Tipping points and provide Early warning Detection (SORTED).

Full Ocean Fibre, with partner National Physical Laboratory, will target the use of undersea cables used for telecommunications and forming the backbone of the internet to seafloor sensors across thousands of kilometres.

“Full Ocean Fibre will develop the acoustic and fingerprinting techniques needed to identify ocean processes and provide an unprecedented view of the deep North Atlantic from existing cables,” says project lead Dr Carl Spingys. “This project sets the scene for a next-generation ocean and climate observing network enabled by the global network of subsea cables.”

AEROSTATS is an ambitious airborne earth observation project focused on observing fine-scale interactions between air, ocean and ice in the Greenland sea ice margins. This will include exploring the use of airborne platforms such as airships or high-altitude pseudo-satellites to create cost-effective, long-term monitoring capabilities, with partners NOVELTIS, Radarmetrics and Pixalytics.

“This is a truly bold airborne earth observation project,” says project lead Professor Christine Gommenginger. “Our vision is cost-effective, long-term monitoring capabilities that support early warning of a potential Subpolar Gyre shutdown. With partners across diverse sectors, we’re a cross-disciplinary group bridging technology, climate science and a commitment to tackling climate challenges through innovation.”

SORTED will transform the ability to detect and monitor the early warning signs of Subpolar Gyre collapse by pushing the spatiotemporal capabilities of existing observational records using a novel combination of AI and tipping point knowledge from models. It will also identify critical gaps and uncertainties in ocean datasets and make recommendations on the observations still needed to build robust early warning systems for a potential Subpolar Gyre collapse, with partners University of Southampton and University of Bordeaux.

“Circulation in the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre is thought to be moving towards a collapse but, climate models and ocean observations are too limited to accurately forecast these tipping points,” says Dr Alejandra Sanchez-Franks. “We will be using a novel combination of AI and tipping point knowledge from models to push the spatiotemporal limitations of existing observational records and to underpin the robust early warning systems needed for a potential Subpolar Gyre collapse.”

Scientists from NOC are also involved in five further projects, also focusing on the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre. These are POLEMIX, led by the University of Southampton, TIMBER, led by the University of East Anglia, PROMOTE, led by the University of Reading, VERIFY, led by the University of Leeds and GRAIL, led by British Antarctic Survey.

These projects cover a wide range of innovation and collaboration, from a new proof-of-concept observing system using autonomous profiling floats to predicting tipping points in marine ecosystems and their consequences and opportunities for the UK, especially for the fishing industry.

They will also involve improving earth system models, creating digital twins to test early warning systems and using robotics to gather data in Antarctic regions.

by AHayward

Exail integrates Elwave’s electromagnetic sensing technology into R7 ROVs

Exail has selected Elwave’s advanced electromagnetic sensing technology to equip its R7 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for an undisclosed client. As part of this collaboration, Exail will integrate Elwave’s Tetrapulse sensors—powered by the innovative CEDAR (Controlled Electric Detection And Ranging) technology—into multiple R7 ROVs.

Enhanced target detection with electromagnetic sensing

This next-generation biomimicry sensing capability offers significant advantages in subaquatic electrical resistivity mapping. “In the context of target identification and neutralization missions, the integration of CEDAR technology enables superior operational performance in challenging environments, including turbid waters”, explained Gary Bagot, Sales Director at Elwave. The R7 ROVs equipped with Elwave‘s Tetrapulse sensors will improve the detection, localization, and characterization of both metallic and non-metallic underwater and buried targets, including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass composites.

The R7 ROV: A compact and versatile solution for underwater operations

Combining the agility of a mini-ROV with the capabilities of an observation-class system, the R7’s modular design supports a range of sensors, tools, and payloads. This versatility makes it particularly well-suited for underwater security missions, including hazardous terrain navigation, UXO detection, and disposal operations.

“By integrating CEDAR technology into the R7 ROV, Exail and Elwave are delivering an advanced solution that strengthens operational effectiveness for underwater exploration, defense, and security applications” said Nicolas Astruc, ROV Managing Director at Exail. “This collaboration combines Exail’s expertise in maritime robotics with Elwave’s electromagnetic sensing technology to provide customers with a unique and powerful tool for operations in complex environments”.

by AHayward

Kongsberg Maritime develops innovative Mooring Capable Solution for Offshore Construction Vessels

Kongsberg Maritime has developed an innovative mooring capable solution for Offshore Construction Vessels (OSCVs), expanding the capabilities of OSCVs beyond their current scope to include the pre-lay of mooring lines as a natural extension to original suction anchor capabilities.

By integrating a purpose designed anchor handling winch, shark jaws and stern rollers into the design of OSCVs at the newbuild stage, vessel owners can now equip their ships to perform a broader range of mooring operations. This advancement allows OSCVs to handle more tasks independently, filling the shortage of vessels capable of large-scale mooring installations.

Key Benefits of the Mooring Capable Solution:

•Enhanced Operational Window: The new system allows OSCVs to carry out a larger portion of mooring operations, extending their operational window and reducing the need for additional vessels at the field.

•Cost Efficiency: By expanding the operational capabilities of OSCVs, significant synergies can be achieved for the field developer.

•Safety and Efficiency: The addition of winches and stern rollers enables safer and more efficient over-stern deployment of mooring lines, a method commonly used by AHTS vessels.

•Flexible Installation Options: The winch can either be permanently installed or portable and loaded on board only when needed. The shark jaws and stern rollers are permanently fitted to the ship.

•Versatile Equipment: The subsea crane, a common feature of OSCVs, can lift and install suction piles, as well as hold the load of mooring chain. The winch package includes one drum for work wire and two cable lifters for handling chain. In combination with superior DP capabilities and a large deck area that makes for an efficient installation vessel.

With regards to field development and mooring installation, OSCVs are currently limited to setting large suction piles or driven piles into the seabed using onboard cranes and ROVs, without requiring additional vessel equipment. While some mooring lines can be installed using ad hoc methods, the new solution from Kongsberg Maritime means that OSCVs can perform these tasks safer and more efficiently.

Runar Hjele, Sales Director, Offshore Construction & Support Kongsberg Maritime, said: "There will be a lack of vessels with subsea crane and sufficient deck area suited to support the planned high volume of both large anchors and mooring lines in the years to come. With the addition of this system, OSCVs become a more attractive and efficient solution, especially when there is a shortage of specialised mooring installation vessels.

“The Kongsberg proposed adjustments to construction vessel newbuilds will position them to take on a larger portion of mooring line installations. These vessels have synergies with other field development activities, so the message to owners is why not make your construction vessels Mooring Installation Capable?”

With the new space-saving Kongsberg Maritime system, OSCVs are prepared for the installation of anchors and pre-lay of mooring lines (both chain and fibre rope) without compromising on their construction capabilities.

by AHayward

Teledyne Marine Signs a Framework Agreement with Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV)

Teledyne Gavia ehf. is pleased to announce the signature of a multi-year Framework Agreement for the delivery and support of GAVIA Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) for the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF). The Gavia vehicles will be dedicated to Mine Counter Measures (MCM) applications.

The award of the Framework Agreement follows an international open tender last year with FMV selecting the GAVIA AUV with the highest meritorious score against their technical requirements.

Teledyne Gavia ehf offered its GAVIA AUV fitted with an EdgeTech 2205 side scan sonar and a Teledyne Flir Blackfly-S camera. Thanks to the GAVIA’s AUVs modularity, the Swedish Navy will also be able to add other payloads such as synthetic aperture sonar, magnetometers, or multibeams as mission requirements evolve.

The Framework Agreement will run over several years and has the option for extensions.

The long-term in-country support will be provided by Teledyne Flir AB in Sweden.

“The Portable MCM AUV will be operated from various platforms to allow rapid mapping of the seabed and detection of various objects of interest.” says Johan Björck, Strategic Buyer at FMV.

“We are honored to count Sweden as a new user of the GAVIA AUV which is already in service for various applications with nine NATO navies.” Stated Valentin Hanns, Senior Director of Sales – Marine Vehicles, EMEA.

by AHayward