November Company Spotlight – Okeanus/SOSI

Okeanus Science & Technology, LLC (Okeanus), a Houma, LA-based marine and oceanographic equipment company founded in 2013, specializes in the rental and sale of equipment to customers engaged in a wide array of marine survey activities. Okeanus offers the latest technologies in positioning, hydrographic, metocean, water quality, ROV sediment collection, flotation, and launch and recovery equipment. Since its founding, Okeanus has become a leading provider of oceanographic rental equipment to the offshore Gulf of Mexico market.

ECO 2000.

In September 2016, Okeanus acquired Sound Ocean Systems, Inc. (Sound Ocean). Since 1978, Sound Ocean has designed and manufactured custom marine deck and underwater equipment. This acquisition gave Okeanus exclusive access to Sound Ocean's complete product catalog and a presence in the Pacific Northwest. The Sound Ocean product line includes its “ECO” winches that are all-electric winches ideally suited to permanent and temporary installation aboard small research vessels and vessels of opportunity. ECO winches are currently offered in two sizes, the ECO 500 and the ECO 2000, with a number of available options for each. While the ECO 500 can be ordered with either 1 or 2 HP drives, the ECO 2000 can be obtained in 5, 7.5, or 10 HP configurations (with custom designs accommodating much larger drives). Standard features include 100% duty cycle dynamic braking, automatic failsafe brake, variable speed control, local controls with joystick and lighted E-stop button, powder-coated aluminum frame, along with stainless steel shafts, bearings, and hardware. Additional options include diamond screw levelwind with manual clutch assembly, wireless or wired remote control, line speed and payout display, line tension display, environmentally sealed slip ring with waterproof connector, grooved drum covers, and UNOLS package.

Okeanus also offers a range of A-frames, davits, and capstans that can be used with the winches or separately. They can be constructed of aluminum or steel and coated with marine grade paint. Other features that can be supplied with these items are stainless steel shafts, hardware and capstan drums. Optional equipment includes over-boarding sheave, ROV or towed body docking head, A-frame mounting of winches or capstans, separate control valve stand, and hydraulic power unit.

From its facilities in Houma, LA and Redmond, WA, Okeanus provides customers the opportunity to rent or purchase equipment needed to support both domestic and international projects.

Early in 2017, Okeanus will also launch www.seacatalog.com, its new online marketplace where it will offer a broad line of products used by marine survey professionals. Visit our website to get updates on how to buy, sell or rent through www.seacatalog.com.

NOC launches new collaborative platform for oil and gas industry

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has launched a new collaborative way of working with the oil and gas industry. NOC will provide innovative science and technology to enable industry to work safely and efficiently, with minimum impact on the marine environment

The launch comes off the back of many years of working with the industry on both an individual and collaborative basis, to develop science and technology to enhance competitive advantage, maximise investment and reduce operational costs during exploration, production and decommissioning.

NOC has unique expertise in marine autonomous and robotic systems and sensors, for operations in challenging, hazardous and deep-sea environments. NOC's fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, unmanned surface vehicles and submarine gliders have all been developed to operate in extreme conditions. NOC's science teams have had many years of experience in testing and demonstrating the capabilities of our autonomous platforms and sensors, in such hazardous environments.

NOC associate director, innovation and enterprise, Kevin Forshaw commented, “Building on our existing relationships, we are hoping that this offer will encourage more oil and gas companies to develop long-term relationships with us, as we believe there are benefits to be gained on both sides. With the many challenges facing the industry, companies are recognising the value of novel science and technology to create real business value. By accessing external funding opportunities and joint-industry funding, companies are benefiting from responsive and flexible innovations to drive down operational costs, maximise existing investments, access and share innovation expertise, and respond to government fiscal and environmental regulations.”

The collaboration package is an annual subscription that includes access to efficient, authoritative and rigorous science research services, responsive to the industry's needs, expert interpretation of valuable data-sets, access to software and data products and alerts for public funding opportunities. Collaborators will also have Associate Membership of the NOC's Marine Robotics Innovation Centre.