Satlink integrates nke Group and consolidates its position as a global leader in ocean technologies
Satlink, the global leader in proprietary ocean technology solutions, has integrated nke Group (“nke”), a French company with over 40 years of experience in providing innovative end-to-end custom manufacturing instruments for both water quality measurement and monitoring in oceans and fresh waters, and navigation. Headquartered in Hennebont (Brittany, France), nke is a key partner to thousands of private and public customers across the world.
This transaction brings together two of the most established players in the sector and stands as one of the most significant milestones in the ocean tech industry in recent years, creating the largest independent European ocean tech platform.
Present in more than 130 countries, with 13 offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia, and a global network of local partners, Satlink serves over 10,000 organizations –including governments, research institutions, industry partners, and NGOs– and will reach €100 million sales in 2025, consolidating its position as a worldwide reference in maritime technologies.
With this combination, Satlink further accelerates the development of data-collection and analysis solutions, enabling a better understanding and management of the oceans and their resources, ensuring their long-term sustainability. nke complements these capabilities with its renowned technological expertise in water monitoring, including major contributions to the Argo program, among others. Together, Satlink and nke create a unique platform that combines world-class instrumentation with advanced data analysis, integrated science-based and proprietary solutions to better understand, protect, and manage the oceans’ resources.
nke will continue to operate under its own brand, preserving its identity and trusted customer relationships. nke’s leadership team will remain unchanged, ensuring business continuity and preserving the company’s DNA. The integration also includes Aquaread, a UK-based manufacturer of portable and fixed water quality monitoring instruments and part of nke, which expands Satlink Group’s reach into inland and coastal water monitoring.
The CEO of nke, Mr. Alain Boschet, will invest in the Satlink Group alongside the existing shareholders, namely Apheon, Artá Capital, Mr. Faustino Velasco and the rest of the Satlink management team.
Faustino Velasco, Founder and Executive Chairman of Satlink, said: "We are thrilled to welcome the entire nke team, with whom we partner to further accelerate our innovation capabilities, expand our portfolio of solutions, and ultimately improve ocean knowledge and sustainability through proprietary technology. The integration strengthens our global reach and, most importantly, onboards an extraordinary team that shares our values and
ambition to make a difference".
Alain Boschet, CEO of nke, added: "Joining forces with Satlink represents a unique opportunity to accelerate growth and expand our international presence while further enhancing our R&D capabilities. We are confident that this step will bring nke to the next level and are very excited with this new chapter alongside Faustino and the overall team."
Record Number of Participants Deployed Kraken Robotics’ Synthetic Aperture Sonar at REPMUS 2025
Kraken Robotics Inc. (“Kraken” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: PNG, OTCQB: KRKNF) announces that a record number of participants used its synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) technology at the annual Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS) exercise in Portugal. Seven international naval teams and three uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) manufacturers deployed Kraken SAS for maritime security exercise applications including mine countermeasure operations and critical underwater infrastructure inspection, demonstrating interoperability across platforms, nations, and mission objectives in the underwater domain.
“This year we saw Kraken SAS usage at REPMUS double compared to last year, with ten teams leveraging Kraken systems,” said Greg Reid, President and CEO of Kraken Robotics. “Hands-on operational trials like REPMUS are invaluable—they let us collaborate with operators under real conditions so we can refine product roadmaps and continue to deliver the best solutions for tomorrow’s missions.”
This marks Kraken’s fourth consecutive year supporting REPMUS, with an increasing number of participants using Kraken SAS each year, from one in 2022 to 10 in 2025. This year, Kraken SAS was integrated across four different types of UUVs, from small-class to large-class.
Kraken personnel provided shore-side integration and data support, collaborating with users on best practices for efficient and accurate operations. Systems captured data at a constant 3 cm x 3 cm resolution, revealing mine-like objects and subsea cables as small as 5 cm diameter.
The 2025 REPMUS exercise brought together more than 30 nations, 2000 participants, and 250 autonomous assets to test naval interoperability in realistic operational environments.
Watch footage here
Sonardyne presented with dual King's Awards by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire
Global underwater technology company Sonardyne International has been formally presented with its two prestigious King’s Awards for Enterprise in a ceremony at its Hampshire, UK, headquarters.
The King's Awards for Sustainable Development and International Trade were presented by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson, on Friday, October 10.
The King’s Award for Enterprise is the most prestigious award for UK businesses. Receiving two in one year highlights the company's excellence across different, yet interconnected, areas of its operations.
Graham Brown, Managing Director of Sonardyne, commented on the occasion: “It was a great honour to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire to our headquarters to formally receive our two King’s Awards. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, ingenuity, and collaborative spirit of our entire team worldwide.
"These awards validate our long-standing commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology while championing sustainable practices and fostering strong international partnerships.”
The Lord-Lieutenant said, “It was my pleasure to present the two awards on behalf of His Majesty The King to acknowledge the continued growth and development of Sonardyne.”
The Award for Sustainable Development acknowledges the company's success in achieving carbon neutrality for its UK operations and its role in developing technologies that support the sustainable use of the world’s oceans.
The Award for International Trade celebrates Sonardyne's remarkable 83% growth in overseas sales over three years, demonstrating the global trust in its innovative solutions for the offshore energy, ocean science, and maritime security sectors.
It is just over three decades since Sonardyne’s first Queen’s Award, received in 1995, for Technological Innovation, recognising the pioneering development of its Seismic Integrated Positioning System. Sonardyne then also received Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Innovation in 2014, for underwater digital acoustic communications technology, and again in 2021, for seabed deformation monitoring technology.
MacArtney and Teledyne ODI accelerate connector service across Europe
European operators now benefit from faster, certified subsea connector servicing through MacArtney’s expanded partnership with Teledyne ODI. With shorter lead times and full lifecycle support, MacArtney helps customers minimise downtime and maximise the lifespan of critical underwater systems.
Approved servicing is carried out at MacArtney’s dedicated workshop in Norway, now offering authorised refurbishment services on Teledyne ODI connector systems. As part of MacArtney’s European offering, this location brings inspection, fault diagnosis, and repair capabilities closer to operators across the region, enabling more responsive support for those working with Teledyne ODI products.
Comprehensive support for Teledyne ODI systems MacArtney’s servicing covers individual Teledyne ODI connectors, complete cable assemblies, and integrated systems. By addressing performance at both the component and operational levels, such as underwater frames and sensor packages, MacArtney helps operators maintain equipment integrity and avoid costly replacements.
“Extended lead times have challenged the market, and this new partnership will help customers maintain and service their connectivity systems in a timely manner,” says Bjørn Tormod Akselsen, Managing Director at MacArtney Norway. “To meet demand more effectively, MacArtney stocks an agreed volume of key components for Teledyne ODI servicing. This ensures availability and supports more predictable delivery schedules, helping European operators keep their systems running reliably.”
Beyond repairs – specialised connector services In addition to standard repairs, MacArtney offers specialised services for complex connector systems and integrated applications. These include assemblies with moulded solutions tailored for test connectors and short-life subsea applications. Test connectors play a vital role in verifying system integrity before deployment, enabling operators to simulate real-world conditions and ensure reliable performance without risking permanent damage to equipment. The MacArtney options with moulded solutions will complement the Teledyne ODI product offering, adding flexibility to meet unique operational needs.
Strengthening connectivity in European waters This expanded service offering reinforces MacArtney’s role as a full-lifecycle connectivity partner for the European subsea industry. Delivered through our approved Norwegian facility, the programme is part of a broader strategy to provide consistent, regionally accessible support for Teledyne ODI systems and beyond.
The initiative also supports MacArtney’s broader connectivity portfolio, which includes SubConn®, OptoLink™ and TrustLink™ connectors. Together, these solutions enable reliable, responsive, and technically capable performance across a wide range of subsea applications, from marine and offshore to ocean science and defence.
MacArtney’s Teledyne ODI connector servicing capabilities will be fully operational and ready to support European operators from the first half of 2026. For further information, please contact your local MacArtney representative.
Redwing Glider Successfully Launched in Historic Global Ocean Mission
Teledyne Marine has successfully launched the next-generation Slocum Sentinel glider, ‘Redwing’, into the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, Oct. 11, approximately 43 miles southeast of Woods Hole, Mass. The launch, which is a collaboration with Rutgers University, took place aboard the Ocean Researcher, a 41-foot research vessel under clear skies and one- to three-foot seas.
The Teledyne Marine team on board included Shea Quinn, Sentinel Mission Project Lead; Cordie Goodrich, Sentinel Mission Lead Pilot; and Sal Fricano, Glider Applications Engineer and Pilot.
Redwing is embarking on the five-year Sentinel Mission, where it will become the first autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to circumnavigate the globe.
Brian Maguire, COO at Teledyne Marine, explained: “We are humbled by the scale of this mission. To send a glider around the globe, every detail must be world class — the design, the hardware and software, the support, and the people executing the mission. This is our moonshot!”
Maguire added: “This mission is what Teledyne Marine is about. We’re sensing at the edge, analyzing and distributing data at the speed of decision making; doing this with highly engineered products that solve tough, real-world challenges.
“This is not just a technical achievement. It’s a testament to what happens when bold customers, brilliant engineers, and relentless operators come together with a shared purpose: to explore, to protect, and to understand our oceans.
“We have fielded over 1,000 Gliders. As Sentinel begins its journey, it carries the legacy of learning from every mission our customers have run with our gliders.”
Shea Quinn, Sentinel Mission Project Lead at Teledyne Marine, added: “Beyond the attempt at the first ever global circumnavigation by an AUV, this mission will demonstrate that we now have the capability to send autonomous systems to the most remote areas of the ocean,” said Quinn. “We can use them for months or years at a time to gather valuable scientific data to take the next step in ocean data gathering and hopefully inspire more people to become involved in the study of our oceans and the technologies that enable it.”
Monitoring the launch remotely, Rutgers oceanographer and science co-lead Scott Glenn reflected on the moment Redwing left the dock at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Friday, Oct. 10, after a celebratory launch event: “It brought me a sense of relief. That we are as prepared as we are going to be, and the best way to move the technology forward now is to spend time at sea. I felt that same calmness that I have felt many times before when a glider mission begins, as our focus changes from preparation for all that can go wrong, to ocean exploration and the many new opportunities for discovery.”
Redwing’s journey will take it across the Gulf Stream towards Europe, then south to Gran Canaria, onward to Cape Town, across the Indian Ocean to Australia and New Zealand, through the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and eventually back to the Atlantic via the Falkland Islands, Brazil, and the Caribbean.
The mission is a collaboration between Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University. Engineers from Teledyne, alongside more than 50 students from Rutgers University - who have been instrumental in developing flight tools and navigation software - will work in unison to help track and keep Redwing on its time critical flight path. A combined mission control will be split between Teledyne and the Center of Ocean Observing Leadership (COOL) room at Rutgers, where data will be analyzed throughout the five-year mission.
The mission aims to revolutionize ocean data collection, improve weather forecasting and our understanding of the causes of extreme weather events, and inspire the next generation of ocean scientists and engineers.
The Sentinel Mission’s progress will be updated on www.teledynemarine.com/sentinelmission and can be followed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sentinel_mission
The sea launch footage can be accessed here
Exail expands presence in the Baltic Sea with first DriX H-8 delivery to Orlen Petrobaltic
Exail, together with its partner Thesta, has delivered a DriX H-8 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) to Orlen Petrobaltic. This marks the very first commercial deployment of DriX in Poland, where the complex maritime environment of the Baltic Sea demands innovative and resilient solutions for offshore operations.
The Exail’s DriX H-8 USV is known for its robustness, endurance, and ability to deliver high-quality hydrographic and geophysical data. With its autonomous capabilities and ability to operate in challenging offshore conditions, the DriX H-8 offers a safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crewed vessels.
Orlen Petrobaltic will deploy the DriX H-8 in the Baltic Sea to support offshore platform activities. For this project, the DriX H-8 will be equipped with a Norbit B51S multibeam echosounder (MBES), integrated on the platform for the very first time. This new configuration provides Orlen Petrobaltic with a next-generation hydrographic survey capability, enhancing data quality and efficiency while operating in the Baltic Sea’s demanding conditions.
“Deploying DriX H-8 in the Baltic Sea for the first time is another illustration of how Exail pushes the boundaries of uncrewed maritime operations,” said Jens Higgen, Regional Sales Director at Exail. “Together with Orlen Petrobaltic, we’re proud to shape a new standard for offshore data acquisition and autonomy.”
New HUGIN for the University of Gothenburg to Replace “Ran”
The purchase contract is currently being signed for the HUGIN underwater vehicle with a 3000-meter range, which will replace “Ran”, lost under an Antarctic glacier in 2024. A major donation from Voice of the Ocean, along with insurance funds, now enables researchers at the University of Gothenburg to plan new expeditions.
The University of Gothenburg is pleased to announce the purchase of a new underwater vehicle, which will enable the continuation of its vital research activities.
“Thanks to Ran, we became the first researchers in the world to enter beneath the Thwaites grounding-line glacier. Although ice melt and movement can be observed through satellite data, we were able to get close-up images of the underside of the ice and detailed information about the exact mechanisms driving the melting,” says Anna Wåhlin, professor of oceanography, who led the expedition with Ran in Antarctica.
Stene Førsund, Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Kongsberg Discovery, is pleased that the research in Antarctica will continue with a new autonomous underwater vehicle.
“The new vehicle “Ran II” will have better capacity than “Ran”, with more robust emergency decision support and improved navigation. These upgrades enhance both safety and precision in hard-to-reach environments such as beneath glaciers, sea ice, and near the seabed,” he says.
Temperature-sensing technology to improve safety on snow and ice
Technology capable of monitoring snow and ice conditions in some of the most extreme and challenging environments on Earth is now providing real-world solutions to improving safety and infrastructure management in a changing climate.
SIMBA (Snow Ice Mass Balance Apparatus) is a powerful autonomous device that was originally designed as a scientific research tool for polar researchers but is now also being used to help forecast avalanche risk, assess the safety of ice roads, flood risk monitoring and protect energy infrastructure.
The device consists of a thermistor chain that measures temperature and thermal characteristics of the environment. These sensors deliver data in real time, giving detailed information on snow and ice pack conditions in regions and locations where safety is paramount.
In launching its latest version today [Monday], developer SAMS Enterprise, based in Oban, Scotland, has enhanced SIMBA’s capabilities for a number of commercial applications.
SIMBA units can now be seen across the Arctic and Antarctic, throughout northern Europe and in Canadian mountain ranges, providing valuable data for climate researchers, avalanche forecasters, hydroelectric power companies, engineers, transportation and logistics planners and flood risk evaluators.
Dr Mark Hart, SIMBA project manager, said: “Originally developed as a scientific research tool, SIMBA has evolved into a real-world solution used by those on the frontlines of climate, safety, and infrastructure management. With this history of providing scientifically accurate data, the New Generation SIMBA is the most reliable tool for quick and accurate snow and ice information.
“Operating in some of the most extreme environments on the planet requires reliability, durability and adaptability. That’s why the latest developments have included enhanced battery performance, compatibility with external power sources, SDI-12 enabled for third party sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) data transmission capability and USB-C interface.
“There is now capacity for two thermistor chains instead of one, meaning more data points, greater resolution and contingency to understand the environment. We have also been working with Peli Products UK to improve the robustness and appearance of the unit itself to make it more user friendly.”
Data from SIMBA units has contributed to more than 70 peer-reviewed research papers to date and 28 units were used on the MOSAiC expedition, billed as the largest polar expedition of all time.
In Canada, SIMBA units have been deployed as part of The Churchill River Monitoring project, which was established after a flood caused by an ice jam at the outlet into Goose Bay required the evacuation of a nearby community. The units autonomously return data every 6 hours, minimising the risk to people by reducing the number of visits onto the ice.
In the Cairngorm mountains, Scotland, SIMBA units are used to assess the snow depth, consistency and the rate at which it melts in order to provide data for avalanche forecasters.
Australia’s AMC Search Contract Award to Robosys Automation to support ASV Training
AMC Search will be using Robosys’ VOYAGER AI to support its ASV Remote Operator Training with its WAMV-16 USV
Robosys Automation, a global leader in advanced maritime autonomy and remote operations, has announced a new contract award from the Australian Maritime College, AMC Search, to supply its advanced VOYAGER AI software as a retrofit to its OPT WAMV-16 Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV).
This contract builds upon the current successful collaboration between Robosys and AMC Search for where VOYAGER AI is deployed in the Australian Maritime College’s (AMC) Bridge Simulators to build trust in AI navigation testing for STCW watchkeepers as well as to test autonomous COLREGS based Collision Avoidance.
This new contract will further be enhancing the college’s ASV (Autonomous Surface vehicle) Remote Operator Training Courses.
Under this new agreement, Robosys’ VOYAGER AI remote operations and maritime autonomy software will be integrated with the WAM-V 16 USV to provide enhanced autonomous navigation, real-time decision-making, and adaptive mission planning capabilities. VOYAGER AI will therefore be in operation in both AMC’s Bridge Simulator Suite, and afloat onboard the WAM-V.
Nick Bonser, of AMC Search comments: “Continuing AMC Search and Robosys’ successful ongoing collaboration, the adoption of Robosys’ VOYAGER AI into a new remote operator training course will significantly expand the college’s training capacity, giving students direct experience with state-of-the-art AI-driven autonomy systems used in modern uncrewed maritime operations.”
The WAM-V 16 platform, developed for training, research, and operational use, will benefit from Voyager AI’s robust capabilities in autonomous control, COLREG-compliant collision avoidance, and multi-sensor data fusion. The system will serve as a core component in AMC Search’s training curriculum, preparing students to meet the evolving demands of remote and autonomous vessel operations.
Nigel Lee, CSO of Robosys Automation, stated: “We are proud to continue our partnership with AMC Search. The awarding of this new contract is a strong endorsement of the value that VOYAGER AI brings to ASV operations and training. It’s a privilege to support AMC Search in shaping the future of maritime autonomy through cutting-edge education and technology.”
This renewed collaboration reinforces Robosys Automation’s position as a trusted global provider of maritime autonomy solutions and underlines its commitment to supporting academic and training institutions worldwide in developing the next generation of USV remote operators.
Find out more at www.robosysautomation.com.
Sonardyne underwater positioning and tracking for US Academic Research Fleet
Underwater positioning and tracking technology from Sonardyne has been chosen for three new oceanographic research vessels being built under the US' National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Class Research Vessel (RCRV) construction programme.
Led by Oregon State University, the state-of-the-art RCRVs are being built for the US' Academic Research Fleet (ARF), enabling a new era of coastal and regional marine science.
To support the RCRV's scientific missions, across diverse marine environments, Oregon State University selected Sonardyne's Ranger 2 Gyro USBL 7000, engineered to meet both the demanding, multidisciplinary research objectives of the ARF and vessel-build requirements.
The first system has recently been delivered to Oregon State University to be fitted to the R/V Taani, to be operated by the university, by vessel builder Bollinger Houma Shipyards.
Systems for the other two vessels, R/V Narragansett Dawn (to be operated by a University of Rhode Island-led consortium) and the R/V Gilbert R. Mason (to be operated by the Gulf-Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium) will be delivered next year.
"The RCRV construction programme represents a significant enhancement to the US Academic Research Fleet," says James Caison, Design Specialist, at OSU working on the RCRV programme. "These vessels will empower researchers to address critical questions in climate, ecology, and ocean dynamics across the Pacific coast, east coast and Gulf of Mexico."
"The RCRV construction programme represents a significant enhancement to the US Academic Research Fleet," says Kim Swords, Technical Sales Manager at Sonardyne.
"This order is an endorsement of the precision and reliability delivered by our Ranger 2 USBL systems. It reinforces Sonardyne's position as a trusted provider of high-performance acoustic positioning technologies for the US marine science and research community."
Sonardyne's Ranger 2 will allow US researchers to accurately track and simultaneously communicate with multiple underwater scientific instruments, vehicles or towed platforms, at ranges up to 10,000 m depending on its configuration.
The Ranger 2 Gyro USBL 7000 system was specifically selected for its precise acoustic tracking performance, integrated gyrocompass and proven reliability in complex deployment scenarios.
With Ranger 2 Gyro USBL, scientists and researchers using the RCRVs can be sure of optimal underwater positioning and tracking capabilities, without the need for separate external heading sensors.
For vessels equipped with a dynamic positioning system, Ranger 2 can also provide accurate and repeatable position referencing, in any water, without interrupting target tracking operations.