KONGSBERG secures contract to deliver full solution for ecosystem monitoring using autonomous vessels
Kongsberg Maritime is pleased to report that it has reached an agreement to supply Norway’s Institute of Marine Research (IMR) with four autonomous vessels. The scope of supply includes two Kongsberg Maritime Sounder USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) and two KONGSBERG AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), which will form the practical basis of the institute’s long-term strategy to develop the monitoring and management of marine environments and resources.
The four autonomous vessels will be equipped with KONGSBERG’s new Blue Insight, a cloud-based ecosystem designed to facilitate remote instrument operation, data visualisation and smart management of oceanographic and meteorological data. Infrastructure for automated classification of fish through machine learning is a key feature of the delivery, consolidating the long-running partnership between KONGSBERG and the IMR towards the goal of implementing seagoing drones for ecosystem management.
The KONGSBERG AUVs are scheduled for delivery this year, with the USVs following in the late summer/early autumn of 2022. The AUVs are depth-rated to 1,500m and are equipped with a powerful payload for environmental monitoring and seabed mapping. The IMR USVs will be equipped with a full EK80 wideband system accommodating ADCP functionality, similar to the setup on their existing research vessels. Importantly, control and navigation of both AUVs and the Sounder USVs can be handled just by a single interface. The comprehensive overview provided by this fleet management capability enables interoperability between all assets and reduces in-mission complexity.
This integrated autonomous survey solution is the first to merge AUV and USV operations, and the investment testifies both to the IMR’s future- and sustainability-focused ambitions and to its faith in KONGSBERG’s ability to supply the most advanced autonomous craft.
As one of the largest marine research institutes in Europe, the IMR is committed to promoting sustainable practices at sea, and digitalisation is a cornerstone of this policy. Stimulus programmes introduced last year to facilitate remote working during and after the pandemic have accelerated the institute’s wholesale adoption of high-tech digital solutions, supported by a substantial digital investment by Norway’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, in addition to external research grants.
“As we embark on the next stage in this project, we are happy to do so alongside our trusted and long-term partner Kongsberg Maritime,” says the IMR’s CEO, Sissel Rogne. “We are seeing a wide range of changes in our coastal and ocean ecosystems – and these changes happen fast. In response to this, we must streamline and increase our management efforts. To obtain this we need innovative and reliable partners, and the cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime is therefore vital to us. Their USVs and AUVs will initially work alongside our traditional research vessels in an ‘armada strategy,’ but will subsequently operate more independently as we expand our plans.”
“We’re very pleased to have secured this contract with the IMR,” adds Tonny Algrøy, Sales Director, Ocean Science, Kongsberg Maritime. “This delivery builds upon decades of collaborative work with the IMR to create innovative solutions for ocean ecosystem monitoring, and the addition of smart platforms plus a new E-infrastructure solution is a logical next step in this shared history.”
For more information visit: www.kongsberg.com/maritime
Geographic expansion and key appointments strengthen Unique Group’s Survey division
Following the successful expansion into Australia, leading integrated subsea and offshore solutions provider, Unique Group, has expanded its survey operations in the Netherlands, whilst strengthening its global survey team with three senior appointments.
The move is in line with the company’s strategy to provide autonomous survey solutions and technologically advanced survey and inspection equipment to customers in Europe via Unique Group’s Netherlands facility, and with a view to navigating the challenges wrought by both Brexit legislation and COVID-19 restrictions.
With a large warehouse and servicing premises, the Werkendam-based facility will house significant stock of Unique Group’s core rental products including Multibeam systems, Magnetometers, Side Scan Sonars, Inertial Navigation Systems as well as a range of diver and ROV inspection equipment.
Maintaining the company’s ongoing global growth strategy, Unique Group has made three new senior appointments to its survey team, based in Singapore, Aberdeen and Houston. Zac Lee joins as Senior Business Development Manager in Singapore, bringing over 10 years’ experience working in the technical and management roles within the subsea equipment sector. Brook Rodger joins as UK Sales Manager in Aberdeen following management positions within subsea specialists Nortek and iXblue. As Global Asset Manager, Houston-based subsea expert, Dave Ross, joins Unique Group with a remit to optimise increased asset investment across the Group through enhanced asset tracking and advanced visibility.
Sahil Gandhi, COO at Unique Group, said: “We are making good progress with our strategic goals for the Survey division; the addition of autonomous survey and equipment capabilities to our Netherlands office brings us closer to our clients in mainland Europe. Equally, our soon-to-be-launched e-commerce website, which will make ordering requirements easier for our customers, regardless of location.”
Andy Doggett, Unique Group’s Survey Equipment Group Director, added: “We are pleased to welcome Zac, Brook and Dave to the team, as they bring with them a wealth of expertise and industry knowledge which will add value to our clients and Unique Group alike.”
For more information visit: www.uniquegroup.com
Sercel and Kappa Offshore Solutions jointly launch PIKSEL – a new high-resolution 3D marine seismic solution for renewable energy applications
Sercel and Kappa Offshore Solutions are pleased to announce PIKSEL, a compact marine seismic solution specially designed for acquiring the best seismic data for high-resolution 3D imaging of targeted offshore areas. Capitalizing on Sercel’s Sentinel® streamer technology, widely recognized for its outstanding robustness and accurate measurement capabilities, and Kappa Offshore Solutions’ expertise in equipment integration and hydrodynamic modeling, PIKSEL can acquire high- and ultra-high-precision seismic data using a new and highly efficient process, meeting the requirements of the market for high-resolution site surveys.
PIKSEL draws on the low noise performance of its Sentinel® streamer’s hydrophone design as well as an optimized rigging and handling system that minimizes vibration. For enhanced broadband imaging, PIKSEL can also utilize Sercel’s Sentinel MS 3-C multi-sensor streamer to ensure the most accurate and noise-free signal possible.
With its optimized hydrodynamic shape, towing speed has never been so high, making survey acquisition faster. PIKSEL can also be towed deeper than any other solution, allowing for data recording in rough seas and thereby
reducing downtime.
For improved operational efficiency, the turnkey PIKSEL solution can be containerized to enable quick installation onboard a range of vessel types. PIKSEL is also compatible with QuietSeaTM, Sercel’s Passive Acoustic Monitoring system, Nautilus®, Sercel’s powerful streamer positioning solution, and SeaProNav Suite, Sercel’s complete high-performance navigation platform.
Thibaut Choquer, Kappa Offshore Solutions CEO, said: “We are extremely proud to partner with Sercel in designing an industrial system for high-resolution and ultra-high-resolution seismic data acquisition at sea. This new system improves the efficiency of geohazard assessment surveys and paves the way for geophysical and geotechnical data integration, which is of particular interest for the development of offshore renewable energies.”
Emmanuelle Dubu, Sercel CEO, said: “As a result of our partnership with Kappa Offshore Solutions, Sercel offers the best-in-class marine seismic acquisition solution with unprecedented performance to meet the rigorous requirements of all types of high-resolution marine seismic applications, including renewable energy infrastructure projects. The new PIKSEL solution makes it significantly easier to conduct continuous surveys even in poor weather conditions, thereby improving offshore productivity.”
For more information visit: www.kappaoffshoresolutions.com
New survey company Nicola Offshore opens for business
Expert team to focus on offshore industry requirements for niche, specialised marine data acquisition
Nicola Offshore GmbH, a new company specialising in turnkey services for the most challenging marine survey campaigns and on-demand missions in and around Europe started operations from its HQ in Hamburg today on 15th March 2021.
Working from an agile logistics and technology platform, Nicola Offshore was established to service the more complex and specialist aspects of marine surveying, including underwater object detection, unexploded ordinance (UXO), and subsea cable investigations, as well as pre- and post-dredging reports.
The company is a joint venture between Nicola Engineering GmbH, a German marine survey provider with over 40 years’ experience and ProMarine BV, a well-known and highly regarded Dutch workboat manufacturer.
Fulfilling its laser-sharp focus of providing fast-turnaround surveys for offshore oil & gas, and renewable energy clients, Nicola Offshore has developed an advanced marine data acquisition platform based on ProMarine fast workboats fitted with the unique integrated Hydrographic Survey System (iHSS) from marine data acquisition specialist, Subsea Europe Services GmbH.
Andres Nicola, CEO of Nicola Engineering said:
“We have noticed a significant upturn in requests for unplanned multibeam echo sounder-based surveys especially around offshore wind farms, and are confident that establishing a team to specialise in producing high quality data in these challenging conditions is the most effective way to meet the specialised needs.”
Daniel Esser, Managing Director of Nicola Offshore added:
“We are building capabilities to tackle the toughest survey projects that demand speed and agility to collect high quality data while meeting strict deadlines, often under extreme conditions. The team we have put together has the drive, expertise and experience to respond to the most daunting challenges in marine survey.”
Dick Duin, CEO of ProMarine concluded:
“The combination of fast vessels and cutting-edge survey technology positions Nicola Offshore as a unique resource for offshore clients that need gap-filler surveys actioned quickly and effectively. We’re looking forward to saying yes to the jobs that many would decline and are confident that our team, equipment and methods will deliver the results our clients demand.”
For more information visit: www.nicola-offshore.com
XOCEAN Launch Next Generation USV
XOCEAN have launched a next generation USV, the XO-580. This new aluminium design joins our existing fleet of XO-450’s delivering faster, deeper and longer ‘over the horizon’ surveys. Like all XOCEAN USVs, this platform offers a safe, economic and carbon neutral solution to collecting ocean data. Here is a video of the new vessel in action:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6775753301523791872
A-2-Sea is awarded Medium Water contract of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's Civil Hydrography Programme
Following a competitive tender process, A-2-Sea Solutions has been awarded the Medium Water contract of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) for 2021 and 2022.
A-2-Sea was previously awarded the Routine Resurvey contract, which covers navigationally critical shallow water areas around the UK with a mobile seabed. Following successful completion of data acquisition and subsequent submission of rendered data to the MCA and UKHO, the Routine Resurvey contract has been extended for a further two years until 2022.
Governed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the CHP aims to acquire, process and deliver accurate hydrographic data to inform updates to nautical charts and publications. In addition to a high-quality bathymetric dataset, the work scope also demands wreck investigation, backscatter data acquisition and seabed grab sampling for ground-truthing.
A-2-Sea will utilise a suite of high-specification survey and positioning equipment, including Kongsberg Multibeam Echosounders (MBES), RTK and GNSS positioning. Each vessel will acquire a high-resolution dataset, employing CARIS HIPS and SIPS software for post-processing to UKHO standards. The data will then be quality-assured, confirming elements including data density, geodetic parameters and tidal observations before being used to update nautical charts and publications covering UK waters.
Survey Director Chris Briggs comments: "We are thrilled to be working once again with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the Civil Hydrography Programme. Being awarded the Medium Water contract in addition to our existing Routine Resurvey contract is a testament to our survey department's dedication and ability to produce high-quality products. Over the past 18 months, our team has expanded and matured, as we deliver larger and more complex projects. We look forward to delivering another successful project to the MCA."
For further information or to learn more about the project, please contact [email protected].
Fugro joins forces with dCarbonX on decarbonisation exploration
Fugro has signed a strategic framework agreement (SFA) with dCarbonX, a pioneering geo-energy resource company, for decarbonisation exploration projects supporting the development of offshore geo-energy resources in the UK and Ireland. The SFA will enable Fugro and dCarbonX to collaborate on decarbonisation exploration projects at the earliest opportunity and to share relevant data, technological insights and operational scheduling.
Both Fugro and dCarbonX, which specialises in finding and adapting offshore subsurface assets to facilitate the transition from fossil-based to renewable energy systems, are committed to challenging the energy status quo to create a safe and liveable world. Fugro will apply their consultancy mindset to help progress opportunities, and their Geo-data acquisition, analysis and advice will provide dCarbonX with critical information to characterise sites and support decision-making at the project concept stage. Fugro’s consultancy services in the SFA will include comprehensive desktop studies to derisk ground conditions, recommendations on the survey or ground investigation data required, baseline environmental, geochemical and bathymetric surveys, and geophysical and geotechnical site investigation campaigns. As projects progress, the two companies will also collaborate on monitoring methods to ensure that operations are performed safely, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner.
Laura Hughes, Fugro Country Director UK, said: “We’re excited to work with dCarbonX and use our combined expertise to explore decarbonisation opportunities. Fugro is deeply committed to accelerating the energy transition by developing geo-energy resources such as CCS, hydrogen storage and geothermal energy, which have the potential to transform the way we live and interact with the planet.”
For more information visit: www.fugro.com
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project announces new collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego have strengthened their collaboration with a newly-established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The main purpose of the MOU is to pursue the attainment of worldwide bathymetric data, and to increase humanity’s understanding of the oceans.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO to inspire the complete mapping of the world's ocean by 2030, and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. GEBCO is a joint project of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Founded in 1903, Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the oldest and largest centres for ocean and Earth science research in the world. The institution operates large open ocean-class research vessels for ocean exploration with instrumentation for seafloor mapping.
Scientists at Scripps Oceanography use global marine gravity models, derived from satellite altimetry, to interpolate and predict seafloor depth at low spatial resolution in areas devoid of depth soundings – roughly 80% of the deep ocean floor. These global predicted depth maps provide the foundational layer for the Seabed 2030 grids.
“Seabed 2030 is pleased to welcome the support of an established institution such as Scripps, in our pursuit of producing the complete map of the world’s oceans,” commented Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director of Seabed 2030. “Collaborative working is fundamental to our mission, and we look forward to progressing our goal as we enter the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.”
Dr David Sandwell, Professor of Geophysics at Scripps Oceanography said: “Scripps is committed to protecting the planet. By investigating our oceans, Earth and atmosphere, our scientists are able to better understand the world we live in and offer solutions to some of our greatest environmental challenges.
“Scripps is dedicated to research that will have an impact, and a complete map of the ocean floor will have an immeasurable impact on the future of our planet.”
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 Project is included in the GEBCO global grid – the most complete bathymetric dataset of the world’s ocean floor, which is free and publicly available.
For more information visit: www.seabed2030.org
New collaboration brings together high speed ROV capability and reduced costs
Created in response to Covid-19 operational requirements
Two Scottish companies, Aberdeen-based Underwater Contracting (UCO) and Gulfxstream from the Isle of Lewis, have entered into a working collaboration that will reduce costs of underwater inspection and survey.
The agreement sees the permanent installation of one of UCO’s observation and inspection ROVs aboard Gulfxstream’s MV Viking. This means the spread can be mobilised at short notice and, with MV Viking’s cruising speed of 20 knots and able to operate 60 miles from shore, rapidly transit to location, significantly cutting mobilisation costs.
Stationed at Peterhead in North-east Scotland, and servicing the O&G, renewables, decommissioning, and marine sectors, the vessel and ROV will be equipped to carry out a full range of specialist support services.
Depth rated to 300m, the ROV is fitted with sonar and underwater cameras. Additional sensors such as 3D cameras, laser metrology and survey tools can also be fitted to the ROV. MV Viking is certified to carry 12 people and, with ample deck space, means client personnel and equipment can be onboarded for a range of mission specific tasks.
Projects are envisaged to include underwater inspection of marine and renewable structures, hydrographic surveying, environmental monitoring and ocean research, search and rescue, hull inspections at sea or in port, emergency response for cable and pipeline damage identification, aquaculture survey and support, media and film production and even unique leisure experiences.
In addition, it can provide UWILDs, EOD and MMO support, seabed surveys, wave buoy deployment, salvage support and guard duties, equipment, personnel transfer and also for fuel transfer, thanks to its high fuel capacity.
The collaboration came in response to the impact Covid-19 is having on some offshore operations, creating a need for a fast, quickly mobilised service capable of carrying out a variety of tasks across a range of disciplines.
Calum Buchanan, MD of Gulfxstream, said: “This exciting collaboration with UCO comes at a time when there has been a marked increase in enquiries for our vessels for activities such as the servicing of offshore renewables sites, inspection of vessels stationed at sea, personnel transfer and similar tasks due to the effect Covid-19 is having on operations.
“The combination of the ROV and vessel in a cost effective package gives clients access to a single source solution for services, pre-mobilised and ready to work at very short notice. We believe this new way of working will bring efficiencies to marine operations for the future beyond COVID-19.”
Mick Bower, General Manager of UCO, said: “We are proud to work with Gulfxstream in bringing a solution to market that offers clients access to innovative technology and services from a highly adaptable platform. Giving them access to such a comprehensive range of services in one package will allow them to make optimum use of the time on hire to carry out other tasks.”
A rollout of the service to west Scotland and other ports around the UK is now being planned, a move which is expected to create additional jobs and further investment in the two companies. Two additional Gulfxstream vessels are ready for deployment for the next phase of growth, the GXS Valtos which has can operate 150miles offshore and the GXS Venturer, a high speed commercial RIB.
For more information please visit: www.underwatercontracting.com
RBR Welcomes John Kumhyr as Vice President of Sales and Marketing
RBR is pleased to welcome John Kumhyr as the new Vice President of Sales and Marketing. John comes to RBR with more than 25 years of experience in technology, sales, and business development. He will lead the RBR sales and marketing team into the Decade of Ocean Science. "A strong background, sales talent, and a highly personable leader - John will excel in this role and help take RBR to the proverbial 'next level'," said Greg Johnson, President of RBR.
Learn more here: http://bit.ly/3eAQNfJ