EIVA announces Christian Thomsen as new CEO
Maritime survey software and equipment manufacturer, EIVA, part of Covelya Group, is delighted to announce the appointment of Christian Thomsen as its new Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive search process. Christian replaces Flemming Hjorth who took over as Acting CEO of EIVA when former CEO Jeppe Nielsen stepped down for medical reasons in 2022.
Christian joins EIVA after seven years with logistics solution provider, Lyngsoe Systems where he was Senior Vice President. Christian is a business leader with an excellent track record, working in multiple technology companies across a range of market sectors, focused on delivering sustainable growth without losing sight of customer and employee satisfaction.
EIVA Chairman, and CEO of parent company Covelya Group, Stephen Fasham says: “It’s great to welcome Christian to the team as our new CEO. Christian is a dynamic, values driven leader who comes to us with a great range of experiences. He brings strategic acumen and proven operational effectiveness with a warmth that I’m confident our customers and team will appreciate. The board of EIVA and the wider management team across Covelya are looking forward to working with Christian to create extraordinary value for all our stakeholders.”
Stephen continues: “I’d also like to thank Flemming for stepping forward to lead EIVA through a difficult time when Jeppe unexpectedly left us last year. Thanks to his dedication, ably supported by the EIVA management team, the business has continued to be successful and is in a good position to kick-on under Christian’s leadership.”
Commenting on his new role, Christian explains: “EIVA has an amazing past story and a great future - I’m excited to have been appointed to lead the company on the next leg of its voyage. With the support of Covelya Group, I will continue to build the core business and take advantage of working in collaboration with the other Covelya companies to do more for and with our great customers and partners.”
Introducing ECHOGRAM: Bringing underwater imaging to the ISA500 Altimeter & Echosounder
Impact Subsea, a leading provider of underwater sensors, has announced the addition of a new feature to their ISA500 range of Altimeter & Echosounders – ECHOGRAM.
This new feature adds a full backscatter capability to the ISA500, enabling the underwater Altimeter to be upgraded to have a full single beam imaging sonar capability.
Underwater Altimeters typically provide only a single range reading per ping. However, with the addition of ECHOGRAM, the water column and seabed can be fully visualized, allowing for visual identification of targets. This provides up to 2,000 samples per ping, with each sample representing the correlation level of acoustic signal return at its particular point in the range.
The ISA500 is available in Titanium or Acetal and can be used at depths ranging from 1,000m to 11,000m. It is also optionally available with or without an integrated AHRS providing Heading, Pitch, and Roll. Additionally, it is available for use as part of a Flooded Member Detection System.
Ben Grant, Managing Director of Impact Subsea Ltd, said;
“Since the launch of the ISA500 in 2015, we have continued to add capabilities and features to this range of sensors. The addition of backscatter capability is one which we are very excited about. As a firmware update, all ISA500 sensors can have this feature enabled - even the very first sensors produced back in 2015.”
The ECHOGRAM capability can be added to all ISA500 Altimeters through a firmware and software upgrade, complete with a one-time activation license.
Discovery Camera and REVOLUTION ROV: Canadian integration triumph
Two Canadian underwater technology powerhouses, Voyis and Deep Trekker, have joined forces to achieve an exceptional integration: the successful fusion of Voyis' cutting-edge Discovery camera with Deep Trekker's REVOLUTION ROV (Remote Operating Vehicle). This landmark collaboration showcases the prowess of Canadian innovation and ingenuity, propelling the field of underwater surveys and inspections into an unprecedented era of advancement.
Deep Trekker's REVOLUTION ROV stands as a testament to Canadian engineering excellence. This robust underwater vehicle, designed to conquer the most unforgiving aquatic conditions, boasts unparalleled stability and maneuverability. With a unique rotating head facilitating optimal positioning of attachments such as imaging sonar and grabbers, the REVOLUTION ROV is poised to excel across a spectrum of tasks. Capable of descending to depths of up to 305 meters, the ROV employs six powerful thrusters for precise control in both vertical and lateral movements, even in challenging currents. This adaptable thruster configuration not only ensures stability but also fine-tuned adjustments during inspections and surveys. Its rugged construction, featuring a carbon fiber shell, anodized aluminum, stainless steel body, and sapphire lens cover, underscores its durability and reliability.
Voyis' Discovery Cameras, enhanced by the Nova Mini Lights, bring a new dimension to underwater exploration. These cutting-edge cameras capture 4K video with minimal latency while simultaneously generating high-resolution still images and IMU data. The resulting assets can be processed through edge computing to produce intricate 3D models. These capabilities find applications in intelligent ROV piloting and comprehensive inspections. The cameras produce clear stills suitable for advanced machine vision and 3D modeling, complemented by real-time image enhancement, an ultra-wide field of view (130°x130°), and distortion correction for comprehensive situational awareness. Designed with compactness in mind and incorporating integrated lights, along with DDS data architecture and ROS2 support, the cameras streamline vehicle integration, particularly for autonomy-driven applications.
A New Era in Underwater Exploration
The collaboration between Voyis and Deep Trekker was tested and proven successful during trials in Tobermory, Ontario. Both teams worked together to achieve this success and test the ROV capabilities for piloting and inspection, with the Discovery Camera.
By seamlessly integrating the Discovery Camera with the REVOLUTION ROV, professionals gain access to a suite of unparalleled tools for underwater surveys, inspections, and explorations. The amalgamation of the REVOLUTION ROV's ruggedness and maneuverability with the Discovery Camera's imaging precision and increased situational awareness opens new horizons for industries spanning marine research, aquaculture, defense and security, infrastructure inspection, and offshore energy asset inspection.
"We are excited to achieve this successful integration with Deep Trekker's REVOLUTION ROV, representing a significant stride in Canadian technology collaboration," said Chris Gilson, CEO at Voyis. "Together, we are pushing the limits of imaging technology and creating solutions that empower professionals to navigate and explore the underwater world with unmatched clarity."
Sam Macdonald, Managing Director at Deep Trekker, echoed this sentiment: "The seamless integration of Voyis' Discovery camera with our REVOLUTION ROV signifies a new chapter in underwater exploration. This harmonious blend of leading-edge technologies will reshape how professionals navigate and inspect underwater environments."
The combined efforts of Voyis and Deep Trekker herald a new era in underwater exploration and inspection, reflecting the excellence of Canadian innovation. With the successful integration of the Discovery Camera and REVOLUTION ROV, professionals can anticipate elevated capabilities, heightened precision, and transformative insights that will redefine industries dependent on precise underwater data.
Sonardyne appoint Aquatic Sensors as resellers in expanding US market
Sonardyne Inc are delighted to announce the appointment of Aquatic Sensors as resellers as part of their growth in the US marine technology market.
Making the announcement whilst exhibiting at OCEANS 2023 in Mississippi, Sonardyne welcomed Aquatic Sensors as their latest US resellers.
Having worked with Sonardyne sister company Chelsea Technologies for over 20 years, Aquatic Sensors bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience of the environmental water monitoring community across the USA and Canada. Their initial focus will be on the Origin 600 and providing the latest intelligent ADCP technology to the North American market.
Commenting on the appointment, Sonardyne Inc Vice President Simon Reeves said “We’re thrilled to welcome Aquatic Sensors onboard as our North American resellers. Having worked with Chelsea Technologies for so many years, their knowledge of the industry is second to none, as is their experience of the North American market. We are confident that they will provide our customers with the best possible support and service.”
“Aquatic Sensors is excited to partner with Sonardyne and to offer their cutting-edge environmental monitoring technologies to our customers in the USA and Canada. Having partnered with their sister company, Chelsea Technologies, over the past twenty years; we have had a strong awareness and appreciation of the level of quality that Sonardyne brings to the industry. From next-generation ADCPs and acoustic releases, to high-quality USBLs and DVLs, we are excited to assist our marine, coastal, and freshwater customers in new and innovative ways.” – Andrea Zappe. Sales and Marketing Director - Aquatic Sensors.
OTAQ announce directorate change
OTAQ, the innovative technology company targeting the aquaculture, geotracking and offshore markets, announces that George Watt has stepped down from his position as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee as of 20 September 2023.
George has made a significant contribution to the Company since joining the Board in March 2020, upon admission to the London Stock Exchange. The Board thanks George for his commitment to the Company’s development.
Adam Reynolds, Non-Executive Chairman, commented: “I would like to thank George for all of his work and contribution to OTAQ during his three years on the Board. He has been a highly valued member of our team and I know that all here at OTAQ will wish him well with his future endeavours.”
Ocean Census engages UNEP-WCMC data expertise in groundbreaking ocean discovery initiative
In a significant move to reveal the mysteries of the deep, Ocean Census is joining forces with the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). This strategic alliance will merge UNEP-WCMC's unparalleled data expertise with Ocean Census's ambitious scientific, exploration and conservation goals.
Launched by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton in April 2023, Ocean Census has set an ambitious target to discover 100,000 new marine species in the next decade. Through its global partner network, the initiative will generate open-access data for scientists, governments, decision-makers and the general public, fostering a collective understanding of marine biodiversity and promoting its sustainable and equitable conservation.
Although it’s estimated that between 1-2 million species inhabit our ocean, little more than 10-25% have been documented. Ocean Census is collaborating with partners from various sectors to bridge this knowledge gap. By leveraging state-of-the-art technologies such as DNA sequencing, high-resolution imaging and machine learning, the initiative will conduct a series of global expeditions to discover ocean life and gather new insights on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. A growing network of international taxonomists will then classify and describe these discoveries.
Ocean Census has already undertaken two pioneering expeditions with partners in the Barents Sea and in Johnston Atoll, Pacific Ocean and will soon embark on two major flagship expeditions, the first of dozens being planned.
UNEP-WCMC, a global leader in biodiversity knowledge, will support the management of the huge amount of data that will be generated during these expeditions, assisting in the development of a cloud-based system to store this knowledge.
Doing so provides a wealth of information to scientists, policymakers, the private sector and civil society. This work will draw from and contribute to ongoing efforts to document life in the ocean, in order to inspire philanthropists, governments, policymakers, businesses, scientists, the media and civil society, and encourage much-needed action to preserve and protect this fragile habitat.
Rowana Walton, Programme Officer in UNEP-WCMC’s Nature Restored team, emphasises “Our ocean is fundamental to life on Earth, yet the life it contains is being impacted and lost at an alarming rate. We need to act quickly to safeguard the wonders of the ocean for future generations, but we cannot protect what we don’t know exists. This project will significantly advance our understanding of ocean species such as sponges, which are relatively understudied despite the important role they play structuring habitats in shallow and deep waters.”
Ocean Census, with its diverse array of partners including scientific institutions, government entities, and media outlets, epitomises collaborative effort. The Nippon Foundation of Japan, a private, non-profit foundation for social innovation, and marine research charity Nekton, a UK-based marine science and conservation institute, are coordinating partner activities along with funding and managing the Ocean Census Science Network, species discovery, expeditions, and public and policy engagement activities.
Oliver Steeds, OBE, Director of Ocean Census, adds ‘‘Collaborating hand-in-hand with UNEP-WCMC underscores our commitment to establishing an openly accessible and equitable data system at the heart of Ocean Census. Together, we're not just exploring the ocean; we're ensuring that every discovery, every data point, can help inform the protection and sustainable governance of ocean life for generations to come.”
Charity PADI Aware Foundation, education agency Encounter Edu, and the Oceanographic Magazine are involved in the communication of the project, while institutions such as Wellcome Sanger Institute, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, World Register of Marine Species, Monaco Explorations, Minderoo Foundation and the Ocean Exploration Trust are among the scientific research and expedition partners.
Kraken Robotics announces management update
Kraken Robotics Inc. announces that Ms. Lynne Adu will take over leadership of Kraken’s Services business, expanding her current role as Vice President Commercial at Kraken. In 2018, Ms. Adu joined PanGeo Subsea (acquired by Kraken in 2021) as General Manager and VP Commercial. Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, Ms. Adu has an MBA and more than 25 years of experience in a variety of management roles in offshore oil and gas and offshore services. Kraken is also announcing the retirement of Moya Cahill, previously Kraken’s EVP of Services as well as co-founder of PanGeo Subsea. Moya has made significant contributions to the Kraken organization, the least of which was building a strong base of upcoming leaders within our Services group.
Greg Reid, President & Chief Executive Officer, stated "I would like to express my gratitude to Moya for her significant contribution to Kraken’s Services business and the Company overall. We sincerely thank Moya for her countless contributions and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. As part of that team, we welcome Lynne into her new role and look forward to the strong leadership for our Services group as we continue to grow our capabilities. Lynne brings significant experience and diligence working in the marine technology sector which we anticipate will bring meaningful benefits to Kraken.”
Kraken has continued to add depth to the organization in 2023 across many areas including engineering, project management, business development, HSSE, and production. As a global leader in the marine technology sector, Kraken has been attracting talent worldwide from notable companies and organizations such as Ultra Defense, Cenovus Energy, ExxonMobil, Mind Technologies, Royal Canadian Navy, Turkish Navy, and Technip.
As the market for naval defense technologies is seeing strong secular growth, Kraken has been building increased depth in our Business Development and Sales teams. Below we highlight several changes:
- Commander Peter Kirkegaard will be migrating to Kraken’s sales team as Subject Matter Expert in Seabed Warfare, after the past 3 years supporting Kraken’s successful delivery of the Royal Danish Navy’s Towed Sonar Upgrade program. Based in Copenhagen, Mr. Kirkegaard oversaw the integration and testing of Kraken’s KATFISH High Speed Towed SAS and Autonomous Launch and Recovery System (ALARS) to the RDN’s optionally manned MSF-class remote minehunting vessels. These vessels will now be used for MCM and Subsea Infrastructure inspection. Prior to joining Kraken in 2020 as Customer Relationship Management, Mr. Kirkegaard had 20 years of service in the Royal Danish Navy, including as Commanding Officer of the MSF class.
- Commander Roland Leyte recently joined Kraken after 35 years of distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Navy. His various roles included Director of Diving Safety and four years as Commanding Officer (CO) of Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic in Halifax. FDU Atlantic is a 110 member operational unit that conducts worldwide operations in both diving and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). Mr. Leyte joins Kraken as Customer Success Manager in charge of supporting the successful delivery and operations of the Kraken Remote Minehunting and Disposal System (RMDS) contract with the Royal Canadian Navy. The $50 million RMDS contract was signed at the end of 2022.
- Captain Cem Hasanoğlu has joined Kraken’s sales team as a Senior MCM Specialist, after 25 years of distinguished service in the Turkish Navy. His various roles included Commodore of the Mine Hunting Ships Flotilla, Commander of Mine Warfare Support Centre, Defence Attache to Norway, Chief of Staff both at Turkish Mine Group Command and Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group-1 (SNMCMG-1). Cem brings a wealth of operational MCM experience to the Kraken sales team, is based in the Middle East, and will be focused on European and NATO markets.
- Mr. Dennis Hogan has joined the US Sales Team and based out of the Boston office. Before joining Kraken, Mr. Hogan served as the Commercial Sales Manager – North America for Klein Marine Systems from 2019 to 2023. Specifically, he handled sonar sales and account management for commercial, defense, and law enforcement clients. Prior to that position, Mr. Hogan had held positions in product management, marketing, and technical sales for marine electronics manufacturers Navico and Raymarine. Hogan has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Rivier University and is a United States Coast Guard veteran; having served tours on an 82-foot patrol boat and the USCGC Eagle.
Full navigation capabilities for small subsea vehicles with integrated INS on Nucleus1000
The Nucleus1000 navigation sensor suite from Nortek is now available with full INS (inertial navigation system) capabilities, enabling absolute position outputs obtained using the Nucleus’s on-board inertial and acoustic sensor package.
Equipping the sensor package with a full INS enables true navigation (latitude/longitude or X/Y output) for small AUVs, ROVs and USVs.
With these new capabilities, people working in the subsea industry now have access to the most compact, most affordable and most accurate complete inertial/acoustic navigation system of its class available on the market.
In addition to a dedicated INS data stream, the Nucleus software can show a vehicle’s location in real time on a map using inputs from its sensors and Nortek’s navigation algorithms.
A preconfigured, pre-synchronized navigation package
Users can now add a convenient source of basic positioning to their vehicle without substantial time, cost and payload demands. The Nucleus only needs to be provided with a GPS position to begin navigating using absolute positioning.
Providing earth-referenced position to a vehicle control system means that users who need to know where they are, where they’ve been and where they’re going now have a preconfigured, pre-synchronized navigation package.
Prior to this, users would have to fuse data from multiple different sensors to obtain a reliable position output, either through their own software or additional third-party packages.
A compact, affordable and accurate inertial/acoustic navigation system from Nortek
With a heading sensor that measures relative to magnetic north, as well as integrated pressure and temperature sensors, the Nucleus with INS introduces the most compact, most affordable and most accurate complete inertial/acoustic navigation system of its class available on the market.
Fugro supports coastal resilience in Florida with new seafloor mapping contract
Fugro has been selected by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to map the Atlantic coastal waters of Florida, spanning from Georgia to Miami. The contract was awarded as part of FDEP’s Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative (FSMI), a multiyear programme to bolster coastal resilience in the state. Geo-data developed under the FSMI will help inform critical climate adaptation strategies, including infrastructure development and maintenance, habitat mapping, environmental restoration, emergency response, coastal hazard studies and more.
While the FSMI will eventually require a mix of airborne and vessel-based mapping methodologies, Fugro’s current task order is focused on bathymetry using airborne lidar technology. Data acquisition for the project is underway and will continue through autumn using the company’s Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping System (RAMMS). The compact and lightweight system is unique in its ability to meet international accuracy and quality standards while reducing carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to legacy airborne lidar bathymetry systems.
Céline Gerson, Fugro’s Group Director in the Americas and President of Fugro USA, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We understand the importance of seafloor mapping to Florida’s future and are well prepared to deliver on the state’s pressing Geo data needs. As a leader in coastal resilience solutions, we offer FDEP not only cutting-edge technology, but also robust capacity and demonstrated experience to ensure any task order assigned to us will be completed safely, efficiently and sustainably.”
Seabed 2030 and SEABER announce new partnership advancing ocean exploration
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has entered into a new partnership with SEABER, a French-based company that designs and manufactures autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for research and commercial oceanographic applications. The two parties will work together in support of the global effort to achieve a complete map of the entire ocean floor.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030 and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map – it is also a formally endorsed Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint programme of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Established in 2020, SEABER is the sole European company entirely dedicated to micro-AUVs capable of navigating depths of up to 300 metres and operating autonomously for eight to ten hours. The YUCO micro-AUV is designed for extensive use across the entire continental shelf and is equipped to carry various scientific instruments. Thanks to its accessibility, user-friendly interface, and an affordable pricing strategy, the YUCO has swiftly become a favoured tool within the oceanographic research community. Specifically, it serves as a complementary resource for ocean observation, extending the capabilities of traditional vessel-based manual measurements and fixed observatories with its micro-AUV technology.
This partnership brings together Seabed 2030's dedication to advancing the comprehensive mapping of the ocean, together with SEABER's technological developments and expertise in underwater exploration.
“Identifying technology gaps in bathymetric mapping and encouraging innovation in these areas is key to Seabed 2030’s mission,” commented Project Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips. “It’s a pleasure to welcome SEABER to our growing network of partners, and their range of AUVs will no doubt be invaluable in supporting our goal as they’re deployed on various missions.”
“Like Seabed 2030, we believe that everyone has a part to play in this journey of ocean discovery,” said Vidal Texeira, co-Founder and CEO of SEABER. “As such, we’re committed to building AUVs that are more affordable and accessible, while maintaining their reliability and efficiency.
“We look forward to collaborating with Seabed 2030 in a partnership that will greatly advance our understanding of the ocean.”
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.