Oceanbuzz Issue No. 423 – 10th November 2015‏

1.a) ASHTEAD TECHNOLOGY SECURES EXCLUSIVE UNDERWATER GLIDER AGREEMENT
Ashtead Technology has secured a global asset management agreement with Blue Ocean Monitoring to store, maintain and supply underwater gliders for ocean data monitoring.

Blue Ocean Monitoring is a world-leader in the provision of ocean data solutions using autonomous subsea and surface glider technology.

The deal will see Blue Ocean Monitoring expand its service offering globally with Ashtead providing asset management services and project support from its offices in Aberdeen, Houston and Singapore.

Unlike autonomous vehicles (AUVs) which are driven by conventional propellers, the gliders operate using either buoyancy or wave motion propulsion mechanisms, which allows for longer deployment periods and the collection of large datasets continuously over extended time scales.  The gliders are capable of transmitting data in real-time and can be deployed and recovered easily, at a fraction of the cost of traditional vessel-based or fixed-mooring monitoring approaches, lowering both project costs, and health, safety and environmental risks.

For further information on Ashtead Technology please visit www.ashtead-technology.com.
1.b) VALEPORT EXPANDS INTO OPTICAL SENSORS AND DEBUTS WITH FLUOROMETER LAUNCH
Valeport has just released a new range of optical sensors, which debuts with the launch of a Fluorometer for measurement of Chlorophyll, Rhodamine and Fluorosceine.

Created for inshore, coastal and oceanographic monitoring, this new sensor delivers a high performance measurement of Chlorophyll A, Rhodamine and Flurosceine in a compact and robust package ideal as a standalone sensor for ROV, AUV and third party  integration or used as part of a multi-sensor array and data logger.

The Hyperion Fluorometer is offered as standard in a 6000m depth rated, titanium housing and has a wide range (9-30V DC) isolated power supply, data output up to 32Hz and standard RS232 communications.  The system is supplied with Valeport’s DataLog x2 Windows software for instrument set up, and display of data in real time.

The Hyperion Fluorometer design is also integrated as an option into Valeport’s new miniCTD Fast Profiler.
Kevin Edwards, Valeport sales and marketing manager commented: “Our expansion into the optical sensor market is a natural expansion move for Valeport and one which has been developed from customer feedback and experiences gathered in the market in recent years.  The Hyperion Fluorometer is highly accurate and competitively priced, providing great customer value.”

The Hyperion Fluorometer is now available to order for deliveries from November 2015.  For more information contact: sales@valeport.co.uk or visit www.valeport.co.uk.
1.c) CCC SELECTS SONARDYNE RANGER 2 ACOUSTICS FOR DP VESSEL FLEET
CCC (Underwater Engineering) S.A.L, leading providers of offshore construction and subsea services in the Middle East and India, has selected Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 acoustic positioning technology for its entire fleet of dynamically positioned (DP) diving and support vessels.

Supplied by Sonardyne Asia Pte. in Singapore, the Ranger 2 systems will be used as independent position references for each vessel’s dynamic positioning system and to track underwater targets including divers and ROVs. Four multi-purpose vessels make up CCC’s fleet, including two new 65 metre vessels rated for Class 2 operations. All are fitted with DP systems from GE, with their two 90 metre Dive Support Vessels, the CCC Pioneer and the new build Said Alethia, equipped with dual redundant Ranger 2 Pro systems, the highest specification available. This capability allows CCC to utilise their vessels on survey projects where maintaining a reliable position is a critical operational requirement.

For all of its Ranger 2 installations, CCC additionally specified Sonardyne’s Optimised USBL configuration. Here, Sonardyne’s premium grade Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) Lodestar is interfaced directly with the Ranger 2 acoustic transceiver allowing raw range, bearing and attitude data to be simultaneously processed. This integration achieves a tightly compensated solution and allows users to meet the positioning specifications of a wide range of subsea construction and survey projects.

For more information on Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 USBL tracking system, please contact Graeme Buchanan on +65 6542 1911.
1.d) NEW ROV SUPPORT VESSEL FUGRO AQUARIUS DELIVERED IN BRAZIL
Fugro has taken delivery of the new ROV support vessel (RSV) Fugro Aquarius, the most advanced vessel of her type built in Brazil.

The new DP-2 diesel-electric vessel is 83 metres is length with a deck area of 520 square metres and accommodation for 60 people. Permanently equipped with two Fugro-built 150HP work class ROVs, Fugro Aquarius is capable of operating in water depths of 3, 000 metres. The stern A‐Frame, with active heave compensated winch system, allows for deployment of 10 tonnes and the helideck is suitable for medium-lift helicopters such as the Sikorsky S‐92.

Commenting on the new vessel, Mathilde Scholtes, Managing Director, Fugro Brasil, said, “Fugro Aquarius has been built specifically for the Brazilian market and is ideally suited for subsea inspection, repair and maintenance work.”

Designed by Damen shipyards group and built by Wilson Sons shipyard in Guarujá near São Paulo, the vessel’s local content exceeds 60%, with technology and equipment locally sourced and the project involving a workforce of over 250 Brazilian nationals.

For further information please email: m.scholtes@fugro-br.com.
1.e) UTEC NCS SURVEY AND LDD COLLABORATE AND WIN MAJOR HEAVY LIFT SURVEY SUPPORT CONTRACT BY LDD
UTEC NCS Survey, part of UTEC Survey, an Acteon company, was recently awarded a contract for heavy lift support services for a major project in the Baltic Sea.

Partnering with LDD the contract is to deliver, in January 2016, a pile guide frame monitoring system, which will be used for the installation of approximately 70 foundation pile clusters for the subsequent installation of 4-legged jackets for the Wikinger windfarm development in the Baltic Sea.

The monitoring system has been designed to meet the high accuracy installation tolerances required for each pile cluster, with UTEC NCS using the specifically designed heavy lift / renewables internal software package “Groundbase” to monitor the installations.

Groundbase is a customized, stand-alone, navigation software package developed to provide the necessary QC for any offshore structure installation.  Capabilities include monitoring: jackets, top-sides, monopiles, transition pieces, templates, manifolds etc. when installed from vessels, barges or jack-ups.

For more information, please email simon.goldsworthy@ncs-survey.com or tel +44 (0)1224 812020. www.utecsurvey.com
1.f) SEATRONICS ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH SUBSEA TOOLING COMPANY, LATERAL AS
Seatronics, an Acteon company, has formed a new partnership with LateraL AS, a Norwegian subsea tooling firm specialised in improving offshore performance through its innovative product range.

The new agreement will provide Seatronics’ global customer base with access to the FlexiCal product line. FlexiCal is an ROV mounted caliper that allows for direct measurements from point-to-point with real-time readout. Accurate live measurements provide clients with the knowledge needed to make swift decisions regarding their assets, as the measurements are taken without the need for post-processing. The caliper is frequently used for measuring wear and corrosion on mooring chains, but also performs excellently on flanges, plates, structures and numerous other subsea assets.

The addition of LateraL products further enhances the ROV tooling capabilities available from Seatronics in conjunction with Acteon sister company, J2 Subsea.

For more information, please email Phil.Middleton@seatronics-group.com or Tel: +44 (0)1224 853100.
1.g) HEMISPHERE GNSS ATLAS SERVICE
Saderet Limited, the Hemisphere GNSS European Distributor announces the new Atlas L-band RTK correction service. Atlas is an L-Band satellite delivered positioning service able to be received + and – 75 degrees from the equator and annual subscriptions are available for onshore and offshore users.

Atlas has the ability to provide any Atlas capable receiver (AtlasLink smart antenna, V320, VS330u, R330u, H321 OEM) with a 10cm 3D positional accuracy solution. Initialisation time is in the order of 20-30 minutes.

The AtlasLink GNSS Smart Antenna is a multi-frequency receiver utilising Hemisphere’s latest Athena GNSS engine with WiFi, internal logging memory all in a single environmentally proven enclosure for the most demanding user scenarios.

The AtlasLink receiver, when enabled with the RTK option, is able to output corrections in a variety of industry standard formats utilising SmartLink (10cm dynamic) and BaseLink (1cm static) modes of operation.

Early customers include a number of marine survey equipment integrators and a leading positioning system rental company.

For further details please visit www.saderet.co.uk.
1.h) SMI ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE MST SECTOR
The seventh business survey of UK marine scientific industries highlights continued growth for the Marine Science and Technology sector on the back of strong exports.

The seventh survey, focused on UK companies operating primarily in Marine Science and Technology (MST) activities, aims to provide an insight into current business activity in terms of market sectors, market size and business confidence both current and forecast.  This year a slightly different approach was adopted and companies were invited to participate after attendance at Ocean Business 2015 on 14-16 April at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

Highlights from the report are:
• Commercial Marine Science and Technology (MST) contributes on average, nearly £2bn/year to the UK economy.
• Most of the individual companies are in manufacturing or service and therefore the additional indirect contribution will be substantially higher.
• Most of the companies export to a total annual value of at least £760m operating on a global scale. Market diversity is wide and includes oil/gas, renewable energy, environment, ports/harbours and military.
• Whereas there had been a drop in the number of companies reporting a turnover increase, investment in R&D remained the same, with a strong commitment to maintain or increase this level.

The 2015 Annual Review of the UK Marine Scientific Industries can be found here.

2.a) FUGRO ACADEMY TRAINING CENTRE OPENS IN PLYMOUTH, UK
The official opening of the Fugro Academy Training Centre by Plymouth’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Dr John Mahony, took place yesterday (3 November 2015) at Turnchapel Wharf, Plymouth, UK, part of the former home of 539 Royal Marines Assault Squadron.

The Fugro Academy Training Centre comprises offices, training suites, engineering workshops, a café and recreation space, with access to Fugro’s two training vessels moored in Cattewater, where the mouth of the river Plym merges with Plymouth Sound, immediately outside the training centre building. Four training staff will be permanently based onsite at the Turnchapel Wharf facility, which can take up to 50 members of staff at any one time. Every year hundreds of Fugro staff from home and overseas are expected to visit the centre in the ‘Ocean City’, a key marine industry hub.

For further information email: w.reynolds@fugro.com or Tel:+44 (0)1224 257795/m: +44 (0)7775 545371.
www.fugro.com
2.b) NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE SHOWCASES MARINE INNOVATION IN LONDON
The National Oceanography Centre has won a place at Innovate 2015, which takes place on 9th and 10th November at Old Billingsgate in London. This award acknowledges the NOC’s growing success in the marine technologies sector and the opening of NOC’s new £3 million Marine Robotics Innovation Centre later this month.

During Innovate 2015, the NOC will showcase some of the technology for marine autonomous systems that has been developed by NOC technologists and scientists in collaboration with business partners.

Kevin Forshaw, Associate Director, Innovation and Enterprise at the NOC said: “Innovations in marine robotics are changing the way oceanographers undertake research, and also how marine surveys are conducted by the oil and gas, defence, and marine renewable industries. The global ocean is vast, covering three-quarters of the Earth’s surface but new technologies are gathering data at the microscopic level with the aid of robot vehicles and novel sensors.”

The official opening of the National Oceanography Centre’s Marine Robotics Innovation Centre takes place in Southampton on Monday, 23rd November. Throughout the day there will be seminars given by academics, engineers and business leaders. Over 250 invited guests are expected to attend.

For more information about the products on display at Innovate 2015 contact Senior Communications Officer, Kim Marshall-Brown on +44 (0)23 8059 6170 Email:kim.marshall@noc.ac.uk.

3.a) SONARDYNE APPOINTS ROBIN BJORØY AS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
Subsea technology company, Sonardyne International Ltd., UK, has today announced the appointment of Robin Bjorøy as its new Managing Director. Robin succeeds John Ramsden who leaves the position after six years in charge to return to Singapore following a transition period.

Robin joins Sonardyne with immediate effect and brings with him extensive operational and management experience gained over a 27 year international career with GecoPrakla, WesternGeco and Schlumberger. Robin has served in seismic field surveys, product development, survey design and management roles internationally including Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as in the UK. Robin worked in Houston as the global QHSE manager for the Well Completions and Productivity segment. He has been in regional management in, and Vice President for, Latin America, been Managing Director for a large vertically integrated manufacturing centre in Singapore and more recently, served as Vice President, responsible for a major corporate account. His most recent role was directing integration of two acquired companies.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Ralph Rayner, Sonardyne’s Non-Executive Chairman said, “Having worked at an operational and strategic level across multiple geographies, Robin comes to us with excellent business, financial and commercial acumen. His depth of knowledge, skills and experience will strengthen the Board and leadership team as we respond to current market challenges, organise the business for an upturn in our core markets and expand into new markets.

I take this opportunity to thank John Ramsden for his dedication to Sonardyne, and wish him all the best for his return to Singapore with his family.”

For further information on Sonardyne International Ltd, please visit www.sonardyne.com.

4.a) SALES OPPORTUNITIES AT CHELSEA TECHNOLOGIES GROUP
Chelsea Technologies Group wish to recruit two Sales Managers. The Maritime Sales Manager will be responsible for expanding their maritime environmental products including the FastBallast Compliance Monitors and Sea Sentry Wash Water Monitors for Ship Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.

The Marine Sales Manager will be responsible for the sales of their marine science sensors and systems including physical, optical and acoustic products. This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established and growing company producing a range of innovative sensors and systems.

Full job specifications can be found at http://www.chelsea.co.uk/join-a-great-team or if you’d like to chat about these positions please call Ellen Keegan +44(0) 20 8481 9019.