Dan Levett

GEOXYZ acquires new offshore survey vessel: Geo Ocean VII

GEOxyz is overjoyed to welcome the latest addition to its fleet: introducing its new offshore survey vessel, the Geo Ocean VII.

Currently in the final stages of preparation in dry-dock before embarking on its maiden voyage, the Geo Ocean VII is being equipped with the most advanced and up to industry-standards technologies to ensure seamless operations.

Measuring an impressive 56 meters in length, the Geo Ocean VII boasts station-keeping capabilities (DP0) and is outfitted with two moon pools, an A-frame and a large 6t deck crane.

Starting in November 2023, the Geo Ocean VII and its experienced crew will be fully prepared to conduct geophysical, shallow geotechnical (VC, CPT), and environmental surveys.

“Welcoming the GO VII to our fleet not only enhances our survey capabilities but also equips us to optimize our adaptability when planning our clients’ projects.” - Patrick Reyntjens, CEO GEOxyz

by Dan Levett

AI for seabed mapping project shortlisted for Knowledge Transfer Partnership award

GeoAcoustics Ltd in partnership with the University of East Anglia’s School of Computing Sciences has been named as a finalist in the category of Technical Excellence at the national Knowledge Transfer Partnership awards, following the collaborative development of an innovative AI solution to improve the speed and ease of seabed mapping in real-time.

Seabed mapping is used to produce a bathymetric (or water depth) profile of a given area of seabed using sonar technology. Sonar works by sending sound pulses into the water and measuring the echoes reflected from the seabed and any underwater structures that may be present. However, many unwanted data points are also generated and these need to be filtered out after the survey to produce a true representation of the seabed profile which can be a resource-intensive, expensive and time-consuming task.

GeoAcoustics Ltd, based in Great Yarmouth and a manufacturer of high-quality sonar equipment for seabed mapping, approached UEA’s School of Computing Sciences. A feasibility study was first undertaken to see if AI technology could automatically remove unwanted noise from sonar data. This was carried out by two MSc Computing Science students, supervised by Dr. Wenjia Wang and Dr. Ben Milner, and a team from GeoAcoustics.

Following encouraging results, further research and development grants were awarded; an Enabling Innovation: Research To Application (EIRA) award, and an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). These enabled an AI module to be developed which was then evaluated using various benchmark data sets and sea trials.

This established that the AI was able to produce accurate and consistent results comparable to that of an experienced surveyor, without needing any human intervention and operating at a fraction of the time. The AI module was integrated into the company’s existing software and is capable of processing survey data in real-time, saving days or weeks of post-processing by trained human users.

Dr. Danny Websdale, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Senior Research Associate at University of East Anglia for the duration of the AI development project and now an AI/ML Research Scientist at GeoAcoustics Ltd said: “Designing an AI system that can process and quality control sonar data was a challenging process over the course of two and a half years, but together with the project team we were able to meet the intended goals and even exceed them by developing a system that provides real-time data on board the survey vessel, which is a unique capability that improves data quality while saving GeoAcoustics’ customers time and money.”

The new system has since been released by GeoAcoustics Ltd to its customers and has put the company into a world-leading position in the industry. Dr. Richard Dowdeswell, Chief Operating Officer at GeoAcoustics Ltd said: “The AI system was integrated in our flagship seabed mapping product GeoSwath 4 and provided to customers as a free update. Feedback has been wholly positive, and we’re delighted with how the KTP, and the excellent collaboration with Danny and the UEA School of Computing Sciences, turned out.”

Dr. Wenjia Wang, Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Course Director of MSc Computing Science at UEA, said: “This successful project represents an acknowledgment not only of the cutting-edge knowledge and skills of staff and students within UEA’s School of Computing Sciences, but also the ways in which we can further develop relationships with businesses to produce innovative real-world solutions that are recognised nationally and internationally as sector leading.”

The AI project, which was graded ‘Outstanding’ by Innovate UK, has been named as one of three finalists in the Technical Excellence category at the national KTP Awards, with winners announced on Thursday 18 October.

by Dan Levett

EIVA to supply UK MoD containerised ROTV solution to the Royal Navy

Danish subsea engineering specialist EIVA a/s has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with a total value of approximately €3.8 million (£3.2 million). The contract entails the delivery of a containerised remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV) solution displaying data in NaviSuite software.

When delivered, The ROTV, an EIVA ScanFish L, will be integrated into the Royal Navy’s seabed warfare system of systems. Capable of operating from different host platforms, this system will enable the simultaneous operation of multiple acoustic survey sensors and instruments.

Able to operate beyond the continental shelf the containerised ROTV solution provided by EIVA will be capable of performing various functions, including but not limited to:

• Pipeline inspection
• Large area searches and mine countermeasure (MCM) operations
• Site surveys and seabed mapping
• Cable route surveys
• High-resolution object detection
• Oceanographic data collection through the water column

This solution will provide integrated and enhanced operational capabilities for the Royal Navy, demonstrating both modularity in the ScanFish setup and flexibility of employment through the containerised solution.

As part of the contract, EIVA will deliver a fully equipped 20' Cube container module and launch and recovery system, supplied by SH Defence, part of SH Group. The ScanFish L ROTV will be equipped with multiple sensors, including but not limited to Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav Mini hybrid INS/DVL and Voyis’ Observer Pro optical camera and Insight Pro laser scanner. The system will benefit from EIVA's NaviSuite software for efficiently processing and analysing the collected data, enhancing users’. Moreover, the presence of two dedicated workstations within the container will ensure the system's full operational capability and independence of employment, as there is no need to be plugged into the military ship Command & Control (C2) system.

‘We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract by the UK MOD and to be delivering capability for the Royal Navy,’ said Flemming Hjorth, Acting CEO of EIVA. ‘We are excited about this opportunity to continue to provide our expertise in the defence market. We have been working in partnership with Forcys, a global maritime defence company and EIVA’s sister company in Covelya Group, to market the system to allied nations. It’s a great tool to enhance our customers’ seabed warfare capabilities and the protection of critical maritime infrastructures.’

‘As a former navy officer, it is a true privilege to contribute to the Royal Navy's mission. We eagerly anticipate seeing our ScanFish ROTV in action, performing a wide range of tasks from MCM operations to underwater cable and pipeline inspections.’ Cdr ITA-N (Ret'd) Antonio J. Belfiore, EIVA's Business Development Manager for Defence.

by Dan Levett

Sonardyne welcomes MSDS Marine as UK reseller

Marine technology company, Sonardyne is expanding its reach by appointing MSDS Marine as their latest UK reseller.

MSDS Marine are a specialist marine and coastal contractor specialising in providing scientific and archaeological support across a variety of sectors including; offshore development, archaeological and ecological surveys, and asset monitoring and recording. Their work includes the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), divers, and geophysical and hydrographic survey and they offer a complete package from planning to execution, and subsequent processing, visualisation, and interpretation. MSDS Marine are now able to provide additional support to their customers through the supply of the latest marine technology from Sonardyne, not only by continuing to use the technology during projects, but also as an official re-seller.

MSDS Marine rely on technology for the majority of our underwater operations, with reliability being crucial to works in the marine environment. As a company we have used Sonardyne acoustic tracking for a number of years, tracking divers, ROVs, and geophysical equipment. Not only have we found the technology to be incredibly reliable and easy to use, but we have always been very impressed with the level of support that Sonardyne offer. We are proud to be able to continue to promote the systems as a re-seller, using our firsthand experience in the scientific and archaeological sector to do so. – Mark James, MSDS Marine Operations and Technical Manager.

MSDS Marine have used Sonardyne technology for a number of years, and the SCOUT, Micro and Mini Ranger USBL systems have played an important in the recent investigations of the archaeologically significant designated sites of the Rooswijk (sunk 1740), the London (sunk 1665), and the Bronze Bell wreck (sunk in the 18th Century). The precise, reliable positioning, along with the ease of use, have allowed for the accurate mapping and survey of the sites.

“It’s great to have MSDS Marine as resellers for our shallow water USBL systems. It is quite unusual to have a reseller who also uses the equipment to the extent that MSDS Marine do. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will allow them to support customers from initial enquiry through to frontline support. We’re delighted to have such a strong advocate on board as a reselling partner.” Duncan Rigg, Sonardyne Sales Manager

by Dan Levett

Exail opens new office in Norway to support growth in the Scandinavian region

Exail announces the opening of a new business office in Norway, that will support the company’s growth in the Scandinavian region. Located in the Oslo area, this new office is led by Lars Sorfang, who is acting as General Manager for Exail AS, as well as Regional Sales Manager for Scandinavia.

A former officer for the Norwegian military, Lars previously held various business development positions at Kongsberg working on strategic defense programs, and Teledyne Flir, where he was Sales Director for the European region.

“I am very proud to be part of this new adventure with Exail, as I am deeply convinced, as a previous user of the technologies the company develops, that they are the right fit for the region that requires highly innovative and high-end products.” Lars explains. “With this new office, we will be able to provide increased support to our growing base of customers in Norway, and more generally, Scandinavia.”

Exail has won major contracts in the region over the past years, both in the civil and defense markets. This includes the sale of Inertial Navigation Systems for Norway’s U212 submarines and Coast-Guard vessels, Finland’s Multi-role corvettes, as well as Sweden A19 and A26 submarines. Exail has also established strong partnerships with civilian Scandinavian companies such as Teledyne Gavia, Nortek and RTS.

by Dan Levett

FET Subsea Technologies launches new ROV tooling rental offering

Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has introduced a new tooling rental offering for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in response to the changing demands of the subsea sector.

With increasing ROV asset investment across hydrocarbon and offshore renewable energy, as well as defence sectors, FET’s new rental offering is designed to address the need for readily available tooling equipment in the development, operation, and maintenance of upcoming offshore projects.

Available immediately for rental are torque tools, linear actuator override tools (LAOTs), isolated hydraulic power units (IHPUs), and associated accessories.

The fleet of tooling will initially be manufactured and managed at FET’s UK facility in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. FET, which already has an existing rental fleet in Brazil, will also expand the availability of equipment to Europe, Asia and elsewhere in the Americas.

FET will continue to design and manufacture and sell its established line of standard tooling and reconfirms its commitment to also developing new and customisable tooling products specific to client needs.

James Foster-Rain, Subsea Tooling Manager, at FET said: “With this latest business investment and development, we are excited to offer a comprehensive range of high-quality subsea tooling specifically to meet the demands and needs of subsea operations.

"Our robust experience in the market lends itself to understanding and devising industry advancements and, with our team of experts, we are well placed to introduce significant benefits and savings. At FET, we provide the latest technologies to aid clients in their projects, and play our part in creating a more sustainable and secure energy future.”

As a global expert for manufacturing quality subsea equipment, FET’s product enhancement builds on its existing position as a provider of smart solutions. In April, FET supplied two light work-class ROVs to a major Asian Navy, while another four have been delivered to DOF Subsea this year.

FET’s KMS and Aberdeen offices will service the UK and European markets, its US offices for North American inquiries, and its Singapore office for pricing, deliveries or to schedule a more detailed discussion of the available offering in the Asia-Pacific region.

For clients in Brazil, local partner UnderOcean will provide rental service and support.

by Dan Levett

Robosys and Landau Marine announce collaboration at DSEi unveiling AI driven full stack maritime autonomy for naval operations

AI based Maritime Autonomy & Navigational specialist, Robosys Automation and leading UK specialist installer and integrator, Landau Marine, have announced at DSEi in London (UK), a new pioneering collaboration that enables full stack maritime autonomy for both new-build and retrofit vessels and naval craft.

Robosys’ Voyager AI software enables crewed, lean crewed, optionally unmanned, and fully unmanned vessel operations at the switch of a button. It delivers efficient Remote Control and reasoned Autonomous operations from a remote operations centre (ROC) or ground control station (GCS), either ashore or afloat from a mothership.

UK headquartered Landau Marine supplies installation, integration, and maintenance services for numerous defence clients; including NavyX, the Royal Navy’s Autonomy & Lethality Accelerator. Landau capabilities encompass all aspects of technology integration linked to vessel design and construction, with a particular focus on zero emission technology and decarbonisation initiatives.

The new collaboration between Landau and Robosys brings together a leading UK integrator-installer-service provider with a proven AI maritime autonomy software developer, to enable customers to swiftly convert their vessels to fully autonomous and/or lean-crewed operations.

Integration of Robosys Automation’s Voyager AI Vessel is a full stack autonomy solution that is complemented by artificial intelligence combined with decision-aids, enabling fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs). Suited for surveillance, surveying, warfare, and patrolling duties, Voyager AI is vessel, propulsion, and sensor systems agnostic.

Roger Cerrato, Sales Director at Landau commented at the DSEi launch event, “Landau helps customers install and best utilise new technologies such as Robosys Automation’s Voyager AI suite. This new partnership with Robosys reflects the Landau ethos, being to provide innovative installation and integration solutions that are beneficial to our customers, our business, and our world, in efficiency, economic, and environmental terms.

Cerrato continues, “We are dedicated to supporting our commercial and defence customer base in their requirements for more innovative and effective solutions, such as retrofitting a crewed vessel to become an autonomous craft at speeds of up to 45 knots, delivering many benefits including helping to drive the net zero agenda.

Nigel Lee, CSO of Robosys Automation comments, “We are delighted to be working with Landau Marine. This partnership will provide an end-to-end solution for all customers looking to integrate Voyager AI to a new build or as a retrofit to an existing workboat or craft, as Landau’s facilities and team are second to none.”

Robosys’ Voyager AI suite of integrations include proven full autonomous capabilities, combined with collision avoidance, anti-grounding, and smart object avoidance, and loss of communications features, amongst others. Voyager AI will operate with a broad array of naval craft, barges, pilot boats, and workboats, and is particularly effective in those 3 to 24 metres in length. Voyager AI is in operation on board naval vessels, surveillance craft, survey vessels, and pilot boats, naval tugs, and workboats.”

“The use of Voyager AI significantly extends a traditional vessel’s lifespan through straightforward and swift retrofitting. This enables increased cost-effective, safer, and environmentally focused outcomes for those who wish to continue using their existing craft, but now with the added benefits of crewed, lean-crewed, optionally uncrewed, and uncrewed options, dependent on the specific challenge.”

Robosys’ Voyager AI Vessel solution offers IMO Degree 4 autonomy, which is ideal for the defence sector as it can be retrofitted to almost any vessel or workboat. Robosys Automation’s systems offer remote control as well as advanced and intelligent autonomous navigation, with platform and payload control which can be integrated to most vessel systems, together with collision avoidance, and systems monitoring options, delivering a proven and trusted full-stack maritime AI autonomy solution.

by Dan Levett

Underwater Contracting orders six more SAAB Seaeye ROVs

Owners of the world’s largest fleet of Saab UK’s Seaeye Falcons, Underwater Contracting (UCO), has ordered a further six Falcons, boosting its fleet to 33 vehicles.

This follows the award of further major contracts in the aquaculture, renewable, and oil and gas sectors to UCO that will see the Falcon fleet working continuously over multi-year contracts providing a range of services in Europe, North America and Australia.

Specialists in ROV operations, UCO has successfully deployed Seaeye Falcon underwater vehicles since 2018 across three continents covering various sectors of industry.

In that time UCO has productively utilised the power and intelligence of the Falcon system when designing and developing industry-leading technologies, including their FOOVER Mortality Recovery system, NETFIX Net Repair system and G-LANCE Cage Cleaning system, inspection cleaning tools.

UCO chose the Falcon as the world’s top selling underwater robotic vehicle in its class and for its versatility.

The Falcon is designed and manufactured at Saab UK’s Fareham site.

by Dan Levett