The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) tests pioneering undersea cable earthquake detection technique in the Pacific Ocean
Scientists from the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL) in New Zealand are set to carry out the first ever optical interferometry-based earthquake sensing tests in the Pacific Ocean. By performing ultra-sensitive optical measurements, scientists from the two laboratories will “convert” a seafloor cable extending offshore from New Zealand into an array of sensors for earthquakes and ocean currents. These tests will lay the foundation for investigating the potential use of existing seafloor cables as detectors for tsunami early warning systems.
The technique was first pioneered by NPL in 2021 and derived from techniques used for quantum science. It uses existing optical fibre infrastructure to gather continuous, real-time environmental data from the seabed. NPL previously demonstrated the technique in the Atlantic Ocean on a 5,860km-long intercontinental submarine optical fibre link between the UK and Canada.
The Pacific Ocean is a highly seismically active area, providing an ideal test bed for advancing the technology and demonstrating its full potential. NPL and the MSL will test the technique later this year on a section of the 3,876km-long Southern Cross NEXT cable on the floor of the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia.
More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and seas and oceans today are still mainly unmonitored. There are only a handful of permanent ocean-floor sensors in place globally, since installing and maintaining them is challenging and prohibitively expensive. By applying NPL’s technique to a multitude of seafloor cables, thousands of ocean-bottom sensors could be implemented.
NPL’s sensing technique does not require any new hardware or infrastructure to be installed or any changes to existing infrastructure on the seafloor instead, it utilises the optical fibre itself as the environmental sensors. NPL's technique has the potential to provide a valuable early warning system to safeguard coastal populations in the event of a tsunami. It also offers the first viable solution to fill the gap in data in ocean monitoring, with substantial impact in several scientific areas including seismology and oceanography.
Future projects could develop this concept into a worldwide monitoring network, giving earlier and more accurate detection of earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as advancing the world’s understanding of ocean floor geology and climate change through the long-term monitoring of seafloor temperature changes.
Giuseppe Marra, Principal Scientist at NPL, said, “This exciting UK-NZ joint project will enable NPL’s pioneering seafloor cable-based environmental detection technique to be tested in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. This will significantly advance research on these innovative environmental sensing techniques, with impact on a number of science areas, from seismology to oceanography, as well as future societal applications, such as in early tsunami warning systems. This project is a testament to how science is capable of bringing together minds from the world’s antipodes to advance our knowledge of how our planet works and bring positive impact to society.”
Dr Peter Thompson, CEO of NPL, said, “This technology, pioneered at NPL, is the perfect example of how our science can create impact, delivering tangible benefits for society which will simultaneously improve our understanding of the world.”
The project is part of a new collaboration agreement with New Zealand announced today by Andrew Griffith, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Committee for Science and Technological Policy Ministerial event at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, France.
UK Science Minister Andrew Griffith said, "Bringing the UK and New Zealand’s brightest minds together, to overhaul how we give advance warning of tsunamis, could save scores of lives. This work proves the value of breakthrough technologies like quantum, as well as the international teamwork that’s crucial to harnessing them.”
Annette Koo, Director and Chief Metrologist at the Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand, said, “MSL is delighted to partner with NPL to bring this potentially powerful technology to the Pacific. It is another beautiful example of improvement in measurement giving us access to depths of information that in turn push the limits of our metrology. Not only that, but we see precision measurement underpinning our aspirations for a sustainable future. Our earliest timekeeping devices - calendars - allowed us to live according to the rhythms of our natural world. And now the next generation of clocks is unlocking a new richness of insight into our planet.”
“We are very excited to collaborate with NPL and MSL on this project,” said Dean Veverka, CTO of Southern Cross Cables limited. “Southern Cross has a proud history of supporting initiatives designed to benefit the Pacific Island communities, we are thrilled to continue this through the development of NPL’s technology and the first trial of this in the Pacific. The 45,000km of the Southern Cross cable ecosystem spans the Pacific three times and once this technology is implemented the societal impact that early detection of seismic activity will have on the Pacific communities can be life changing.”
Exail introduces new transoceanic Uncrewed Surface Vessel with multi-robot deployment capabilities
Exail, a leading provider of maritime autonomy solutions, has unveiled its new transoceanic Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), the DriX O-16. Benefitting from an autonomy of 2,500 Nm and a unique naval architecture that enables the USV to withstand the most severe ocean conditions, the new DriX O-16 has been designed for long-duration operations (up to 30 days) and can deploy multiple payloads and subsea assets.
The new USV leverages the successful track record of the already existing DriX USV, launched back in 2017 and that accumulates over 150,000 hours of operations at sea in more than 19 countries. The new DriX O-16 benefits from a hybrid propulsion, redundant architecture, advanced communication systems, as well as AI powered obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities. It offers a high level of reliability and operational efficiency, and new multi-mission capabilities, for enhanced autonomous operations at sea.
A versatile platform, Exail new transoceanic USV allows to launch and recover a wide range of subsea assets such as Remotely Operated Towed Vehicles (ROTVs), inspection-class Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), as well as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Its gondola, located below the surface, can further host a wide range of payloads such as deep-water Multibeam Echosounders (MBES), Sub-Bottom Profilers (SBP), or acoustic subsea positioning and communication systems (USBL). This makes the new DriX O-16 especially suited for full ocean depth scientific and hydrographic surveys, geophysical and UXO surveys, as well as subsea infrastructures inspection and surveys that might require the deployment of multiple robots.
"With this next-generation transoceanic low-carbon USV, we are pushing back the limits of ocean exploration, empowering collaborative autonomy between surface and subsea drones, while minimizing human exposure at sea,” explains Olivier Cervantes, VP Maritime Autonomy Solutions at Exail. “The introduction of our new DriX O-16 truly marks a significant stride in autonomous maritime operations, as multi-robot missions are definitely where we see the maritime industry and our own developments leaning in the coming years.”
Autonomous marine survey and underwater inspection development boosted as Subsea Europe Services receives milestone investment
Leading innovator in autonomous marine survey and underwater inspection solutions and services Subsea Europe Services has completed a strategic multi-million Euro funding round. This significant investment marks a pivotal moment in the company's journey towards ‘True Autonomy’, an innovative approach to optimising marine data workflows through the seamless integration of new-generation sensors and platforms.
Comprised of 50% private equity and business angels, the investment is complemented by a mirrored contribution from the ‘Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH’ through the innovative ‘innoGROWTH’ Programme, which is renowned for supporting start-ups and medium-sized companies, particularly those focusing on ecological, digital, or social innovations.
The funding will propel Subsea Europe Services into a new era of growth and development, with a focus on attracting more skilled talent and expanding software and hardware development. Key workstreams will be accelerated with the company’s ongoing development of a state-of-the-art ‘Autonomy Engine’ and expansion of its existing autonomous surface and underwater vessel fleet leading the way. The addition of cutting-edge vehicles will be a significant leap forward in providing more capacity for autonomous survey and inspection services to the offshore wind industry and other marine sectors.
In alignment with this growth trajectory, Subsea Europe Services has strategically decided to relocate its headquarters to Rostock in the ‘Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania region’, where the company already has an extensive R&D centre. This relocation is poised to leverage the exceptional resources of the Ocean Technology Campus in Rostock, including the Digital Ocean Lab (DOL), the state-of-the-art testing facilities along the Warnow river waterfront, and proximity to key research institutions like the IOW, Rostock University, and the Fraunhofer Institute.
Søren Themann, CEO, at Subsea Europe Services, commented on this milestone development in the company’s short history, since it was founded at the beginning 2020: "The investment represents faith in our vision and mission to simplify the acquisition and analyses of marine data, making it more accessible to more organisations, and at a much lower cost. It enables us to deepen our research and development in autonomous marine technologies, bringing us closer to the reality of ‘True Autonomy’. Further, relocating our HQ to Rostock, a hub of marine innovation, positions us perfectly to harness the expert talent and professional facilities it offers.”
Mario Mietsch, Team Lead Investments at the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH, says: “Our investment is a testament to Subsea Europe Services’ innovative spirit and commitment to leading the charge in the marine technology sector. We’re looking forward to them becoming even more integral to the sector expertise we have in Rostock with the forthcoming HQ move, as well as supporting their journey to shape the future of marine survey and inspection using cutting-edge autonomous technology for operational, economic, and environmental benefits.”
Mario Mietsch, Team Lead Investments at the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH, says: “Our investment is a testament to Subsea Europe Services’ innovative spirit and commitment to leading the charge in the marine technology sector. We’re looking forward to them becoming even more integral to the sector expertise we have in Rostock with the forthcoming HQ move, as well as supporting their journey to shape the future of marine survey and inspection using cutting-edge autonomous technology for operational, economic, and environmental benefits.”
Tetra Tech purchases Teledyne’s CZMIL SuperNova to successfully complete NOAA's Great Lakes Coastal Mapping project
Teledyne Geospatial is pleased to announce that Tetra Tech, Inc., a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services, has purchased a Teledyne Optech CZMIL SuperNova Topobathymetric lidar system and have successfully completed a project for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA has an ongoing effort to update all its bathymetric maps in the Great Lakes region, which includes refined maps of the marine ecology. This necessitates obtaining accurate digital elevation models and reflectance products. The updated information will aid in enhancing the understanding of the Great Lakes hydrography and ecosystem.
Tetra Tech operated Teledyne’s Optech CZMIL SuperNova system for its best-in-class depth penetration and high-density mapping capability. The CZMIL SuperNova enabled mapping of the lakebed to a maximum depth of 31 meters. The intensity raster product, crafted with input from NOAA, served as a valuable tool for benthic habitat modeling and the full waveform data will contribute to further research questions. At the end of the project, Tetra Tech delivered classified point clouds and gridded products.
“The CZMIL SuperNova enabled Tetra Tech to exceed the project's density requirements, achieving approximately five points per square meter for bathymetric bottom density and an impressive 89 percent bathymetric bottom coverage across the Area of Interest,” said Renee Walmsley, Vice President for Tetra Tech Geomatics and Remote Sensing. “Tetra Tech is dedicated to continuous improvement and innovation in bathymetric lidar technology and is enthusiastic about exploring diverse environments worldwide, leveraging the CZMIL SuperNova system's capabilities.”
“We are particularly pleased to see the CZMIL SuperNova excel on this NOAA project and are driven by advancing 3D topo-bathymetric lidar solutions that help map and manage such aquatic environments. It is also our pleasure to support Tetra Tech on high impact projects like this one,” commented Malek Singer, Airborne Product Manager, Teledyne Geospatial.
Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 28,000 employees working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science® to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.
Teledyne Geospatial unifies the hardware and software expertise of Teledyne CARIS and Teledyne Optech. The group provides customers with innovative integrated solutions. Offerings include turnkey systems, lidar and sonar integrated workflows and a range of systems and solutions that support holistic, precision data collection.
Feritech Global spearheads subsea operations innovation for Oceaneering
Feritech Global has completed a major design and build project for Oceaneering, the world’s largest provider of subsea robotics to the offshore energy industry. The company has designed a next generation auto-drop piston corer which is expected to dramatically reduce the amount of time needed for subsea geotechnical surveying, increasing safety and efficiency, whilst reducing costs.
A piston corer is a long, heavy tube plunged into the seafloor to extract samples of soft sediment. Analysis of these samples provides vital information for developers who want to build installations out at sea, such as wind turbines, oil and gas pipelines, or undersea cables.
Rob Ferris, Managing Director of Falmouth-based Feritech Global, said: “The new auto-drop piston corer technology represents a step change in precision and efficiency. We estimate that this new product will enable seabed samples to be collected up to ten times faster than with traditional piston corers.”
The new bespoke system has been developed for Oceaneering with their project team involved in its development, providing feedback at each stage.
The new system includes a range of innovative features. Using sophisticated software, the auto-drop piston corer can be programmed, lowered to pre-set sea depth and then automatically released. This provides much greater precision and faster speeds than traditional piston corers, which are launched manually by a trigger mechanism. As well as improving efficiency, this system also enhances operator safety.
In addition, the Launch and Recovery System (LARS) and the winch can be operated remotely, through a control panel which is integrated into a lightweight wearable pack. This allows the operator to carry the control panel on the front of his body, making it portable and flexible. As a result, piston corer operations can be carried out safely by only one person, whereas previously at least two staff would have been needed to operate all the equipment required.
The upgraded LARS system also includes a new, strengthened barrier rail, which can withstand pressures of up to 2 tons.
Brandon Wacasey, Project Management Lead for Survey and Geotechnical Operations at Oceaneering says: “We are delighted with the outcome of this pioneering development project. This innovative new system will help increase the safety and efficiency of our subsea survey operations and help us continue to build our Geoscience market position.”
Oceaneering intends to deploy the new auto-drop piston corer in the international market.
Rob Ferris adds: “At its best, innovation is driven by really listening to users and using smart user insights to invent new solutions to challenges. This flagship project is a great example of that. We are very excited to see the new system deployed in 2024 and look forward to continuing to work closely with Oceaneering, as we continue to push at the frontiers of subsea geotechnical survey technology.”
FET enters into memorandum of understanding with SAFEEN Survey & Subsea Services
Forum Energy Technologies’ (FET) today announced that its Subsea Technologies product line executed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with an underwater inspections provider, SAFEEN Survey & Subsea Services (SAFEEN), to collaborate on the development of cutting-edge electric thrusters for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
A signing ceremony took place at the Oceanology International trade event in London, UK as FET launched its updated 300Vdc and 600Vdc range of direct current thrusters.
Under the Sub-Atlantic brand, FET has been a pioneer in the thruster market for over 20 years. The recently launched 600Vdc ROV thruster option for all observation and light work class thrusters is equivalent to the well proven SA-300 hydraulic thruster.
As part of the SAFEEN MOU agreement, the thrusters will be subject to extensive cycle testing to fully validate functionality, durability and integration capabilities with existing ROV systems. Testing will also ensure smooth deployment and operation.
The collaboration will enhance the performance, efficiency, and reliability of the United Arab Emirates headquartered company’s underwater services capabilities. The thrusters will be tailored specifically to the requirements of SAFEEN’s submersibles, delivering an optimal solution to the challenging marine operations in which it operates.
The development of the thrusters will be overseen by experts from both FET and SAFEEN, driving collaboration through effective communication and coordination of project activities.
Kevin Taylor, FET Vice President – KMS and Subsea Robotics, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Safeen on this groundbreaking industry initiative. Our shared commitment to excellence is complementary to our ongoing innovation goals and will drive the advancement of electric thrusters, redefining industry standards to ensure safety and efficiency during offshore operations.
“At FET we are at the forefront of innovation and sustainable development for our subsea technology. With our latest thrusters being launched alongside the signing of this MOU, we look forward to furthering our offering to the offshore and energy industries.”
Tareq Al Marzooqi, SAFEEN CEO, said: “This MOU represents a significant step forward in advancing underwater technology. By combining our expertise in marine exploration with FET’s cutting-edge engineering capabilities, we aim to revolutionise ROV propulsion systems.”
Greensea IQ strengthens its global presence signing major contract with BUVI Scandinavia at Oceanology International
In a strategic move to strengthen its global market presence, Greensea IQ, a leading provider of marine robotics software and integrated solutions, proudly announces the signing of BUVI Scandinavia (BUVI) to join its international sales team. The signing took place at Oceanology International on the Greensea IQ stand and follows another recent signing of the Spanish sales representative Uniformidad Y Suminstros De Proteccion (USP).
The introduction of these two new additions represents a significant milestone in Greensea IQ’s continuous global expansion efforts, and commitment to providing exceptional service and support to clients worldwide. With this expansion, Greensea IQ’s footprint will now encompass Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Spain.
The new business relationships will see BUVI and USP represent Greensea IQ and its complete range of Bayonet autonomous underwater ground vehicles (AUGVs). Offering a wealth of experience and specialised expertise, each representative will ultimately facilitate the increased accessibility of the Bayonet AUGVs within their respective markets. Their regional expertise will be instrumental in tailoring Greensea IQ’s offerings, fostering strong relationships with local customers and partners.
BUVI was established in 2011 and has extensive experience in ROVs, underwater technology and other underwater assignments. BUVI Scandinavia is a trusted partner for its clients in the region offering consultation, training, and support to deliver subsea solutions and technology that is capable, efficient, and user-friendly for their customers. Serving as Greensea IQ’s international representative, BUVI will support sales for Greensea IQ’s Bayonet AUGVs to its clientele across all of Scandinavia. providing an established and trusted partner to drive Greensea IQ’s growth and impact in the region.
“BUVI Scandinavia has been following the development of Greensea IQ and its software in ROVs for some time,” said Marie Fleetwood, CEO & Marketing BUVI Scandinavia. “Now that BUVI Scandinavia’s focus on underwater solutions has taken bigger steps towards Search, Security, Police, Military, Defense, and Surveillance, the Bayonet AUGV range has become an obvious and perfect addition to our portfolio of products and solutions.”
“With Greensea IQ’s strength in developing intelligent ocean solutions and BUVI Scandinavia’s network of contacts in Scandinavia and Europe, we look forward to being a Greensea IQ representative and a strong team together.”
USP, backed by 40 years of expertise, stands as a distinguished authority in advising and equipping various sectors, including law enforcement, armed forces, private security, and the civil sector. It specialises in providing superior solutions for police and military needs, including ballistic solutions and specific products tailored to diverse requirements. The addition of the Bayonet line up to its portfolio will undoubtedly increase Greensea IQ’s standing among the Spanish defense and commercial clientele of USP, capitalising on USP’s trusted reputation.
Rob Howard, Greensea IQ’s CGO, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, “We are excited to welcome BUVI Scandinavia and USP to our Growth Team. Their representation in these key regions strengthens our efforts to provide Greensea IQ products and services on a global scale."
The recruitment of sales representatives for Scandinavia and Spain is part of Greensea IQ’s comprehensive strategy to expand its international presence and global footprint. By investing in local professionals, the company aims to facilitate greater market penetration, improve customer satisfaction, and drive sustainable growth.
Kongsberg Discovery empowers remote operations with launch of breakthrough HiPOS – HiPAP positioning software
Kongsberg Discovery has responded to market demand with an innovative new software solution to enable remote operations of HiPAP and µPAP SSBL acoustic positioning systems, for both crewed and uncrewed survey vessels.
Launched at Oceanology International in London, HiPOS – HiPAP Positioning Software for Remote Operations bridges the gap between onshore teams and vessels, allowing shore-based surveyors in remote operations control centres to operate the SSBL system with the same functionality as being offshore. Remote operations reduce HSE risk, with fewer personnel offshore, while also enabling lower operational carbon footprints with smaller uncrewed vessels.
Remote control
The software essentially splits the workload of Kongsberg Discovery’s HiPAP systems, with the positioning and processing managed onboard the vessel processor, while a client user interface is run remotely over a lower bandwidth VPN connection. The remote connection can be via satellite, 4G, 5G or Maritime broadband radio.
The user interface can also be operated directly on the vessel, as in a traditional setup, whilst at the same time having the option for shore-based operators to log in and take over for a shift, or provide expert support.
Evolving demand
Spencer Collins, Vice President for Sales, Kongsberg Discovery, comments: “Our proven HiPAP systems ensure accurate positioning of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), towed bodies, or structures, as well as data recovery from cNODE sensor logging transponders and cNODE modems. We’ve seen global demand grow and now evolve, with a clear call for a solution that allows greater remote, onshore control.
“Meeting that challenge, and addressing this customer ‘pain point’, has been the prime motivation for this new development. We believe this user-friendly software can be a key piece of the puzzle in delivering safe, secure, and more sustainable operations in the most demanding environments.”
Simplifying benefits
HiPOS can be used across the latest generation of Kongsberg Discovery HiPAP systems, including the 602, 502, 352 and µPAP solutions.
In addition to the software innovation, the Norwegian-headquartered business has also added two models of portable SSBL acoustic systems to its market-leading portfolio, the µPAP 201-C and HiPAP 352P-C. With computers built into the transceiver/transducer housing this offering allows for easy installation on smaller uncrewed vessels by negating the need for a separate onboard computer.
NextGeo wraps up the Tyrrhenian Link East survey works for Prysmian
The Naples-headquartered international survey contractor Next Geosolutions (NextGeo) has successfully completed all the pre-installation survey tasks for the Tyrrhenian Link East branch on behalf of Prysmian.
The works entailed extensive marine detailed geophysical, geotechnical, UXO, archaeological and environmental survey activities along the Terna’s submarine power line connecting the landing points in Sicily and in Campania with two HVDC cables, approximately 485 kilometres long each.
Additional survey tasks have been executed in the nearshore sections of the corridor, including boreholes, HDD survey, topography and geoelectrical investigations.
Over 400 days of work and numerous ships were used to carry out the project, including the group-owned offshore vessels MPSV “NG Worker” and MPSV “Ievoli Ivory”, as well as the MV “Eco-One” and other smaller nearshore vessels.
The Tyrrhenian Link is one of the most important energy infrastructures in the entire Mediterranean. With this project, Terna, the Italian TSO, will connect Sicily with Sardinia and the Italian peninsula through a double submarine HVDC cable link with a power capacity of 1,000 MW and a total length of about 970 km.
The connection will improve the electricity exchange capacity, promote the development of renewable sources and the reliability of the grid.
Giorgio Ruta, NextGeo Project Manager for the Tyrrhenian Link project, added: “This mission presented quite a few operational challenges, however it was successfully, efficiently and sustainably accomplished, thanks to the consistent NextGeo resilience, resources and capabilities, as well as to a close collaboration with all the teams involved in the project. We are extremely proud to actively contribute to the realisation of such a fundamental energy infrastructure”.
Corcovado Geosub Ltda looks to Kongsberg Discovery to supply cNODE Transponders for environmental monitoring
Corcovado Geosub Ltda today signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Kongsberg Discovery for advanced seabed monitoring equipment.
The agreement, for the delivery of cNODE Sensor Logging Transponders, will allow Corcovado to conduct long-term environmental monitoring for seabed horizontal and vertical displacement during both carbon capture & storage and oil & gas recovery, within the Brazilian market.
Empowering decision making
Corcovado Geosub, a specialist Brazilian supplier of Survey, ROV and AUV services, has an established relationship with Kongsberg Discovery, having conducted high resolution mapping of significant areas of the seafloor with the HUGIN AUV.
The latest order, confirmed at Oceanology International in London, will put Corcovado at the forefront of serving the Brazilian market to monitor seabed displacement. Monitoring for changes to elevation of the seabed during carbon capture, for example, is essential to mitigate against the risk of the stored gas escaping due to over-pressurisation.
As Donizeti Carneiro, Commercial Director, Corcovado, explains, the ground-breaking precision offered by Kongsberg Sensor Logging Transponders in the deep-water offshore environment is exactly what is required to deliver vital information to clients to ensure optimal decisions during production and carbon capture.
Precise performance
He comments: “The cNODE Sensors will be deployed for up to 10 years at a time providing high quality data that will be recovered every three to six months by acoustic telemetry.
“The sensors chosen within the cNODE Sensor Logging Transponders range include high accuracy digiquartz crystals and internal barometers for continuous calibration, providing the highest quality and precision in the data.”
Ocean intelligence
Spencer Collins, VP Sales, Kongsberg Discovery, adds: “The demand for high-specification underwater positioning transponders for seabed monitoring reflects the market demand in ensuring environmental safety during offshore operations.
“Kongsberg Discovery’s key mission is protechting people and planet and in providing the technology to Corcovado we enable the sustainable management, monitoring and development of the ocean space.”
Kongsberg Discovery’s cNODE family of transponders are market proven medium frequency units for highly accurate underwater acoustic positioning and data links, while µPAP is a small and compact acoustic positioning system for tracking ROV's, tow fish, divers and any other subsea target at ranges up to several thousand metres.