CCCUE upgrades fleet with latest Saab Seaeye Panther XTP
Saab UK has sold and delivered a new Seaeye Panther XTP remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to CCC Underwater Engineering S.A.L (CCCUE), strengthening the company’s offshore inspection and construction capabilities across its global operations.
The delivery of the Panther XTP was completed in January 2025, and replaces CCCUE’s long-serving Panther 905, originally delivered in 2001. It follows the successful integration of another Panther XTP into CCCUE’s fleet in 2023, demonstrating continued confidence in the system’s performance.
Established in 1976, CCCUE began as a commercial diving company operating in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the company has evolved into a full-service offshore construction firm supporting the energy sector worldwide. With this latest purchase, CCCUE now operates a fleet of nine Saab Seaeye ROVs.
Tavis Letherby, Survey / ROV Manager at CCCUE, said:
“We have worked with Saab Seaeye vehicles for more than two decades, and their reliability has been central to our operations. The Panther XTP’s proven performance, combined with its user-friendly design, makes it an ideal fit for the complex demands of our projects.”
Jon Robertson, Managing Director at Saab Seaeye, said:
“CCCUE’s continued investment in the Panther XTP underlines the system’s value to operators across the offshore energy sector. We’re proud to support CCCUE’s mission with reliable, high-performance vehicles that meet the real-world demands of global offshore operations.”
The Panther XTP is a compact, powerful ROV designed for a wide range of offshore inspection and intervention tasks. With a track record of robust performance in challenging conditions.
Ocean robots exploring role of ‘marine snow’ in carbon storage
A cutting-edge fleet of ocean robots and instruments has been deployed to explore the depths of the Labrador Sea as part of a ground-breaking year-long experiment led by scientists from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC).
The ReBELS project (Resolving Biological Carbon Export in the Labrador Sea) is investigating the biological carbon pump, a key ocean process that helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the deep sea and without which atmospheric CO₂ would be 50% higher.
Using a combination of moored sensors, drifting profiling floats and autonomous underwater vehicles, the project seeks to understand how carbon-rich particles sink through the water column and how physical ocean processes, such as deep convection currents, might enhance carbon storage in this remote and understudied region.
A key innovation in the project is the FluxCAM, a novel marine snow camera system designed to measure the sinking speeds of different-sized particles to reduce uncertainties in how much carbon the ocean absorbs from the atmosphere.
Two FluxCAMs were installed on a deep-sea mooring in the Labrador Sea, between Newfoundland and Greenland, last year, along with a specially programmed drifting profiling float.
Now, they have been joined by autonomous underwater gliders, which will measure ocean properties and carbon flux for five to six months.
“The biological carbon pump plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate,” says project lead Dr Filipa Carvalho at NOC. “Microscopic marine plants, known as phytoplankton, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic material.
“This material is then consumed by marine organisms, with remnants eventually sinking as ‘marine snow’—tiny carbon-rich particles that settle in the deep ocean, where the carbon can be stored for centuries.
“However, the rate at which these particles sink and how much carbon is ultimately locked away remain uncertain. The ReBELS project is using cutting-edge technology to answer these questions. This combination of fixed and mobile instruments will allow us to track how carbon is transported and transformed in the Labrador Sea over time.”
The cameras were fixed at 100 and 300 m deep on a 3,300 m-long mooring in the sea between Newfoundland and Greenland.
The ReBELS float has been programmed to carry out more frequent and varied depth profiles than standard floats and is also equipped with advanced sensors, including an optical sediment trap to help us to understand the amount of sinking particles when the float is drifting at the same depth.
One of the gliders will stay near the mooring, while another one will follow a drifting profiling float, capturing detailed, high-resolution data on particle movement, ocean circulation and biological activity.
“This combination of moored sensors, drifting instruments and mobile gliders is designed to overcome the challenges of studying carbon flux in the ocean,” adds Dr Louis Clement, co-investigator and also at NOC.
“While moored instruments provide long-term, fixed-location data, they do not capture the movement of water masses. The drifting float follows ocean currents, providing a dynamic perspective on sinking particles, while the gliders add another layer of insight, especially into small scale turbulence effects on the biological carbon pump.
“By integrating data from these platforms, we hope to build the most accurate picture yet of carbon transport and storage in the Labrador Sea.”
ReBELS is a four-year program funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and builds on decades of research into ocean carbon storage. By deploying state-of-the-art robotic technology, the project is expected to provide new insights into one of the ocean’s most important climate-regulating mechanisms, improving our ability to predict and respond to global climate change.
Cellula Robotics partners with Subsea Europe Services and FLANQ to expand AUV Market reach in Northern Europe
Cellula Robotics Limited has entered into a sales and representation agreement with Subsea Europe Services GmbH (SES) and its defence division, FLANQ. This strategic partnership will expand the market presence of Cellula’s advanced autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technologies across Northern Europe.
Under the agreement, SES will promote and represent Cellula’s full AUV portfolio—including the Envoy, Porter, and Guardian AUVs, the Subsea Warden Hovering AUV for ship signature management, and the Subsea Sentinel system for passive acoustic monitoring—in both commercial and scientific sectors. SES will focus on customers in academic research, offshore survey, and geophysical industries, while FLANQ will engage with defence, maritime security, and government clients.
This new partnership will support customers in Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, offering local expertise and direct access to Cellula’s underwater platforms and sensors.
Richard Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Cellula Robotics said: “We have worked with SES and FLANQ co-founders, Sören Themann and Daniel Esser, for many years now. We’ve watched Subsea Europe’s strong, year-on-year growth and been impressed with their successful launch of FLANQ in 2024. Their laser focus on the customer’s mission and exceptional support and service, made today’s announcement a natural step. We have full confidence in their team’s professionalism and commitment to delivering for our organisation.”
Daniel Esser, Co-founder and Chief Commerical Officer of Subsea Services Europe and FLANQ added: “We’re excited to join forces with Cellula Robotics in Europe. They have an immensely impressive product portfolio – a portfolio which aligns perfectly with the challenges Europe is facing now across the maritime domain. Everything from trading challenges to protecting critical undersea infrastructure and strengthening sovereign defence capability.
As Richard has mentioned, Sören and myself know the Cellula leadership team very well, and we know they understand, respect and fully support their channel partners in the market. We know this team will excel together, by focusing on delivering reliable, solutions that deliver operational and domain advantage to our clients in energy, science and defence.”
ZERO USV expands portfolio with new XLR Oceanus 12 for incredible 7500NM deployments
Zero USV, pioneers behind the world’s first charter fleet for over-the-horizon unmanned surface vessels (USV), has today announced the expansion of its portfolio with the introduction of the new extra-long-range (XLR) Oceanus12, offering users even more options for high endurance maritime operations.
The original Oceanus12, launched earlier this year, is engineered to excel in voyages of up to 20 days or 2500 Nautical mile duration. However, the new XLR version builds on the hybrid electric technology developed for Oceanus12 and can increase overall mission duration to an incredible 7500 Nautical Miles or approximately 60 days with no outside assistance. It is also built for missions in remote areas or regions where access to traditional fuelling points is limited, ensuring that operations can continue uninterrupted.
The XLR Oceanus12 has all the power and onboard functionality of the core variant but boasts an increased overall length from 11.55m to 13m. While the original Oceanus12 has a fuel capacity of 1200 litres and approximately 2500 nautical mile range or a 20–25-day mission, the XLR can carry 4000 litres of fuel and travel more than 7500 nautical miles, the equivalent of 60+ day missions.
Matthew Ratsey, founder and managing director of Zero USV, said: “Uncrewed vessels are a force multiplier. The ability to conduct sustained operations at sea without the need for regular refuelling or crew-related logistics is becoming increasingly crucial as operational pressure on resources and time become more demanding. This is even more pronounced as international tensions rise, particularly in regions with contested maritime boundaries, heightening the need for reliable, high endurance long range USVs. In fact, they never been more critical.
“The Oceanus12 XLR is designed to meet these demands, offering unparalleled endurance for missions that require extended periods at sea, whether for surveillance, environmental monitoring, or strategic defence operations. By offering more flexibility and the ability to conduct longer missions, Zero USV’s XLR version responds directly to the strategic challenges of today’s global security environment.”
XLR Oceanus12 Specifications:
Green Credentials
- Twin Electric Hybrid Drive giving redundancy and efficiency
- Low Fuel Consumption
- Solar charging for house and emergency loads
Customisable Design
- Adaptable payload bay
- Sensor agnostic
- Quick change keel (sensor strut) allowing preloaded sensors to be swapped in/out with minimal downtime
Full Autonomy
- GuardianAI full stack autonomy software by MarineAI installed as standard
- Fully loaded autonomous sensor suite including HD Radar from Navtech.
- Remote control option
Over-the-Horizon
- Large fuel capacity for extended missions c. 7500Nm
- Six knot cruising speed with sprint speed of 10 knots (subject to payload)
Technical specification
- Length Overall: 13m
- Waterline Length: 11.40m
- Max Beam: 2.33m
- Displacement: 8 tonnes
- Hull Type: Monohull
- Hull Construction: Aluminium
- Installed Power: software limited to 40Kw, available 80Kw
- Speed: 6 knots cruising, 10 knots sprint
- Endurance: 7500+Nautical miles
- Fuel Capacity: 4000 Litres
- Payload: up to 1 tonne
- Draft: 1.76m
New Coral Gardens and Hydrothermal Vents Found in the Icy Depths of the Remote South Sandwich Islands
An Ocean Census Flagship expedition and GoSouth team of scientists found suspected new species, discovered one of the island chain’s shallowest hydrothermal vents, and explored the deepest trench in the Southern Ocean.
An international team of scientists on a recent 35-day deep sea expedition to one of the most remote island chains in the world observed thriving polar ecosystems, discovered new hydrothermal vents, coral gardens and many suspected new species. The Ocean Census Flagship expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) explored the South Sandwich Islands, including one of the coldest and most isolated submarine trenches on the planet, and also found evidence of explosive volcanism. This was the same expedition that filmed the first confirmed sighting of a juvenile colossal squid
The expedition was part of the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census programme, the world’s largest initiative to accelerate the discovery of ocean life. The Ocean Census scientists led the species discovery efforts, uncovering a wide range of potentially new marine life–including corals, sponges, snails, sea urchins, benthic ctenophores, and sea stars. The exact number of new species will be announced later this year following an Ocean Census workshop, where taxonomic experts will formally assess and catalogue the findings. The GoSouth team—a collaboration between the University of Plymouth (UK), GEOMAR (Germany), and the British Antarctic Survey (UK)—investigated the effects of geohazards, including tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
“This expedition has given us a glimpse into one of the most remote and biologically rich parts of our ocean. This is exactly why the Ocean Census exists—to accelerate our understanding of ocean life before it’s too late,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science and expedition principal investigator at the Ocean Census, and senior lecturer at the University of Essex. “The 35 days at sea were an exciting rollercoaster of scientific discovery; the implications of which will be felt for many years to come as discoveries filter into management action.”
Mother Nature threw everything she had at the expedition, said Taylor, including a subsea earthquake, tropical storm force winds with hurricane-level gusts, eight-metre (26-foot) waves, and icebergs to navigate.
Located in the South Atlantic, the South Sandwich Islands are part of a rich mosaic of geologic features such as hadal zone trenches, underwater volcanoes, and spreading centres — features created by tectonic forces that have supported the evolution of species found nowhere else on the planet. It took eight days for the research vessel to travel to the islands from the port of Punta Arenas, Chile.
The GoSouth team, led by Co-Chief Scientist Dr. Jenny Gales, discovered two pockmarks in the mapping data of an underwater caldera— a bowl-shaped depression in the seafloor, left after a volcano erupts. Pockmarks can indicate hydrothermal activity. Using a “nested” approach, the team deployed Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle, SuBastian to map the pockmarks at a higher resolution and confirm the presence of vents.
The larger pockmark contained three hydrothermal vents, and the smaller contained one. Located at 700 metres depth (nearly 2300 feet), they are one of the shallowest hydrothermal vents to have been discovered near the South Sandwich Islands, and the only ones to be explored using a remotely operated vehicle. The tallest vent chimney was four metres (13 feet), making it about as tall as a basketball hoop. Each vent was covered with an array of life dependent on chemosynthesis, including sea snails and barnacles. Thriving coral gardens and large sponges were found in close proximity to the vents–an unusual observation, said Taylor.
“Discovering these hydrothermal vents was a magical moment, as they have never been seen here before,” said Gales, an associate professor in Ocean Exploration at the University of Plymouth (UK). “It's an incredible discovery that provides valuable insights into the area’s tectonic activity. Making such a discovery is rare. It highlights the importance of ocean exploration and seafloor mapping.”
In addition to the vents, other notable observations during the expedition included:
• In the trench, scientists found snailfish eggs that had been laid on a black coral, as well as a potential new sea cucumber species;
• large pumice blocks, indicating that the South Sandwich Islands are capable of explosive volcanism;
• a vibrant coral garden located west of Saunders Island at a depth of 120 metres (394 feet);
• Capturing the first footage of Akarotaxis aff. gouldae, a species of dragonfish that was discovered two years ago.
“The challenging ocean and weather conditions and the isolated location of the South Sandwich Islands capture the imagination of the boldest explorers - often the closest humans to the vessel were on the International Space Station,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “We are proud to have collaborated with Ocean Census in their mission to advance discovery of marine life and GoSouth in their quest to better understand the geological nature of this dynamic corner of the world.”
Fugro to extend geotechnical surveys for Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms
Fugro has been awarded a contract to perform comprehensive geotechnical surveys for the eastern array of the Dogger Bank South (DBS) offshore wind farms, a major initiative led by RWE and Masdar to develop one of the UK's most powerful offshore wind energy projects. The detailed investigations will provide data on subsurface conditions at planned wind turbine locations, inter-array cable routes, and platform foundations, directly informing the safe and efficient design of the wind farms.
Starting in mid-May, Fugro will mobilise multiple geotechnical vessels to carry out the fieldwork 122 km off the northeast coast of England. This will include a range of techniques such as cone penetration tests (CPTs), vibrocores, and sampling boreholes. To ensure robust and rapid collection of deep seabed data, Fugro will use its advanced SEACALF® MkV Deep Drive® system. This technology enhances the efficiency and reliability of seabed investigations, contributing to faster project delivery and reduced environmental impact.
The project will also use VirGeo®, a collaborative cloud-based Geo-data platform, to centralise project information and streamline data delivery to all stakeholders.
Colin McAllister, Development Project Lead for DBS offshore wind farms, stated: “This year’s site investigation at the eastern array builds upon similar work completed at the western array in 2024. The level of detail obtained from these surveys is crucial in developing the most effective foundation designs for each location. The DBS projects are critical infrastructure projects and have the potential to supply 3 million homes with 3 GW of offshore wind generation capacity, supporting the UK Government’s clean power ambitions.”
John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterisation in Europe and Africa, commented: “We are proud to continue our work on the Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms. Our detailed geotechnical investigations will provide a comprehensive understanding of the seabed conditions, crucial for the project's success. This ongoing collaboration underscores the trust RWE and Masdar place in our capabilities and highlights our commitment to advancing these significant renewable energy projects.”
This contract builds on previous work Fugro has completed for the DBS offshore wind farm including preliminary geophysical and geotechnical investigations, a shallow geotechnical survey on the export cable route, and a detailed geotechnical investigation of DBS west.
Record breaking Ocean Business 2025 is ‘best yet’!
The ocean science and technology world descended on Southampton in record numbers in early April for the biggest and busiest ever edition of Ocean Business.
Crowds of more than 10,650 - 23% up on Ocean Business 2023 - gathered at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) over three days of game-changing innovation, exciting product launches and quayside demonstrations as Ocean Business 2025 welcomed visitors from more than 80 countries to the Solent.
Across the expanded exhibition space and action-packed dockside, deals were done, new partnerships forged, existing relationships reinforced and networks extended.
‘The best one yet,’ said Graeme McGhee of Scorpion Oceanics. ‘Head and shoulders above other expos,’ said Stuart Howard, founder of Kuro Animation. ‘So many visitors from the very beginning and amazing conversations on all three days,’ said Chris Wallace of Verlume.
The atmosphere fizzed with glimpses of the future but it all started with a dive into the past as keynote speaker Mensun Bound held his capacity audience rapt with tales from the 2022 international quest to locate Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance.
As the director of exploration on the Antarctic expedition, Bound recalled the moment when, with cutting edge Saab Seaeye Sabertooth ROVs and top subsea experts, they located the ship, preserved in the ice for 117 years, at a depth of 3,000m.
‘It was obviously something man-made,’ he said, ‘and the only man-made thing in the Weddell Sea was Endurance.’
Later in the show, Voyis Imaging explained how it helped recreate a high-resolution 3D model of the Endurance, deploying its Insight Pro Underwater Laser Scanner and the Observer Pro Imaging System.
Sister company Sonardyne also supported the Endurance mission, with its underwater navigation and positioning technology Sprint-Nav, and at Ocean Business it launched Sprint-Nav U for compact marine robotic platforms.
Sonardyne Marine Robotics Business Development Manager Aidan Thorn, who has been involved with Ocean Business for 20 years, said this year was the best yet: ‘The interest in our new Sprint Nav-U was fantastic, being able to launch the product at OB has expanded our reach to potential new customers and having on-water demos shows credibility in our product in action.’
He also engaged with the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators at Ocean Careers, telling them that ‘a career in the marine industry increasingly means a career working with robots’.
Teledyne generated much excitement with the launch on day one of its compact navigator, the world’s ‘smallest and highest performing, fully integrated autonomous navigating solution’.
‘We couldn’t have asked for a better show launch, customers are loving the navigator and we’ve had so many existing and new contacts coming onto the stand,’ said Marketing Manager Guy Frankland.
Other news and launches included Planet Ocean announcing a collaboration with Sonardyne International, resulting in the successful integration and deployment of three gold standard instruments from its reseller partners, Sea-Bird Scientific, Sequoia and 4H-Jena.
Geo Acoustics launched its new Side Scan Sonar, which attracted enquiries from as far afield as Dubai, China, India and Italy; and RS Aqua, which announced a new UK distribution deal for US company SRS’s Fusion Hybrid ROV, said it was ‘still riding the wave after catching up with our partners, customers and old and new faces!’ at Ocean Business.
With more than 350 exhibitors plus over 180 hours of training and demonstrations on the dockside, on board vessels and in the classroom, this year’s show offered insights into everything from R3Vox’s Voxometer, described by chairman Jens Steenstrup as a super advanced acoustic platform that does what multi-beams used to do ‘but on steroids’; to Hydrophis, a ‘revolution’ in analysing underwater survey data, unveiled by Scottish firm Tritonia.
Some 24 companies shared space at the Canadian pavilion, seen as an economical way to meet everyone in one place and access markets around the world.
‘We’d like to bring even more next time,’ said Shelly Petten, Executive Director of Oceans Advance, who has been coming to the show for 18 years, representing Newfoundland and Labrador.
‘Canada is an export nation and the hope is to grow Canadian exports. We have a long trading history with the UK and, given the current US tariffs, we’re encouraging customers to target the European markets more.’
Cathy Williams, at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, added that Ocean Business is considered an anchor event for Canada. ‘We are well established at the show so the ocean tech world knows the best and brightest of our companies will be here.’
Exhibiting for the first time, meanwhile, Curtis Lee of Shenzhen headquartered QYSEA was delighted with the response to the company’s fish-shaped Fifish underwater robot, on display in the test tank to show off its hydrodynamic properties.
‘It’s a very relevant show for us with a very international draw. We’d seen in recent years our competitors and partners here so decided to come ourselves and have found the quality of the leads and the demand for our product has been very strong.’
Alongside the exhibition and demonstrations, speakers and expert panels drawn from across the sector shared ideas to help shape the future of ocean technology.
Dr Louise Butt of the Space South Central Enterprise Network spoke of the huge increase in maritime users of space technology, in particular with AI driven satellites. Over the next ten years, non-geostationary orbit satcomms is expected to surge from 20% to 90% and the number of vessels using at least one satcomm service will double, to 90,000.
And at the Doing Business with Defence session, the first event to be held in the NOC’s new Innovation Hub, Claire Budden, Deputy Director of Navy Commercial, spelt out the opportunities in the supply chain, with around £32 billion a year spent on defence contracts, likely to ‘accelerate rapidly’ as the government commits to spending 3% of GDP on defence in the next parliament.
Helping make Ocean Business a triumph was the Society of Marine Industries (SMI), whose chief executive, Tom Chant, said the exhibition ‘has long been a standout event on the industry calendar, and this year’s show proved exactly why’.
‘The ocean technology sector is at the heart of today’s most pressing challenges — from renewable energy and environmental monitoring to the growing role of sensors and autonomous systems in defence. The aisles were buzzing with activity, and the exhibitors were busy from dawn to dusk.’
Madeline Lee, Chair of Marelec 2025, held alongside Ocean Business, described the events as ‘dynamic’, with ‘creative, audience-interactive presentations’.
‘These included engaging talks and posters from students and early-career professionals, who showcased a wide range of innovations in marine electromagnetics – from magnetic navigation to controlled source EM imaging of rift-margins. We hope attendees left with valuable insights and connections to support their work.’
Show organiser Cheri Arvonio said Ocean Business 2025 had exceeded all expectations: ‘The team have been totally blown away by all the incredible feedback and we’re very proud to have created such a special show for the ocean community.
‘It was wonderful to see so many friends, Ocean Business regulars and emerging talent, reflecting the rapid pace of development in the industry.
‘For all three days there was a real buzz, inside and outside the main exhibition spaces, and with the added bonus of glorious sunshine!’
Ocean Business 2027 will take place at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, from April 6-8.
COAST and the University of Victoria Launch the BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub
In a significant stride for the Canadian clean energy transition, two leaders in British Columbia’s ocean innovation sector have announced a joint initiative today that forges brand new pathways for the development and commercialization of cutting-edge marine renewable energy and decarbonization technologies in British Columbia.
The BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub (the Hub) is a core initiative of COAST, Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy, delivered in partnership with the University of Victoria. The Hub is the culmination of three decades of community-centred clean energy research and innovation conducted at the University of Victoria by the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic), Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) and Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET).
Recognizing both the hurdles and opportunities at the heart of Canada’s effort to decarbonize the ocean sector, these partners have joined forces to amplify their capacities and create new opportunities for high-impact ocean innovation.
Ultimately, the Hub stands to pave the way for a new wave of decarbonization technologies to take hold in British Columbia and Canada—which in turn will empower a rising class of ocean entrepreneurs to find new opportunities for innovation and improve outcomes across the board. As a result, the Hub will serve as a catalyst for new job creation and regional economic development, expanding the reach and deepening the impact of Canada’s clean technology industries.
The Hub leverages existing infrastructure and capacity to offer ocean sector companies the opportunity to test and demonstrate technologies in coastal and marine test sites related to:
• Marine renewable energy capture.
• Energy integration and management, including energy storage and grid integration technologies.
• Innovative distribution and/or uses of energy including production, storage and transmission of clean fuels.
As deadlines for Canadian emissions reduction and net-zero targets loom, it is a national imperative to create accessible pathways for the creation and adoption of renewable marine energies. However, the development of marine renewable energy alone is insufficient to comprehensively decarbonize Canada’s ocean industries.
The systems and supply chain surrounding ocean sector activities must also evolve: from storage capacity to energy distribution, maritime decarbonization must complement renewable energy development. To facilitate engagement with the most apt technologies, the Hub will issue Innovation Challenges in partnership with key regional stakeholders. Companies will respond to these calls for innovation and propose their technology as a potential solution. The first of these challenges will be issued in late 2025.
The BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub is unique in that it seeks to address both aspects of this challenge, yielding complementary solutions with potential for integration all along the complex marine supply chain. British Columbia offers an ideal location for this effort, with the country’s largest maritime industry, the longest coastline of any province and over 70% of its population located in coastal areas (Province of BC, 2022).
Funding for the Hub comes from the federal (Pacific Economic Development Canada) and provincial government (BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions) as well as the RBC Foundation, and will support the Hub's establishment and operation for four years (2025-2028). During this time, the Hub team will maintain and evolve crucial assets that support resource assessment, innovation and commercialization, project planning, stakeholder engagement and knowledge dissemination.
NOC and Royal Navy renew MOU on autonomous maritime capabilities
The UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Royal Navy, reinforcing a long-standing partnership in marine science and technology.
The MOU, which includes collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s science and technology organisation, underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation and advances in autonomous and robotic underwater systems.
With expertise from NOC Innovations, the applied research and commercialisation arm of NOC, the agreement will help enhance the UK’s leadership in marine science and technology.
A ceremonial signing took place during the Ocean Business conference and exhibition at NOC in Southampton in April this year.
“This agreement reflects our mutual dedication to harnessing cutting-edge autonomous technology for the benefit of marine science, industry, and national security,” said NOC Chief Executive Dr John Siddorn. “NOC Innovations is proud to continue supporting the Royal Navy in its efforts with our world-leading expertise in marine science and autonomy.”
“This MoU renewal cements our strong partnership with NOC, allowing us to explore new technological frontiers in autonomy that will help to modernise our operations and ensure that the operational decisions we make are based on the most up-to-date environmental data,” said the Royal Navy’s Captain Jim Lovell, Captain Jim Lovell - Navy Develop – Head of Underwater Battlespace Capability.
“The partnership will also support the Royal Navy’s training and operational readiness, leveraging NOC’s expertise in deploying autonomous platforms.”
Dstl’s Chief Executive Dr Paul Hollinshead said, “The partnership with NOC and the Royal Navy demonstrates our commitment to collaborative development of autonomous maritime capabilities. By combining Dstl's scientific expertise with NOC's marine autonomy knowledge, we're accelerating the development of underwater technologies that provide clear operational advantage for UK defence.
“Together, we're strengthening the UK's position at the forefront of sustainable oceanographic science and technology and ensuring our armed forces have access to the most advanced autonomous systems and environmental data for effective decision-making in complex maritime environments.”
Since the first MoU was signed in 2014 and subsequently renewed in 2021, the collaboration has supported a number of initiatives helping the UK expand its ability to develop ocean solutions and conduct advanced marine scientific research.
This includes facilitating a wider scope of collaborative projects and information sharing, while also exploring net-zero operations, positioning the NOC, the Royal Navy and Dstl at the forefront of sustainable oceanographic science and technology.
The partnership aligns with national and international initiatives, including the G7 “Future of the Seas and Oceans” programme.
NOC is a leader in marine autonomy with extensive expertise in developing and operating autonomous underwater vehicles including underwater gliders, the centre’s Autosub range, remotely operated vehicles and other robotic systems used for ocean exploration and research.
These innovations are critical to under-ice operations, deep-sea exploration and for national security applications.
MacArtney introduces new and powerful LUXUS Compact IP Camera
We are thrilled to launch the LUXUS Compact IP camera, our latest innovation in underwater imaging technology. Small, robust, and easy to integrate, it is designed to meet the diverse needs of professionals across various industries.
The new LUXUS camera introduces IP capabilities, enabling direct network connection for remote viewing and management. This feature enhances versatility, simplifies integration into various systems, and improves usability in diverse underwater applications. A 12-24 VDC supply powers the camera and consumes only 3.5 W, making it energy-efficient for prolonged use.
"We are proud to introduce the LUXUS Compact IP camera, developed to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Its compact design is perfect for space-constrained applications, and its flexibility makes it an ideal choice for a broad range of users, including divers, civil engineers, and operators of ROVs and mounted templates," says Ron Voerman, Managing Director with MacArtney Benelux.
Small footprint, high performance
The increasingly streamlined design of underwater technology solutions demands advancements in instrumentation, equipment, and systems development. A primary focus during the development of the new camera was creating a compact housing without compromising performance, which MacArtney's skilled engineering team achieved with innovative design techniques.
Compared to previous models in the LUXUS range, the new Compact IP camera stands out with its smaller size and IP feature, offering enhanced integration capabilities and improved performance. The camera features a 1/2.8" Progressive Scan SONY STARVIS CMOS sensor, providing a resolution of 1920x1080 at 25fps (2mp).
The LUXUS Compact IP camera offers a horizontal angle of view of 95.0° in air and 72.0° in water, with a focus length of >0.5m (F2.0). It supports multiple control options, including ONVIF (S), and features fully automatic or manual gain and exposure settings. The camera's minimum illumination is 0.05 Lux, ensuring high-quality imaging even in low-light conditions. The housing is sandblasted titanium for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance, consistent with the other cameras in the LUXUS Compact range.
Positive user feedback
"Feedback from early users has been overwhelmingly positive. Users have praised the camera for its ease of installation, compact size, and precise image quality," states Ron. “The standard depth rating of 4000 metres and the low power consumption are highly appreciated features, and the Subconn® Micro connector ensures compatibility with existing systems.”
The long-term goals for the LUXUS range include launching a small LED and IP camera with a higher data rate, superior image quality, and a
TrustLinkTM connector as standard.
The LUXUS Compact IP camera is ready for immediate deployment and is available from stock. For more information, please get in touch with your local MacArtney operation.
The Benelux operation
Established in 1998, MacArtney Benelux boasts an experienced and trained team led by Managing Director Ron Voerman. In 2022, the operation relocated to modern administration and technical facilities in Maassluis, near Rotterdam, a significant industrial and technological hub. The operation supports the markets in the Netherlands and Belgium.