Milestones

The Senate voted 99-1 in favor of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018/Water Resources Development Act otherwise known as WRDA 2018. The Bill passed in the US House by unanimous voice vote (435-0) in August.

The autonomous and smart shipping industry is set to receive a boost, after the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Department of Transport (DfT), in collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre’s (NOC) Marine Robotics Innovation Centre, successfully secured £1million in a bid to accelerate the UK into a world-leading position in this area.

International submarine cable consulting firm Pioneer Consulting, has further increased capabilities by greatly adding to its core project team. With over 10 years in system design engineering and project implementation experience, Pioneer Consulting welcomes Mr. Philip deGuzman.

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) and Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), have joined forces to explore how some of the latest advanced manufacturing tools and processes can drive more efficient, smarter ways to reduce cost and increase productivity across BHGE’s operations.

Managing Director of Del Norte Technology, Laurie Smith, recently announced his retirement after more than 50 years in the business. Del Norte, the UK partner company to HYPACK, officially closed with Laurie’s retirement. Swathe Services will now take on responsibility for sales and maintenance of HYPACK software solutions. The company will continue to run bi-annual Multi-Beam Echo Sounder HYPACK training courses to improve surveyors’ knowledge and efficiency using HYPACK software.

In 2017, Ulstein Design & Solutions AS announced their first design and equipment contract on an X-BOW expedition cruise vessel for ship owner SunStone Ships. The contract included nine options, and the first option has now been declared.

Neptune Energy announces the appointment of Odin Estensen as Managing Director of its Norwegian business, based in Stavanger.

HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, officially opened Balmoral Offshore Engineering’s (BOE) subsea test facility in Aberdeen on October 3, 2018.

The technology group Wärtsilä has decided to reorganize into two business areas, Wärtsilä Marine Business and Wärtsilä Energy Business, covering both new sales and services for the respective markets. With this change, Wärtsilä aims to deliver increased value to its customers by better serving their needs across the full lifecycle. The new organizational structure will be operational as of 1 January 2019.

Inmarsat's new Fleet Safety maritime data service has been named winner in the Technology category for the highly regarded Safety4Sea Awards, 2018. The award win, by public vote after shortlisting from a judging panel, acknowledged Fleet safety as 'a significant technological breakthrough' that will continue to improve the safety of mariners and vessels worldwide.

Navigation and positioning technology company Sonardyne International Ltd. has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Paull as Business Development Manager to help support and develop the firm’s business within the growing aquaculture and renewables industries.

ASL announces the appointment of Dr. Steve Pearce to the position of acoustics scientist.