Falcon for Swedish Safety and Survey
Peab Marin chose a Saab Seaeye Falcon as a multi-functional resource in support of the company’s marine survey, salvage and civil construction operations. The Swedish marine services company says the Falcon will secure a safer working environment for its divers and will be an “excellent tool” for surveying. Importantly for Peab Marin’s wide range of construction and maintenance work the Falcon’s quick and easy deployment with ready systems change and expandable systems options, make it a highly adaptable resource.
Diver Safety
Diver safety is paramount and in hazardous circumstances the Falcon can be deployed to work underwater endlessly and tirelessly. Robert Hedin at Peab describes the important role the Falcon will play in diver safety:
“Some work can offer serious risk for a commercial diver, especially Delta-P situations when the differential pressure between two water columns attempts to equalize, creating tremendous pressure/suction.
It’s a hazard that cannot be downplayed, as in some cases it’s just impossible to reduce the suction in case of emergency.
In situations like this, we prefer to send down the Falcon to either completely replace the diver’s work or in order to make a proper safety assessment. It really helps us to create a safer work environment for our commercial divers.
This has been exclusive to the offshore industry for a long time, and we’re really glad to see the same application moving into the civil inshore industry in Sweden.”
Photo by Peter Steen: The Falcon can make a safety assessment before sending divers down.
Murky Water Working
With Swedish waters notorious for low visibility, typically 0.5m and less, and working in a wide variety of water states from open seas to waterway locks, fitting a Bluetooth multibeam sonar to the Falcon was essential, says Robert Hedin: “It is a must-have for operating an ROV in our underwater environment.”
Photo: Saab Seaeye Falcon - A multi-functional resource in support of Peab Marin’s marine survey, salvage and civil construction operations.
Pilots’ Friend
With Peab Marin pilots typically working in challenging conditions, their pilots welcome the precise control, agility and stability of the Falcon when faced with complex environments in turbulent waters and strong currents.
The pilots particularly like the vehicle’s user-friendly interface with its advanced array of functions including customisable graphics and diagnostic pages.
The Falcon’s 20 year success - winning top-in-class world status - comes from its future-flexible, ever-evolving technology package that Saab Seaeye has designed around a compact, powerful, highly manoeuvrable, easy to use vehicle, enhanced with iCON™ intelligent control.
For more information visit: www.saabseaeye.com
BSL completes another successful Pre-Decommissioning Survey
BSL as a subcontractor to N-Sea onboard the Noordhoek Pathfinder has completed another successful pre decommissioning survey for Perenco. As part of a broader scope of work, BSL undertook the pre-decommissioning habitat and environmental baseline survey, including provision of a dedicated sampling winch. Thanks to the collaborative effort and cooperation between all parties, the campaign was completed efficiently and without incident.
BSL is undertaking the laboratory analysis of the samples acquired offshore and subsequent data processing prior to completion and delivery of the environmental habitat and baseline reports.
For more information visit: www.benthicsolutions.com
New Compact Hydrographic System Meets Growing Demand For Shallow-Water ‘Gap-Filler’ Surveys
Hydrographic survey technology provider Subsea Europe Services GmbH has introduced a new compact version of its unique integrated Hydrographic Survey System (iHSS). Called iHSS-Compact, it meets the growing demand for shallow-water ‘gap-filler’ marine surveys and simplifies the acquisition of commercial grade marine data for users of any experience.
iHSS-Compact leverages Subsea Europe Services’ technology integration expertise to provide a low-cost, turnkey marine survey package for deployment on almost any vessel. Designed for customers seeking an easy to access alternative to commercial survey vessels for on-demand shallow-water projects, the system is delivered in a single, ‘person-portable’ Pelican case for fast deployment and streamlined set up.
Ready now for rental, subscription or purchase, in many cases, iHSS-Compact can be pre-configured and available anywhere in Europe virtually ‘next-day’, with installation and calibration in less than two hours. Practically plug and play, iHSS-Compact includes everything needed to acquire high quality marine data to new IHO S-44 Exclusive Order standards, including an R2 Sonic 2020 wideband multibeam echosounder, I2NS Inertial Navigation System, versatile mounting solution, survey and post-processing notebook, software and cabling. The iHSS-Compact is also available as a dual head system allowing for more than 200 degrees of swath coverage.
“We created the iHSS to simplify marine data acquisition with a lower cost, easier to access solution for when commercial survey vessels are unavailable, too expensive, or too cumbersome for the job at hand,” explains Sören Themann, CEO, Subsea Europe Services GmbH. “The iHSS-Compact is a natural extension of the concept with specific focus on providing a mobile, flexible solution primarily for shallow-water survey projects that need fast access to high-quality marine data acquisition technology.”
For more information visit: www.subsea-europe.com
SOMAG AG Jena launches Nautical Gyro Stabilization Mount NSM 400
With the launch of the NSM 400 SOMAG AG Jena has expanded its maritime portfolio’s capabilities. The NSM 400 is a medium-sized gimbal between the smaller RSM 400 and the larger OSM 4000 and complements the product portfolio of Gyro Stabilization Platforms, which are designed for land and offshore use.
Reliable Gyro Stabilization for Surveillance Sensors
The NSM 400 was primarily designed for the stabilization of surveillance sensors on medium (starting from 1.0 kt onwards) to large maritime vessels. Un-stabilized systems follow the movement of the water caused by the swell which adversely affects the detection and threat-tracking capabilities of the sensor. Using a Gyro Stabilization Mount ensures a stabilized field of view and high-resolution images by compensating the movements of the vessel. This allows EO/IR systems to scan their environment without interference even in extreme sea conditions, in order to best detect, track and classify asymmetric air and surface threats. The NSM 400 is the perfect gimbal for IRST (infra-red search and track) and other surveillance systems to ensure 360° protection for surface vessels of naval forces.
Image: The NSM 400 is a high-precision gimbal for offshore stabilization of sensor systems
Highest torque and stabilization range for the best gimbal performance on the market
Like all SOMAG marine Mounts, the NSM 400 is IP 67 compliant and made to perform in very rough sea conditions, up to sea state 6 and beyond. To achieve this performance, the NSM 400 features a peak torque of 350 Nm to withstand even 1.5 G lateral acceleration*. Users who choose an NSM 400 not only opt for an extremely powerful Mount, but also for one with a uniquely large stabilization range. The NSM 400 compensates for movements in roll and pitch up to ≤±20°. Even an installation at high altitudes, such as on 30-meter high masts, does not affect its performance. Designed to work 24/7 it offers an unmatched stabilization accuracy of ≤0.4° rms without external IMU data. It is also possible to feed in NMEA frames or ship data to improve the long-term stabilization performance of the Mount.
NSM 400 offers new communication standards
The NSM 400 offers another innovation as it is the first stabilization platform equipped with an Ethernet port. This enables the user to integrate the Mount into a network. Numerous advantages result from this, such as communication with the Mount over long distances and the possibility to easily access the Mount from different devices within the network as well as the simultaneous configuration if several Mounts are integrated in the network.
Image: SOMAG’s maritime mount portfolio offers the right gimbal for various payloads and installation conditions
For further questions and prices please contact the SOMAG sales team at [email protected]
* The possible payload to be stabilized is related to the center of gravity of the payload as well as the lateral accelerations the Gyro Mount and payload have to withstand. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions in this regard. In order to give you the best possible assistance, please include the following information in your request:
- Where should the Mount be installed (floating platform, buoy, ship etc.)?
- Dimensions (length/width/weight) of the platform or vessel
- How many meters above the waterline should the Mount and the payload be installed?
- Center of gravity and weight of the payload
- Further information you consider important
The more information we get about the planned application, the better we can support you.
Find out more about SOMAG AG Jena on their website.
HYPACK Training Event on 6-8 January 2021
Join HYPACK for their annual Training Event on January 6th-8th, 2021 through their virtual platform. This training will offer instruction on the newest features of HYPACK® 2021 as well as comprehensive training for both novice and experienced users in HYPACK®, HYSWEEP® and DREDGEPACK® software. HYPACL will be providing a state of the art virtual experience with an exhibit hall, live training sessions, one-on-one chats and more! By attending you will have exclusive access to all of our training sessions and the ability to network with other attendees and exhibitors.
Training Sessions
Training is essential in keeping up to date with the latest changes in the industry. This three-day event will provide you with the tools needed to do your job efficiently. HYPACK's training sessions will run similar to their in-person event. They will be having three different virtual rooms running at the same time with new content for novice and experienced users. These sessions will run from 10:00AM-3:00PM EST. A schedule is on the last page.
Missed a training session? Don’t worry! All sessions will be accessible on demand to go back and watch only to those who are registered for the event.
One-on-one Sessions
HYPACK will also be offering one-on-one sessions for attendees to meet with their experts. You will be able to sign up for a specific time to meet with one of the sales or technical representatives to talk about project specific questions or general questions. Keep an eye out for an email with one-on-one sign up times!
Exhibit Hall
You will be able to meet exhibitors from the industry’s leading companies and learn about their products and services! HYPACK's virtual exhibit hall will be open from 8AM to 4PM EST for attendees to network with the exhibitors before, after and during the training sessions. You will be able to visit the virtual booths, download their brochures and content, watch promotional videos and more! Upon entering a virtual booth, you can set up a one-on-one chat session with the booth sales person. This gives you the interaction and networking you would usually get at an in person event. Attendees will also be able to connect with other attendees through chat capabilities within the virtual platform.
For more information visit https://www.hypack.com/training/conferences-trade-shows/exhibit-at-hypack-2021
Shell and Ocean Infinity Collaborate to Provide Uncrewed Seep Hunting Capability
Shell and offshore robotic ship operator Ocean Infinity have signed a joint development agreement to combine expertise and assets to execute multiclient seep hunter projects.
The combination of Shell’s specialist seep hunting expertise and Ocean Infinity’s ‘Armada’ fleet of robotic ships, will provide effective location targeting and wide scale coverage. In turn this will culminate in more reliable results, improving the focus of exploration work with fewer risks and environmental impacts.
Ocean Infinity’s Armada fleet, which will become operational next year, is equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) offering deep-water coverage on a uniquely large scale.
The Armada fleet will truly transform the way the global maritime community operates. With zero people required at sea, operations conducted by the fleet are set to be the safest the industry has seen as well as the most sustainable.
“Historically the most fruitful and successful collaborations are formed during the most challenging times. Ocean Infinity is very excited to begin our new multiclient data chapter, and we are especially delighted to commence this endeavour with Shell”, said Katya Krylova, VP Business Development Oil & Gas Exploration Services, Ocean Infinity.
“The deployment of the Armada fleet will mark a major technological advance in the industry and redefine traditional ways of working. Refining our ability to conduct tasks such as seep hunting using uncrewed technology opens up possibilities in so many other areas; the experience gained as a result of this collaboration could prove transferable to other offshore tasks such as carbon capture storage (CCS) monitoring”, she continued.
For more information visit: www.oceaninfinity.com
SeaRobotics Launches Next Generation “Utility Class” ASV
SeaRobotics Corporation (SRC), a leading developer of marine robotics, today announced details of their next generation Utility Class ASV, the SR-Utility 3.0. This latest addition to the SRC portfolio is designed to extend the range and versatility of unmanned coastal marine survey operations by providing professional surveyors with a configurable platform that allows for interchangeable payloads and sensors, including the incorporation of existing instrumentation.
“We have been building ASVs for over twenty years now and understand that there is always a need for some degree of customization when defining form and function, but increasingly we see surveyors demand systems that they themselves are capable of modifying to fit certain applications,” according to Lou Dennis, VP of programs at SeaRobotics.
The launch of the SR-Utility 3.0 follows the successful 2019 introduction of the SR-Surveyor M1.8, a smaller, tightly integrated ASV designed specifically for the survey of shallow and hard-to-access areas. System compatibility was a key design principle for the new Utility Class ASV, and the SR-Utility 3.0 and SR-Surveyor M1.8 will share the same operator, survey and autonomy controls and unique SRC Uni-Cab architecture.
“The growing appetite for autonomous systems among commercial surveyors calls for ever more flexible and intuitive plug and play platforms like the SR-Utility 3.0, which offers a modular approach to set-up, intuitive interfacing, and—thanks to a shared common Uni-Cab architecture—the option of modular upgradeable expansion to multi-ASV deployments,” Dennis added.
One of the first confirmed contract awards is from CSA Ocean Sciences, a US-based marine environmental consultancy firm that already uses a number of other SRC ASV models on large-scale environmental, hydrographic and geospatial survey projects.
Speaking of the order, CSA CEO Kevin Peterson said:
“We are excited about the addition of the SR-Utility 3.0 to our existing fleet of SR-Surveyor M1.8s and the benefits that this breakthrough technology offers to our customers. Having a highly reliable and standardized suite of ASVs helps us maintain the same established crew training, spare parts, and support depots—it is ultimately about optimizing efficiency in the collection of precise data.”
To find out more about the SR-Utility 3.0, visit: www.searobotics.com
MacArtney Group Announces the Appointment of a New UK Managing Director
MacArtney Group can announce that it has appointed a new Managing Director for its UK operations. Phil Middleton will be joining the group from 1 December, where he will be heading up MacArtney’s UK operations based out of Aberdeen.
Phil Middleton comes to MacArtney Group from the marine technology company Seatronics, where he has developed a wealth of experience in underwater technology over 18 years working his way up the ranks to become Group Managing Director, a post he has held for the past five years.
According to Rasmus F. Bonde, Chief Business Development Officer for MacArtney Group, Phil Middleton represents a big scoop for the company.
“I am excited about working with Phil and harnessing his ability and drive to grow our business,” states Bonde. “He has strong industry experience, a good reputation and an excellent network, as well as considerable knowledge of marine and offshore markets and the needs of our customers. He fits our profile and has a proven track record.”
Will be heading up MacArtney’s UK operations
MacArtney’s UK operations are one of the group’s largest outside of Denmark and service customers in offshore energy, ocean science and the naval sector. The UK operations employ a staff of just over 50 and offer the complete MacArtney range of underwater connectivity and technology products and solutions. This includes workshop facilities, where the focus is on the company’s core competencies, such as moulding cables and servicing the UK market with high-quality connectivity products.
MacArtney’s CEO, Claus Omann, also has high expectations for the new UK managing director.
“Phil Middleton will not only bring strong leadership into our UK operations, but will also be a strong strategic sparring partner for the global MacArtney management, where he will be a valuable asset,” he says.
Excited to build on MacArtney’s growth potential
Phil Middleton is just as thrilled to begin unleashing the rich potential of the UK market and join his new colleagues at one of the most reputable companies in underwater technology. Phil Middleton says about the new position:
“I have been aware of the MacArtney brand and heritage for many years, so I’m genuinely excited about being a part of the team and building on the great foundation and growth potential in the business. I look forward to meeting our existing client base and introducing new clients to the class leading products which MacArtney can offer across the energy sector.”
Global reach, local service
Middleton was attracted to MacArtney due to its roots as a family business combined with a global mindset. He sees it as an agile company, and MacArtney’s straight-forward approach to the tasks and challenges it encounters is particularly appealing to him.
MacArtney has significant growth plans for the UK, something Middleton is also excited about.
“I see it as an opportunity to re-energize MacArtney UK moving forward,” he says eagerly
For more information visit: www.macartney.com
Kraken Robotics MINSAS Now Available on the Teledyne Gavia AUV
Teledyne Gavia, manufacturer of Gavia, SeaRaptor and Osprey Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), announces the integration of the Kraken Robotics MINSAS Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS).
The MINSAS is an off the shelf configurable Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) which replaces high end sidescan systems at an affordable price, while delivering significantly higher resolution, range, and area coverage rates (ACR). The increased range and resolution and associated higher ACR of SAS over traditional systems can significantly expand the capabilities of Teledyne Gavia AUV systems for a variety of tasks for naval, scientific and commercial applications
During the initial integration of the Kraken MINSAS at Teledyne Gavia facilities in Kopavogur Iceland a Gavia class vehicle was utilized. Due to the modular design of the Gavia AUV it was possible to use a Kraken MINSAS demonstration payload that was designed for a third party AUV along with a Gavia module adaptor to conduct sea trials. The ability of Gavia AUVs to carry payloads from other commercially available AUV systems further highlights the benefits of a truly plug and play modular system for unmatched versatility. The Integration and testing of the MINSAS culminated in operations with the Icelandic Coast Guard to examine targets of interest including what is believed to be the remnant of a B-24 bomber operated by the RAF for ASW patrols during WW2 and shipwrecks from the same period found in Icelandic waters.
Equipping the Gavia AUV with Synthetic Aperture Sonar enables the Gavia AUV to provide both bathymetry and high resolution / high area coverage sonar coverage which is ideally suited for a variety of applications including mine countermeasures, SAR and other operations where speed of response and actionable data are paramount. The low logistics Gavia class vehicles will utilize the MINSAS 60 system while the larger Osprey and SeaRaptor AUVs are capable of carrying the larger MINSAS 120 configuration.
For more information visit: www.teledynegavia.com
New HD-IP or HD-SDI Manta Camera Released
Arctic Rays, LLC has released Manta HD, a small HD-IP or HD-SDI underwater camera.
The Onvif profile S compliant Manta HD camera is capable of a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps (1080p30 full HD), features a 30x optical zoom and on-board recording to an SD card. An additional connector is offered to provide power and control for an external pan & tilt or light.
The compact design measures 82.6mm (3.25in) diameter by 198mm (7.8in) long with connector and weighs 1.21 kg (2.67 lbs) in air and .34 kg (.75 lbs) in seawater. Housed in a 6061-T6 AHC aluminum housing with acrylic lens, it is rated to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
For more information, contact us at www.arcticrays.com or email us at [email protected].