Milestones

Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, announces that Intertek Energy & Water has been invited by Cardiff University to become an industrial partner to support a three-year tidal stream turbine research project.

Aberdeen-headquartered Hydro Group Plc, has reported record growth since financial year 2014/15 within its Asian division, due to impressive demand from domestic markets.

A new MBARI robot that can traverse the deep sea, collecting data all on its own, is providing a boost to one of MBARI’s longest running research projects – the midwater-time series project. The robot carries a new video system called “i2MAP” (Investigations of Imaging for Midwater Autonomous Platforms). This new tool will add to the scientific observations MBARI researchers have been making with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for nearly two decades.

MetOcean Solutions recently provided free access to all our hindcast data statistics from around the world.

In a major change designed to facilitate adoption of its industry-leading SonarWiz software, Chesapeake Technology (CTI) has eliminated its license fee for all higher education institutions, effective immediately.

Professor Angela Hatton has begun her new role as Director of Science & Technology at the National Oceanography Centre. On her appointment, Professor Angela Hatton said, “These are interesting and exciting times for the NOC; addressing globally significant challenges, driving forward technology development and conducting science that has a positive impact on society and the economy.

Hydroid Inc., a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime and the leading manufacturer of marine robotics, has announced it has opened a new headquarters building in Pocasset, Mass. The new environmentally friendly building, located at 1 Henry Drive, houses the company’s corporate and administrative offices, and is on the same campus as Hydroid’s existing manufacturing and research facility.

The first robotic microsub capable of being deployed from a robotic surface vehicle was unveiled at the Marine Autonomous and Technology Annual Showcase this November, at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

The International Energy Agency states that 2.5% of global electricity demand is today provided by wind power—and that figure is set to grow by 42% through to 2021.

Arctia Ltd, a WOC Member and one owner of the strongest icebreaker fleets in the world, will launch an international Arctic expedition in the summer of 2017 as part of the Finland 100 jubilee year – and welcomes research partners to join this extraordinary opportunity for Arctic access.

Students and researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were given the opportunity to test their own Dynamic Positioning (DP) algorithms in a full-scale setting last week. The trials took place in the Trondheimsfjord aboard the ‘R/V Gunnerus’, the NTNU-owned research and education vessel to which KONGSBERG donated a state-of-the-art K-Pos DP system in 2015.

DeepOcean Group Holding B.V. (“DeepOcean”) announces a new majority owner in the company. Funds advised by Triton (“Triton”) will become the largest shareholder and will, in collaboration with some of the existing shareholders in DeepOcean, support the company’s growth over the coming years. DeepOcean has also strengthened the company’s balance sheet and liquidity with an equity raise. Through the equity raise and the future support of Triton, DeepOcean is well positioned to weather the downturn in oil & gas markets and also to take advantage of growth opportunities in the oil & gas and renewables markets.