Sulmara strengthens Eastern Hemisphere leadership team to support regional growth
Leadership promotions reinforce Sulmara’s long-term investment in the Eastern Hemisphere and strengthen regional operational delivery capability.
Seabed intelligence company Sulmara has announced a series of senior leadership promotions across its Eastern Hemisphere operations, as the company positions itself for a busy and strategically important 2026.
The changes build on several years of sustained growth in Taiwan and reflect Sulmara’s continued commitment to developing and empowering internal talent, strengthening regional leadership, and supporting clients across offshore energy, renewables and marine infrastructure markets.
As part of the transition, Carl Bailey has been promoted to Taiwan General Manager and has relocated to Taipei. Carl progresses from his role as Project Director APAC, where he has played a central role in delivering complex offshore survey projects and strengthening Sulmara’s operational presence across the region.
In his new role, Carl will lead the Taiwan business with full P&L responsibility, overseeing operations with a focus on performance, sustainable growth, client collaboration and regional capability development. By being based in Taipei, he will work closely with local teams, partners and clients, further strengthening Sulmara’s engagement and delivery capability across the region.
Commenting on his promotion, Carl, commented: “Over the past five years with Sulmara, I’ve had the privilege of working on a range of complex projects across the Eastern Hemisphere, delivering high-quality data to support critical project decision making. As we continue to invest in new technology and regional assets, we’re strengthening our ability to deliver more efficient offshore projects, reducing time offshore and lowering the carbon footprint of out projects. I’m pleased to now take on the role of General Manager here in Taiwan, and to continue working closely with our clients and partners as we expand the range, quality and efficiency of services Sulmara can provide across the region.”
Alongside Carl’s promotion, James Hope has taken on an expanded role as Regional Strategy Director for the Eastern Hemisphere. Building on his existing leadership responsibilities, James will focus on strategy and business acquisition to further affirm Sulmara’s market position in Taiwan and drive strategic expansion throughout the region. He will implement Sumara's global strategy regionally, oversee entry into new territories and develop strategic partnerships that deliver long-term value for clients.
James added: “These changes reflect the strength and depth of our team in APAC and the importance of the region to Sulmara’s long-term strategy. Carl’s progression into the General Manager role recognises his deep operational expertise and strong client focus, both of which will be critical as we continue to invest in regional capability, strengthen delivery and build long-term partnerships. Together, these leadership changes position us well to convert opportunity into sustainable growth across the region.”
There have also been promotions elsewhere in the business, including the sales team. Drawing on her extensive sales experience and diplomatic skills honed during her tenure at the British Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, Jenny Chen brings a fresh and highly skilled perspective to Sulmara in her role as BD and Sales Lead. Since joining, she has hit the ground running, already positioning Sulmara for several key contracts expected to close this year and has become an invaluable and popular member of the team.
Looking forward, Sulmara will continue to expand its presence and services across the region, supporting offshore wind, renewables and wider offshore energy projects with reliable data, technical expertise and practical insight.
These appointments underscore Sulmara’s commitment to working closely with clients in the region and delivering solutions that support safe, efficient and sustainable offshore development. For more information about Sulmara and its global operations, please visit www.sulmara.com.
MacArtney strengthens local footprint in Sweden with new Gothenburg office
MacArtney has taken the next step in its Sweden operations, moving into an office at Nya Varvet near central Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast, positioning its local colleagues in one of the country’s most active marine environments.
Located along the Göta Älv, connecting Gothenburg to the North Sea and the Baltic region via the Kattegat, the setting brings MacArtney closer to customers operating in marine and offshore, ocean science, and naval industries. Since relocating, the Swedish operation has begun welcoming visitors, using the space for dialogue, demonstration, and ongoing collaboration.
A more embedded position in Sweden
The relocation marks a clear shift in how MacArtney’s Sweden operation engages with the market. Rather than working at a distance, the Gothenburg office is now positioned alongside customers, partners, and industry peers.
The office has become a natural meeting point, drawing more people through the door and opening up conversations beyond immediate projects, often continuing in a more informal setting. These interactions are leading to further collaboration across MacArtney’s core segments and fostering engagement with academic and scientific institutions.
Turning presence into better system decisions
Proximity improves how the Sweden operation works with project requirements. It allows upfront clarification of needs and context, while giving the local organisation a strong role in technology choices, integration, and configuration in line with specifications. For customers, this creates a more direct path from defined criteria to deployment.
“From the outset, the ambition was to be part of the environment in which our customers operate and where challenges are defined,” says Håkan Sundin, VD/Managing Director at MacArtney Sweden. “With the move to Nya Varvet, we are seeing this translate into daily interaction. Being closer to the work allows us to engage more directly with client requirements and the technical considerations behind them, giving us a clearer view of how our solutions fit each application and how we can respond to the realities of day-to-day use.”
Nordic capability and long-term direction
This development is also evident at a regional level, reflecting a broader reinforcement of MacArtney’s position in the Nordic market, where MacArtney Norway has recently been recognised as a Gaselle company for sustained growth and operational strength under demanding market conditions.
Globally, MacArtney’s approach is grounded in listening to customers and understanding the outcome that needs to be achieved. In environments where precision and reliability are critical, this is supported by technical insight, collaborative working methods, and a consistent focus on operational fit.
“At Group level, we see value in strengthening our local presence in key markets,” says Niels Peter Christiansen, CEO of MacArtney. “In Sweden, this now takes shape in the connection between the Gothenburg team and our global capabilities, ensuring that the technologies brought into each project match real-world conditions, while maintaining availability and long-term collaboration.”
Explor adopts Sercel Accel drop nodes for first large-scale seismic deployment in the US
Sercel has announced the first commercial sale of its Accel land nodal seismic acquisition solution. Under the terms of the sale, 18,000 Accel drop nodes have been delivered to Explor and are already being deployed on a seismic survey in the United States. This sale marks the first large-scale field deployment of the industry’s first onshore drop node solution, less than one year after its launch.
Designed to revolutionize land seismic data acquisition, Accel significantly reduces deployment time, field personnel requirements, and HSE exposure. Its compact, droppable design and smart deployment system streamline logistics, improve operational efficiency, and help reduce costs. Powered by Sercel’s QuietSeis® MEMS sensor and integrated Pathfinder QC technology, Accel delivers high-density, high-quality data with real-time quality control.
Allan Chatenay, President of Explor, said: “Accel’s simplicity and speed allow us to operate more efficiently with fewer people and a reduced footprint, while delivering the high-density data our projects require. We selected Accel for its broadband capabilities, agility, and ability to deploy at scale with ease. This is further enhanced by the Pathfinder technology, which enables continuous monitoring of the entire spread during operations. Its drop-on-ground design ensures excellent coupling while eliminating the need for additional tools, significantly accelerating deployment and reducing HSE exposure.”
Jérôme Denigot, CEO, Sercel, said: “This first Accel sale marks a major milestone for Sercel, confirming the industry’s readiness for a new, more efficient approach to land seismic acquisition. Its ongoing large-scale deployment demonstrates Accel’s ability to support modern seismic surveys, enabling faster, safer, and more agile operations at scale with a reduced environmental footprint.”
Next Geosolutions expands offshore services with trenching work on the Bouri Gas Utilisation Project
Next Geosolutions, one of the leading international players in marine geoscience and offshore construction support services for the energy sector and listed on Euronext Growth Milan market, announces the completion of post-lay trenching work as part of the Bouri Gas Utilisation Project (BGUP).
This initiative marks a further step forward in the Group’s development, expanding the range of solutions offered to customers through the integration of trenching services, in line with the growth strategy outlined in recent market announcements.
Within BGUP, operational activities are carried out in support of the installation operations led by Saipem, thanks to the contribution of Rana Subsea and the collaboration, for trenching activities, with Pharos Offshore Group, the supplier of the specialist technologies used. The initiative reflects NextGeo’s approach, based on the integration of expertise and strategic industrial partnerships to enhance the value offered across the offshore services chain.
Alessandro Buffa, CEO of Rana Subsea, commented: “With this initiative, we are reaffirming our ability to meet the highest industry standards in trenching as well – a new service now included in the range of solutions NextGeo offers its clients, including through collaboration with strategic partners. At RANA Subsea, we are particularly proud to contribute, through our engineering and operational expertise, to strengthening the Group’s position in highly complex projects.”
Marine Measurement Forum #71 Announces Keynote and Speaker Line-Up
The keynote speaker and initial programme line-up have been announced for Marine Measurement Forum (MMF) #71, taking place on 1 July 2026 at Dartington Hall in Totnes, Devon.
Hosted by Teledyne Valeport, a division of Teledyne Marine, MMF#71 brings together professionals from industry, research and academia for a one-day forum focused on advances in marine measurement science and technology related topics. MMF is a great opportunity for delegates to share their own knowledge, gather information, and network with like-minded professionals.
This year’s programme reflects a broad cross-section of activity spanning ocean observation, hydrography, environmental monitoring, and data-driven marine science.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Edward Steele, IT Fellow for Data Science at the Met Office, who will present “The (increasing) importance of marine measurements in an era of AI”. Dr Steele is responsible for shaping and delivering the Met Office’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capability, with expertise in Environmental Intelligence and extensive experience across academia, industry and government. His work focuses on helping organisations “look around corners” and unlock emerging technological opportunities for weather and climate-related decision-making.
In his keynote, he will explore how advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping meteorological and oceanographic science, and how these developments are increasingly recognised as a critical enabler of world-class forecasting and services. He will examine the growing importance of marine measurements in improving predictive modelling and understanding in an AI-driven era, alongside the opportunities and challenges for accelerating progress across the sector. His work in the marine sector has supported offshore energy applications, helping to de-risk multi-million-pound projects, enhance safety of life at sea, and contribute to evolving sector-wide standards for the use of meteorological and oceanographic information.
Alongside the keynote, MMF #71 will feature technical presentations and case studies from across the sector.
Peter Holt, Marine Habitat Specialist, Sonardyne International Ltd, will present work on the application of high-resolution sonar technologies to support seagrass mapping and habitat restoration in Plymouth Sound Marine Protected Area. His presentation will highlight the use of a Wavefront Solstice Multi-Aperture Sonar (MAS) to provide spatially accurate, wide-area data on seagrass distribution, including mapping in shallow and complex nearshore environments.
He will also discuss the use of ROV-based ground-truthing, combining subsea navigation and imaging systems, to validate sonar interpretations and support monitoring, measurement, and reporting for marine restoration and blue natural capital projects.
Dr Eva Perrin, Research Fellow in River Pollution, University of Plymouth, will present approaches to improving river water quality monitoring through rapid bacterial screening, sensor-based networks, and community-led data systems across South West catchments. Her work addresses limitations in traditional monitoring frameworks and explores more accessible, real-time approaches to environmental data collection and use. She will discuss case studies from South Hams catchments, including deployment of rapid bacterial screening technology and integrated sensor and data dashboards developed in collaboration with local communities, authorities and industry partners.
Dr Ian Ashton, Senior Lecturer in Ocean Technology at the University of Exeter and Royal Academy of Engineering Industry Fellow, will explore the MaLCOM framework and how real-time offshore data and improved forecasting techniques can help offshore wind operators make safer, more efficient decisions when planning and carrying out marine operations for an offshore wind farm.
The MMF#71 programme will also include engagement from across the wider marine measurement and environmental monitoring community, including a presentation from Holly Pearson, Senior Monitoring Officer at West Country Rivers Trust, who will explore how water monitoring technologies and real-time data are helping tackle urban water pollution and support river management in the context of the River Dart.
In addition to the MET Office, University of Plymouth, West Country Rivers Trust, and Sonardyne International, MMF71’s speakers also include representation from Surfers Against Sewage, Subnero, Surfline, and the South West Coastal Monitoring Programme among others.
Emma Johnson, Marine Measurement Forum Steering group added, “The strength of MMF has always been its informal, discussion-led format and the diversity of perspectives it brings together. This year’s line-up reflects that ethos, with contributions spanning environmental monitoring, habitat restoration, data science and emerging technologies. We’re looking forward to welcoming both returning attendees and new voices to what is always a collaborative and thought-provoking forum.”
Alongside a full day of presentations and structured networking, there will be informal opportunities for discussion throughout the event and an evening networking session. Delegates will also have the option to attend a post-event tour of Teledyne Valeport on 2 July, offering insight into the design and manufacture of oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation.
With limited places available for MMF #71, interested parties are encouraged to book as soon as possible. Full details and registration are available at http://www.marinemeasurementforum.com/
Multi-robot demo showcases new Plymouth subsea test range
A new underwater trials site designed to accelerate UK marine autonomy and ocean sensing has completed its first major test thanks to a live, multi-marine surface and subsea robotic platform demonstration.
The Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS) project, part of Smart Sound Plymouth, led by the University of Plymouth, with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), saw platforms from ACUA Ocean, ecoSUB Robotics, Seaber and Sonardyne working together above and below the surface.
The all-day collaborative demonstration enabled visitors from business, science, defence and national bodies to view the potential of the three-year, £1.2 million SSCS project.
Delivered by Sonardyne, the SSCS’ infrastructure extends Smart Sound Plymouth — already the UK’s premier marine autonomy testbed — and the Western Channel Observatory, through a seabed node array for absolute positioning and communications, alongside other intelligent sensors within a highly characterised environment.
Professor James Fishwick, Head of Innovation for Smart Sound Plymouth (at PML), said: “Smart Sound Plymouth is going from strength to strength. The addition of the subsurface network enables even greater integration between platforms and supports our state-of-the-art testing capabilities for autonomous vehicles and advanced technologies. It complements the high-speed military-encrypted network above the surface and helps provide a fully connected environment. This successful technology demonstration further reflects Plymouth’s place as a world-leading hub for marine autonomy.”
Dr Lilian Lieber, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, said: “SSCS provides a unique opportunity to test new ocean observing technologies. For me, its value lies in turning prototypes and field-tested technologies into trusted data streams, accelerating ocean observing towards autonomous sensing and near-real-time insight. This helps turn ocean data into actionable intelligence for climate resilience, early warning and preparedness, while the infrastructure itself enables technology innovation and stronger industry collaboration.”
A key element of SSCS is the seabed node array, which provides absolute positioning and communications using passive Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) technology for testing underwater systems in a real-world highly characterised testing environment.
During the demonstration, both the University of Plymouth’s Seaber autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and an ecoSUB AUV navigated simultaneously using only the seabed node array.
At the surface, a PIONEER uncrewed surface vessel (USV) from Plymouth-based ACUA Ocean tracked and controlled an AUV from Southampton-based ecoSUB using a Sonardyne Ranger 2 Gyro USBL positioning system on the USV.
The USV also wirelessly harvested data from a permanently deployed Sonardyne Origin 600 acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) in the SSCS, which also transmits real-time data to shore – and a live internet feed as part of the Western Channel Observatory – via the long-running L4 oceanographic monitoring station.
In addition, marine software engineering firm Marine AI showed the ability to continue navigating, even when GNSS drops out, using Sonardyne’s SPRINT-Nav, based on trials in the SSCS earlier this year.
The demonstrations were viewed live by guests from the UK and overseas from within PML’s onshore remote operations centre at its campus in Plymouth.
Geraint West, Business Development Advisor at Sonardyne, said, “This ability to test and accelerate marine autonomous system innovation in a known environment with the type of infrastructure we now have in the SSCS is a real boost not just for Plymouth.
“The demonstration had interest from around the UK and internationally, with visitors from North America and Asia and from a wide range of stakeholders, military, commercial, science and industry. It just shows the reputation Plymouth now has and continues to build for marine autonomy, thanks to the environment, ecosystem and collaboration we have in the city and in Plymouth Sound.”
ACUA Ocean’s John Hunnibell, Chief Product Officer, said, “This demonstration provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the persistent mission utility and seagoing characteristics of our USV PIONEER as a 'mothership' for nested robotics, data harvesting and data transfer at sea.
“Specifically, we used this event to demonstrate that the USV PIONEER can deliver subsea monitoring and security for critical underwater infrastructure by teaming with multi-static seabed sensor nodes. It was also a great way to develop our relationships with capable, credible technical partners: Sonardyne, ecoSUB, PML and the University of Plymouth in Smart Sound Plymouth.”
Iain Vincent, Director & General Manager at ecoSUB Robotics said, “Smart Sound and the SSCS environment has already been an extremely useful resource for ecoSUB Robotics. Most recently we have collaborated with Sonardyne on the development of a subsea AUV launch and navigation solution.
“Smart Sound provided the perfect place to test this technology, with easy access to open water, vessels and subsea nodes, and an outgoing and helpful community who support activity.”
The Smart Sound Connect Subsurface team is currently seeking additional research and development partners to collaborate in further trials of the SSCS testing environment.
It encourages anyone interested in testing new subsea vehicle operations, underwater data telemetry or any other use of the new infrastructure to contact Aaron Barrett, Lecturer in Autonomy at the University of Plymouth to learn how they can get involved.
Historic expedition reveals hidden seafloor influence on Greenland glacier
The Swedish icebreaker Oden – one of the world's most powerful icebreakers – became the first vessel ever to reach and collect scientific data in the remote Victoria Fjord of North Greenland during the GEOEO North of Greenland 2024 Expedition.
Now, researchers have published the first scientific findings from the landmark expedition – revealing how previously unmapped seafloor features may explain in part why the ice tongue of C.H. Ostenfeld Gletsjer disappeared while neighbouring glaciers retained theirs.
The study focuses on C.H. Ostenfeld Gletsjer, one of three major outlet glaciers draining northern Greenland. While nearby Ryder and Petermann glaciers still retain floating ice tongues, C.H. Ostenfeld Gletsjer lost its ice tongue in the early 2000s – but the reasons for this difference have long remained unclear.
In 2024, an international team of researchers aboard Oden collected new bathymetric and oceanographic data from the previously unsurveyed fjord. The study found that warm Atlantic water is able to reach the margin of C.H. Ostenfeld Gletsjer through Victoria Fjord. Unlike neighbouring fjords, Victoria Fjord lacks a shallow protective sill that helps limit the inflow of warmer water towards the glacier front. The findings offer new insight into why the glacier evolved differently from its neighbours.
Martin Jakobsson, Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics at Stockholm University, co-Head of Seabed 2030's Arctic and North Pacific Ocean Regional Center, and one of the chief scientists aboard Oden, said: "For years, we have sought to better understand why C.H. Ostenfeld Gletsjer evolved so differently from neighbouring glaciers. Reaching Victoria Fjord and collecting the first scientific data from this remote area gave us a unique opportunity to investigate that question.
"What makes these findings particularly exciting is that they show how features hidden beneath the ocean surface can influence what happens at the glacier front. It's a powerful reminder of how much there is still to learn about the ocean and why mapping the seafloor matters."
The expedition also produced the first detailed bathymetric measurements from Victoria Fjord. These newly acquired data have since been incorporated into updates of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO), helping improve understanding of a previously unmapped part of the Arctic seafloor.
For Seabed 2030, the findings provide a powerful example of the value of ocean mapping. The shape of the seafloor influences how water moves through the ocean, including how warmer waters interact with glacier margins. By improving knowledge of the ocean floor, scientists can better understand processes that would otherwise remain hidden beneath the surface.
KONGSBERG accelerates seabed mapping developments with Ocean Exploration Trust expedition aboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus
KONGSBERG and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) are set to dive deeper than ever before in a new expedition to map vast areas of previously unexplored seafloor in the Central Pacific.
The Pacific Mapping (NA178) expedition, running 10–24 June, sees OET Exploration Vessel Nautilus deploying KONGSBERG's EM 304 MKII multibeam echo sounder for the first time. Three KONGSBERG engineers will be embedded aboard Nautilus for the full 14 days, using the mission as a critical real-world testing platform for advancing multibeam technology and helping to raise standards across the global mapping community.
Mapping the mystery
Despite covering more than 70% of the planet, huge swathes of the ocean remain uncharted at high resolution. The challenge is particularly acute in deep ocean environments, where access, cost and technical limitations typically constrain survey efforts.
The EM 304 MKII is designed to tackle these pain points head-on. Capable of operating at full ocean depth, it combines wide swath coverage with consistently high resolution, enabling survey teams to map larger areas more efficiently without compromising data quality.
For OET, this translates into a significant step forward in capability, as explained by Derek Sowers, Mapping Manager, Ocean Exploration Trust: “The EM 304 MKII is optimised for features of interest we tend to explore, like complex canyons, seamounts, ridges, trenches, seafloor spreading centres, and subsea volcanoes. It allows us to map and reveal these amazing features in greater detail and sets us up for success for further exploration using our ROVs and other assets.”
The system is expected to transform mapping efficiency for OET, effectively doubling the area that can be surveyed compared to previous equipment, while reducing both time and operational costs in remote environments.
Real-world testbed
While the scientific expedition is critically important, it also provides KONGSBERG with a unique opportunity to test and refine the EM304 MKII in demanding, real-world conditions.
Operating onboard Nautilus, the system will generate live datasets across a range of seabed environments, allowing engineers to optimise both hardware performance and software functionality. These learnings will feed directly into ongoing improvements, benefiting future deployments worldwide.
Colleen Peters, Product Manager Mapping Software, KONGSBERG, explains: “We can simulate many configurations in the lab and on our test vessels, but not the realities of deep-water surveying. That is why it is essential to test in the same conditions our customers work in, so we can confirm new features perform as intended.
“Nautilus is an ideal platform for system testing because the team is committed to pushing new technology forward. It also runs an integrated mapping internship on every cruise, giving us a rare chance to see how first-time users interact with the software.”
The power of partnership
The deployment reflects a strong collaborative approach between industry, research organisations and funding bodies, with the system installed as part of a wider upgrade supported by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research.
For KONGSBERG, partnerships such as this are central to driving innovation. Working alongside organisations like OET enables the company to accelerate development cycles, validate performance in operational settings and contribute to broader scientific and technological progress.
Colleen Peters, Product Manager Mapping Software, KONGSBERG, concludes: “As ocean industries continue to expand, the need for reliable seabed data keeps growing. Seafloor mapping supports everything from research and environmental monitoring to subsea infrastructure and better-informed policies. The EM304 MKII helps meet that need with full-ocean-depth capability, broad coverage and high-quality data. We’re looking forward to showing what it can do onboard Nautilus with OET on its first mapping expedition since the upgrade.”
You can follow the Nautilus livestream here: https://nautiluslive.org/
UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (CSM) Bursary Scheme
The Hydrographic Society UK & Ireland (THS:UKI) is pleased to announce the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (CSM) Bursary Scheme, an initiative led by the CSM Education and Research Working Group (ERWG) to address the growing shortage of skilled hydrographic surveyors in the UK. Designed to support the next generation of professionals entering the sector, the scheme will provide financial assistance to students pursuing careers in hydrography and seabed mapping, helping to strengthen the future capability and resilience of the maritime industry.
The Hydrographic Society UK & Ireland (THS UKI) will be the administrative body for this scheme. UK CSM is administered by the UK Hydrographic Office.
THS:UKI is inviting industry organisations to support the scheme through a tiered sponsorship model, offering a unique opportunity to invest in the sector’s talent pipeline, demonstrate corporate leadership, and support the sustainability of world-class training institutions. By contributing, sponsors will help ensure a steady supply of highly trained graduates while reducing future recruitment and training pressures.
Organisations interested in supporting this important initiative are encouraged to contact [email protected].
Your support is a strategic investment in the educational infrastructure that supplies talent to the maritime industry.
1. Securing Your Future Talent Pipeline
The hydrographic survey sector is facing a skills gap. Your support will support the talent who will eventually work on your vessels, process your data and lead your projects. Industry will see highly trained students exiting education, reducing your training costs and onboarding timeline.
2. Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Supporting the Bursary Scheme demonstrates industry leadership to students, early-career professionals and the wider sector. It will position your company as a champion of maritime excellence and demonstrate a commitment to future-proofing our industry. Sponsors will benefit from the exposure provided by this scheme.
3. Sector stability
Universities and training institutions underpin the maritime economy. Your support will strengthen these institutions and aims to halt the decline in world-leading expertise in seabed mapping education.
DRDC-Led Maritime Autonomy Trials advance collaborative innovation in Canada
COVE and The Launch support national field trials focused on autonomous maritime surveillance and integrated defence technologies
COVE is proud to support the Canadian Autonomy Trials Series–Maritime (CATS-M) in Holyrood, NL. The inaugural trial brought together remotely piloted and autonomous maritime platforms, acoustic sensors, and information systems to provide a realistic, system-integration-level environment for detecting and tracking underwater targets.
With a focus on underwater domain awareness, the CATS-M trial series is part of an ongoing collaboration between COVE and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to support maritime testing and validation of innovative technologies with industry partners. This CATS-M trial integrated solutions from several COVE ecosystem partners, including Open Ocean Robotics, JASCO Applied Sciences, and General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada.
The CATS-M trial series is a critical step in advancing Canadian capabilities in autonomous maritime surveillance.
“CATS-M highlights the value of collaborative experimentation in advancing autonomous maritime capability,” said Melanie Nadeau, CEO of COVE. “Working together in a realistic operational setting allows partners to better develop, test, and scale integrated surveillance and autonomous systems.”
The trial was held at The Launch, a remote test centre in Holyrood, NL, operated by Marine Institute. COVE and The Launch recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on testing, applied research, and commercialization of Canadian-developed technologies.
“The Launch was created to support the development and demonstration of marine technologies in real-world environments,” said Kelly Santos, Executive Director of The Launch. “Working with COVE will expand opportunities for innovators, researchers, and SMEs to access the expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to help bring Canadian-developed technologies to market.”
A stakeholder event at The Launch on May 12 provided invited guests with an opportunity to observe elements of the experimentation activity and engage with trial partners.