General

Kongsberg Maritime develops innovative Mooring Capable Solution for Offshore Construction Vessels

Kongsberg Maritime has developed an innovative mooring capable solution for Offshore Construction Vessels (OSCVs), expanding the capabilities of OSCVs beyond their current scope to include the pre-lay of mooring lines as a natural extension to original suction anchor capabilities.

By integrating a purpose designed anchor handling winch, shark jaws and stern rollers into the design of OSCVs at the newbuild stage, vessel owners can now equip their ships to perform a broader range of mooring operations. This advancement allows OSCVs to handle more tasks independently, filling the shortage of vessels capable of large-scale mooring installations.

Key Benefits of the Mooring Capable Solution:

•Enhanced Operational Window: The new system allows OSCVs to carry out a larger portion of mooring operations, extending their operational window and reducing the need for additional vessels at the field.

•Cost Efficiency: By expanding the operational capabilities of OSCVs, significant synergies can be achieved for the field developer.

•Safety and Efficiency: The addition of winches and stern rollers enables safer and more efficient over-stern deployment of mooring lines, a method commonly used by AHTS vessels.

•Flexible Installation Options: The winch can either be permanently installed or portable and loaded on board only when needed. The shark jaws and stern rollers are permanently fitted to the ship.

•Versatile Equipment: The subsea crane, a common feature of OSCVs, can lift and install suction piles, as well as hold the load of mooring chain. The winch package includes one drum for work wire and two cable lifters for handling chain. In combination with superior DP capabilities and a large deck area that makes for an efficient installation vessel.

With regards to field development and mooring installation, OSCVs are currently limited to setting large suction piles or driven piles into the seabed using onboard cranes and ROVs, without requiring additional vessel equipment. While some mooring lines can be installed using ad hoc methods, the new solution from Kongsberg Maritime means that OSCVs can perform these tasks safer and more efficiently.

Runar Hjele, Sales Director, Offshore Construction & Support Kongsberg Maritime, said: "There will be a lack of vessels with subsea crane and sufficient deck area suited to support the planned high volume of both large anchors and mooring lines in the years to come. With the addition of this system, OSCVs become a more attractive and efficient solution, especially when there is a shortage of specialised mooring installation vessels.

“The Kongsberg proposed adjustments to construction vessel newbuilds will position them to take on a larger portion of mooring line installations. These vessels have synergies with other field development activities, so the message to owners is why not make your construction vessels Mooring Installation Capable?”

With the new space-saving Kongsberg Maritime system, OSCVs are prepared for the installation of anchors and pre-lay of mooring lines (both chain and fibre rope) without compromising on their construction capabilities.

by AHayward

Teledyne Marine Signs a Framework Agreement with Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV)

Teledyne Gavia ehf. is pleased to announce the signature of a multi-year Framework Agreement for the delivery and support of GAVIA Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) for the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF). The Gavia vehicles will be dedicated to Mine Counter Measures (MCM) applications.

The award of the Framework Agreement follows an international open tender last year with FMV selecting the GAVIA AUV with the highest meritorious score against their technical requirements.

Teledyne Gavia ehf offered its GAVIA AUV fitted with an EdgeTech 2205 side scan sonar and a Teledyne Flir Blackfly-S camera. Thanks to the GAVIA’s AUVs modularity, the Swedish Navy will also be able to add other payloads such as synthetic aperture sonar, magnetometers, or multibeams as mission requirements evolve.

The Framework Agreement will run over several years and has the option for extensions.

The long-term in-country support will be provided by Teledyne Flir AB in Sweden.

“The Portable MCM AUV will be operated from various platforms to allow rapid mapping of the seabed and detection of various objects of interest.” says Johan Björck, Strategic Buyer at FMV.

“We are honored to count Sweden as a new user of the GAVIA AUV which is already in service for various applications with nine NATO navies.” Stated Valentin Hanns, Senior Director of Sales – Marine Vehicles, EMEA.

by AHayward

First space weather monitor in the UK for 40 years with a new design led by Lancaster University

Lancaster University has developed and built the first space weather monitor in the UK for 40 years.

The ground-based neutron monitor – installed at a Met Office site in Cornwall – is a new improved design created by Dr Michael Aspinall and a team from the School of Engineering, in collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Mirion Technologies (Canberra UK) Ltd and was tested on the ChipIr beamline at STFC’s ISIS neutron and muon source.

The new monitor joins an international network of around forty-five similar sensors worldwide that are continually monitoring changes in neutrons at the Earth’s surface to assess the influence of space weather.

The project also includes a smaller monitor soon to be based at Lancaster University.

Principal Investigator Dr Michael Aspinall said: “This project marks a major milestone for the UK in advancing our space weather monitoring capabilities—something crucial for safeguarding modern infrastructure and daily life.

“Bringing this neutron monitor online in collaboration with the Met Office and other international partners adopting our design strengthens global resilience to space weather risks by providing real-time data and new measurement capabilities. With our new design for an instrument that has not fundamentally changed in six decades, we’re not just building on the past—we’re setting new standards for the future of neutron monitoring.

“The NM-2023 monitor introduces innovations that improve efficiency, sustainability, and affordability, all the while delivering the critical data needed to better understand and mitigate the impacts of space weather."

The monitor will be chiefly looking for spikes in neutrons, called Ground Level Enhancements (GLE), which occur during solar radiation storms that are caused by the acceleration of particles close to the Sun. The new monitoring capability will enable alerts to be issued and validate existing forecasting methods of solar radiation storms, which can disable satellites and cause nationwide power outages on Earth.

Met Office Space Weather Manager Simon Machin said: “The new UK-based neutron monitor will enhance global monitoring of space weather events and will be an important part of our ongoing space weather forecasting and validating service.

“While severe space weather events are rare, this increased capability and resilience will help scientists and industries to manage risks and mitigate impacts where possible.”

The most severe solar radiation storms have the potential to impact aviation, satellites, spacecraft and even some ground-based electronics and can arrive to Earth from the Sun in as little as ten minutes. Enhanced ground-based monitoring can help to understand and mitigate impacts.

The project was funded by the UK Science and Technologies Facilities Council under the Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) programme, which aims to improve the UK’s capabilities in space weather monitoring and prediction with a series of projects.

Professor Ian McCrea, SWIMMR Senior Programme Manager at STFC RAL Space, said: “This new monitor will be welcomed by experts across the space weather community, including here at RAL Space. The monitor will support the SWIMMR programme’s goals to advance the UK’s space weather monitoring and prediction capabilities.

“The UK hasn’t hosted one of these monitors since the 1980s, and having access to its measurements will provide essential validation for the radiation modelling and airborne sensor capabilities being developed elsewhere in the SWIMMR programme.”

The installation aligns with the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC) which has forecasted the arrival of thousands of space weather events, helping key industries to take steps to manage the risks posed by the Sun.

In addition to operational forecasting, MOSWOC plays an active role in the international scientific community for the advancement of space weather sciences, helping to develop capability around the world and advance scientific understanding. A recent Value Report suggested the Met Office’s space weather capability is worth £800 million to the UK over the next decade.

by AHayward

Fugro acquires EOMAP, adding unique satellite analytics to its water market solutions

Fugro has acquired EOMAP GmbH & Co. KG (EOMAP), market leader in mapping and monitoring of marine and freshwater environments through satellite Earth Observation (EO). Adding EO technology to Fugro’s existing mapping solutions is a key step in the company’s strategy to further expand into the water market.

EOMAP has been pioneering EO technology since 2006, holding several patented algorithms. The market for EO solutions is growing due to increasing environmental regulations, the need to address climate change impacts, and the recognition of marine ecosystems’ vital role in our planet’s health.

Over the years, EOMAP has been a key partner in many of Fugro’s climate adaptation and nature conservation projects, including the ISPRA Seagrass Coastal Restoration project, in which Fugro is mapping the entire coastline of Italy. EOMAP and Fugro also collaborated in the recent COASTS project, which advances integration of data and modelling of coastal processes and blue carbon ecosystems with pilots in Europe and the Maldives.

Robert Hoddenbach, Fugro’s Global Director Climate & Nature, commented, “This acquisition is a big step forward, enhancing our capabilities in the water market and allowing us to better serve our clients with satellite EO technology. We welcome the EOMAP team to Fugro.”

Thomas Heege, Managing Director of EOMAP, added, “We are excited to join forces with Fugro, a company that shares our values and commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for a safe and liveable world. Together, we will create unparalleled value for clients and contribute to addressing global challenges in the aquatic environment.”

EOMAP recorded a revenue of around EUR 5 million for 2024.

by AHayward

OSIL Photo Competition

Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL) have announced the launch of a Photo Contest to showcase the best images of their equipment in the field.

The competition is open to all entrants. Participants are invited to demonstrate their creativity and unique perspectives of the equipment by submitting images to the competition page, with a prize offered for the best image.

Images must feature one or more items of OSIL equipment and should be of good quality (ideally 300 PPI, JPEG, PNG or TIFF format). Images must be uploaded via the competition portal on the OSIL website, and if tagged with @oceanscientific or #OSIL on LinkedIn, X, Instagram or Bluesky we will repost these to our followers to increase exposure!

The winning image will be chosen by a panel of judges from the entries, with a GoPro HERO13 Black (with accessories bundle) available as the prize.

The competition will be open from 10th February 2025 until 4th April 2025, with the winner to be announced at the Ocean Business show in Southampton. For more information on the competition please visit www.osil.com/photography-competition-2025/.

For further information or sales enquiries please contact: [email protected] or call +44 (0) 2392 488 240.

by AHayward

Kongsberg Maritime unveils innovative solutions to industrialise floating offshore wind turbine installation

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a range of innovative methods designed to transform and industrialise the transportation and installation (T&I), of floating offshore wind turbines.

These new solutions promise to streamline the entire process, from anchor and mooring installation through to electrical cable pull-in, ensuring that turbines are ready to be connected to energy grids, and offer a comprehensive solution for the floating offshore wind market. The solutions are part of a broader strategic effort that Kongsberg Maritime has put in to contribute towards the emerging floating offshore wind market, with more initiatives in the works.

Gunnar Thorsen, Senior Vice President of Business Concepts at Kongsberg Maritime, highlights the significance of these innovations: "We aim to offer a full package of equipment and technology, from the point the floating turbines leave their assembly site to the moment they are connected to the power grid. Our new methods for anchor tensioning, mooring installation, tow-out, and cable pull-in will represent a big leap forward in the industrialisation of floating wind installation. They are also applicable to other offshore energy structures, so our investment in these novel solutions will also be relevant and benefit oil and gas related operations."

Four of the elements highlighted in this new, offshore floating wind approach, are: new vessel designs and methodology for anchor and mooring installation; a new approach for towing turbines to site; a new integrated tensioning concept for mooring lines; and an innovative cable pull-in system.

Innovative vessel designs for efficient anchor and mooring and installation

Two new vessel concepts, specifically designed for large-scale mooring and installation operations, are a key element in the new novel solutions. The Floating Wind Installation Vessels (FWIVs) are designed to handle the unique challenges of transport and installation of floating wind turbines, as well as other offshore and subsea structures.

The anchor handling version (UT 7900 FWIV AH) features a triple cross-tensioning winch system capable of tensioning and proof-loading up to three mooring lines simultaneously with significant reduction in bollard pull requirements. This vessel can pull up to 900 tonnes in a single fall configuration, ensuring efficient and safe anchor handling, with reduced energy consumption.

“This vessel offers a new approach, and because of the high volume and repetitive nature of the operations, we’ve built in additional rope and chain storage. The whole point behind this new set-up is that you deploy the rope, while preparing the next one, and do it in a safe environment, which you can’t do on a normal anchor handler,” says Gunnar.

The subsea construction vessel design concept, (UT 7600 FWIV Subsea), is equipped with advanced systems for handling, storing, and deploying mooring elements, making it ideal for high-volume floating wind installations.

Tow Assist - Empowering safe and efficient towing operations

To address the challenges of transporting giant turbines to offshore fields, Kongsberg Maritime has developed Tow Assist. This innovative approach combines Kongsberg Maritime’s leading edge Dynamic Positioning (DP) technology with operational analysis to improve situational awareness, safety and efficiency throughout all stages of the towing operation.

Tow Assist builds on the K-Pos DP system, enabling unpowered floating structures to become DP-enabled during complex towing operations by calculating and distributing the optimal allocation of the connected vessels.

Successfully trialled in the North Sea last year, the Tow Assist system provides real-time situational awareness through graphical guidance for precise and efficient positioning, transforming the way floating offshore structures are moved and positioned.

Integrated Tensioning for simpler operations

The Integrated Tensioning Concept is a solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of mooring line hook-up operations. This system compensates for relative movements between the floater and the vessel, significantly increasing the operational weather window and ensuring smoother operations.

The new concept utilises Kongsberg Maritime's advanced Permanent Magnet (PM) winches, known for their high torque and dynamic capabilities. These winches are a key component of the system, providing the responsiveness and motion compensation necessary for precise and efficient tensioning of mooring lines. The PM winches' ability to handle large loads with rapid response makes them ideal for the challenging conditions of offshore operations.

Runar Hjelle, Sales Director Offshore Construction & Support at Kongsberg Maritime, explains: "The Integrated Tensioning Concept monitors the motion of the floater, allowing the vessel winch to compensate, removing peak loads and hazardous situations. This results in a much smoother hook-up process and significantly increases the operational weather window."

Innovative cable pull-in for year-round operations

A new method for cable pull-in operations, is a key element of Kongsberg Maritime’s end-to-end process by reducing requirements for equipment and people on the floater, enhancing safety and speeding up the overall rate of installation of the wind farm array.

Gunnar Thorsen, adds: “At present, cable pull-in operations require mobilising equipment such as winches, power packs and fuel tanks on the floating turbine. Personnel must be on board the floater after it has been hooked up to perform the cable pull-in. However, with the new, patented method, all necessary equipment is placed on the vessel, significantly reducing the complexity and risk associated with the operation.

“This new approach offers several advantages, including enhanced safety by reducing the number of people onboard the floater, to a minimum during the pull-in operation. Equipment lifting operations and personnel transfer are minimised which allows operations to continue in harsher weather conditions. This is crucial for maintaining year-round productivity and speeds up the overall rate of installation of the wind farm array.”

by AHayward