Hydromea unveils the world’s first wireless compact underwater drone providing live HD video feedback
Hydromea unveiled the prototype of world’s first wireless underwater drone in a pool demo today. The drone can fit into a backpack, can be remotely controlled, and sends HD video back in real time without any physical connection to the pilot. The drone will deliver significant benefits in a number of inspection scenarios in confined flooded spaces, such as hydropower dams, closed waterways and ballast tanks on ships, reducing the cost and time-to-results, eliminating safety risks of dangerous inspections performed by humans today.
Igor Martin, co-founder and CEO of Hydromea, said: “Up to now, portable underwater vehicles always relied on a cable for communication. Our underwater drone works without a cable and sends full HD video stream back in real time. This eliminates any risks of getting stuck in complex flooded spaces, usually associated with cabled vehicles.”
Felix Schill, co-founder and CTO of Hydromea, added: “Since radio signals do not travel under water, Hydromea had to develop a new technology to control the drone: a wireless optical system which uses light to transmit high-bandwidth data. With our unique technology that is robust and miniaturized, we can finally cut the cord and unleash the freedom of portable robotics underwater.”
Founded in 2014, Hydromea is a Swiss-based autonomous underwater robotics company delivering solutions that allow customers to have unparalleled access to subsea data and underwater assets. Ultra-fast and high-volume, real-time data transfer and harvesting bring a paradigm shift in our quest to explore the ocean and understand its impact on the subsea economy.
For more information, please visit: www.hydromea.com
SeeByte’s ATR supports Royal Danish Navy and Polish Navy onboard Kraken Robotics’ KATFISH™
SeeByte, the global leader in developing smart software solutions for unmanned maritime systems, is pleased to announce they have partnered with Kraken Robotic Systems Inc (“Kraken”), a world leader in Synthetic Aperture Sonar or SAS, a revolutionary underwater imaging technology. to integrate their Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) System onto the Kraken KATFISH™ Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS).
The KATFISH™ towed SAS, complete with SeeByte’s embedded ATR capability will be delivered to the Royal Danish Navy and Polish Navy to support their mine countermeasure activities.
KATFISH is a high speed, actively stabilized towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar vehicle designed to be deployed from manned or unmanned surface vehicles. KATFISH provides ultra high resolution, high accuracy sonar imagery, real time and in mission, covering larger survey areas in less time compared to legacy systems. Integrating the KATFISH with SeeByte’s robust ATR solution allows for improved real-time target detection and classification, reducing post mission analysis requirements and enabling operators to review greater quantities of high-definition data in less time.
SeeByte’s Chief Technology Officer, Scott Reed said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Kraken Robotics to integrate our proven SeeTrack ATR System with Kraken’s KATFISH minehunting solution, for delivery to end customers in the Royal Danish Navy and Polish Navy. Our ATR System is designed with flexibility in mind, offering a range of options from embedded ATR to a complete set of tools that fit into the Post Mission Analysis workflow. This integration with the KATFISH™ will allow Kraken’s naval customers to intuitively work with the output produced by the ATR to support their MCM efforts.”
With offices in Edinburgh, Scotland and San Diego, US, SeeByte provides clients in the global maritime industry with the most advanced software solutions to enhance the capabilities of their unmanned systems. SeeByte’s open architecture technology provides enhanced capability, autonomy, and value to maritime systems and their users.
Kraken Robotics Inc. is a marine technology company dedicated to the production and sale of software-centric sensors, subsea batteries and thrusters, and underwater robotic systems. The company is headquartered in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland with offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Toronto, Ontario; Bremen & Rostock, Germany; Boston, Massachusetts; and a newly formed office in Copenhagen, Denmark. Kraken is ranked as a Top 100 marine technology company by Marine Technology Reporter.
For more information, please visit: www.seebyte.com
Gardline are recruiting for multiple positions
Gardline Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. We are a multidisciplinary marine survey company, providing a comprehensive range of marine services including geophysical, geotechnical and environmental surveys.
We currently have a variety of offshore roles available:
• Geophysical Engineers
• Surveyors
• Seismic Processor
• Geophysicists
• Geotechnical Engineers
For details on all of our roles and the skills, qualifications and experience required, please visit our website www.gardline.com/careers.
All candidates must be positive, confident and keen to develop a reputation as a team player in a seagoing role. We look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you aboard.
The earliest round-the-world marine research voyages give new insights on climate change
For the first time, scientists have used ocean measurements taken on research voyages almost 150 years ago to learn more about how human activity has impacted climate change.
Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) have made the first combined study of water density measurements from the British HMS Challenger and Prussian SMS Gazelle round-the-world research expeditions in the 1870s to draw parallels with modern-day measurements. The two ships, which circled the world independently provided new insights into the ecologies and ethnologies of remote and rarely-visited communities and of the biology, geology, physics and chemistry of the oceans.
Their two contributions have been brought together to give an insight into the impact of the industrial age on Earth’s climate. The study is the first global-scale analysis of salinity from these two expeditions and the first observational evidence of changes in the global water cycle since the late 19th century.
With no baseline measurement for salinity pre-1950s, Dr John Gould from NOC and Professor Stuart Cunningham of SAMS have converted these density measurements into salinity and were able to show that the planet’s water cycle has increased in intensity, just as the global temperature has risen.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications in Earth and Environment, confirm that there has been an increase in evaporation from saltier parts of ocean, such as the Atlantic, and more rainfall in fresher areas. In effect, changes in the salinity pattern of the oceans have been used as a global-scale rain gauge.
Now this trend has now be found to extend back to the 1870s, early in the industrial age, and to have been 50% less intense before the 1950s than since that decade.
The water cycle is extremely sensitive to environmental changes. A rise in global temperature of just one degree Celsius will result in a 7 – 8% increase in water vapour in the atmosphere.
Earth’s average temperature has warmed by over 1°C since the 1950s, and this accelerates the water-cycle. Patterns and intensity of rainfall over land are changing: deserts are expanding; the UK is suffering more intense rainfall and flooding.
NOC Emeritus Scientist, Dr John Gould, said, ”When we started this study we did not know whether these measurements, taken with simple instruments, would be good enough to be of scientific value. In fact they have given us an insight almost into the pre-industrial age. In the 1870s atmospheric CO2 levels were 285 ppm (parts per million), hardly changed from 1000 years before. They are now approaching 420ppm. Our results provide an early baseline against which future changes in the water cycle can be compared”.
SAMS oceanographer Prof Stuart Cunningham said: "Our blue planet is fundamental to Earth’s water cycle, which is the processes of evaporation, precipitation and river run off, transferring water between the oceans, the land and vegetation. Studying how the ocean’s surface salinity pattern is changing tells us about changes in Earth’s water cycle and is vitally important to humans and our survival.
"The ocean, and the way it moves, is the main influence on our global climate. If we are to predict what our weather and climate will look like in decades to come, we must better understand our blue planet."
For more information, please visit: www.noc.ac.uk
XOCEAN Expand Global Fleet USV Operations with €1.7M EU Grant Funding
XOCEAN has secured a grant of €1.7m from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and CINEA through the Blue Economy Window program to bring to market XOCEAN’s innovative, high-performing, low-carbon Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) aimed at the commercial ocean data collection sector.
The funding will support the product market launch in Europe, North America and Asia resulting in over a thousand direct and indirect jobs in 3 years.
XOCEAN’s pioneering USV platform offers significant benefits including safety with operators remaining onshore, efficiency with 24/7 operations and environmental with ultra-low emissions (emitting 1,000 times less carbon than traditional survey vessels) which together leads to significant economic savings.
To date, XOCEAN has operated in 14 countries, delivering over 100 projects including seabed surveys on 16 offshore wind farms for clients such as SSE Renewables and Ørsted. In the last 12 months, XOCEAN has doubled the size of its team to 82.
Commenting on the funding, James Ives, CEO, XOCEAN said “We are delighted to be partnering with the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund of the European Union on this project. Our USV platform has demonstrated itself to be a safe, reliable and low carbon solution for the collection of ocean data. This project will support our technology development and ready our business for large scale market growth.”
For more information, please visit: www.xocean.com
EGS are recruiting a Deputy Head of Hydrography
An exciting opportunity exists at EGS to join our Survey Department as Deputy Head of Hydrography. You must be an experienced and dedicated professional prepared to be involved in both office and site work, you will have knowledge of data acquisition, processing and reporting. Applicants must have a relevant first or second degree/diploma in Hydrography / Surveying and at least three years’ relevant practical experience. Working knowledge of QINSy, SIS, POSMv for acquisition and POSPac, Caris and Global Mapper is highly desirable.
You will be based at our office in Bordon, Hampshire and will work full-time on projects in the UK and worldwide. You will be involved in survey planning, mobilisation/demobilisation, acquisition, processing and reporting. Possessing good interpersonal and communication skills along with experience of motivating and managing a team of surveyors. You should possess good analytical skills and the ability to identify and solve problems.
EGS offers a competitive remuneration package based upon experience together with a professional, friendly and COVID compliant working environment.
You will be part of a hard-working and dedicated team involved in complex marine survey projects in the Renewables, Oil and Gas, Utilities and Cable Route sectors.
You must live within or be willing to relocate to a commutable distance of the EGS office in Bordon, Hampshire.
To apply for this position please send your CV to [email protected]
Introducing the Solent MEZ - Connect. Collaborate. Deliver.
The Solent Maritime Enterprise Zone (Solent MEZ), established December 2019, is an umbrella organisation comprising a consortium of the Royal Navy, industry (including small and medium sized enterprises), government and academia working collaboratively in creating a centre of excellence for maritime research, innovation, education, skills and training. The Solent MEZ consortium connects networks regionally and nationally, collaborates on key maritime initiatives to support the maritime sector in its broadest sense. Through an enterprise approach it partners with other regions, maritime clusters and cross-sectors to benefit maritime businesses and institutions. With the mantra ‘Connect. Collaborate. Deliver.’, the Solent MEZ optimises the enterprise approach to tackle key maritime issues. The Solent MEZ’s ‘Connected and Autonomous Maritime’ initiative is capitalising on this and has enabled cross-sector, cross-region collaboration supported by the Catapult network. This initiative will benefit from the Solent’s strengths in marine autonomy, robotics, innovative engineering solutions, advanced manufacturing and smart port initiatives.
The Solent MEZ team is growing and currently includes Captain Allan Youp Royal Navy (Head of the Solent MEZ and responsible for the strategic engagement and operations), Jordan Thomas (Business Manager and business development lead for the innovation, technology & research space) and Andy Stewart (secondee from BAE Systems and is the skills, careers & apprenticeship lead). The team will drive forward an enterprise approach to the prosperity and growth agenda across the region and beyond.
Jordan, who recently joined from L3Harris, says “The Solent has an ecosystem of ground-breaking maritime technological companies due to the world leading scientists, engineers, manufacturing, innovators and regulators conveniently located here. Opportunities to connect with different organisations and industries, collaborate on exciting and innovative projects whilst delivering socio-economic benefits, presents an exciting challenge. Working with highly skilled marine professionals, positive disruptive technology and cutting-edge capabilities, there are a plethora of opportunities available that the Solent MEZ consortium can pursue and tackle as part of the Maritime 2050 strategy and more.”
If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact the team regarding your area of interest. Contact e-mails are provided below:
Topic |
Contact |
|
| Head of the Solent MEZ - Strategic Engagement and Operations | Captain Allan Youp RN | [email protected] |
| Solent MEZ Business Manager and Innovation, Technology & Research lead | Jordan Thomas | [email protected] |
| Skills, Careers & Apprenticeships lead | Andrew Stewart | [email protected] |
Ocean Infinity acquires Abyssal
Ocean Infinity, the marine robotics company is excited to announce that it has acquired software engineering specialists, Abyssal.
Abyssal develops and implements proprietary software solutions for the offshore industry geared towards improving the safety and efficiency of subsea operations. As part of Ocean Infinity, the team will play a key role in shaping the enlarged group’s software development capability as it continues to grow and provide ever expanding robotics and data acquisition services to its marine customer base.
Abyssal’s technology ranges from a managed cloud data platform, synthetic environments, advanced 3D visualisation and operation management system tools. With artificial intelligence enabled digital twinning core to its services, Abyssal enables some of the world’s largest offshore operators to safely deliver complex projects.
Integrating Abyssal’s software expertise with Ocean Infinity’s robotic fleet will further underpin the company’s safe and secure data acquisition operations through the development of operational simulation, fleet management and cloud data tools.
Abyssal’s 38 highly experienced employees will transition to the Ocean Infinity Group, and will operate from Porto, Portugal, under the Ocean Infinity brand.
Oliver Plunkett, Ocean Infinity’s CEO, said: “Over the past nine years, Abyssal has built a great business with a talented team, focused on designing incredibly creative tools to improve the safety and data quality of its customers operations. Bringing this team of highly skilled solution developers into Ocean Infinity strengthens our in-house capability to provide the highest quality data, securely and quickly. Growing our team in such a way unquestionably moves us forward in becoming the leading ocean and seabed data analytics business. On behalf of everyone at Ocean Infinity I extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues.”
Manuel Parente, Founder and CTO of Abyssal, said: “With Ocean Infinity we share a vision to keep pushing the boundaries of technology development, in order to enable ever safer and ever more sustainable offshore work. We are pleased to now be part of this ambitious, “can do”, group. I look forward to the opportunities ahead, both for the team but also for our existing and future customers.”
For more information, please visit: www.oceaninfinity.com or www.abyssal.eu
EdgeTech Introduces New 2050-DSS Combined Side Scan Sonar & Sub-Bottom Profiling System
EdgeTech, the leader in high resolution sonar imaging systems and underwater technology, has recently introduced a new combined tri-frequency side scan sonar and high resolution sub-bottom profiling sonar system.
The 2050-DSS is a tri-frequency side scan sonar system, where any two, operator selectable, frequencies can be operated simultaneously. The system can be provided with either a 120, 410 & 850 kHz towfish, or a 230, 540 & 850 kHz towfish. Both towfish options are equipped with a 2-16 kHz sub-bottom profiler, that utilizes a PVDF panel receive hydrophone. Use of an area based receive hydrophone panel provides improved beam patterns and therefore improved signal to noise ratio’s, which in turn means cleaner data for the operators.
The 2050-DSS comes complete with a combined towfish, digital telemetry that runs over a single coaxial cable, a 19-inch rack mount topside interface, and EdgeTech’s DISCOVER acquisition software. The 2050-DSS can be integrated with several auxiliary sensors such as magnetometer and USBL responder. Additionally, an interface is fitted to the electronics so that the electronics and sensors can be mounted onto an ROV. The 2050-DSS is ideal for applications such as cable and pipeline surveys, marine construction surveys, pre and post dredging surveys and more.
For more information please visit: www.edgetech.com