SEA Apr 2015

Be In The Know.
ST News Splash brings you the latest in news

and current events throughout the industry
Check daily for updates.
VISIT
sea-technology.com
twitter.com/SeaTechnology
facebook.com/SeaTechnologyMag
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sea-technology-magazine
Contact us at oceanbiz@sea-technology.com or 703-524-3136
Power of Vertical Integration - Let It Work for You

Piezo Electric
Composites
Piezo
Electric
Ceramics
Single
Crystals
Custom
Acoustic
Solutions
Hydrophones
MATERIALS
Navigation
Systems
SENSORS
SYSTEMS
Ultrasound
Sonar
Systems
Range
Systems
Arrays
ADVANCED MATERIALS
CHANNEL INDUSTRIES
SENSORS
ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS
CTG HQ
879 Ward Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
USA
Phone: 001.805.683.1431
ctgsales@channeltech.com
MATERIALS SYSTEMS INC.

543 Great Road
Littleton, MA 01460
USA
Phone: 001.978.486.0404
info@matsysinc.com
HC MATERIALS
479 Quadrangle Drive, Suite E
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
USA
Phone: 001.630.226.9080
info@channeltech.com
Making the Invisible Visible

2 st / April 2015
Transducers
www.sea-technology.com
April 2015 / st
V fearless.
Every day, our products are hard at

work in some of the most demanding and
challenging environments on the planet.
For over 30 years, Teledyne RD Instruments has provided you with the tools
you need to fearlessly conquer even your most challenging deployments.
We proudly continue this legacy with our newly enhanced,
next-generation 5-beam Sentinel V Acoustic Doppler
Current Proflers (ADCPs), which ofer you unmatched
simultaneous, high-precision current profling and waves data.
Learn more at: www.rdinstruments.com/followV
www.rdinstruments.com
SEATECHNOLOGY
The Worldwide Information Leader for Marine Business, Science & Engineering
April 2015, Volume 56, No. 4
Visit our website at www.sea-technology.com for online versions of feature articles and news departments.
The editorial staff can be contacted at oceanbiz@sea-technology.com.
10
SHELL MARINE LUBRICANT TECHNICAL SERVICES BRING OPERATING DIVIDENDS

Dr. Sara Lawrence (Shell Marine Products) describes monitoring and analysis to improve
offshore vessel performance.
15
OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

Conference Preview
19
THE ARCTIC AS THE NEXT GLOBAL ENERGY POWERHOUSE

Kell Sloan (Pro-Oceanus Systems) discusses the potential of methane hydrates to hold
the key to energy independence.
25
AUVSIS UNMANNED SYSTEMS

Conference Preview
27
2015 TO DEFINE US OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS ACTIVITY FOR REMAINDER OF DECADE
Randall Luthi (National Ocean Industries Association) explores how the offshore leasing
program and seismic survey permitting could shape the future.
33
OCEANS15 MTS/IEEE GENOVA

Conference Preview
35
MANEUVERING UNDER THE ICE

Gina Millar and Linda Mackay (International Submarine Engineering Ltd.) review AUV
development in the Arctic.
39
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE POST-HURRICANE SEASON

Yvette Schmiz (INTEGRA Services Technologies Inc.) explains decommissioning tools for
the aftermath of natural disasters.
Undersea Systems
that Deliver
Success in the
Deep Ocean
Leaders in Low Logistics,
High Performance
Systems
Profling Floats
Autonomous Undersea Gliders
43
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS FOR HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS

Karmjit Sidhu (American Sensor Technologies Inc.) provides an overview of how sensors
can remotely monitor gas and chemical leaks.
49
GPS ERROR REJECTION IMPROVES ACCURACY OF OFFSHORE PLATFORM WATCH CIRCLE

Kevin Delaney (BMT Scientifc Marine Services) demonstrates how a Kalman flter-based
technique prevents false alarms.
51
A Teledyne Marine Company
Autonomous Undersea Vehicles
Remotely Operated Vehicles
ERRORS IN TRACKING SURFACE CURRENTS WITH DIFFERENT FLOAT GEOMETRIES

Dr. gueda Vzquez (University of Cdiz, Spain), Dr. Francisco Criado-Aldeanueva (University
of Mlaga, Spain) and Paz Rotlln Garca analyze wind drag effect of Lagrangian drifters.
For more information on these news items, visit our website at www.sea-technology.com.
Editorial.......................................................7
Soundings ...................................................9
Capital Report ...........................................55
International ..............................................57
Ocean Business .........................................60
Product Development ...............................62
Navy Currents ...........................................64
Marine Resources ......................................65
Marine Electronics.....................................67
Environmental Monitoring .........................69
Ocean Research ........................................70

Offshore Oil & Ocean Engineering ............72
Books ........................................................74
Contracts ...................................................75
Meetings ...................................................76
People .......................................................77
ST Looks Back ...........................................78
Professional Services Directory..................79
Soapbox ....................................................81
Advertiser Index ........................................82
COVERA scenic view of platform Houchin, operated by Pacifc Operators Offshore LLC (Carpinteria, California). Houchin is a fxed-production platform located approximately 4 miles off the California coast, in the Santa
Barbara Channel. Platform Houchin is actively being used for the recovery of oil and gas on the U.S. Outer
Continental Shelf. (Photo Credit: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.)
NEXT MONTHKVH advanced technology meeting broadband demands ... Applications for scaled-down satcom ... Big data management at Port of Rotterdam ... Diver tracking system ... Low-cost inertial sensors to measure subsurface mooring motions ... Conference previews: Clean Pacifc and Undersea Defence Technology.
Copyright 2015 by Compass Publications, Inc. Sea Technology (ISSN 0093-3651) is published monthly by Compass Publications, Inc., Suite 1010,
1600 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209; (703) 524-3136; FAX (703) 841-0852. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of Compass Publications Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Arlington, Virginia, and additional mailing offces. Subscriptions may be purchased at the following rates: domestic, $60 one year; $80 two years; foreign air mail, $133. Single copies $4.50 plus shipping and
handling (current issue only). POSTMASTER: send address changes to Compass Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 600, Deer Isle, ME 04627-0600. Canada
Publications Number 41450540. Canadian return address MSI Worldwide Mail, P.O. Box 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8, Canada. CUSTOMER
SERVICE, Tel. 1-800-989-5253 or 1-207-348-1057.
Flotation and Releases
Communication and Positioning
Deep Survey Systems
See us at
OTC - Booth 1333
AUVSI - Booth 2311
www.teledynemarinesystems.com
April 2015 / st
6 st / April 2015
editorial
SEA TECHNOLOGY
I NCLUDING U NDER S EA TECHNOLOGY
RAdm. Jonathan White, Oceanographer of the U.S. Navy,

Director of Task Force Climate Change
The Industrys Recognized Authority

for Design, Engineering and
Application of Equipment
and Services in the
Global Ocean Community
The Polar CodeBringing

Order to Polar Shipping
Charles H. Bussmann
Founder and Publisher 1924-1999
publisher
managing editor
assistant editor
editorial consultant
production manager
assistant design/
website manager
advertising
service manager
C. Amos Bussmann
Aileen Torres-Bennett
Alaina Monismith
Charles W. Covey
Russell S. Conward
Joshua Ortega
Susan M. Ingle Owen
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES:
HEADQUARTERS
C. Amos Bussmann
1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1010
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: (703) 524-3136 FAX: (703) 841-0852
e-mail: seatechads@sea-technology.com
NORTH AMERICA, EAST COAST
Clive Bullard
Bullard Communications
107 Lane Gate Road
Cold Spring, NY 10516
Tel: (845) 231-0846 FAX: (845) 265-9695
e-mail: cbullards@cs.com
NORTH AMERICA,WEST COAST
John Sabo
Barbara Sabo
Gregory Sabo
John Sabo Associates
447 Herondo St. #305
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Tel: (310) 374-2301 FAX: (310) 400-5635
e-mail: bsabo@jsaboassoc.com
EUROPE
John Gold
John F. Gold & Associates
Highview
18a Aultone Way
Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3LE, England
Phone/FAX Natl: 020-8641-7717
Intl: +44-20-8641-7717
e-mail: johnfgold@gmail.com
Sea Technology back issues available on microform.

Contact: NA Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998
1-800-420-6272
COMPASS PUBLICATIONS, INC.

1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1010
Arlington, VA 22209-2510
Tel: (703) 524-3136
FAX: (703) 841-0852
oceanbiz@sea-technology.com
publishers of:
Sea Technology
Commercial Fisheries News
Fish Farming News
Commercial Marine Directory
Fish Farmers Phone Book/Directory
Sea Technology Buyers Guide/Directory
Sea Tech e-News
Celebrating more than 50 years

of serving the global ocean community
- Since 1963 -
lobal climate change is decreasing Arctic sea ice, opening the region during the
summer melt season for growing commercial use. Consequently, surface shipping
in the region is increasing, including cruise and cargo ships and vessels engaged in oil,
gas and mineral exploration. Despite the warming climate, weather conditions in the
Arctic remain largely harsh, hazardous and diffcult to predict.
As with many harsh environments and the ecosystems they encompass, the Polar
Regions are fragile and very susceptible to damage by human activities. These considerations have resulted in a need for special regulations to ensure the safety of people
and the environment during polar operations.
Last November, the Maritime Safety Committee of the U.N. International Maritime
Organization (IMO) adopted the draft International Code for Ships Operating in Polar
Waters. Known as the Polar Code, it is the frst binding set of international rules for
high-latitude shipping. Ships that operate in the Polar Regions are subject to standard
international rules for maritime operations, but the Polar Code provides additional requirements to address the unique challenges of polar operations.
The Polar Code focuses on ship safety and environmental protection, and covers
matters relevant to ship design, construction, ancillary equipment, operations, crew
training, certifcations, and search and rescue protocols. It encompasses related parts
of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and amendments to
SOLAS and prospective amendments to MARPOL will make the Polar Codes enhanced
safety and environmental requirements mandatory for Arctic and Antarctic shipping.
Before it comes into effect, the Polar Code must be formally adopted by the IMOs
Marine Environment Protection Committee at its May 2015 meeting. If that happens,
the new regulations will not be binding until 2017 for new ships and 2018 for existing
ships.
For more than a decade the U.S. Navy has been considering the implications of a
more accessible Arctic, encapsulated most recently in the U.S. Navy Arctic Roadmap
2014-2030, released in February 2014. This document outlines the actions the Navy
will take to prepare itself for future Arctic operations and refects guidance found in
the U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic Region and the Department of Defense Arctic
Strategy. The Polar Code aligns with all of these.
At this point, most of the Arctic remains a frontier, lacking the safety and navigation
infrastructure that serve maritime operations in other parts of the world. These defcits
include a lack of modern nautical charts, reliable weather and ice predictions, assured
broadband communications, aids to navigation, and shore facilities. There is also a
defcit in professional mariners with polar experience and expertise. In addition, the
remoteness of the region from population centers would hamper rescue operations and
environmental disaster response.
The increased shipping activity during the Arctic melt season indicates that the
harsh environment does not dissuade ships from operating there and suggests that
regulations for future shipping will be crucial in attempts to avoid mishaps and environmental disasters. The Polar Code is a frst, important attempt to address these issues.
As the seasonal ice coverage continues to recede and human activity continues to
increase, maritime insurance companies, offshore oil and gas concerns, large commercial shippers, and a wide array of ocean technology companies will beneft from
guidelines that allow them to more effectively plan and execute safe operations. A
well-regulated and patrolled Arctic Ocean, supported by all the Arctic nations, will
help provide the order and stability needed to promote productivity and prosperity. As
humankind ventures into this newly accessible ocean, the Polar Code will help protect
the ships, crews and passengers who ply the waters of the austere Polar Regions, as
well as their pristine environments. n
April 2015 / st
Leap into the future
The most advanced compact work ROV ever

- smaller, smarter, stronger
THE WORLDS LEADING UNDERWATER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER
seaeye.com/leopard
soundings
)) Kongsberg DP System on Worlds Largest Construction Vessel. Allseas (Chtel-Saint-Denis, Switzerland) Pioneering
Spirit will start its frst job offshore Norway this summer with an integrated dynamic positioning (DP) and maneuvering
system based on Kongsberg Maritime (Kongsberg, Norway) technology. The Kongsberg Maritime delivery includes forward
and aft bridge systems in addition to an extensive automation network and the HiPAP subsea position reference system.
Eight years in the making, Allseas Pioneering Spirit single-lift vessel is the largest construction vessel in the world. With sea
trials already completed in summer 2014, Kongsberg Maritimes Class 3, fully redundant DP system and other vital systems
will be put through the paces this summer, when Pioneering Spirit starts its frst, and particularly challenging, project, the
removal of the Yme platform topsides in the North Sea.
)) Unmanned Systems Caucus Back in US Congress. Rep. Joseph Heck (R-Nev.) and Daniel Lipinski (D-Illinois) relaunched
the U.S. Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus in March. The caucus will serve as a bipartisan forum to educate members on commercial applications of unmanned systems, current industry trends, and regulatory issues associated with air,
land and sea-based autonomous systems. Unmanned systems have the potential to help grow our economy, strengthen
public safety, and improve quality of life, Heck said. My goal as co-chair is to work in a bipartisan way with caucus
members to educate our colleagues about the wide array of uses for unmanned systems and the benefts of integrating those
systems for commercial applications and also to ensure that regulations do not stife innovation in this emerging industry.
Lipinski said, Our caucus will keep members of Congress informed so that we can make good decisions about the promotion, regulation and oversight of these systems in order to uphold public safety and safeguard privacy while these new
technologies improve our lives and boost economic growth. An AUVSI report found that this industry is expected to create
more than 100,000 jobs nationwide and generate more than $82 billion in economic impact in a decade.
)) SOI Builds Undersea Vehicle Team. Greensea Systems Inc. (Richmond, Vermont) was selected by Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI), a nonproft foundation advancing the frontiers of ocean research and exploration, to join the team developing
SOIs new robotic undersea research vehicle. Schmidt Ocean Institute will produce a series of three vehicles with advancing depth and research capabilities for a hybrid ROV (HROV). Schmidt Ocean Institute has already begun work designing
the full-ocean-depth undersea robotic research vehicle, which will operate at depths of 11,000 meters. It will be one of the
worlds only robotic vehicles capable of providing scientists real-time access to the deepest parts of the ocean.
)) Seafoor Gateways Infuence Thinning of Totten Glacier. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austins Institute for
Geophysics have discovered two seafoor gateways that could allow warm ocean water to reach the base of Totten Glacier,
East Antarcticas largest and most rapidly thinning glacier. The discovery, reported in Nature Geoscience, likely explains
the glaciers extreme thinning and raises concerns about how it will affect sea level rise. Totten Glacier is East Antarcticas
largest outlet of ice to the ocean and has been thinning rapidly for many years. Ice fowing through Totten Glacier alone
is suffcient to raise global sea level by at least 11 feet, equivalent to the contribution of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet if it
were to completely collapse. The ice loss to the ocean may soon be irreversible unless atmospheric and oceanic conditions
change so that snowfall outpaces coastal melting. The potential for irreversible ice loss is due to the broadly deepening
shape of Totten Glaciers catchment, the large collection of ice and snow that fows from a deep interior basin to the coastline. Because much of the interior basin lies below sea level, its overlying thicker ice is susceptible to rapid loss if warm
ocean currents suffciently thin coastal ice. The deeper of the two gateways identifed in the study is a 3-mile-wide seafoor
valley extending from the ocean to beneath Totten Glacier in an area not previously known to be foating. As in the West
Antarctic Ice Sheet, complete collapse of the Totten Glacier catchment may take many centuries.
)) Hybrid ROV Joins Ifremer Undersea Fleet. Ifremer, Frances ocean research institute has added the HROV Ariane to
its family of undersea vehicles. It offers new deployment possibilities in remote or autonomous modes of operation up to
2,500 meters depth. Ariane will be used for missions of intervention, observation and mapping, such as in deep-sea canyons. The goal is to have an operating system capable of conducting scientifc campaigns in 2016. The HROV complements
Ifremers existing undersea vessels, including the manned submersible Nautile and the Victor 6000 ROV.
)) Five-Person Submersible Debuts. OceanGate Inc. (Seattle, Washington) has unveiled the revolutionary fve-person submersible, Cyclops 1. Developed in collaboration with the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at the University of Washington, Cyclops 1 is OceanGates response to increased demand from government and commercial clients for more advanced
technologies and capabilities at deeper depths. For the past two years, APLs internal engineering group has designed the
innovative system architecture and spearheaded the integration of critical systems on Cyclops 1. Technologies adapted
for the submersible include new hydrodynamic components designed to maximize in-water speed and maneuverability
and an automated control system that aims to revolutionize how manned submersibles operate by reducing time spent on
vehicle control and increasing time on mission objectives. Cyclops 1showcases a number of systems critical for the 3,000and 6,000-meter-capable Cyclops 2 and Cyclops 3 submersibles, scheduled for launch in 2016. n
April 2015 / st
Shell Marine Lubricant Technical

Services Bring Operating Dividends
Monitoring and Analysis Improve Offshore Vessel Performance
By Dr. Sara Lawrence
hell Marine Products (SMP) position as one of the leading suppliers of lubricants to the marine industry is built
around a comprehensive range of products tailored to the
requirements of shipping companies in many different markets and across various operating conditions. However, in
recent years, its advanced laboratory testing facilities have
increasingly focused on an innovative and complementary
range of monitoring and data analysis services to support
realities in a fast-changing operating environment.
Achieving an optimum balance between lubricant cost
and equipment reliability is an operational must, but running vessels smoothly also depends on identifying potential
issues before they become critical. SMPs reputation is built

around the supply of reliable lubricants, but ship owners
also rely on the companys delivery of a range of ft-for-purpose technical service solutions.
In demanding commercial conditions for shipping, many
low-speed, two-stroke engine operators would like to reduce cylinder lubrication feed rates to minimize lubricant
costs. However, SMP argues there is a fne balance to be
struck between cutting lubricant costs and having a negative
impact on engine reliability.
To ensure that vessel operators achieve the correct balance, SMP offers Shell Lube Monitora cylinder condition
SMP develops and tests its products at its Marine and Power Innovation Center in Hamburg, Germany.
10 st / April 2015
SMP employs a team of marine technical experts to provide on-site and offsite technical services to customers.
monitoring program that helps weigh specifc combinations of lubricants and fuels, as
well as the severity of operational demands
on the engine, and specifc operational and
maintenance requirements. The Shell Lube
Monitor service can include a feed-rate optimization and wear monitoring, allowing ship
operators to develop strategies to minimize
lubricant costs while maintaining high levels of service reliability. It also offers cylinder
drain oil analysis, expert advice, support and
implementation tools, and an annual report
quantifying the benefts achieved. Finally,
customers receiving Shell Lube Monitor services can expect lubricant strategy reviews
and guidance.
The cost and reliability of vessel operations can be affected by changes to a number of different
factors, such as fuel sulphur content, climatic conditions
(including high humidity), liner wall temperatures, engine
load infuences (such as hull fouling and propeller effciency) and changes to engine settings and operating conditions.
Although electronically controlled cylinder lubrication
systems on the market today have taken much of the uncertainty out of optimizing cylinder oil consumption, Shell Lube
Monitor is different from other solutions in that it is based
on the companys unique and extensive industry knowledge
built over a century of innovation in the marine industry.
This enables the company, through the Shell Lube Monitor
service, to offer its direct monitoring of the oil and cylinder
condition servicesa valuable and sometimes complicated
undertakingfor all types of low-speed, two-stroke engines.
The Shell Lube Monitor service is especially notable for
its ability to achieve a nonintrusive corrosion- and wearmonitoring service for marine engines, which can lead to
less downtime, improved productivity, and a higher degree
of safety and reliability.
Case Studies
The HOSCO Group. A number of leading vessel operators have already taken advantage of Shell Lube Monitor.
These include the Chinese dry- and liquid-bulk carrier operator the HOSCO Group (Qinhuangdao, China), which
has reported potential annual savings of up to $20,750 per
vessel after switching one of its ships, Hebei Cangzhou, to
Shell Alexia S5 cylinder oil, supported by Shell Lube Monitor technical services.
The HOSCO Group approached SMP in September 2013

for help in reducing cold corrosion in its vessels and the cylinder oil feed rate. Shell Marine Products recommended using Shell Alexia S5, which features triple-action technology
that helps to prevent corrosion wear, reduce deposit buildup
and prolong engine life. Following discussions with SMP,
HOSCO Group agreed to trial the new lubricant for 2,000
hours on board Hebei Cangzhou, which has a Wrtsil (Helsinki, Finland) 6RTfex 58T-D Tier II engine and trades between Europe, South America and Asia. The company also
monitors engine performance using the Shell Lube Monitor
service, together with the Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard
Alert and Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard Plus tools available from SMP.
By using Shell Alexia S5 and Shell Lube Monitor, HOSCO Group was able to gradually reduce the cylinder oil
feed rate, from 1.25 to 0.9 grams per kilowatt-hour and see
improved conditions on the cylinder liner surface, which
indicted less wear. The potential annual savings of $20,750
per vessel could be achieved through the lower cylinder oil
feed rate, with actual savings depending on engine load.
Reduced wear rates can also lead to an increase in service
intervals and less downtime and further cost savings that are
attributable to the combination of Shell Alexia S5 with Shell
Lube Monitor.
As the HOSCO case study demonstrates, Shell Lube
Monitor is all about offering the right tools to the operator
to help them monitor cylinder condition and maintain the
balance between cost and reliability. The service includes
the use of both onboard and shore-based oil conditioning
April 2015 / st
11
monitoring services, so the operator

can mix and match to get the most appropriate overall service package to
meet their needs.
Rapid Results
The Shell Lube Monitor service can
be supported by onboard analysis,
through Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard Alert and Shell Rapid Lubricants
Onboard Plus. Shore-based laboratory
analysis is offered through the Shell
Rapid Lubricants Analysis service.
Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard
Alert is based around a portable device, which measures and records the
metallic iron content of oils and greases, to help the operator identify and
replace worn parts before they cause
engine and equipment failure. This
tool can also provide onboard measurement of iron-wear debris in any oil
and grease.
With no need for prior calibration, Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard
Alert is designed to be easy to use. A
crew member simply places a lube oil
sample in a special bottle, inserting
this into the portable unit, and uses an
intuitive touch screen to obtain a reading in a matter of seconds. The reading
12 st / April 2015
can be saved, and time and date automatically linked to the sample, in the
units internal memory. Used regularly,
the service can provide a set of trend
data showing levels of wear on critical
items of equipment and machinery, including low- and medium-speed diesel engines, hydraulic systems, cranes,
auxiliary engines, gear boxes, thruster,
pumps and compressors, giving an
early warning of a potential breakdown.
The HOSCO Group has been using Shell Alexia S4 backed up by Shell
Rapid Lubricants Onboard Alert on its
vessel Hebei Joyce since 2012. Regular monitoring using this tool helped
the vessels staff to monitor and evaluate liner wear condition and embark
on a cylinder oil feed-rate optimization
program, which resulted in a 20 percent saving in lubrication costs, worth
around $50,000 a year.
Plus is an onboard test kit that provides
ship engineers with a convenient, immediate, on-the-spot method of testing
the condition of the lubricants on the
vessel. This includes the capability to
measure total base number (TBN) and
water levels on board.
Early-Warning Approach
These two onboard services are
backed up by Shell Rapid Lubricants
Analysis. This provides laboratorybased oil condition monitoring, covering TBN, water, inductively coupled
plasma and wear particle index testing.
The Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis
service is designed to help shipping
companies save money and time on
maintenance caused by equipment
failures. It is, in effect, an early-warning system, which aims to give peace
of mind that equipment and lubricants
are in optimum working order.
Shell Marine Products is able to
draw on 30 years of sample analysis,
with more than 170,000 samples analyzed each year when delivering the
Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis service, which currently has more than
1,200 customers operating a combined 9,000 vessels. The company
uses the services of six ISO-accredited
laboratories worldwide, using ASTM
and in-house testing methods. The service covers every type of machine on
board a vessel, and diagnosis is carried
out by a multidisciplinary team of marine and lubricant experts.
The Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis
process is quite simple. The crew takes
a representative oil sample from the
equipment that requires monitoring.
These samples are then taken to the
nearest Shell RLA laboratory, where
they are tested and analyzed. The results are entered into the Shell Rapid
Lubricants Analysis database, and the
customer receives an email or website
report showing the diagnosis and any
recommendations.
Used-oil analysis is a key tool for
managing preventive and predictive
maintenance. Many leading shipping
companies are now using Shell Rapid
Lubricants Analysis as a key part of
their planned and predictive maintenance strategies to help them deliver
greater equipment reliability and reduced downtime through early diagnosis of potential faults.
With Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis, the analysis results for all normal
samples is available within two working days from reaching the laboratory.
Access to quick and timely results lowers machine repair costs, which can
lead to higher safety standards.
Alert can be used in conjunction with
Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis. The
With no need for prior calibration,

Shell Rapid Lubricants Onboard Alert
is designed to be easy to use.
crew can simply dispatch a sample that has been tested on

board to a laboratory for more detailed analysis.
Tirrenia Compagnia Italiana Di Navigazione
One vessel operator that has reported extremely positive results from using the Shell Rapid Lubricants Analysis
service is the Italian operator Tirrenia Compagnia Italiana
Di Navigazione (Naples, Italy), which operates a feet of 10
roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels in the Mediterranean.
Tirrenia approached SMP in April 2013 for help in improving its operations through lower lubricant consumption, better engine protection and lower maintenance costs.
Tirrenia was particularly looking to manage base number
(BN) depletion and avoid the buildup of soot and deposits,
which can be a direct result of engine oil dropping below a
critical level.
Shell Marine Products recommended trialing Shell Argina X 40 on fve vessels in the Tirrenia feetSharden, Nuraghes, Athara, Bitia and Amsicorausing the Shell Rapid Lubricant Analysis service to confrm engine condition.
By switching to Shell Argina X 40, and using the laboratory-based analysis service to monitor the condition of the
engines, Tirrenia was able to reduce the sweetening ratio by
about 25 percent, while also improving crankcase cleanliness and maintaining the BN within required limits. The
combination of new oil, technical support service and a
more precise sweetening regime has allowed Tirrenia to report annual savings of about $22,800 per vessel. The monitoring and analysis service offers the additional benefts of
lower maintenance costs and a reduced need for replacement parts. n
Dr. Sara Lawrence, global technical manager at Shell

Marine Products, leads the global technical team to
deliver new technology and technical services to
marine customers. Lawrence has held marketing and
technical roles in fuels, bitumen and lubricants within
Shell for the past 18 years.
April 2015 / st
13
14 st / April 2015
ST Conference Preview
Offshore Technology Conference

P
lans are underway for the 2015 Offshore

Technology Conference (OTC) to be held
May 4 to 7 at NRG Park in Houston, Texas.
Response to OTC 2015 from the global oil
and gas industry remains positive and strong. For
its technical program, OTC received 1,313 paper proposals this yearthe highest number in the
events history. This response will ensure a high-quality
technical program, covering the latest in technology innovations and applications, as well as best practices and processes.
OTC offers key insights by global experts on technological advances, safety and environmentally focused solutions,
and economic and regulatory impacts.
The technical sessions will offer presentations on technology advances, such as the application of aerospace technology to the energy industry, fexible pipe advancements,
and more. Several sessions will also provide a look into
whats on the horizon for fow assurance, applications of
CFD, and extending the lifetime of current facilities. Additional program highlights include project updates from the
CLOV Angola, Ichthys LNG, and the Gulfstar One

Floating Production System, which was installed
at a depth of 4,000 feet.
Continuing its commitment to health, safety
and the environment (HSE) education, several
sessions focus on real-time monitoring and risk
assessment, as well as corporate social responsibility and preparation for an ultradeepwater technology
development program.
The OTC University R&D Showcase provides universities the opportunity to share their current and planned R&D
projects relevant to offshore technology. Attendees can
learn more about these projects during any of the four days
of OTC.
Young Professionals Outreach
The Next Wave program for young oil and gas professionals will take place on May 4.
During Think Globally: Your Impact as a Young Professional, industry leaders will provide insights into the challenges ahead and how to face these as a young professional
Each year, OTC attracts more than 100,000 attendees from 130 countries and 2,500
exhibiting companies.
April 2015 / st
15
while recognizing the increased interconnectivity of our

global industry. Speakers will address how technological
advancements in operations are expanding opportunities,
while taking into consideration the political aspects surrounding these new frontiers and the knowledge young professionals will need to tackle their careers.
This program will investigate how young professionals
global contribution in this highly connected world will have
an impact far beyond the offce.
New Event Stresses Innovation
In 2015, OTC is introducing a new event: d5. It will be
held the day after OTCs traditional technical program and
exhibition, on Friday, May 8, at the University of Houston.
Themed The Next Big Thing, d5 will be unlike any
other energy conference. Motivational speakers and group
discussions will spur creativity to help identify the next big
step for the energy industry, in the way of technology game
changers, leadership practices and competitive advantages.
Designed to bring together the most creative professionals from inside and outside the offshore energy industry, d5
will create an environment where innovation and inspiration can occur so that the biggest challenges confronting
the industry today, as well as challenges tomorrow, can be
addressed.
Industry Awards
The Annual OTC Dinner, taking place May 3, is the signature event for OTC. Along with recognizing the Distinguished Achievement Award recipients and providing networking opportunities, the OTC Dinner allows the industry
to collectively support the communities in which they operate.

This year, proceeds from the dinner will be donated to
the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA)
and the Petroleum Equipment & Services Association (PESA)
Energy Education Center for the beneft of the Energy Institute High School.
The OTC Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals will be presented to Elmer Bud Danenberger III for his
signifcant contributions to offshore safety and environmental protection.
The Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies,
Organizations and Institutions will be given to Petrobrass
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) pre-salt development for the successful implementation of ultradeepwater solutions and setting
new water depth records.
The Heritage Award will be presented to Ray R. Ayers,
Ph.D., P.E., in recognition of his more than 50 years in offshore research and development contributions to the industry through joint-industry programs he formed at Shell
(Houston) and R&D work he performed for the Pipeline Research Council International, DeepStar, the Bureau of Safety
and Environmental Enforcement, and Research Partnerships
to Secure Energy for America.
The awards for innovative technologies are part of the
Spotlight on New Technology program, which is exclusively
for OTC exhibitors. The program showcases products that
recently entered the marketplace but are advancing the oil
and gas industry. The awards will be presented on May 4.
Additional information about OTC 2015 can be found at
http://2015.otcnet.org. n
SeaGuardII DCP
Intelligent compensation for

non-ideal environments
www.aanderaa.com
Aanderaa changes the profler market with new techniques
Aanderaa
Blue - your
dedicated
Current
ensuring
thatRCM
you measure
what
you need,
whereMeter
you need it.
April 2015 / st
17
18 st / April 2015
The Arctic as the Next

Global Energy Powerhouse
Methane Hydrates May Hold the Key to Energy Independence
By Kell Sloan
art jokes aside, methane isnt all that exciting. But for
energy-hungry nations such as Japan and India, methane
could be the key element to developing national energy independence. Methane in the form of methane hydrate, a
crystalline form of natural gas found at the bottom of oceans
and in the Arctic permafrost, will
The Mini-Pro CH4 sensor.
within the next 20 years reshape
the global geopolitical landscape
of energy.
At room temperature, a solid
chunk of methane hydrate can be
lit with a single match, producing
intense heat. Colloquially known
as fre ice, there is an estimated 20 quadrillion (20 x 1015)
cubic meters of the substance lying several hundred meters
below sea level, scattered along continental slopes and in
the Arctic permafrost. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the enormous worldwide reservoirs of methane hydrate
potentially contain more energy than all previously discovered conventional oil and gas reserves combined.
As mind-blowing as the numbers seem, until recently
methane hydrate had never been seriously considered as a
viable source of energy. According to oil and gas industry
professionals, methane hydrates are considered a nuisance
as the substance clogs up natural gas pipelines, disrupting
fow. Since the 1940s, natural gas pipeline operators have
spent considerable portions of their operating budgets devising ways to get rid of chunks of methane hydrate that
form in areas where the pipeline has been exposed to cold
temperatures.
Methane may be the butt of any number of jokes, but
as the smallest and simplest molecule in the Alkane family,
this saturated hydrocarbon is found in nearly every crude
oil and natural gas. In fact, according to Canadas largest
natural gas distributor, Enbridge (Calgary, Canada), natural
gas is 95 percent methane.
Why Does Methane Get a Bad Rap?
At standard pressure and temperature, methane is an
odorless and colorless gas that contains only two elements
carbon and hydrogenand is essentially insoluble in water.
Yet as scientists investigating pipeline blockages discovered,

when CH4 and water combine at cold temperatures (around
25C) and pressures (30 to 50 bar) found at 300 to 500
meters ocean depth, methane gas can be trapped in icelike structures called methane clathrates. At the molecular
level, these methane clathrates,
or gas hydrates, consist of methane molecules surrounded by
tight cages of interlocking water
molecules. The hydrates contain
large amounts of gas in a relatively small area; for example, 1
cubic meter of hydrate can hold
around 164 cubic meters of methane and 0.8 cubic meters
of water.
As a Fuel Source, Methane Is
No Longer a Laughing Matter
This is not to say that extracting methane gas from methane hydrates is a walk in the park. There are a multitude of
technical challenges, and until recently it has generally been
considered that other sources of fossil fuelsconventional
oil and gas and more recently shale oil and gashave been
easier and cheaper to access. But that may be changing.
In 1998, the Mallik Gas Hydrate Production Research
Well became the frst site dedicated to drilling gas hydrates
bearing deposits. Located in the pristine beauty of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, the Mallik Gas Hydrate site has been
the site of extensive gas hydrate research and development
studies, including a 2008 proof of concept that showed that,
with some modifcations for the unique properties of gas
hydrates, production from a gas hydrate reservoir can be
achieved using the same completion and production methods used in conventional oil and gas industries. Since the
proof of concept, Japan and India have taken the lead in
methane hydrate research, with the goal of fnding extractable deposits and developing ways to extract methane economically.
A big breakthrough came in March 2013, when Tokyobased Japan Oil, Gas, and National Metals Corp. (JOGMEC)
announced that they had successfully extracted fuel from a
April 2015 / st
19
subsea bed of methane hydrate in the Pacifc Ocean. With

that single announcement, the geopolitical landscape of energy production and distribution started to change.
Discovering useable methane hydrate deposits is still
a work in progress, but Pro-Oceanus Systems, based in
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada, realizes the potential that
methane hydrates have as a new energy source for countries
lacking access to conventional oil and gas resources. Led by
Dr. Bruce Johnson, the inventor of a patented method to accurately measure in-situ dissolved gas, Pro-Oceanuss team
of highly skilled research scientists and engineers work with
leading environmental researchers and offshore energy operators to address the challenges of researching the effects
of climate change on the ocean environment and develop
products to detect in-situ dissolved gases for use in industrial applications.
Developing Solutions for Arctic
In-Situ Dissolved Gas Research
Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as
the National Oceanography Centre, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey and NOAA,
Pro-Oceanus has been in the forefront of Arctic and Antarctic research and pioneered the development of sensors
especially designed to measurewith an extremely high
degree of accuracy, stability, and reliabilitydissolved carbon dioxide in Arctic and Antarctic waters.
Many known deepwater methane hydrate deposits, such
as the Blake-Bahamas Plateau off the Carolinas, are very dilute or spread across relatively thin layers over wide areas,
making them both diffcult to accurately assess and expen-
-Jack Fisher,
President
The Arctic is thought by many

to be undergoing
some of the most dramatic
effects of climate change
anywhere in the world.
sive to exploit. The feld and product development experience that the Pro-Oceanus team has with Arctic research is
proving to be valuable to researchers who are searching for
reliable methods of locating gas hydrates in the sediments of
permafrost regions and other marine sediments.
While a number of methods, including direct sampling
via drilling, have been used to detect and quantify resource
potentials, in-situ dissolved gas sensors offer both an extremely accurate and comparatively inexpensive option. Recently, Pro-Oceanus Mini-Pro CH4 sensors have been used
to detect the existence and saturation of gas hydrates at far
less cost or potential environmental impact than moving a
drilling rig into place.
Working with researchers from CSnet International and
the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
(JAMSTEC), Pro-Oceanus supplied two prototype Mini-Pro
CH4 sensors that were used to map methane clouds in the
Nankal Trough. To measure dissolved methane concentration during ROV dives, the Mini-Pro CH4 sensors were
Your search begins by

removing the water
with Fishers Side Scan Sonars
Splash Proof PC Available
Side Scan
Only $20,995
Fishing Boat on the Bottom
Side scan sonars are one of the most

effective tools for underwater searches
because they create a detailed picture
of whats on the bottom. The display
removes the water giving a clear
image of the bottom.
Fishers SSS-100K side scan lets you
search large areas quickly, the SSS600K finds even the small soft targets,
and the SSS-100/600K combines the
best features of both.
The image is displayed on a PC
which gives a detailed high resolution
picture of the bottom. An optional
mapping window shows
the boats path and the
size of the area covered.
Call for a free catalog or visit our web site: jwfishers.com
Proton 4
Pingers
DDW-1
MC-1
ROVs
P12
Marine
Magnetometer
Mini Camera
Depressor Wing
$2,095
$1,295
Pingers
and
Receivers
$795
$12,995
$20,995
Boat-towed
Metal Detector
$9,995
1953 County St., E. Taunton, MA 02718 USA (800)822-4744 (508)822-7330 FAX: (508)880-8949 email: jwfishers@aol.com www.jwfishers.com
20 st / April 2015
mounted parallel behind the upper

bumper bar of the ROV, allowing for
measurements of highly variable methane concentrations. Research within
the Nankal Trough is expected to give
helpful insights into the formation and
occurrence of natural gas hydrates
in one of the most active earthquake
zones on the planet.
Field Experience Makes a Difference
Field experience has shown that hydrates dissolve quickly when removed
from the unique conditions on the
ocean bottom, so if changes in ocean
bottom pressure or a rise in water temperature passes a certain threshold, a
sizeable methane deposit could rapidly decompose and release a large
quantity of methane into the water
column. While high concentrations of
dissolved methane are easy to detect,
background CH4 in the ocean is on the
order of 2 parts per million. Detecting
low concentrations of dissolved CH4
against the backdrop of naturally occurring hydrocarbon seeps and vents,
melting methane hydrate formations,
or in waters that are in near equilibrium with the surrounding air is no
easy task, yet it is vital to understanding how a methane release can affect
the marine environment.
To detect concentrations of methane, the Pro-Oceanus Mini-Pro CH4
sensor utilizes a fat, hydrophobic
membrane that forms a semi-permeable phase boundary between liquids
and the interior of the instrument. Dissolved CH4 gases in the water pass into
an equilibrated internal headspace in
the form of a gas stream. The concentration of CH4 is quantifed using an industry standard nondispersive infrared
detector that provides excellent detection limits at good signal-to-noise ratios. While CH4 is a strong absorber of
infrared light, the absorption spectrum
of CH4 makes it diffcult to measure accurately at low concentrations.
Field reports about the performance
of the Mini-Pro CH4 sensors have been
encouraging and have helped open up
new lines for research and product development.
However, scouting for useable
methane hydrates is only one of any
number of issues that need to be resolved before widespread commercial development of methane hydrates
can be undertaken. Another stumbling
block is fguring out how to acquire the
gas from the solid.
Gold mining is a useful analogy

for extracting methane hydrates from
their locations. While gas hydrates
have been recovered in chunks or
veins with sediment, gas hydrates
dont just form in thick seams like
gold ore. Instead, just like panning
for gold, methane hydrate solids
can be found in many forms in sediments, and vast reservoirs exist in
fne-grained sediments. The methane
hydrate can form small pores and cement the grains, but may not be visible to the naked eye.
Because the methane hydrate solid

is only stable within a set range of temperature and pressures, altering those
conditions will liberate the gas from
its water cage, allowing for much easier extraction. The Mallik Gas Hydrate
Well and JOGMEC researchers have
been experimenting with a depressurization method, which works by drilling a wellbore into a vein of methane
hydrate and pumping out the excess
fuid. With less surrounding fuid, the
pressure drops, prompting the ice-like
solid to dissociate.
April 2015 / st
21
What Happens to the Environment

If the Extracted Methane Escapes?
The Arctic is thought by many to be undergoing some of
the most dramatic effects of climate change anywhere in the
world. The Mallik Gas Hydrate Well may be modest in size,
but at 290 meters depth it is also the shallowest known deposit of methane hydrate and as such is vulnerable to decomposition if there is a subtle warming of the overlying water.
As a greenhouse gas, methane is widely considered to be
20 to 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping
solar radiation in the atmosphere. Several scientifc studies
have revealed that methane gas has already started to slowly
leak from ocean water and soils in the Arctic. Given the environmental conditions in which the hydrates are found and
where future hydrate production facilities must be located
the deep sea and the frozen expanses of the Arcticthere is
concern that as sediment-containing methane hydrates are
inherently unstable, a drilling accident could potentially set
off a landslide on the continental slope, sending massive
amounts of methane bubbling through the ocean and into
the atmosphere.
Recognizing that there exists a large knowledge gap in
this feld, Pro-Oceanuss team is working with researchers to
develop a new prototype dual-gas CO2/CH4 sensor that may
not only help detect the changes in dissolved gas concentrations prior to a massive release of methane but help combat
climate change as well.
Recently, ConocoPhillips (Houston, Texas) researchers
spent 13 days in Alaskas North Shore injecting carbon dioxide and nitrogen into methane hydrate clusters and have
shown that carbon dioxide can replace methane within the
22 st / April 2015
ice cage. Once the carbon dioxide is locked in, the water
cage binds even tighter, leaving no room for methane to enter. The prototype Pro-Oceanus Dual-Gas CO2/CH4 sensor
could be used to show that this method of methane extraction for fuel could one day double as a way to sequester and
continuously monitor CO2.
Conclusion
Recent advances show that commercial production of
methane hydrates is likely to happen in the next 10 to 15
years. While many challenges remain ahead for researchers, methane hydrates represent the worlds largest source
of extractable fossil energy. As with every other energy resource, not all of this resource will prove to be recoverable.
Yet, as the Pro-Oceanus in-situ dissolved gas technology
continues to evolve and sensors to commercially detect and
extract gas from hydrates are developed, the abundance of
technically challenging to recover but accessible methane
hydrates in permafrost will position the Arctic as the next
global energy powerhouse.
References
For a list of references, contact Pro-Oceanus at sales@
pro-oceanus.com. n
Kell Sloan was recently the sales and marketing director at Pro-Oceanus Systems, a Bridgewater, Nova
Scotia-based manufacturer of in-situ dissolved gas
sensors.
One great little duet...
...and another.
Introducing the RBRduet - our new, smaller, two-channel logger.

RBRduet is up to 60% lighter than the previous models, simple to use, and ideal for
long deployments. A built-in USB interface provides very fast data download.
Includes temperature and pressure sensors, with tide and wave options.
rbr-global.com
April 2015 / st
23
24 st / April 2015
AUVSIs Unmanned Systems

A
UVSIs Unmanned Systems will take

place May 4 to 7 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Unmanned Systems 2015 will convene the
largest global community of commercial
and defense leaders in intelligent robotics,
drones and unmanned systems, powered by the Association
for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).
Every domainair, ground and maritimeand a variety
of industries, from agriculture and construction to energy
and academia, will converge under one roof to shape the
future through shared thought leadership and technology
innovations.
Attendees
Last year was a record breaking year
for the eventwith more than 600 exhibitors and 8,000 attendees from 55 countries. Seventy percent of last years attendees were directly involved in purchasing decisions, and 47
percent identifed themselves as director level and above.
Attendees represented commercial, civil and defense operators and manufacturers, military personnel, government and
industry program managers, policy makers, scientists, researchers and students. They also represented a broad range
of interests, including military and defense, law and border
enforcement, emergency response and disaster relief, agricultural development, medical robotics, and multiple environmental and natural resource applications.
Highlights
As the largest trade show for unmanned systems and
robotic technologies, AUVSIs Unmanned Systems 2015
will bring together an extensive display of robotic and unWhy Attend?
manned systems technologyincluding air, ground, mariUnmanned Systems 2015 will offer a chance to interact
time (underwater and surface) and spaceand components
with cutting-edge technological advancements from more
spread throughout a 350,000-square-foot exhibit space.
than 600 innovators to enhance your business and industry
More than 100 technical and panel presentations will
knowledge. If you are looking for a solution, a business partfeature the latest military, civil and commercial applications;
ner or a new product, you will fnd it at Unmanned Systems
provide updates on the latest industry trends and programs;
2015.
and discuss technology development, interoperability and
Unmanned Systems 2015 is the ultimate industry netcommonality across domains.
working event, facilitating unparalleled connection and
More than 600 exhibitors plan to showcase the latest in
business opportunities for every domain.
aircraft testing equipment; antennas/antenna systems; camFor more information or to register, visit auvsishow.org. n
era systems; communications systems;
computers; data storage/management;
education/training; electrical/electronic
assembly; engines; fight control systems;
GPS/LBS; imaging/sensors; intelligence
gathering; laser technology; night vision;
noise/shock/vibration control; optronics and surveillance; police equipment;
power supplies; radio equipment; reconnaissance systems; remote sensing; software and systems engineering; space
systems; telecommunications; air, ground
and maritime unmanned systems; vehicle
A scene from the exhibit foor
electronics; weapons systems; and much
at last years show.
more. Special demonstration areas will
showcase the very latest in air and ground
unmanned vehicle system products.
April 2015 / st
25
Teledyne Marine Systems Success
Profling Floats
Autonomous Undersea Gliders
Undersea Systems
that Deliver...
Autonomous Undersea Vehicles
Remotely Operated Vehicles
Flotation and Releases
Communication and Positioning
Deep Survey Systems
Leaders in
Low Logistics,
High Performance
Systems
...Success in the
Deep Ocean
See us at
OTC - Booth 1333
AUVSI - Booth 2311
26 st / April 2015
2015 to Defne US Offshore Oil and

Gas Activity for Remainder of Decade
Offshore Leasing Program, Seismic Survey Permitting to Shape Future
By Randall Luthi
he United States stands poised on the edge of a bright

energy future. After decades of decreasing domestic energy production and increasing reliance on foreign sources
of oil and natural gas, a revolution in production has positioned this nation to become a net energy exporter by 2017,
according to the International Energy Agency. It seems the
future is bright and promising for U.S. energy security, yet
this promise is under threat from unrealistic fears and overstated risks. Add low oil prices to that mix and it is not diffcult to see why 2015 will defne the offshore oil and gas industry in the United States for the remainder of this decade.
tion and development plans. Contrast that with the United

States, where even geophysical and geological surveys, let
alone exploratory drilling, have been forbidden off the Atlantic and Pacifc Coasts and in most of the Alaskan Arctic
for decades.
While including a disappointingly small number of lease
sales, among the lowest in decades, the draft proposed 2017
to 2022 OCS oil and gas leasing program, released in February, does include a proposed lease sale off the mid- and
south Atlantic. A study by Quest Offshore Resources (Sugar
Land, Texas) shows that allowing oil and natural gas development in federal waters in the
The Next Five-Year
Atlantic alone could result in
Offshore Leasing Program
as many as 280,000 new jobs,
The frst reason that 2015 is
$24 billion annually to the
so pivotal is because the majoreconomy, $51 billion in govThe current leasing program,
ity of the Outer Continental Shelf
ernment revenue, and the safe
(OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Proproduction of 1.3 million barwhich expires in mid-2017,
gram for 2017 to 2022 will be
rels per day of oil and natural
included no new access.
crafted this year. Prepared by
gas.
the Department of the Interior,
Therefore, whether the fthe fve-year program consists of
nal 2017 to 2022 OCS Leasing
a schedule of oil and gas lease
Program ultimately includes an
sales, indicating the size, timing
Atlantic lease sale will set the
and location of proposed leasing activity the secretary of
tone for years to come.
the Interior determines will best meet national energy needs
for the fve-year period following its approval. An area must
Atlantic Seismic Surveys
be included in an approved fve-year program in order to be
The second indicator in 2015 of where the offshore inoffered for leasing.
dustry will go in the coming years will come from seismic
The current leasing program, which expires in mid-2017,
survey permitting off the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
included no new access. Instead, it offered for lease the
Before any drilling for oil and natural gas can take place, it
same areas that have been made available for decades in
is frst critically important to determine where the hydrocarthe central and western Gulf of Mexico, plus a few limited
bon reserves are located. Seismic surveys send sound waves
portions of the Alaska OCS. By refusing to even consider
through the water column and into the seafoor. This is simithe other 87 percent of the nations OCS, this leasing prolar to ultrasound used in medical exploration. Based on how
gram has put the U.S. far behind many other nations that
they are refected back to the surface, complex computer
are actively pursuing offshore oil and natural gas energy decalculations make determinations of where the reserves
velopmentparticularly in the Atlantic basin and the Arctic.
possibly are and whether they can be reached economically
Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Norway, Russia, Cuba
and safely.
and West African nations are examples of countries actually
For more than three decades, this simple data collection
moving ahead with Atlantic and/or Arctic offshore exploraactivity has been off limits in the Atlantic and much of the
April 2015 / st
27
28 st / April 2015
The Leader in Underwater Technology
As policy makers debate whether to allow

oil and natural gas production
in areas such as the South Atlantic OCS,
new data would be helpful, but not necessary.
rest of the nations OCS, though it has

been used safely in parts of the Gulf
of Mexico and around the world. During that time, technological advancements have rendered previous fndings
nearly irrelevant. For example, while
2D imaging was restricted by certain
geological characteristics, todays 3D
and wide-azimuth imaging techniques
allow industry to identify resources
previously unknown to exist. By relying solely on outdated technology and
information, policy makers are blindly
assessing offshore resource potential
and making uninformed decisions
without the beneft of sound science.
As policy makers debate whether to
allow oil and natural gas production in
areas such as the South Atlantic OCS,
new data would be helpful, but not
necessary. These new data must be aggregated and analyzed through modern seismic surveys.
The Interior Department issued a
fnal programmatic environmental
impact statement (PEIS) and record of
decision on Atlantic G&G Surveys in
February 2014, and for that, the Barack
Obama Administration deserves some
applause. However, some voices in the
debate are making wildly inaccurate
assertions about the risks involved.
Opponents of offshore energy production have waged a full-on information war to prevent the permitting of
these vital seismic activities, and adherence to actual facts does not seem
to stand in their way. Many environmental groups committed to denying
the American people access to their
own domestic energy resources have
made the wild assertion that seismic
surveys are 100,000 times louder than
a jet engine, threatening marine life.
This is absolutely untrue. First, gov-
ernment scientists estimate the sound

level of seismic acquisition is closer
to one jet engine in volume. Second,
contrary to environmentalist claims
that more than 138,000 whales and
dolphins could be injured by seismic
activity in the Atlantic, seismic surveys
have been conducted for more than 30
years around the world, including the
Gulf of Mexico, and BOEM has found
no documented indication of adverse
impacts on marine animal populations
or coastal communities.
It is more likely that the hyperbole from some environmental groups
has injured hundreds of thousands of
coastal residents by opposing energy
development and denying communities affordable energy, well-paying jobs
and billions of dollars in government
revenue.
In addition, the federal government
is mandating that companies take unnecessarily costly steps to prevent
worst-case scenarios their own science
deems virtually impossible. The government calls for the use of stringent
mitigation measures, supposedly to
minimize impact on marine life. These
mitigation measures may be unduly
restrictive; however, since the record
of decision establishes an unrealistic
worst case that BOEM has since admitted will not actually occur, then the
record of decision is mandating mitigation measures that are not supported
by science. This will impose serious
burdens on industry, likely discourage
exploration of the Atlantic, and will result in no benefts to protected species.
This approach is contrary to both the
best available scientifc information
and applicable law.
The truth is that seismic surveys
have been conducted safely for dewww.sea-technology.com
Clearly Superior Imaging
SONAR
SYSTEMS
SIDE SCAN SONARS
SUB-BOTTOM PROFILERS
BATHYMETRY SYSTEMS
info@edgetech.com
USA 1.508.291.0057
April 2015 / st
29
Regulators should rely only

on sound science when
setting permit requirements.
cades, and industry already routinely implements a suite of

measures to mitigate potential impacts to marine animals.
The best science and research, including the Department of
the Interiors own studies, show that seismic surveys have
little to no effect on marine mammal populations. Government scientists acknowledge this, and dispute the hyperbolic claims of environmentalists in BOEMs Science Notes of
August 22, 2014.
Regulators should rely only on sound science when setting permit requirements. Similarly, policy makers should
consider sound science and economic development as critical components of their decisions about whether and where
to allow offshore energy development. The stakesfor the
offshore industry, the nations domestic energy production,
the strength of the overall economy, and the jobs that hang
in the balancedemand no less.
The Impact of Lower Oil Prices
With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress this year, there is optimism that major policy legis-
30 st / April 2015
lation may actually make it to the presidents desk. While

some degree of political certainty and additional support for
the offshore energy industry appear to be on the horizon in
2015, low oil prices could prove to be a huge speed bump.
Exploration and production companies have seen the
roller coaster rise and fall of oil prices before and can adjust. But some companies are, unfortunately, being forced
to lay off workers. Still, most are in it for the long haul and
will continue to stay in the business, but on a smaller scale.
In the long term, oil and natural gas remains a very good
bet. Government and industry projections for 2040 consistently predict that the traditional sources of energyoil,
natural gas, coal and nuclearwill supply more than 80
percent of the energy needed by our nation and the world.
The energy resources on the OCS are vital to the nations
economic prosperity, so look for offshore oil and gas activities to continue in 2015, but at a reduced level.
Regardless of changing regulatory, policy, or market
conditions, the National Ocean Industries Association will
continue to make it clear that increasing access to new areas is vital to the continued success of the United States
economic recovery and its new status as the worlds biggest
producer of natural gas, and potentially oil. n
Randall Luthi became president of the National Ocean Industries Association

on March 1, 2010. An attorney and rancher from Freedom, Wyoming, Luthi has
had an exciting career holding various positions ranging from Wyoming Speaker
of the House, to director of a federal agency, to legislative assistant in the U.S.
Senate, to an attorney at both the Department of the Interior and NOAA, where
he worked on natural resource damages following the Exxon Valdez accident.
Wet mate connectors
Recognised throughout
the industry
Full range of
ethernet connectors
35 year track record
Worldwide solutions
Denmark
Norway Sweden
Netherlands
UAE
Germany
South Africa
Poland
Israel
Mexico
Brazil
Russia
South Korea
Finland
Uruguay
France
Bahrain
Chile
Japan
United Kingdom
Spain
USA
Singapore
Taiwan
Italy
Canada
China
India
Australia
April 2015 / st
31
32 st / April 2015
OCEANS15 MTS
MTS/IEEE
IEEE Genov
Genova
O
CEANS15 MTS/IEEE Genova

will take place in Genova, Italy,
May 18 to 21. The theme of the conference and exhibit is Discovering
Sustainable Ocean Energy for a New
World.
Location
The background of the conference will be Genova, which
is situated in the middle of the Italian Riviera and is the capital
of the Liguria region. The area has a long history of marine and
maritime activities, dating back from medieval times, when it
was a maritime republic with commercial and military feets
dominating the Mediterranean Sea. Christopher Columbus was born in Genova and
made a name for himself by opening up the
route to the New World. In late 19th and
early 20th centuries, the region saw impressive economic growth. Steel mills and
shipyards fourished along the coast from
Imperia to La Spezia, while the port of Genoa became the main commercial hub of
industrializing northern Italy. Today, the area
hosts many of the most relevant high-tech
activities in Italy involving maritime industries.
The plenaries will also include

presentations from Henrik Schmidt,
professor of mechanical and ocean
engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of
the Laboratory for Autonomous Marine Sensing Systems; and RAdm.
(ret.) Hank Ort, director of the NATO
Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE),
based in La Spezia, Italy.
Scientifc Program, Exhibit
A record number of 750 submissions have been received
and more than 500 have been selected to
form a very strong, high-quality technical
program.
Five foors of the conference center
Magazzini del Cotone, in Genovas Ancient Harbour, are dedicated to the exhibit, which includes more than 50 exhibitors
worldwide.
Tutorials and Workshops

As in the tradition of the OCEANS conference series, the frst day is dedicated to
tutorials and workshops. The following are
the fve half-day tutorials: Submarine teleTopics
com systems overview; Remote control of
Conference topics include: sustainable
an ROV using a force feedback joystick
A scene from the site
ocean energy; underwater acoustics and
and 3D reconstruction chain for underof OCEANS15 MTS/
acoustical oceanography; sonar signal/imwater environments; AUV technology and
IEEE Genova.
age processing and communication; ocean
application basics; the LSTS software tool
observing platforms, systems and instruchain for networked vehicle systems; and
mentation; remote sensing; ocean data viUnderwater glider operations.
sualization, modeling and information management; marine
The third IFAC Workshop on Multivehicle Systems will also
environment, oceanography and meteorology; optics, imagtake place at the OCEANS conference venue on May 18. The
ing, vision and E-M systems; marine law, policy, management
objective is to provide an international forum for the discusand education; offshore structures and technology; and ocean
sion of recent developments and advances in multivehicle
vehicles and foating structures.
systems. In-depth discussions of relevant theories and applications related to multivehicle systems are expected.
Speakers
Among the plenary speakers will be John R. Delaney, proSocial Program
fessor of oceanography at the University of Washington, prinTo start off the conference, an ice-breaking reception will
cipal investigator and director of the Regional Scale Nodes
be held May 18 at the Genova Aquarium. On May 19, an
Program, and the Jerome M. Paros Endowed Chair in Sensor
exhibitors reception will take place at the conference center.
Networks. Another plenary speaker will be Sigi Gruber, head
There will also be a gala dinner at the Palazzo Ducale on May
of the Marine Resources Unit at the Directorate-General for
20. To fnd out more about OCEANS15 MTS/IEEE Genova,
Research and Innovation of the European Commission.
visit http://oceans15mtsieeegenova.org. n
April 2015 / st
33
Integrated ROV and USV Solutions

Weve got your survey solutions covered from above and below...
Unmanned Surface Vehicles

I-980
H-1750
I-1650
Multibeam
ADCP
LiDAR
Bathymetry Survey
Live HD Video
Realtime Data
Autonomous or
Manually Controlled
Cost Effective
Remotely
Operated
Vehicles
Baseline Site Characterizations

Ecological Monitoring
300m and 1000m Systems
Integrated ROV Solutions

Multitude of 3rd Party Options
Saves Time and Money
Since 1982, Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. has provided nearly 600
custom vehicle solutons worldwide. DOEs ROV and USV systems
have been utlized in a broad range of industry applicatons
ranging from nuclear inspecton and homeland security to ecological monitoring and baseline habitat characterizatons. Deep Ocean
Engineering, Inc. is commited to providing our customers a
complete integrated soluton to their demanding applicatons.
www.deepocean.com
Maneuvering Under
The Ice
AUV Development in the Arctic
By Gina Millar Linda Mackay
ith Arctic and Antarctic exploration on the minds of

government, academia and industry, there is extensive discussion on approaches to surveying these technically challenging areas.
Canadas Arctic waters are vast, and its coastlines are
among the longest in the world.
With the continual increase in vessel traffc, shipping
opportunities, and renewed interest in oil and gas exploration in these waters, charting the largely unsurveyed subsea
terrain has become the foremost priority, with additional
concerns of safe passage and environmental impact to local
communities.
Being the only AUV manufacturer with deepwater platforms that have successfully overcome the formidable logistical feats of data collection in the Arctic, International
Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE), based in Port Coquitlam,
Canada, has become a leader in felding this diffcult environment.
Jim McFarlane, president of ISE, and his team of AUV
professionals have paved the way with groundbreaking platforms to charter these under-ice conditions and collect the
data needed.
Background
ISEs Arctic AUV capability has its genesis in ARCS, the
frst platform to successfully perform obstacle avoidance
and surveying in 1986. This provided the underpinnings of
Theseus.
The history of ISEs Arctic adventures began in 1992.
The Canadian government wanted to lay a section of fber
cable in ice-covered water off Ellesmere Island to connect
to an offshore observatory. Theseus, a large under-ice AUV
platform was designed and built for this purpose. In 1995,
Theseus successfully deployed 200 kilometers of fber-optic
cable and made a safe return.
Over the last 30 years, ISEs Arctic technology has progressed from scientifc applications into commercial products on the latest survey vehicles, including a focus on obstacle avoidance, pipe-tracking capabilities and real-time
data collection.
Obstacle avoidance plays a good role in promoting
pipeline-following capabilities since the need is to search
the route for unexpected things, said Jeff Williams, an underwater robotics specialist and leading AUV expert. If the
task is to follow a programmed route with unexpected haz-
(Photo Credit: NRCan)
An Arctic wolf.
April 2015 / st
35
(Photo Credit: DRDC)

(Photo Credit: DRDC)
(Top) ISEs Theseus AUV under the ice. (Middle) The Arctic
Explorer team in an ice tent. (Bottom) The Explorer AUV in
the ice.
ards, the ISE vehicle is perfect for the job. We have operated
in some amazingly steep terrain in Japan recently where the
bottom avoidance capabilities of the AUV have saved us
from hitting the seafoor several times.
Williams said that the Explorer was on a 6-kilometer transit between survey sites 1,400 meters deep. Because of the
excellent terrain-following capability, there was a lower risk
in sending the AUV between sites over imprecisely surveyed
terrain than in bringing it up in marginal weather conditions
and performing an additional launch/recovery cycle.
36 st / April 2015
Explorer AUVs in the Arctic

Arctic exploration is steadily gaining momentum. Because of thick ice cover and the cost of
icebreaker operations, some areas are diffcult
or impossible to survey using traditional shipmounted or towed sonar arrays. The data quality that is possible from the low-altitude survey
provided by an AUV is highly desirable.
In 2008, ISE was contracted by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Defence Research
and Development Canada (DRDC) to provide
two Arctic-capable Explorer AUVs for bathymetric data collection in the high Arctic. The
data were part of Canadas
submission for sovereignty
over submarine areas under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), Article
76.
The Arctic Explorers
were required to travel up
to 450 kilometers from a
main camp on shore-fast
ice to a remote camp on
a drifting ice foe in the
target survey location.
This meant the AUV was
required to travel up to 74
hours under ice unsupervisedan AUV record.
Once the AUV left the
main camp, it was to remain under the ice for the
duration of the mission, which was planned for up to three
weeks. As a result, the batteries had to be charged and a new
mission plan downloaded while the AUV was submerged.
Through collaboration with DRDC, ISE developed several revolutionary technologies for these vehicles: an acoustic
homing system that controlled the AUV trajectory for up to
40 kilometers during the approach to the ice camp, an oilflled closed variable ballast system that allowed the AUV
to park under the ice or on the seafoor, and an under-ice
charging and data transfer system (known as the Canadian
AUV Through-Ice Capture and Hold System, or CATCHY).
In preparation for the operations, ISE put the AUVs and
equipment through several rounds of testing. The INU was
tested in Alert, Nunavut, to verify its accuracy at high latitudes, then again at the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) at Nanoose Bay to evaluate its deepwater performance. ISE modifed the Explorer to
provide the increased autonomy required for the long, unsupervised missions and extensively simulated and reviewed
each mission.
In the spring of 2010, after many days of delay due to
poor weather, ISE arrived at the main ice camp south of Borden Island. Due to lost time, the scope of the deployment
had to be reduced to three, 350-kilometer missions with
one vehicle.
Despite this, the Arctic Explorer Yamoria remained underwater for a total of 12 days and successfully surveyed
more than 1,000 kilometers of terrain.
(Top) Two NRCan Explorers on ISEs MV Researcher during sea trials in Nanoose Bay, British Columbia. (Bottom)
NRCan, DRDC-operated Explorer AUV during operations in the Arctic for the Franklin Expedition project.
(Photo Credit: ISE)
essarily imply the end of

the cruise. It also leads
to lower long-term maintenance costs. Secondly,
the addition of foreplanes
and an obstacle avoidance
system makes them highly maneuverable. They
can safely navigate close
to the seafoor, which is
highly desirable for activities such as pipe tracking.
Lastly, their modular and
fexible design allows for
full integration of the subsea industrys leading scientifc and survey equipment. New equipment
can easily be added or removed during its lifetime
or even between deployments. Owners of Explorers have easily added cutting-edge payload,
including synthetic aperture sonars (SAS) and
magnetometers.
Explorers have also been outftted with a geochemical instrument suite for seafoor mineral
exploration. Explorer AUVs are an ideal platform for magnetic mapping of [deep-sea mineral] deposits as magnetic data can be collected
simultaneously with sonar and water chemistry
data, said Matthew Kowalczyk, CEO of Ocean Floor Geophysics (Vancouver, Canada).
In 2014, the Arctic Explorers were instrumental in pinpointing the location of Erebus, one of two historical downed
vessels that were a part of Captain Sir John Franklins 1845
expedition to fnd the Northwest Passage. The Explorers,
now owned and operated by DRDC, were outftted with a
Kraken (Conception Bay South, Canada) InSAS to assist with
the search and provide highly detailed images of the wreck.
The Arctic Explorer AUV is unique and amazing technology, said Marc-Andr Bernier, chief of underwater ar-
(Photo Credit: Parks Canada)
In 2011, ISE had a chance to return to the Arctic for another survey operation, this time deploying the AUVs from
the icebreaker Louis S. St. Laurent. Again, the AUVs performed admirably and contributed valuable bathymetric
data to the UNCLOS submission.
More Explorers in the Field
Explorer AUVs are leaders in a range of scientifc and
commercial AUV operations. First of all, they are highly
feld-serviceable. This means that with an appropriate cache
of spare components, a failure in the feld does not nec-
April 2015 / st
37
chaeology sciences for Parks Canada. Having such an asset

as part of our survey to locate the lost vessels of Sir John
Franklins lost expedition gave our search team a greatly improved capacity to successfully achieve our goal.
ISE was proud to have contributed to the Canadian governments search and study of this long-lost historical artifact.
New Technology
ISE continues to innovate underwater technology. A
prime example is the progression of the technologies developed for Arctic missions. Using the Arctic AUV version
as a baseline, the variable ballast system was reimagined
as an air ballast parking system on new Explorers. An AUV
equipped with this system can park on the seafoor in a lowpower state until it receives an acoustic command to continue its mission, or for a fxed amount of time determined
by the mission.
The mission-override interface, developed for the Arctic
homing system, has continued to be improved, leading to
new levels of autonomy for the Explorer. Clients have added
payload systems that can take control of the AUVs trajectory, then seamlessly transition back to a planned mission.
For instance, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
uses mission override to test their qualitative navigation system, a fully autonomous path-following algorithm. This
feature is highly fexible and robust, said Peter King, of the
MERLIN Lab at MUN.
Experience with commercial survey operations has resulted in an onboard image generation system developed
collaboratively with MUN. This system preprocesses sonar
data into image tiles that can be viewed immediately upon
recovery of the vehicle, or acoustically while the mission
is underway. This allows operators to interactively change
sonar settings or abort a dive if the equipment is not functioning.
Whats Next?
With new autonomy technologies frmly in hand and
the challenge of robotic applications in harsh conditions
successfully overcome, ISE continues to be sought after for
ideas and contribution to technologies on the horizon. One
such thought process leans toward subsea resident vehicle
(SRV) technology. This second stage of data transfer and vehicle recharge technique is a natural progression and fne
complement to the Explorer AUV. Cost-effective measures
are high here, which means the combination of the already
high maneuverability of Explorer and the engineering and
design of seafoor residency will soon be realized. n
Gina Millar is a senior systems engineer at ISE. She has more than a decade
of experience designing AUVs, ROVs and other robotic systems. In 2010 and
2011, Millar was part of the ISE AUV team conducting an underwater survey
for Natural Resources Canada in the Arctic. She has a bachelors in engineering from Simon Fraser University and is a registered professional engineer with
the Association of Professional Engineers. Millar was a speaker at Underwater
Intervention 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and OTC Arctic Technology Conference 2015 in Denmark.
Linda Mackay has been the manager of marketing and communications for
ISE for the past 10 years. She holds a bachelors in marketing management
from BCIT and receives daily education on the physics, design concepts and
capabilities of ISEs subsea vehicles. She has consistently developed the marketing programs for ISEs platforms, assisting with their visibility to the offshore,
military, science and research communities.
38 st / April 2015
Energy Infrastructure
Post-Hurricane Season
Decommissioning Tools for the Aftermath of Natural Disasters
By Yvette Schmiz
atural disasters are always a concern and

must be planned for as best as possible.
There are unique circumstances for every part of
the world, including an intricate system of things
to expect and best practices for worst-case scenarios.
For the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane season is
the time of the year when residents in the surrounding coastal areas prepare for the possibility
of disaster. Hurricanes can hit home on several
levels. Luckily, there are dedicated companies
with skilled professionals to help pick up the
pieces regardless of the state of the storm. When
dealing with the aftermath of whats left in the
wake of the surge, pros take every aspect of the
environment and the economy into consideration in order to improve upon what might otherwise be considered a worst-case outcome.
The amount of money and the quantity of
man-hours that are dedicated to post-hurricane seasons are astounding numbers. One of
the most infamous storms was the Galveston Hurricane of
1900. On August 27 that year, this killer weather system
was detected off the tropical Atlantic. Atlantic hurricane
season usually hits peak of stormy activity in early-to-midSeptember. In fact, more storms are expected in September
than during any other timeframe of the six-month hurricane
season, which lasts from June 1 through November 30.
The system that is now known as the Galveston Hurricane
reached Cuba as a tropical storm on September 3, 1900 and
moved into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on September
5. By September 8, the storm had reached the Texas coast
just south of Galveston, Texas, and was considered a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffr-Simpsons Hurricane Scale,
which ranks 5 as the strongest storm category. This hurricane is known as the deadliest weather disaster in United
States history, with storm tides of 8 to 15 feet swallowing
the whole of Galveston Island and portions of the nearby
Texas coast. These surges are considered largely responsible
for the 8,000 deaths attributed to the storm (estimates range
from 6,000 to 12,000) and caused property damages at an
The BTC diamond wire.
estimated $30 million. But that was just the price tag for
the coastline.
Subsea Setbacks
Massive amounts of damages and setbacks happen offshore during these powerful weather systems. In 2005, the
Gulf of Mexico suffered hurricanes Katrina and Rita that destroyed 109 oil platforms and fve drilling rigs. Wrecking 63
platforms and one drilling rig, Rita accounts for most of the
damage that year in a region that ordinarily produces nearly
one-third of U.S. crude oil exports. That August, Katrina took
out 46 platforms and four drilling rigs when it hit the Gulf one
month after Rita. The combined effect of the two hurricanes
also caused extensive damage to another 50 platforms and
19 drilling rigs. These systems shined a light on how much
offshore production is affected during storms. About 2,900
platforms were in the path of the hurricanes, and the dollar
amount of repairing the damaged facilities is in the billions.
In addition, crude oil production came to a halt as Gulf sites
were evacuated in preparation for the hurricanes. Roughly
April 2015 / st
39
(Top) The Scorpion Shear. (Bottom)

INTEGRAs Claw grapple.
30 percent of the manned platforms in the Gulf were evacuated

and remained so for extended
periods of time. Because of these
precautions, roughly 90 percent
of crude production and 72 percent of natural gas output were
suddenly paralyzed.
The devastating impact was
felt most notably around New
Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, where about 3 million barrels a day of refning capacity remained shut down
for weeks. Prices at the gas pump jumped, and the ballooning U.S. budget defcit allocated an additional $200 billion
dedicated to rebuilding. Thankfully, only one of the damaged platforms was built after federal construction standards
were revamped in 1988, which meant that the ones that
were destroyed had already been noted as nearing the end
of their lifetime regardless of the hurricanes.
It became increasingly clear that the United States needed to build more refning capacity in order to react appropriately to the tight supply. President George W. Bush commented on the situation at hand, calling it amazing that
no new U.S. refnery had been built in the three decades
leading up to the battering hurricanes.
Toolkit
In learning from history, it has become undeniably apparent that safety is a number one concern, followed closely by
time constraints and schedules, in industries such as oil, gas
and energy. Operations are costly and even more expensive
when infrastructure is not producing. Natural disasters in
key energy areas like the Gulf of Mexico can be responsible
for debilitating repercussions that require immediate attention and rapid repairs in order to maintain fabrications and
output. The nations economy as a whole can be affected.
40 st / April 2015
Companies like INTEGRA Services Technologies, Inc.

(Pasadena, Texas) have essential tooling on hand in preparation for both the extreme situations that natural disasters
pose as well as routine maintenance. Technology like the
BTC Diamond Wire or INTEGRAs Scorpion Shear can be
used in conjunction with INTEGRAs Claw grapple to provide accelerated decommissioning resources that are necessary to recover, maintain and improve energy operations.
The BTC Diamond Wire Undersea Cutting system, which
is jointly provided by INTEGRA Technologies and Cutting
Edge Services (Batavia, Ohio), has proven ideal for the challenging world of offshore platform decommissioning and
related subsea work. Due to the fact that it is a remotely
controlled system that is highly effcient, hydraulically driven and uses diamond wire for
cutting structures above or below water, this saw is capable
of cutting any type of material
in a single operation. Installed
and monitored by divers or by
an ROV, the wire speed, cutting rate and clamp pressure
are all controlled from the
surface using a topside power
unit or ROV pilot.
The Scorpion Shear is used
for decommissioning of offshore structures and is durable, easy to use, minimizes
diver exposure and is capable
of cutting a 24-inch pipe in
nine seconds.
INTEGRAs Claw is a
40-ton-capacity grapple that
is designed to pick up debris
from the ocean foor without
the need of attaching slings, allowing the diver to stay away
from fallen, unstable wreckage. An ROV can also be used
to position the grapple, while keeping personnel at a safe
distance.
INTEGRAs grapple and the BTC Diamond Wire Saw recently completed pipeline cutting at a depth of 5,000 feet.
Utilizing an ROV to activate the Claw, the 40-ton grapple
held a section of the pipeline, while the BTC Diamond Wire
Saw cut out a damaged portion of the pipeline. All these operations were conducted remotely. When the cut was completed, the grapple recovered the damaged section back to
the surface.
As part of the same project, fexible pipe was decommissioned and needed to be scrapped. INTEGRAs Scorpion
Shear was utilized topside and was able to cut the pipe in
nine seconds. This project displayed the ability to operate
these tools safely and effectively, which is ideal in an unsure environment, such as one littered with post-hurricane
debris.
Other points to consider in decommissioning or regular
operations are over-torqued, corroded or seized nuts. These
can be time-consuming and subsequently costly to correct.
INTEGRAs Subsea Hydraulic Nut Splitter offers a reliable
and effective solution to deal with these issues via an engineered cutting wedge that ensures stuck nuts are quickly
split open without causing damage to the threads. The tool
Technological advancements
are constantly providing better,
faster and safer solutions
based on critical needs.
utilizes a powerful, lightweight hydraulic cylinder to drive the precisionengineered cutting wedge into the fat
of the nut. With three machined cutting edges, it is designed for maximum
life and minimum installation time.
Technological advancements are
constantly providing better, faster and
safer solutions based on critical needs.
INTEGRAs Quickfange solution is a
modifed, standard weld neck fange
with a patented internal groove machined into it. The design incorporates
the ease of sliding the fange onto the
pipe without heat, and a hydraulic tool
is then used to activate the fange. This
procedure rapidly reduces man-hours
during piping and pipeline repairs and
rehabilitation. Damaged and destroyed
pipes can be cut out and fanges easily replaced both topside and subsea
with this procedure. The results are a
mechanically robust fange-to-pipe
concoction within minutes that eliminates the need for hot work during the
activation process. Quickfange offers
the option of doing more work in less
time with permanent fange-to-pipe
connections that alleviate an array of
hazards in minutes. There are no moving parts, balls, springs, seals or gaskets
but rather a simple metal-to-metal seal
that requires an average of 30 minutes, start to fnish, for the largest size
(14 inches) to be installed and far less
time for the smaller sizes regardless of
pipe-wall thickness or material base.
To date, Quickfange has deployed its
piping solutions as a quick and safe
alternative to welding on more than
2,500 applications worldwide.
INTEGRA Services Technologies
Inc. is the only provider of Quickfange
technology in the United States and is
constantly evolving with new combinations of pipe diameters, materials
and pressure ratings, all tested according to criteria set by DNV GL (Hvik,
Norway).
Moving Forward
Surging costs and the labor needed
in the face of a natural disaster may
seem insurmountable, but with the
proper foresight, as well as experienced personnel intensely monitoring
the safety and decommissioning that
follows a natural disaster, the Gulf of
Mexico will continue to be a major
source of oil and natural gas in the
United States. Offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are
notably among the primary petroleumproducing areas, generating around 25
percent of the nations oil and 14 percent of the nations natural gas.
With each advancement in technology, companies will continue to
extend drilling and production farther
from the shore into deeper waters.
Currently, production in depths greater
than 1,000 feet accounts for 72 percent of returns in federal waters in the
Gulf of Mexico. Deeper exploration
and production projects in the Gulf
are expected to continue to increase,
though not at the speeds seen in the
most recent years. This push to go further and deeper means greater vulnerability of infrastructure to natural disasters. But with the right tools, safety can
be maintained. n
Yvette Schmiz is the Gulf

Coast sales and marketing coordinator for INTEGRA Services Technologies, Inc., which offers
services, sales and rentals pertaining to critical
connections in the U.S.
and Canada. Schmiz also
works closely with the senior engineers of BlackHawk Engineered Products, a division of INTEGRA
Technologies focused on developing engineered
products and tools. Prior to joining INTEGRA in
2013, Schmiz served as director of design and
product development at SOMO Generations. She
attended the University of North Texas, receiving a
bachelors degree in fne arts in 2009.
April 2015 / st
41
Sink Different
Underwater surveying is one

of the most complex felds
youll ever encounter.
Eleven years ago we realized the smart people
engaged in this feld had been wasting mental
energy working with tools that made their
jobs more difcult. Marine Magnetics got
into this business to change that.
We believe good data, ruggedness, efciency
and user-centric ease-of-use are not luxuries,
but the bar for entry.
We build products that work harder and
smarter. Our marine magnetometers are
designed to help you focus on the mission,
not the manual.
Good design can change the way we work.
Great design changes the way we think.
learn more at marinemagnetics.com

42 st / April 2015
Differential Pressure Transducers

For Hazardous Locations
Sensors Remotely Monitor Gas, Chemical Leaks
By Karmjit Sidhu
ifferential pressure sensors measure the difference in

pressure between two sides of the sensor. These connections are normally referred to as P1, or high side (Hi),
and P2, or low side (Lo), with the output of the sensor as P1
P2. Differential pressure sensors are used to measure many
properties, such as pressure drops across flters, fuid levels
(by comparing the pressure above and below the liquid) or
fow rate measurement (pressure drop across a restriction,
such as an orifce plate).
A gauge pressure sensor is merely a differential
pressure sensor in which one side is open to the
ambient atmosphere. Typical applications of these
pressure sensors include process control and monitoring, liquid level measurements, leak detection,
bulk liquid inventory, steam and gas-powered turbines in power plants, natural gas well monitoring,
chemical process control, oil and gas exploration and
d other
h
original equipment manufacturer environments.
Hazardous Locations
Locations such as refneries, oil and gas wells, drilling
platforms, pipelines, compression stations, coal and gasfred power plants, and areas of paint and chemicals producing large quantities of fammable liquids and gases create a risk of leaks. In some cases, gas, ignitable vapor or
dust are present constantly or for long periods of time. Other
areas may contain dangerous concentrations of fammable
substances during process upsets, equipment deterioration
between maintenance periods or during an incident.
Area classifcation is the process of determining the type
and size of these hazardous areas. Area classifcations are
segmented into zones per IEC standard: IEC 60079-10-1
and IEC 60079-10-2 (explosive dusts).
Division Two or Zone Two. Gas, vapors or mist are present only under abnormal conditions (most often leaks under
abnormal conditions).
Division One or Zone One. Gas, vapors or mist are present, or expected to be present, for long periods of time under normal operating conditions.
Zone Zero. Gas or vapors are constantly present. Typical
examples are gasoline and paint storage tanks.
(Top) A wet/wet differential pressure sensor

with 0.25-inch male NPT ports and a TURCK
minifast connector. (Bottom) Pressure sensors with a single cell (the AST 5300 on left)
and two cells (the AST 5400 on right). These
are typical types of differential pressure sensors used in wide operating temperatures.
Differential Pressure Sensor Packaging

Differential pressure sensor packaging for hazardous
locations is very important when it comes to media isolation, range of differential pressure measurement in common
mode pressure, operating temperature and environment
conditions.
One traditional sensor packageoil-flled with very thin
isolation diaphragmshas been used for many years; however, with the introduction of modern materials and electronics, oil-free packages are entering markets. Oil or liquid
flling is used to isolate the sensing elements, either capacitive, piezo-resistive or inductive, from the media via a very
April 2015 / st
43
(Top) Graphical presentation of the divisions per NEC and CEC codes. (Bottom)
A cross section of an oil-flled capsule.
thin (normally 0.001-inch thick)

metallic diaphragm.
Oil-flled packages tend to
be temperature-limited (-25C
to 80C without remote seals
and special fll fuids), bulky and
complex mechanical systems,
prone to hydrogen permeation
(unless specifed with costly goldplated diaphragms), limited in highpressure capabilities and expensive.
Dependent on desired accuracy and line
pressure, oil-free sensing packages can employ
either two measuring cells or one single cell. With two
measuring cells constructed from one piece of monolithic metal, i.e., 316L stainless steel, nickel and cobalt-based super alloys, and one-device packaging to
offer high line pressures up to 15,000 psi (1,000 bar),
a turn down of 15 times of line pressure can be provided. For example, with a differential pressure range of 50
psi (3.5 bar), the common mode line pressure can be up
to 750 psi (52 bar), with a proof pressure of 1,500 psi (100
bar). The signal conditioning application specifc integrated
circuit (ASIC) reads the signal from the sensing element and
outputs a linear and accurate signal as a function of P1-P2.
A one-cell approach offers high line pressures up to 1,500
psi (100 bar), with a differential pressure range of 5 psi (0.35
bar). The diaphragm travel is protected by over-travel stops
in each direction. This design can further be enhanced to
offer a 20-psi (1.4-bar) measuring range, with line pressure
up to 5,000 psi (350 bar). An ASIC is employed to read the
position feedback from the inductive sensor to provide a
linear and accurate signal.
In both oil-free designs, the media temperature range is
-50C to 125C, without any expensive remote seals.
Applications
Filter Condition Monitoring. Filters are widely used for
air, oil, fuel, hydraulics, natural gas and water applications.
44 st / April 2015
These flters are vital to the health and economical

operation of the machinery. In compressed natural gas (CNG) applications, dryers are extensively used for optimum performance.
Natural gas dryers remove water vapor
prior to storing or using natural gas as
a fuel for CNG-powered vehicles.
High water content can cause blockage of CNG in fueling systems and
can contribute to corrosion in storage vessels and piping. The need for
a dryer is determined by the water
content of the incoming gas and
operating ambient temperatures. In
some cases, the flter for this dryer resides in a Division One area.
As prices of electronic components
and systems keep coming down, sensors and
remote telemetry are replacing manual operations in monitoring system performance. As such, a differential pressure sensor, installed across from
the flter for the purpose of monitoring blockage, must be rated for
Division One operation, along
with the installation and wiring
code. The differential pressure sensor also needs to operate from cold to
so
hot ambient (-40C to 85C) temperah
tures with no maintenance. This concept
is also true for oil, lubrication, hydraulics
and water applications.
Liquid Level. Differential pressure sensors are also ideal
for tank-level monitoring, especially in sealed hydrocarbon,
water, chemical and cryogenic liquid tanks. In oil, gasoline
and lubrication, where nonpressurized tanks are not vented,
the differential pressure sensor P1 port is connected to the
bottom of the tank, while the P2 port is vented to the atmosphere, effectively working in gauge mode. If the tank
is sealed, the P2 is normally vented to the top of the tank.
In nonpressurized tanks, both single- and dual-cell sensors
can be used. In pressurized tanks, the sensor with a single
cell is more effective, due to its large common-mode pressure range and small measurement range, as found in CO2,
oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen cryogenic tanks. Here, the
measurement range can be 0 to 200 inches (0.38 bar) of
Depth of Experience
We are building the best, better.
How do you make a great product line beter?

Add customer-driven product improvements, passionate customer service, and faster turnaround.
DeepWater Buoyancy, Inc. has acquired the rights to the legacy Flotation Technologies (Flotec) product line,
an industry standard for syntactic foam solutions, and we are building the best, even better.
Same Products.
Same Technology.
Same People.
sales@deepwb.com
+1 207.502.1400
www.DeepWaterBuoyancy.com
Rising to your undersea challenges
(Top Left) A schematic of an oil-free sensing system with two

cells. (Top Right) The AST 5300 wet/wet differential pressure
sensor is an example of a one-cell sensor with no oil-flled cavities or O-rings. The diaphragm travel is protected by over-travel stops in each direction. (Botom Left) A graphical representation of the AST 5400 wet/wet differential pressure transducer
connected across from the flter. The AST 5400 can be used to
measure differential pressure across a flter or monitor-level
tank, as well as calculate fow across an orifce plate. (Bottom
Right) If a tank is sealed, the differential pressure sensor P2
port is normally vented to the top of the tank, as shown here.
water column; however, the common mode can be as high

as 700 psi (48 bar).
Flow Rate Measurement. By measuring differential pressure measurements across a venture meter or orifce plate,
the fow rate can be calculated using mathematical formulas that are well known in the fow industry. Many low-cost
mechanical fow meters based on paddle-type pickups with
pen chart recorders are being replaced with electronic fow
meters in oil and gas applications. Increased automation
reduces human interactions and error, resulting in cost savings for the end user. In colder, ambient temperatures below
-20C, all oil-flled sensors start to provide inaccurate readings as the oil flling becomes more viscous. To maintain
accuracies, many manufacturers recommend using trace
heaters to keep the devices warm. However, this is not practical in remote locations where power is not freely available, with the exception of batteries or solar-cell-powered
equipment. Here, an oil-free, single-cell sensor is preferred,
46 st / April 2015
since it can operate down to -50C without freezing. During

testing, sensors operated in temperatures down to -50C for
two years in northern Canada without trouble.
AST5300 explosion-proof wet/wet differential pressure
transmitter, from American Sensor Technologies Inc. (Mount
Olive, New Jersey), is an example of an oil-free, single-cell
pressure sensor that is currently being used in a desalination
plant for offshore platforms. The plant, located in the Gulf
of Mexico, makes fresh drinking water from seawater. The
AST5300 is connected across a water flter that is exposed
to sea mist and spray. A stainless-steel housing protects the
pressure sensor against corrosion.
Conclusion
Compared to oil-flled sensors, oil-free differential pressure sensors for hazardous locations offer the best price-performance ratio in wide temperature and environmental operating conditions. For the offshore industry, as oil and gas
feld operations increasingly use digital technology, these
devices will address more applications.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my colleagues at American Sensor Technologies Inc. (AST), who made it possible for me to write this
article. n
Karmjit Sidhu is the vice president of business development for AST, where
he spearheads sales and marketing and focuses his efforts on the conceptual
design of new products. Prior to co-founding AST, Sidhu was chief transducer
engineer for Measurement Specialties, responsible for the growth of pressure
sensor business. In addition to holding a bachelors of science in electrical and
electronics engineering and a masters of science in industrial measurement
systems from Brunel University, England, Sidhu is also a doctoral candidate at
the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Sidhu can be reached at info@astsen
sors.com or 973-448-1901.
When the Pressure is On,

Depend on Us
We provide the broadest range of high performance
electrical, optical, and hybrid interconnect capabilities,
optimized for use in mission-critical applications.
www.teledynemis.com
teledynemis@teledyne.com
AG GEOPHYSICAL PRODUCTS I DGO I IMPULSE I ODI I STORM CABLE I

Product Lines of
TELEDYNE OIL & GAS

April 2015 / st
47
GPS Error Rejection Improves Accuracy

Of Offshore Platform Watch Circle
Kalman Filter-Based Technique Prevents False Alarms
By Kevin J. Delaney
MT Scientifc Marine Services

(Escondido, California) recently
developed and felded an innovative watch circle processing system
that reduced false alarms caused by
GPS errors. The application was an
offshore oil and gas platform with
stringent positioning requirements.
GPS errors can cause a false indication that a platform is out of position,
requiring emergency safety measures
and stopping productionboth unnecessarily.
The solution was a watch circle
processor based on an adaptive Kalman flter. The flter estimated the
error of each GPS receiver and gradually lowered the weight as error increased. In this way, even gradually increasing errors were
rejected before they had the chance to contaminate the systems estimated platform position. The watch circle processer system developed and felded by BMT runs unattended
in real time and is now operating offshore.
Error Rejection Methods
There are several approaches to dealing with measurement errors in Kalman flters. The frst is to examine the individual measurements before they are used. Outlier measurements can be rejected if their measured value is more
than a certain number of standard deviations away from
their predicted value. While this approach can be effective
in rejecting sudden jumps, it can be ineffective in isolating gradual errors. With gradual errors, the erroneous data
may contaminate the state estimate before the error can be
detected and isolated. Once the position estimate is contaminated, and perhaps lies between the true and erroneous positions, it may be diffcult to decide which sensor is
responsible for the error.
A second approach is to compute the Kalman flter state
update using all measurements, and then examine the proposed state update before applying it to the estimated state.
Adaptively estimating GPS error variances (accounting for

platform rotation) allows rejection of GPS error.
The state update can be suspended or altered if it seems to

be contaminated by outlier measurementsif, for example,
its magnitude is beyond a reasonable number of standard
deviations. This approach also has its limitations. Once the
erroneous data have been incorporated into a state update,
it may not be possible to determine which sensor is at fault
for the sudden jump in the update. And, as noted earlier, approaches that rely on go/no-go detection of faults may have
diffculty handling gradual errors.
Finally, the measurements noise variance can be estimated adaptively and noisy measurements can be weighted
in inverse proportion to the measurements estimated noise
variance.
This approach was chosen for the BMT watch circle processor system because of two important advantages. First,
measurement errors are eliminated before they are allowed
to contaminate the flters state estimate. Second, by employing a continuous approach (as compared to a frm go/
no-go approach), the suspected sensor can be discounted
well before it is clearly identifed as bad.
April 2015 / st
49
Adaptive Error Variance Estimation

One method for adaptively estimating measurement noise variance is to
compute the measurements long-term
mean value, then use the squared instantaneous deviation of each measurement from that long-term mean.
This was found to work well for GPS
measurementsif the platform does
not rotate. Platform roll, pitch and yaw
cause the GPS antenna to swing, due
to the height of the antenna from the
center of gravity. This causes even an
accurate receiver to seem to have a
high noise variance, making it diffcult
to identify a receiver that has failed.
Instead, the long-term mean platform position was estimated and the
GPS antenna position was predicted
using the instantaneous estimate of
roll, pitch and yaw combined with this
long-term mean platform position. In
this way, the motion of the antenna
due to platform rotation was removed
from the noise variance estimate, making an erroneous GPS measurement
more obvious. As before, the instantaneous deviation of each GPS measurement from its predicted value (computed using the instantaneous estimate
of roll, pitch and yaw, combined with
the long-term mean platform position)

was used as the measurement noise
variance.
Results
In preparation for deploying the
system, a study was performed that
simulated an ocean platform with
three gyros, three GPS receivers and
one vertical reference unit (supplying measurements of roll, pitch and
heave). The platform was simulated
to roll, pitch and yaw with realistic,
band-limited Gaussian motions, and
all simulated measurements were contaminated with realistic noise. Finally,
a ramp error, such as those seen in actual GPS data, was injected into one
GPS measurement. Three simulations
were performed: one with fxed (nonadaptive) noise variance estimates, one
with adaptively estimated noise variances (but assuming no platform roll,
pitch or yaw) and one estimating the
noise variances while accounting for
platform rotations.
The frst simulation illustrated the
importance of adaptive noise variance
estimation in the presence of these
types of GPS errors. Using a fxed sensor noise variance, the Kalman flter
Falmouth Scientifc
Sensors Systems Service

Bubble Gun
TM
Portable Low-Frequency
Acoustic Seismic Systems
Low-Frequency Wide-Band Sources

Give Excellent Sub-Bottom Penetration
Through Many Tough Sediment Types
Repeatable Reliable
Shot-to-Shot Phase and
Amplitude Wavelet
Correlation >.96
Taken Over Many
Thousands of Shots
Without Using External
Timing Controllers
Reduce Total Survey Cost

Deploy from Small Vessels

No Need for High Voltage

or High Power Sources,
Air Compressors, or
Heavy Handling Equipment
Ideal for Single- and MultiChannel Refection Surveys

in Transition Zones, Coastal
Areas, and Fresh Water
Sand Reclamation
Shallow Gas Hazard
Bedrock Investigation
Wave Wind Turbine
Pipeline, Bridge, and
Dam Sites
Falmouth Scientifc, Inc
fsi@falmouth.com www.falmouth.com 1-508-564-7640

Hardware - Software - Field Services - Global Support
50 st / April 2015
had no basis on which to reject the

erroneous sensor sosince one of the
three receivers was badthe flter incorporated about one-third of the error
in its estimate.
In the second simulation, adaptively
computing sensor variances allowed
for some error rejection, butbecause
fxed GPS receiver positions are assumedthe failed sensors high noise
variance was masked by the platforms
roll and pitch. These motions caused
the other receivers to move as well,
and thus their noise variance estimates
were higher than their true values. This
blurred the distinction between good
and bad receivers, allowing some of the
failed sensors error to be incorporated.
In the third simulation, by computing expected GPS receiver measurements using rotation-corrected receiver measurements, the background
level of receiver variance was lower;
therefore, the bad receiver was more
easily recognized and nearly completely rejected.
Conclusions
Adaptively estimating GPS receiver
noise variance, using the assumption
that platform position changes slowly
and accounting for platform rotation,
allows GPS errors to be rejected, signifcantly improving the estimation of
ocean platform position and greatly reducing watch circle false alarms.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the previous research efforts in this area at BMT
Scientifc Marine Services by Ian Johnson, and thanks Dr. Igor Prislin of BMT
Scientifc Marine Services and Johan
Bijker of the University of Stellenbosch
for important discussions, which aided
this development. This effort was partially supported by the BMT Groups
research and development fund.
References
For a list of references, contact Kevin J. Delaney at kdel
aney@scimar.com. n
Kevin J. Delaney served
as a submarine offcer in
the U.S. Navy and is now
a manager in the analysis
and consulting group at
BMT Scientifc Marine
Services. He specializes
in statistical signal processing as applied to
ocean systems.
Errors in Tracking Surface Currents

With Different Float Geometries
Analyzing Wind Drag Effect on Lagrangian Drifters
By Dr. gueda Vzquez Paz Rotlln Garca Dr. Francisco Criado-Aldeanueva
urrents in the ocean can be recorded either in a Eulerian or a Lagrangian frame. In the frst case, equipment is moored at a fxed point where it records the intensity and direction of the currents as it varies over time.
In contrast, Lagrangian measurements rely on the deployment of objects drifting with the surrounding water as displaced by ocean currents.
The Lagrangian method is one of the earliest methods
used by humans to diagnose the path of currents in the
oceans, with remarkable historical examples, such as the
bottles released by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus
(310 B.C.) to show that the Mediterranean Sea is fed by
Atlantic waters and Benjamin Franklins use of this technique to diagnose the Gulf Stream.
Modern positioning technology has evolved this strategy from the basic message in a bottle historical trials
to complex systems that follow in real time the position
of the tracking device with a precision of a few meters.
Global programs for the deployment and tracking of Lagrangian drifters involve international efforts in devices
able to explore the deep ocean while moving with the
currents (e.g., the Argo program). Other strategies design
the drifters to remain at the surface to diagnose properties of the upper ocean and lower atmosphere (e.g., the
Global Drifter Program/Surface Velocity Program). These
surface drifters perform GNSS positioning and transmit
data through electronics (e.g., Iridium, GPRS) contained
in a sealed foat. The constant exposure of these surfaces to air drag and the comparatively higher velocities of
wind compared to currents deviate the drifter trajectory
from that of a perfect tracer of water movement. Attached
drogues are frequently used to increase the underwater
drag and, therefore, decrease the effect of wind on the
drifter trajectory.
Drifter Geometries
Spheres and cylinders are the most common geometries for surface drifters. However, these geometries do
not distribute the optimal buoyancy to decrease the impact of wind on the tracer role of the drifter. An ideal
surface drifter to track shallow waters should have the
minimum emerged surface that guarantees the necessary

buoyancy for GNSS and communication operations. In
addition, since the effect of wind increases with height,
the geometry of the emerged surface should minimize the
height of the center of data operations. Neither spherical
nor cylindrical geometries optimize these elements, and
they create errors in the diagnosis of the ocean currents,
which are affected by the magnitude of the wind and surface current.
Error Calculation
A straightforward calculation of these errors can be
obtained through the Ni et al (2010) approach to estimate
the leeway drift of partially submersed bodies when wave
effect is negligible. Under this approach the total velocity
(V) of a partially submersed object is:
Where L is the leeway ratio (the ratio between leeway

and wind velocities) and Vwind and Vwater are the velocity of wind and current, respectively. The value of L is a
function of the proportion and shape of the emerged and
submerged portions of the drifter body, concretely:
where Cd, p and A are the drag coeffcient, density and

surface orthogonal to fow in air and water, respectively.
The error introduced by wind can then be computed as
the percentage of the drifter velocity driven by wind:
For spheres and cylinders foating by the equatorial

plane, L is the square root of the ratio between the density
of air and water.
April 2015 / st
51
(Top) Percentage of total velocity driven

by wind as a function of air and water velocity for different types of drifters. (Bottom) Complex drifter geometry to minimize drag surface and height of the center
of operations for data communications.
Using these calculations, the magnitude of the error for different values
of wind and water current becomes evident, showing the sensitivity to wind
of these drifter geometries.
For example, under a common wind
velocity of 10 meters per second, a minimum error of 30 percent can be expected, even when the water current reaches
values as high as 1 meter per second.
Optimal Geometry
Thus, the traditional message in a
bottle method does not appear to be a
reliable tracer of ocean currents. This
error decreases when optimized geometries are implemented in the foat.
An example is the Coastal Nomad
drifter design by SouthTEK Sensing
Technologies S.L. (Cdiz, Spain). The
necessary buoyancy in the emerged
part of the drifter is achieved via an
inverted truncated cone, while GNSS
and the communication antennas are
encapsulated in a cylinder of the minimum diameter able to contain them. This emerged geometry minimizes both the surface drag and the height of its
center of operations for data communications. The table
52 st / April 2015
we present in this article decomposes

this geometry to calculate its leeway
ratio as the sum of the product CdpA
over the emerged and submerged surfaces. The values in the table make
L=0.01775.
The Coastal Nomads geometry
decreases the error of spherical and
cylindrical geometries more than 10
percent for the most probable combinations of wind and air velocities,
although the errors are still high. Other geometries like CODE/Davis with
X-shaped sails defnitively reduce the
magnitude of L to values that dramatically reduce the effect of wind on
drifter velocity. The error reduction is
very high, with the region of signifcant wind infuence contained in a
narrow fringe of low-water and highwind-velocity currents.
Although the error reduction is
impressive, the operational cost may
not compensate. Thus, when deployed from small infatable vessels
for coastal engineering studies, the
X-sails may not be handy because of
the complex geometry and the large
surfaces involved.
A small and simple drogue results
in similar error reduction but with
less operational complications in the
energetic waters of the Inner Continental Shelf. A small drogue also facilitates drifter operation when bathymetric restrictions are present, such
as in beaches, lagoons or harbors. For example, a drifter
with the Coastal Nomads complex geometry design that
also has two perpendicular circles of 40 centimeters di-
Calculation of the leeway ratio using the complex geometry of the illustrated drifter.
ameter acting as a drogue leads to error, as calculated by

equation three, under various winds and currents similar
to that of a CODE/Davis X-sail design. Signifcant deviations in error calculation between the drogue and a large
X-sail design occur only in the improbable case of very
strong winds and very weak currents; a small handicap
when compared with the benefts of a drifter that is robust
and easy to operate.
Conclusion
The implementation of the third equation shows the
diffculties of standard drifter geometries in acting as tracers of surface currents and the error reduction achieved
with more complex geometries. This equation also shows
how the combination of complex geometry with a simple
and small drogue can dramatically reduce the errors to
the low levels achieved with very large water sails frequently used in the deep ocean.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank SouthTEK Sensing
Technologies S.L. for providing all geometrical dimen-
sions of the Coastal Nomad drifter. This study has been

developed in the context of the PR11-RNM-7722 Project.
References
For a list of references, contact gueda Vzquez at ague
da.vazquez@uca.es. n
Dr. gueda Vzquez in an associate professor at the Senior School of Engineering at the University of Cdiz, Spain, where she received a Ph.D. in
physical oceanography. Her research interests involve physical dynamics
and internal waves in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Paz Rotlln Garca received her B.S. degree in marine science from the University of Cdiz, Spain, specializing in physical oceanography. She received
her masters in environmental hydraulics, specializing in geophysical fows,
from the University of Mlaga, Spain. Her research interests involve ocean
and atmosphere physical dynamics.
Dr. F. Criado-Aldeanueva is a physician and industrial engineer working at
the Physical Oceanography Group of the University of Mlaga, Spain. He
leads the interuniversity masters program in environmental hydraulics. His
research is related to physical oceanography and climate change, especially
over the Mediterranean Basin.
April 2015 / st
53
F
From
the surface to
the seafoor, the
Teledyne Marine
companies deliver the
products, technology, and
talent you demand to
get the job done.
A Sea of
Solutions
www.teledynemarine.com
54 st / April 2015
capitalreport
Legislation Progresses for

Regulating Vessel Discharge
Import Cargo at US Ports

To Rise After Contract Negotiations
Import cargo volume at the nations major retail container ports is expected to rise an unusually high 16.9 percent
this March over the same time last year as West Coast ports
begin to dig out from a backlog of cargo that built up during just-concluded contract negotiations with dockworkers,
according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the
National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
The contract talks are over, but the tentative agreement
still has to be ratifed, and its going to take months to get
back to normal on the West Coast, NRF Vice President for
Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.
Following negotiations that began last spring, the contract between the Pacifc Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union expired on July
1. Despite ongoing talks, the lack of a contract and operational issues led to crisis-level congestion at the ports, and
retailers and other businesses asked U.S. President Barack
Obama in December to encourage the use of a federal mediator. A mediator joined the talks in January but a tentative
agreement was not reached until February 20, after Labor
Secretary Tom Perez sat down to personally broker a deal.
Import cargo volume for the frst half of 2015 is forecast
at 8.7 million TEU, an increase of 4.5 percent over the same
period last year.
The bipartisan effort to establish a uniform national framework for the regulation of vessel discharges took another step
forward as the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved S. 373, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), with strong bipartisan support.
A broad-based coalition of nearly 60 organizations
joined the American Waterways Operators (AWO) in urging the committee to approve VIDA. This measure would
replace a patchwork of overlapping and conficting federal
and state regulations with a uniform, science-based federal
framework for vessel discharge regulation. AWO and the
coalition will work with the Commerce Committee to bring
S. 373 to the Senate foor this spring.
US Senate Fails to Override

Presidential Keystone Veto
After U.S. President Barack Obama vetoed legislation
that would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline, the
U.S. Senate fell short of the votes needed to override the
veto. Because the Senate failed to garner enough votes, the
House will not vote on the override.
Now, the Obama Administration will get to make the
fnal decision on whether the pipeline will be permitted.
The State Department is expected to fnalize its assessment
of the Keystone project in the upcoming weeks or months,
after which Obama will decide on permitting.
If approved, the pipeline would carry 830,000 barrels a
day of primarily Canadian crude oil to Nebraska, accord-
April 2015 / st
55
ing to Reuters. Supporters of Keystone in Congress could

continue to keep up the fght for approval by attaching the
project to another bill this year, Reuters reported Sen. John
Hoeven (R-N.D.) as saying.
Science-Related Bills Move

From US House Committee
The U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 1119, H.R. 1156, H.R. 1162,
H.R. 1158, and H.R. 874. All of the bills passed out of committee on bipartisan voice votes.
H.R. 1119, the Research and Development Effciency
Act, requires that the Offce of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) establish a working group of federal research
agencies to fgure out how to better standardize and streamline the administrative requirements on their grantees.
H.R. 1156, the International Science and Technology
Cooperation Act of 2015, requires the Offce of Science
and Technology Policy to establish a National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC) committee to coordinate international science and technology activities across federal
agencies and identify opportunities for new international
science and technology partnerships aligned with U.S. foreign policy priorities.
H.R. 1162, the Science Prize Competitions Act, would
strengthen the authority federal agencies have to use prize
competitions as an alternative to incentivize scientifc research and development.
H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015, improves
management of the National Laboratories, enhances technology commercialization, and facilitates public-private
partnerships.
H.R. 874, the American Super Computing Leadership
Act, amends the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 to improve the high-end computing research and development program of the Department of Energy.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) encouraged a larger, comprehensive R&D bill. Rather than
continuing to focus on small bills like those before us todaymeritorious though they may beI would hope that
we can now turn our focus to working together to hold
comprehensive hearings and bipartisan dialogue aimed at
reauthorizing America COMPETES, she said.
US House Bill Authorizes

NSF STEM-Related Grants
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1020,
the STEM Education Act of 2015, in a 412-8 vote. The bill
authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award
grants and support activities, including teaching fellowships,
to improve STEM learning outcomes. The bill incorporated
provisions previously proposed by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (DConn.) and Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.).
Strong support for STEM education in K-12 education
will help prepare our children for good-paying jobs in highdemand felds, Esty said.
These programs are key to reaching the more than 13
million students that visit museums each year, many of
whom will be inspired to pursue science careers, Lipinski
said. n
56 st / April 2015
international
Subsea Training Center Addresses
Asia Pacifc Skills Shortage
A diver training facility in Tasmania, Australia, is helping
to address the skills shortage in the Asia Pacifc subsea sector as it teams up with a Malaysian recruitment and training provider. The Underwater Centre (Tasmania) is working
with a team of 21 candidates who have been recommended
for training by Samsian Solution & Services (Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia). The students are completing the centers standard
commercial diving training package, which qualifes them
to work onshore and offshore as commercial divers.
Port of London to Unveil New Vessel

The Port of London Authoritys (PLA) new 36-meter
mooring maintenance vessel, London Titan, built at a cost
of 7 million, will be offcially unveiled at the opening day
of Seawork International in June.
Following its launch last month, ftting out and sea trials,
London Titan is likely to be seen by upwards of 7,500 visitors at Seawork, which will be held June 16 to 18 in Southampton, England. London Titan is the PLAs largest single
investment in 20 years.
N-sea Completes Subsea Repair Operation

N-Sea (Zierikzee, Netherlands) has utilized the worlds
frst wet repair habitat to complete an in-situ subsea cable
repair.
The habitat allows repairs to be implemented in-situ below sea level, as opposed to the conventional method of
recovering the subsea cable prior to repair. The diving scope
was performed as part of a Moyle Interconnector project to
carry out the repair on the Moyle Interconnector cable, a
500-megawatt HVDC electrical interconnector in the Irish
Sea.
European Shipping Initiative Launched

Maritime and inland waterways will be under increasing pressure as they are used for transport, recreation and
commercial activity. DNV GL (Hvik, Norway) introduced a
new initiative, Vessels for the Future, which aims to improve
shippings safety record, sustainability and global competitiveness.
Launched in November 2014, more than 50 companies,
research institutes, academic organizations and interested associations have signed up to take part in the initiative, which will work toward a more sustainable European
transport system. The initiative focuses on safe and effcient
waterborne transport and competitiveness of the maritime
sector in Europe.
Financing for Ship Owners to Promote

Installation of Scrubber Systems
Wrtsil (Helsinki, Finland) and Clean Marine Energy
(Europe) Ltd. (Oxford, England) signed an agreement that
will provide a funding solution to drive the uptake of exhaust gas cleaning technology. The move is intended to ease
the fnancial burden on ship owners seeking to install scrubber systems in order to meet sulphur emissions legislation.
April 2015 / st
57
The fnancing solution, similar to those in the building

environment space, enables a ship owner to repay the cost
of the scrubber system installation via a fuel adder, i.e., a
fuel premium on the price of heavy fuel oil by which the
ship owner repays the cost of installing the scrubber.
pCO2 Analyzer
Camera Delivered for Pipeline Repair
Li-Ion Batteries
Kongsberg Maritime Camera Group (Kongsberg, Norway) has designed, manufactured and delivered an underwater video camera for use on an advanced subsea remote
pipeline repair system (RPRS). The cameras are specifcally
designed to monitor the welding arc and welding pass in an
unmanned hyperbaric welding habitat, when operating to
depths of 1,500 meters.
The camera has been tested and qualifed for use in an
argon gas environment during welding operations. A widerange image sensor is used, which provides real-time, closeup viewing of the welding process.
Highest capacity
Easy smart charging
FerryBox
Customized
pCO2 Analyzer
Li-COR integrated
ROV Sensors
Automatic calibration
FerryBox, Buoy, Deep-sea
Condition
Monitoring
Yara Marine Technologies Delivers Scrubber Project
AUV Batteries
ROV Sensor-packs
Mari- & Aquaculture
Offshore Oil+Gas
approved vendor
SubCtech GmbH
info@subctech.com
Battery System
www.subctech.com
Yara Marine Technologies (Oslo, Norway) delivered a

scrubber project to Brittany Ferries (Roscoff, France) for their
ship Normandie, which runs between Portsmouth, England,
and Caen, France. The system on board Normandie has received a MED certifcate from Bureau Veritas. The project
was supervised and executed by STX France (Saint-Nazaire,
France).
According to Brittany Ferries, the level of sulfur oxides in
the exhaust gas from Normandie is lower than 0.1 percent,
in compliance with regulations.
Shipping Risks Continue in Indian Ocean

Underestimating the security risk in the Indian Ocean
could put ships in danger, according to maritime security
company MAST Ltd. (Valletta, Malta).
The Indian Ocean still presents a series of security challenges, including a lack of intelligence information sharing
between countries carrying out counter-piracy operations in
the region, as recently stated by Commodore Keith Blount
at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He added that if these
challenges were overcome, it would help increase the situational awareness and understanding of the region.
SpecTec Updates Ship

Management System for Charity
SpecTec (La Spezia, Italy) has a new project working with
long-term partner Mercy Ships (Garden Valley, Texas) to migrate their current system to the AMOS enterprise management suite (EMS).
Mercy Ships is an international charity that visits some
of the poorest countries in the world, providing free surgery
and medical care, as well as offering advice to help improve
local communities free of charge.
The Africa Mercy will receive an installation and update
of the latest version of AMOS EMS.
Study Highlights Economic

Importance of EU Shipping
ECSA (Brussels, Belgium) presented the results of a recent
update of the Oxford Economics study on the economic
value of the EU shipping industry, which highlights the in58 st / April 2015
dustrys important contribution to the EU economy based on

new and more reliable data.
According to the study, the overall contribution of the
European shipping industry to the EUs GDP in 2013 is estimated to have been 147 billion. Moreover, for every 1
million the European shipping industry contributes to the
GDP itself, it creates another 1.6 million elsewhere in the
European economy.
Elcome Signs Sales, Service Agreement

Elcome International (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
signed a distribution agreement with Japan Radio Co. (JRC),
based in Tokyo, Japan, and its technology partner Alphatron
Marine (Rotterdam, Netherlands).
Under the agreement, Elcome will take on responsibility
for sales and service of JRC and Alphatron Marine products
in the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka. Elcome will also
carry out annual performance tests for JRC Voyage data recorders and simplifed Voyage data recorders.
JRC is providing extensive training for Elcome engineers
at its center in Rotterdam, as well as at Elcomes headquarters in Dubai, which will ensure support for customers in
the region.
Nautricity Secures Grid-Connected Test Berth

Scottish tidal turbine developer Nautricity (Glasglow,
Scotland) has recently secured a grid-connected tidal test
berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), following successful sea trials at EMECs nongrid-connected site
last year. In 2014, Nautricity tested its CoRMaT tidal energy
converter and Hydrobuoy mooring system at EMECs Shap-
insay Sound test site, gaining experience at operating in real

sea conditions. The company is now moving a step closer
to commercialization by securing a test berth at EMECs test
site for its next-generation prototype, testing their technology in some of the harshest sea conditions.
MPE Interiors Completes Trio of Ferry Contracts

MPE Interiors (Birkenhead, England) has completed three
new contracts in the U.K. and Ireland to upgrade passenger
ferries for Stena Line (Gothenburg, Sweden) and P&O Ferries (Dover, England).
The contracts involved a range of furniture, soft furnishing and ceiling improvements on ferries at different shipyards.
The projects highlight MPEs range of skills and services
to the ferry and wider maritime sectors on both sides of the
Irish Sea, according to the company.
Delivery of First Pipe Recovery System

The frst of Churchill Drilling Tools (Aberdeen, Scotland)
HyPR HoleSaver hydraulic pipe recovery systems has been
delivered. Two operators have now selected the cost-saving
tool for projects in the North Sea, while another is planning
deployment in the Gulf of Mexico. Some onshore operators
have also identifed potential scenarios in which the system
has applications, too.
Developed in 2014, the HyPR HoleSaver is a hydraulic
pipe recovery system. According to the company, the system is faster and safer than using traditional recovery methods and could save the drilling industry in cost and time
reduction. n
Intelligent
Marine Robots
You Can
Rely On
For more information about
our REMUS AUVs, please contact
us at +1 508-563-6565 or
sales@hydroid.com
HYDROID.com
April 2015 / st
59
oceanbusiness
Horizon Lines Sells Puerto Rico Terminal Assets
Horizon Lines Inc. (Charlotte, North Carolina) has entered into and executed an asset purchase agreement with
Luis Ayala Colon Sucrs. (Ponce, Puerto Rico) selling certain
San Juan, Puerto Rico, container terminal assets and assigning its lease with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
The agreement follows Horizon Lines announcement to
cease providing liner service between the U.S. and Puerto
Rico by the end of 2014.
EdgeTech to Deliver OOI Acoustic Releases

EdgeTech (West Wareham, Massachusetts) received
an order from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(WHOI) for 50 additional 8242XS Deep Water Acoustic
Transponding Releases. The follow-on order brings the total
dollar value of the acoustic transponding releases ordered
for the National Science Foundation-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) to more than $1 million.
The EdgeTech 8242XS Acoustic Release Transponder is a
6,000-meter-rated, versatile mooring instrument.
Polar Star Returns Home Following

101-Day Antarctic Deployment
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, the
nations only operable heavy icebreaker, returned to its
homeport of Seattle, Washington, from a 101-day Antarctic deployment. The crew deployed in support of Operation
Deep Freeze 2015, a multiagency operation managed by
the National Science Foundation. Polar Star will spend the
summer months in dry dock preparing for a resupply mission of McMurdo Station, a U.S. Antarctic research center
on the south tip of Ross Island, that will take place next year.
Marine Transmission for Arctic Service Vessel

Bowhead Transports (Seattle, Washington) newest addition to its feet, MV Unalaq, will service the Alaskan coast
and north into the Beaufort Sea. Utilizing Twin Discs (Racine, Wisconsin) MGX-5135 SC marine transmissions and
EC300 power commander controls, the shallow-draft landing craft will bring supplies to the area, including isolated
villages above the Arctic Circle. Unalaq was built to function in Bowhead Transports lighterage operations. The boat
ferries cargo to and from an ocean-going barge offshore.
Cargo-Handling Equipment Contract Awarded

The order for the cargo-handling equipment to be used
on Nautilus Minerals Inc.s (Toronto, Canada) production
support vessel has been awarded to Bedeschi SPA (Limena,
Italy). This is the second major equipment contract to be
awarded by the shipyard Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd.
(Fuzhou, China). This cargo-handling system will be used
on the production support vessel to load the dewatered material into four storage holds.
KVH Expands mini-VSAT

Broadband Network Capacity
KVH Industries Inc. (Middletown, Rhode Island) completed several capacity increases for its mini-VSAT Broad60 st / April 2015
band network to support heightened demand from customers engaged in a wide range of commercial maritime
activities around the world, including offshore oil and gas,
fshing and shipping. Utilizing 17 satellites and 24 transponders to provide global coverage, KVHs mini-VSAT Broadband is designed for expansion by accessing commercial
satellite capacity.
AXYS Deploys Dual-Lidar WindSentinel Buoys

AXYS Technologies Inc. (Sidney, Canada) has deployed
two dual-lidar WindSentinel foating systems, utilizing the
U.K.s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapults offshore
anemometry mast. This will be the frst deployment of a
foating lidar system to feature two lidars, as each system
has an additional Zephir 300, according to AXYS.
The WindSentinel systems will be deployed in the North
Sea, 3 nautical miles off the coast of Blyth, England, for a
one-month validation and research study at the ORE Catapults National Renewable Energy Centre.
OceanWorks Delivers SMM Handling Aid

OceanWorks International (Houston, Texas) designed
and delivered the static mixer module (SMM) handling aid
to Marine Well Containment Co. (Houston) as part of the
OceanWorks-designed subsea dispersant fuid system.
The delivery of the static mixer module handling aid allows for the safe handling and storage of the SMM, which
enables dispersant to be injected directly at a wellhead in
the event well fuids are released. The SMM has unique
transportation requirements due to its size, which OceanWorks took into account when designing the handling aid.
Brunswick Designs Boat for Oil Spill Response

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (Edgewater, Florida) has designed a mission-specifc boat for the
Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC), based in Herdon, Virginia. The specialized 650 IMPACT RHIBs are engineered
to ft aboard MSRC Responder-class oil spill response vessels (OSRVs) and will act as a support boat for oil recovery
operations. Each of MSRCs 15 OSRVs will be outftted with
two of the 650 IMPACT boats.
Powered by a Volvo Penta (Chesapeake, Virginia) D3170 inboard diesel engine, this confguration allows for the
engine to be installed forward underneath the console.
Fugro Expands AUV Fleet

Fugro (Leidschendam, Netherlands) has taken delivery of
the Kongsberg (Kongsberg, Norway) Hugin 1000 AUV, the
Echo Surveyor VII. Depth rated to 4,500 meters, the new
AUV now holds the record for the deepest Hugin AUV dive,
surveying in water depths surpassing 4,200 meters.
As the latest addition to Fugros AUV feet, the Echo Surveyor VII is designed for high-resolution and effcient survey
operations.
Jack W. Fisher Passes

Jack W. Fisher, president of JW Fishers Mfg. (Taunton,
Massachusetts), passed away at his home after a brief illness
on February 20. He was 73 years old.
The business was started because Fisher, an avid diver,
needed an underwater metal detector to use on a salvage
project in the mid 1960s. He discovered there was no such
device available. Over the next several years, he designed

and constructed his own underwater metal detector, which
led to JW Fishers Mfg. being formed. Fisher began building
and selling his detectors to other divers.
General Monitors Gas, Flame

Detectors Receive Approvals
General Monitors, based in Lake Forest, California, announced that its advanced gas and fame detectors now
meet the marine equipment directive (MED) for DNV
(Hvik, Norway) offshore standards, as well as DNV GL
type approval.
MED is the European directive requiring that gas and
fame detectors installed in marine environments be tested
to specifc standards and inscribed with the wheel mark of
approval.
Rescue 21 Achieves Safety of Life at Sea Declaration

The U.S. Coast Guard is declaring Sea Area A1 service
in certain areas off the coast of the United States based on
the performance of the General Dynamics (Falls Church,
Virginia)-built Rescue 21 system.
The declaration is in accordance with provisions of the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and
follows testing and analysis by the Coast Guard, validating
that Rescue 21 provides more than 90 percent coverage
for very-high-frequency radio distress communications and
digital selective calling.
Port of Houston Authority

Recognized for Maritime Academies
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University, recognized the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program.
Since 2009, the Port of Houston Authority has been organizing maritime academies at four area school districts at
the high-school level to introduce youth to maritime transportation systems and career pathways as mariners, and in
shipbuilding and repair, and port operations.
Seatronics Abu Dhabi Appointed

Distributor for SBG in Middle East
Seatronics Ltd. in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has
been appointed as a distributor of SBG Systems (Rueil-Malmaison, France) products in the Middle East region. This enables Seatronics Abu Dhabi to expand its scope of product
supply to customers.
A deepwater Ekinox-U INS will be available immediately
from the Abu Dhabi base. Ekinox-U is a compact, titaniumbased inertial navigation system.
Exxon Mobil Employees Encourage

Girls to Pursue Engineering
Exxon Mobil (Irving, Texas) is encouraging girls to consider science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
careers through the 12th-annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program to be held at 14 Exxon Mobil and subsidiary XTO Energy (Fort Worth, Texas) sites nationwide over
the next several months.
Building on the success of Exxon Mobils recent Be
An Engineer efforts, more than 2,000 middle-school girls
across the country will take part.
OneWater Marine Acquires

American Boat Brokers
OneWater Marine Holdings LLC (Buford, Georgia) has
acquired American Boat Brokers (Buford). Larry Sosnow,
former owner of American Boat Brokers, will continue to
operate American Boat Brokers as a division of OneWater
Marine.
We are very excited to incorporate American Boat Brokers into our growing family of marine dealerships, said
Austin Singleton, CEO of OneWater Marine Holdings.
American Boat Brokers is the largest reseller of used and
consignment boats in the state of Georgia, which compliments Singleton Marines four new boat stores in Georgia
and the Used Boat Super Center already in our dealership
portfolio.
American Boat Brokers will continue to operate under its
current name and personnel. n
THE MOST COST EFFICIENT, HIGH PERFORMANCE,

MULTI-BEAM SYSTEM FOR SURVEY & MAPPING
2D + 3D real time profling
Over 700 systems installed globally
Compatible QPS QINSy, EIVA & HYPACK
Suitable for a broad range of applications

where ease of use,
rapid deployment & high quality
data is required
224beams / 160kHz (3250 model) 120deg swath / 48Hz ping rate
IHO compliant: Technical report

available on website
Equi-Angular & Equi-Distant beam forming 2<200m
HYPACK
EIVA
WASSP Navigator
SALES@WASSP.COM
WWW.WASSP.COM
QPS QINSy
DISTRIBUTOR ENQUIRIES WELCOME

April 2015 / st
61
productdevelopment
For more information on any of these products, visit our website at
www.sea-technology.com/products
Compact Sonar
Developed especially for ROV/AUV

applications, the Dolphin See View
is a 700-kHz system that has evolved
from the Dolphin 3001 model. The
new design will introduce an Ethernet connection in order to provide increased versatility. Marine Electronics
Ltd.
Advanced Multibeam Echosounder
The EM 710 MK-II sets new standards
for seabed survey by increasing range
and swath coverage over the original
EM 710 by up to 40 percent. The system has a maximum range of approximately 2,800 m, and swath coverage
has increased to 3,000 m. Kongsberg
Maritime A/S.
WiFi for XSeries Profilers

Bringing the benefits of long-range WiFi
to XSeries profilers, DataXchange
enables wireless data transfer and integrated GPS positioning. Collected data
are transferred through an automated
link between profiler and computer
40 times faster than via cable. AML
Oceanographic.
Submersible Joysticks, Controllers
With programmable sensitivity and
output characteristics, the modular
controls come in a wide range of outputs. Various mounting interface and
enclosure packages are available, and
the system is stainless steel and fully
submersible. Bokam Engineering Inc.
to users in real time, providing a rapid

response to environmental changes.
OSIL.
New Version of Software
HYPACK 2015 software offers users
real-time point cloud visualization,
as well as multibeam and water column data integration and playback.
The new anchor-handling routine allows operators to graphically display
the status and location of anchors and
their cables. Hypack Inc.
Point Cloud Processing Software
Designed to streamline the review,
cleaning and alignment process of
3D scanning, QuickStitch features
point-to-point measurement and data
editing. It also includes enhanced visualization options and data export.
Teledyne BlueView, EIVA a/s.
Logger for pCO2 Sensor
Compact Buoy Platform

The Micro Field Buoy is 0.3 m in diameter and weighs 15 kg (without instrumentation), making it suitable for
airborne, vessel-based or land-based
deployment. It can still transmit data
The C-sense Logger package records

time, date, internal temperature and
partial pressure of gas in liquids. Csense enables in-situ pCO2 monitoring over an extended period of time.
Turner Designs Inc., Precision Measurement Engineering Inc.
Battery for Rugged Environments
Including built-in charging electronics
with LED charge-level indication, the
SS-18 is designed with smart battery
functions, such as I2C communication and fuel gauging. It is an outdoor
product that operates effectively in extreme environmental conditions and is
rated for limited submersion. ICCNexergy Inc.
High-Performance Heat, Cool Pump
Compared to gas, oil or electric heaters, XLHP pumps use a fraction of the
energy to generate the same amount of
heat. Each pump uses an environmentally safe R-410A refrigerant, and an
automatic temperature control monitors water temperature. Pentair Water
Quality Systems.
62 st / April 2015
Marine Weather Receiver

The BBWX3 utilizes SiriusXMs subscription-based marine weather service to provide live, up-to-date weather forecast information. It connects to
the NavNet 3D, TZtouch or TZtouch2
network with an Ethernet cable. Furuno U.S.A. Inc.
Camera with 3D Mode
Utilizing two full high-defnition sensors to capture true 1920 x 1080 3D
video, the 1Cam 3D enables depth
perception for the operator. It includes
an external strobe and laser connection, and has 10X optical zoom, even
in 3D mode, which allows for the full
use of sensors at all times. SubC Control.
Software Update for Navigation Sonar
In SonaSoft 3.0, improvements have
been made that include target persistence via new image stabilization
techniques, updated color mapping
fusing depth and signal level information, and one-to-one scaling of 3D images. FarSounder Inc.
Polyethylene Buoy
and Linux super-computing clusters. A

waterfall post-processing feature was
added into the software. Wave Computation Technologies.
Safety Tool for Commercial Industry
Integrating into life jackets, the rescueME MOB1 provides commercial
workers and crew with the reassurance that they can be located quickly
and recovered in the event of a manoverboard situation. It measures just
134 mm (height) by 38 mm (width).
Ocean Signal Ltd.
Diesel Particulate Filter System
The VorTEQ 100 Active DPF System
is a diesel emission control system for
engines between 65 and 175 hp. It is
verifed to particulate matter emission
levels of 0.26 g/kWh or less and is
compliant with CARBs 2009 nitrogen
dioxide standard. Nett Technologies
Inc.
Coastal Battery System
The Coastal Battery Remote Station is
a compact, shelter-contained system,
capable of operating in all weather
conditions, day or night. As an option,
TV/IIR capability is being offered to
extend the overall identifcation performance. MBDA, Siham Al Khaleej

Technology, GEM electronica.
Distributed Buoyancy Module Clamp
Providing an increase in clamp capacity, the DBM clamp offers improved
compliance to accommodate riser
creep. The new clamp, which offers
a universal interface, features aramid
fbers in place of a fabricated titanium
strap. Trelleborg Offshore.
FPGA Mezzanine Card
The FMC163 provides one 12-bit A/D
channel at 4 Gsps (or dual-channel at
2 Gsps) and one 14-bit D/A channel at
5.7 Gsps, allowing for high-speed data
acquisition and generation. A trigger
input for customized sampling control
is available. 4DSP LLC.
Mooring System
By eliminating the slack line typically
required, TideSlide enables users to
simply pull up to the dock and tie up.
It prevents inertial loading, increasing
the overall strength of the lines and
cleats, and uses a strong proprietary
polymer mooring block. PSI Marine
Inc. n
SEE US AT OTCBOOTH #6113
The SB-1800 allows deployment in a

wide variety of applications that include shallow water, channel edges,
rivers up to 6-knot current, deep harbors and fast-current tidal zones. Tideland Signal Corp.
Research-Grade Weather Station
Providing instant access to site-specifc environmental data, the HOBO
RX3000 can be confgured with up to
15 channels of plug-and-play smart
sensors for measuring a range of
weather parameters. An optional relay
module would enable the system to
remotely control other equipment in
the feld. Onset Computer Corp.
Tool for Analyzing Wave Behavior
The Wavenology 1.8.0 elastic wave
simulation engine can now run on
both Windows single-node servers
April 2015 / st
63
navycurrents
SAIC Continues Task Order
For US Navy MMS
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Pacific awarded Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC),
based in McLean, Virginia, a prime task order to continue to
provide training and care for marine mammals participating
in the U.S. Navys Marine Mammal Systems (MMS), based
at naval submarine bases in Kings Bay, Georgia; San Diego,
California; and Bangor, Washington.
This follow-on task order has a one-year base period of
performance, four one-year options, and a total contract
value of approximately $59 million, if all options are exercised.
SAIC has held the task order for more than 25 years.
The U.S. Navys MMS relies on dolphins and sea lions to
fnd and mark the location of underwater objects.
Sentinel Sonar Successfully Detects

Divers During IMCMEX
Diver detection sonar technology developed by Sonardyne International Ltd. (Yateley, England) has played an
important part in a major international exercise organized
to train naval forces in mine countermeasures, maritime security operations and harbor protection operations. Sonardynes Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar (IDS) detects divers
and small underwater targets, thereby providing local underwater situational awareness.
&RUH 6DPSOLQJ 0DGH (DV\

9LEH&RUH-'
Near zero core compression
More accurate vertical record
Core samples to 7 m long from 65 m depths
Undisturbed 76mm or 100mm dia. Samples
Performance of larger Vibracores
Man transportable safe 24 vdc operation
Designed for small boat use
Pre/Post-dredge sampling
Sedimentation rate surveys
Environmental remediation
Capping studies
Soil mechanics
European Sales via
Made in USA
www.Aquiferadvies.nl
Specialty Devices, Inc.

972 429 7240
2905 Capital St., Wylie, Texas, USA
www.Specialtydevices.com
64 st / April 2015
The International Mine Counter-Measures Exercise (IMCMEX) runs off the coast of Bahrain every 18 months to test
the abilities of the navies of the world to keep sea lanes
open and safe.
Over the course of the three-week long exercises, the
U.S. Navy owned and operated expeditionary Sentinel system was deployed in a variety of scenarios to demonstrate
its capabilities as a rapidly deployable technology for protecting high-value marine assets.
Divers from participating countries were challenged to
evade detection during simulated assaults on various naval assets protected by Sentinel. On each occasion, Sentinel was successful in alerting operators to the approaching
threat.
Hornbeck Closes Sale

Of Three Vessels to US Navy
Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (Covington, Louisiana)
has closed the previously announced sale of three 250 EDFclass OSVs, the HOS Arrowhead, the HOS Eagleview and
the HOS Westwind, that were previously chartered to the
U.S. Navy.
Since their construction in 2008 and 2009, these vessels
have supported the U.S. Navys submarine feet on the East
and West Coast of the U.S. In order for the Navy to continue
receiving the unique capabilities of these vessels, Congress
has required their purchase from the company. The three
vessels were sold for $114 million.
The vessel purchase agreement includes an option for
the acquisition of a fourth vessel currently under charter to
the U.S. Navy, the HOS Black Powder, that, if exercised as
anticipated, would bring the aggregate sale amount to $152
million.
Hornbeck separately entered into an operations and
maintenance contract for the three vessels sold.
Fish Inspire AUV Movement

In Nearshore, Littoral Waters
Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
have taken inspiration from fsh to design and develop novel underwater propulsion, control and sensing solutions for
nearshore and littoral zone missions. NRL researchers have
developed an actively controlled curvature robotic fn that
provides scaled-down AUVs a novel, low-speed propulsion system. The artifcial pectoral fn has been integrated
into a man-portable AUV named the Wrasse-inspired Agile
Near-shore Deformable-fn Automaton, or WANDA. Four
side-mounted fns, two forward and two aft, provide all propulsion and control for the vehicle. Algorithms use information about the vehicle motion and surrounding environment
to inform changes to the fn-stroke kinematics. This fn can
adapt to varying fow conditions and provide the thrust control necessary for low-speed maneuvering as well as precise
positioning.
WANDA can operate at speeds in excess of 2 knots, or
hold position in the presence of 2-knot currents. WANDA
can also successfully coordinate maneuvers to achieve waypoint navigation.
The AUV is being prepared for payload testing. One such
payload that will be developed and tested on WANDA starting this year is a biochemical sensing system for trace-level
detection of chemical signatures. n
marineresources
R4WO Begins Cruise
For Global Pollution Assessment
The Race for Water Odyssey
(R4WO) sailed off from Bordeaux,
France, the expeditions departure city,
in March. Initiated by the Race for
Water Foundation, the R4WO aims to
draw up the frst global assessment of
plastic pollution in the oceans. In 300
days, more than 40,000 nautical miles
will be traveled, with 11 scientifc
stopovers and nine outreach stopovers,
involving a total of 13 countries.
Even though they constitute a major environmental disaster, the waste
gyres in the oceans are still relatively
unknown. The goal of this scientifc
sailing expedition is to draw up an initial global assessment of the pollution.
The R4WO also aims to raise
awareness about marine pollution. An
estimated 80 percent of the trash polluting the oceans comes from human
activities.
The six-member crew will be headed by Marco Simeoni, founder of the
Race for Water Foundation and leader
of the expedition. The trimaran and its

crew set sail for Azores, Portugal, the
frst of the scientifc stopovers. Eventually, they will return to Bordeaux in
mid-December 2015.
EU Project to Build Robotic

Underwater Mining Prototype
As part of Horizon 2020, the EUs
biggest ever research and innovation
program, a new 42-month R&D project has been launched to help provide
an opportunity to tap into the wealth
of unexploited European mineral resources. The estimated cost of the project is approximately 12.6 million.
Called VAMOS! (Viable Alternative
Mine Operating System), the project is
to design and build a robotic, underwater mining prototype with launch
and recovery equipment, which will
be used to perform feld tests at four EU
mine sites. Three of these are inland,
inactive submerged mineral deposits,
and the other is offshore. Building on
successful deep-sea excavation techniques, this prototype will provide a
safer and cleaner option for extracting

currently unreachable and/or uneconomic mineral deposits.
VAMOS! will also look to enhance
currently available underwater sensing, spatial awareness, navigational
and positioning technology, as well
as provide an integrated solution for
effcient real-time monitoring of the
parameters associated with potential
environmental impacts.
BMT Group Ltd. (Teddington, England) will coordinate the project and
will also create an advanced situation
awareness system for it. The company
will provide 3D visualization of the
mining environment in order to support the operator in supervising the
mining application. Included will be
both the mining system prototype and
the environmental impacts monitor.
Moskito Addresses Oil

Pollution Threat From Wrecks
A tool for removing oil trapped
in submerged vessels, the Moskito,
has been developed by Miko Marine
(Oslo, Norway).
This technology addresses the pollution threat that exists with the large
numbers of sunken ships around the
Reliable Weather Information

/ Confdent Decisions
Mariti
me N
to you ews
Deskt r
o
Subsc p
r
ibe!
www.v
aisa
knowle la.com/
dge
Met-Ocean and Weather Observation Solutions since 1936.

Instrumentation, Systems and Data for
Wind Visibility Cloud height Lightning Temperature
Dew point Barometric pressure Ocean current
Wave height Sea level and more . . .
See us at OTC2015
stand #1625
www.vaisala.com/maritime
April 2015 / st
65
world that still contain signifcant

quantities of oil in their tanks as cargo
or bunker fuel.
Many of the thousands of ships sunk
during World War II now have 70 years
of corrosion eating at their plates, and
the days are drawing inexorably closer
when the pollutants that they contain
will escape. The only solutions are
to either seal the wreck at great expense or to recover the pollutant in a
controlled manner. The Moskito can
remove the oil in a speedy and costeffective operation.
The Moskito can be deployed by divers or by an ROV to any ocean depth.

Once in position outside the tank, the
Moskitos three powerful magnetic feet
are planted against the steel hull and
a technician on the surface then activates a 75-millimeter-diameter electrically powered tank cutter drill. With
its operation controlled through a dual
video link, the Moskitos drill pierces
the steel tank walls up to 40 millimeters thick. The cut disc then falls away
inside and is immediately followed
into the tank by a spring latch cou-
&
LINEAR
For mor
building amplifiers to drive reactive loads.
Model S16-20
A
A 20% duty
35 x 31.5 x 35.5 inches; 985 lbs.
isit our
.instrumentsinc.com
7263 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111-1493

(858) 571-1111 FAX (858) 571-0188 info@instrumentsinc.com
Copyright 2015
66 st / April 2015
pling that automatically connects and

locks a hose to the tank without allowing any of its contents to escape. With
the hose securely in position, a subsea
pump can be activated to extract the
oil at the rate of up to 12 cubic meters
per hour and send it to the surface for
safe, nonpolluting recovery.
OCS Sand Goes to

Dam Neck Shore Protection
BOEM and Naval Air Station
Oceana at Dam Neck, Virginia, announced that a shore protection project at the Dam Neck annex was expected to begin in March. Sand from
the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
to be used for this project will enhance coastal resilience by protecting
shoreline infrastructure. In addition,
the project will restore shorebird and
sea turtle nesting habitat and improve
the recreational beach in this Virginia
Beach community.
Dredging by Navy contractor Great
Lakes Dredge & Dock (Oak Brook, Illinois) was to start from the Sandbridge
Shoal about 3 miles offshore to stabilize and restore the Dam Neck Annex
oceanfront and dune system.
The entire project area is about 2
miles long. Within that area, the sand
dune runs about 1 mile, is 20 feet high
and 50 feet wide.
As the federal agency authorized to
lease sand from the OCS, BOEM executed an agreement with the Navy
for use of up to 700,000 cubic yards of
OCS sand for the project.
This is the third reconstruction cycle
for Dam Neck.
Dam Neck is located on the Atlantic coast, 5 miles south of Virginia
Beach. The base is the home of specialized training and support services
in response to feet requirements, with
a concentration on major naval weapons systems.
The project will comply with all
applicable environmental, historic
preservation and coastal zone management laws to avoid and protect
environmental or historical resources.
Alternatively, the Navy will take steps
to mitigate impacts to those resources.
If any unanticipated discovery takes
place, such as paleocultural or marine
archaeological sites or munitions and
explosives of concern, BOEM and the
Navy will determine together how best
to manage it, in accordance with applicable requirements. n
marineelectronics
Wrtsil Engines for
Tallinn-Helsinki Ferry
The new, fast ropax ferry ordered
by Tallink Grupp (Tallinn, Estonia) for
its Tallinn-Helsinki route will feature
Wrtsil (Helsinki, Finland) dual-fuel
engines running primarily on LNG.
The ship will comply with the International Maritime Organizations
(IMO) sulphur emissions legislation
effective January 2015. The Baltic Sea
is designated as a Sulphur Emissions
Control Area (SECA).
When operating in gas mode, the
sulphur oxide and particle emissions
from the Wrtsil DF engines are negligible at almost zero percent. The nitrogen oxide emissions are at least 85
percent below those specifed in the
current IMO regulations, and carbon
dioxide emissions are some 25 percent
less than those of a conventional marine engine running on diesel fuel.
The full scope of supply includes
three 12-cylinder Wrtsil 50DF and
two six-cylinder Wrtsil 50DF main
engines, as well as two Wrtsil fxed-
pitch propellers and propeller shaft

lines.
4D Data System
For Sabertooth AUV
For offshore operators, a 4D geospatial data acquisition system with
data visualization in real time is now
available for the Seaeye Sabertooth
AUV by Saab Seaeye (Fareham, England). This advanced system has been
confgured for the Sabertooth by QPS
(Banbury, England). Operators get a
complete hydrographic data acquisition, navigation and processing software package that is fully integrated
into the Sabertooth.
The development unifes the QINSy
and Fledermaus systems developed by
QPS into a single enhanced option for
the Sabertooth.
QINSy is a data interface and acquisition software package that consolidates data acquired from different
sensors in real time. All acquired data
can be viewed in various dedicated
displays, which is ideal for real-time
QA/QC of the data. Fledermaus analyzes and provides 4D visualization

of the acquired data, such as synchronized video, water column analysis,
multibeam sonars and pipe detection
sensors.
Three operational modes are possible: autonomous roaming, attached
fber-optic cable, and umbilical for
power and communications.
Fitted with the advanced Saab Seaeye iCON intelligent control system,
its behavior-based architecture offers a
decision-making capability that can, in
survey mode, react to unexpected data
by deviating from a programmed mission to gather data or perform a task
before resuming its mission plan.
The Sabertooth can be left at deep
and distant locations to operate from a
remote subsea docking station, ready
to be launched on routine inspection,
repair and maintenance work and deal
with emergencies.
Subsea UK, RGU Partner for

Scottish MATE ROV Challenge
More aspiring young engineers will
get the chance to participate in an
international competition to design
underwater machinery and robotics
April 2015 / st
67
thanks to leadership and support from

Subsea UK. The body, which represents the 9 billion subsea industry in
the U.K., has entered into a long-term
partnership with Robert Gordon University (RGU) to sustain and extend the
highly successful Scottish MATE ROV
Challenge.
The major STEM initiative aims to
inspire future engineers through handson experience of designing ROVs used
underwater in the oil and gas, defense,
oceanology and marine renewables
industries.
The annual event, which is coordinated by the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in
California in partnership with RGU,
involves teams made up of pupils from
schools across Scotland. To date, MATE
ROV has worked with 460 pupils from
29 schools, with an annual commitment from BP (London, England) and
ad-hoc support from other oil and gas
companies.
Subsea company ROVOP (Aberdeen, Scotland) has also stepped in
to support the initiative, which, along
with the fnancial contribution of

Subsea UK and another new sponsor,
brings a much needed 16,000 to the
program.
The event gives students the chance
to work on ROVs and provide solutions
to subsea conundrums. The skills required to tackle the work are designed
to promote an interest and understanding in science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) subjects.
The winners of the Scottish competition, scheduled for April 2 at RGU, will
go forward to the international fnal to
pit their wits against qualifers from
24 other regions around the world at
The Marine Institute in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.
MacArtney, Sea-Bird Deliver

Oceanographic Instrumentation
MacArtney Underwater Technology (Esbjerg, Denmark) and Sea-Bird
Scientifc (Bellevue, Washington) have
joined forces to deliver four complete
oceanographic instrumentation solutions to research vessel operators in
Turkey, combining MacArtney CORMAC Q winches and Sea-Bird Scientifc CTDs and water sampling systems.
Clients have opted to mix and
match a multitude of different instrumentation options, including the broad
range of optical and water quality sensors from WET Labs and Satlantic offered by Sea-Bird.
McGill Robotics Integrates

Micron Sonar for AUV
The acoustic design team at McGill
Robotics of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, chose to incorporate a
Tritech (San Diego, California) Micron
mechanical scanning sonar into their
newbuild AUV. The team plans to integrate the Micron sonar into their software system in order to assist closerange positioning and detect objects in
low-visibility environments. The team
has also updated their AUV with new
thrusters and is carrying out modifcations to the frame and the pressure
vessels. The Tritech Micron sonar is
the smallest digital chirp sonar in the
world and is part of Tritechs SeaKing
range of mechanical imaging sonars.
With a 75-meter range, it offers exceptional clarity and resolution in miniature form, making it ideal for use by
AUVs.
McGill Robotics hosts annual competitions. n
68 st / April 2015
environmentalmonitoring
PACE Mission to Study
Earths Climate System
NASA is beginning work on a new
satellite mission that will extend critical climate measurements of Earths
oceans and atmosphere and advance
studies of the impact of environmental changes on ocean health, fsheries and the carbon cycle. Tentatively
scheduled to launch in 2022, the PreAerosol Clouds and ocean Ecosystem
(PACE) mission will study Earths aquatic ecology and chemistry, and address
the uncertainty in our understanding of
how clouds and aerosols affect Earths
climate. PACE will be managed by
NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Goddard will build PACEs ocean
color instrument to see the colors of
the ocean, from the ultraviolet to near
infrared, and obtain more accurate
measurements of biological and chemical ocean properties, such as phytoplankton biomass and the composition
of phytoplankton communities. These
changes in the oceans color help identify harmful algal blooms.
Phytoplankton vary in their size,
function, and response to environmental and ecosystem changes or stresses,
such as ocean acidifcation. About
one-fourth of human-made carbon dioxide ends up in the ocean and reacts
with seawater, altering its acidity.
In addition to gathering data on
ocean color, PACE will measure clouds
and tiny airborne particles like dust,
smoke and aerosols in the atmosphere
to supplement measurements from existing NASA satellite missions. Aerosols affect how energy moves in and
out of Earths atmosphere directly by
scattering sunlight, and indirectly by
changing the composition of clouds.
Aerosols also can affect the formation
of precipitation in clouds and change
rainfall patterns.
NASA is currently planning a second PACE instrument, a polarimeter, to
better measure aerosol and cloud properties to improve understanding of the
role of aerosols in the climate system.
Second VIIRS for

Weather Monitoring
Raytheon Co. (Waltham, Massachusetts) delivered a second Visible Infra-
red Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

instrument to support the NOAA Joint
Polar Satellite System (JPSS) mission.
The second VIIRS unit will fy aboard
the JPSS-1 spacecraft, ensuring continuity of critical weather information
currently being provided by its predecessor, the joint NOAA/NASA Suomi
National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite launched in 2011.
Comprehensive testing at Raytheons Space Systems facility in El Segundo, California, preceded its on-schedule delivery for spacecraft integration.
Testing confrmed that the VIIRS sensor will withstand launch conditions
and operate as expected. Integration
will begin immediately to support the
scheduled launch of JPSS-1 in early
2017.
VIIRS is widely known for producing unprecedented, detailed images
of Earth, including NASAs 2012 Blue
Marble visual image, and for breaking new ground in the observation of
evolving storm patterns at night. It also
improves forecasters ability to predict
severe weather with greater precision
and is important for forecasting in Arctic areas, which do not receive geostationary coverage.
VIIRS data are used for a wide
range of applications, such as monitoring harmful algal blooms, sea surface
temperature and vegetation stress as a
predictor of drought.
is engineered to be separated as individual cells, allowing the fll material

to be recovered with ease without any
loss of fll material. Jackbox can create
an 80-foot barrier that can be cleared
away by one person in less than 35
minutes.
France Loans 50 Million to

Philippines for Climate Adaptation
French President Franois Hollande,
the chair of the UN Conference of the
Parties on Climate Change (COP21), to
be held in Paris, France, in December,
visited the Philippines, where, with
Phillipine President Benigno Aquino
III, he led a joint statement urging the
international community to reach a
universally ambitious deal on climate
change.
Hollande offered Aquino 50 million for projects to prevent further disasters linked to climate change.
President Hollande aims to show
to the rest of the world that climate
change is real and happening in vulnerable countries like the Philippines
that have a small carbon footprint but
are facing the brunt of the climate
crisis, said Anna Abad of Greenpeace. n
JACKBOX Tested
To Whitewater Extremes
Hescos (Leeds, England) newest
addition to its environmental portfolio, Jackbox, was tested at Tees Barrage
International White Water Centre in
the U.K.a 300-meter, international
whitewater rafting course originally
built to train 2012 Olympians and reconfgured with eddies and slaloms,
suitable for gauging the limits of Jackboxs capability.
The venue allows control of the
force of fash fooding, which enabled
Hesco to build dams and obstacles to
test the product against extremes.
Jackbox is a lightweight and durable temporary food barrier that recently passed the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers laboratory testing in Mississippi. Each unit is self-supporting and
can be carried by only two people. It
April 2015 / st
69
oceanresearch
Leatherback Turtles Navigate
Via Magnetic/Solar Compass
The frst analysis of migratory orientation in adult and subadult leatherback turtles has been published in
Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The study found that leatherback turtles maintain remarkably consistent
compass headings offshore, suggesting a common orientation cue or cues.
Researchers speculate that leatherback
turtles might use a magnetic and/or solar compass to fnd their way in open
ocean.
The scientists ftted the animals with
satellite time-depth recorders from August 2007 to September 2009 on their
feeding grounds off Massachusetts. Fifteen turtles were tracked long enough
to contribute data to the analyses,
which were limited to track segments
recorded in the western Atlantic subtropical gyre, part of a huge circle of
ocean currents circulating from the
equator to near Iceland and from the
east coast of North America to Europe
and Africa.
70 st / April 2015
Currents within the gyre had little

impact on the turtles trajectories. The
leatherbacks traveled for an average of
32 days over distances of 686 to 1,372
miles while in the gyre.
Solar and magnetic features are
ubiquitous and vary in a predictable
way from north to south in this region,
making them potentially useful for
compass orientation. Individual leatherback headings were remarkably consistent throughout the subtropical gyre,
with turtles signifcantly oriented to the
south-southeast. Adult leatherbacks of
both sexes maintained similar mean
headings and showed greater orientation precision overall. The consistent
headings maintained by adult and subadult leatherbacks within the gyre suggest use of a common compass sense.
Storms Help Spread

Invasive Species
Researchers at Nova Southeastern
Universitys (NSU) Oceanographic
Center have discovered that storms
have a dramatic effect on ocean cur-
rents, which helps spread marine invasive species throughout a region. More
specifcally, NSU researchers looked at
the distribution of lionfsh in the Florida Straits.
Lionfsh are pretty sedentary, so
this is like creating express lanes on a
superhighway, said Dr. Matthew Johnston of NSU.
The research focused on the explosion of lionfsh populations in area waters, with fndings published in Global
Change Biology. The researchers found
that as a hurricane passes, the fow of
water shifts from a strong, northern
fow to a strong, eastern fow. These
changes in fow direction and speed
likely carry lionfsh larvae and eggs
from Florida to the Bahamas and can
explain how lionfsh were able to cross
the Gulf Stream so soon after their introduction to South Florida waters.
Once they were established in the
Bahamas, hurricanes allowed lionfsh
to spread quickly against the normal
northwestern direction of water fow
in the area. The storms helped increase
the spread of lionfsh by approximately
45 percent and their population size
by 15 percent. The larger implication is
that global climate change, by causing
an increase in storm frequency and/or

intensity, could further accelerate the
spread of marine invasives.
Navigation Course Now Free

Online for High-Schoolers
The National Sailing Hall of Fames
STEM Sailing programs Navigation
on Land and at Sea Course, which
has been successfully delivered to 10th
grade high-school students for the past
three years, is now available online
for teachers to use at no charge. There
are eight lessons in the course, each
designed to be delivered in a typical
high-school class period.
Each lesson includes a PowerPoint
presentation and lesson plan. There are
also handouts to download and print
for students, including worksheets and
exams.
The course begins with a history of
charts and maps, establishing their importance in both history and daily life.
It progresses to teach students how to
read, decode and decipher nautical
charts and topographic maps, how to
use a compass, conduct bearing triangulations, use dead reckoning to determine course and speed, and plot a
course. The course also discusses the
science of how a magnetic compass
works, compass variations and True
North, as well as how GPS works.
The Science of Sailing Course will
also be available online.
plant life within kelp forests face an

environment with inadequate oxygen
and low pH. Hofmanns project will
examine the organism-environment
interactions of cabezon eggs and larvae and their relationship to levels of
CO2 in the blood, as well as oxygen
levels and temperature in the kelp forest habitat.
The pH of the water is directly related to the amount of CO2 in it, and
the higher the CO2, the lower the pH.
The sensors will document conditions within the kelp at a Santa Bar-
bara Coastal Long-Term Ecological

Research Project site at Mohawk Reef
and at Arroyo Quemado. Egg masses
will be collected to rear in the laboratory under varied parameters based on
sensor measurements.
Growth, energy usage, oxygen consumption, temperature tolerance and
survival capability of cabezon eggs
will be tracked.
Also under study will be whether
the genetic makeup of certain cabezon makes them more resistant to pH
change. n
Impact of Ocean Acidifcation

On California Rockfsh
University of California, Santa Barbaras Gretchen Hofmann is one of
seven recipients of a California Sea
Grant Core Award from NOAA. Hofmanns research focuses on the impact
of ocean acidifcation on the early life
stages of cabezon (Scorpaenichthys
marmoratus), a bottom-dwelling rockfsh in Californias coastal kelp forests.
Cabezon are fshed for food in the Santa Barbara Channel.
To date, no studies in California examine the vulnerable early life stages
of this highly prized fsh. By studying
how acidic conditions impact their
early development, the researchers
can predict how the community as a
whole will be impacted in the future.
Scientists expect that coastal regions such as the California Current
Large Marine Ecosystem will be highly
vulnerable to ocean acidifcation in
the future as the resident animal and
650
650
700
700
750
750
800
800
850
850
900
900
950
950
Hoop Fault Complex, Data Courtesy WGP Survey/TGS-NOPEC

P: (408) 954-0522 E: pcablesales@geometrics.com www.geometricspcable.com 2190 Fortune Drive San Jose, CA 95131
April 2015 / st
71
offshore oil &ocean engineering

Haliade 150 Turbines
For Deepwater Wind Farm
Alstom (Levallois-Perret, France)
has received formal notice to proceed
(NTP) from developers of the Deepwater Wind project, which is poised
to become Americas frst commercial
offshore wind farm. It will feature fve
Alstom Haliade 150 6-megawatt offshore wind turbines.
The turbines, capable of producing approximately 125,000 megawatthours of electricity annually, will provide about 90 percent of Block Islands
power needs.
Located about 3 miles off the coast
of Block Island, Rhode Island, the
Block Island Wind Farm is scheduled
for commercial service in the fourth
quarter of 2016.
Prime Safety Work Complete

For Aibel on FPSO
Lloyds Register Consulting (London, England) has completed prime
safety work packages for Aibel (Stavanger, Norway) on the Vette front-end
engineering and design contract for a
cylindrical FPSO.
The safety contracts provided by
Lloyds Register Consulting for Aibel
cover quantitative risk assessments,
human factors, layers of protection
analysis, functional safety, emergency
preparedness, additional computational fuid dynamic studies, and fare
studies using simulators to assess the
fow dynamics of oil, gas and water in
pipes and process equipment.
Vette is an oil feld located 55 kilometers northwest of the Yme feld in
the North Sea. Production start up is
estimated for 2019.
Funding Competition
For Better Fuels
Innovate UKs funding competition for cleaner, more effcient conventional fuels is now open. A total of
6 million is available to support new
technologies that improve effciency,
reduce cost and minimize the environmental impact of coal, natural gas and
oil.
Of this fund, 4 million will be set
aside for business-led, collaborative
R&D projects ranging in size from
250,000 to 1.5 million. One million
72 st / April 2015
pounds will be available for smallerscale feasibility studies. An additional

1 million is available through the National Environment Research Council
(NERC) for the academic element of
projects that fall within NERC-remit
and support and focus on translation
of existing research outcomes to meet
industry issues and challenges.
The deadline for expressions of interest for collaborative R&D is noon
on April 15. The deadline for feasibility
studies is noon on June 10.
NERC is also planning a separate
fve-year 5 million Oil and Gas Innovation Program, with decommissioning as one of the key themes.
EC Study on Perceived
LNG Risks, Opportunities
The European Commission (EC) has
presented the preliminary results of
a study on the perception of the risks
and opportunities of LNG as a shipping fuel. The results show that stakeholders recognize the environmental
advantages of LNG, but are still uncertain whether they offer a clear business
case.
The study takes into account the
overall EU policy aimed at reductions
of emissions from shipping and the
search for alternative energy sources in
view of growing constraints on the use
of heavy fuels.
The study shows that the major motivation for stakeholders to use LNG is
to comply with Emission Controlled
Area (ECA) zone requirements and the
related positive environmental effects.
The study also shows the most critical
issues for further deployment are the
fnancing and the pricing of LNG. For
many companies, LNG does not offer a
proftable business model yet. The lack
of existing bunkering infrastructure for
LNG is another important barrier, the
study shows.
Final results of the study will become available in June/July 2015.
BOEM Offshore Lease Sale

For Western Gulf of Mexico
BOEM will offer more than 21 million acres offshore Texas for oil and
gas exploration and development in
a lease sale that will include all available unleased areas in the Western
Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. Proposed Western Gulf of Mexico Lease

Sale 246, scheduled in New Orleans in
August, will be the eighth offshore sale
under the Barack Obama Administrations Outer Continental Shelf Oil and
Gas Leasing Program for 2012 to 2017.
Sale 246 will include approximately 4,000 blocks, covering roughly 21.8
million acres, located from 9 to 250
miles offshore, in water depths ranging from 16 to more than 10,975 feet.
BOEM estimates the proposed lease
sale could result in the production of
116 to 200 million barrels of oil and
538 to 938 billion cubic feet of natural
gas.
BSEE, BOEM Propose Regulations

For Safe Arctic OCS Drilling
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and BOEM
released proposed regulations to ensure that future exploratory drilling activities on the U.S. Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) are done safely and
responsibly.
The proposed Arctic-specifc regulations focus solely on offshore exploration drilling within the Beaufort Sea
and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas. They
codify and further develop current
Arctic-specifc operational standards
that seek to ensure that operators take
the necessary steps to plan through all
phases of offshore exploration in the
Arctic, including mobilization, drilling, maritime transport and emergency
response, and conduct safe drilling operations while in theater.
The proposed regulations codify requirements that all Arctic offshore operators and their contractors are appropriately prepared for Arctic conditions
and that operators have developed an
integrated operations plan that details
all phases of the exploration program
for advance planning and risk assessment.
The proposed rule would require
operators to submit region-specifc
oil spill response plans, have prompt
access to source control and containment equipment, and have available a
separate relief rig to timely drill a relief well in the event of a loss of well
control.
The proposed rule continues to allow for technological innovation, provided that the level of safety and environmental performance satisfes the
standards set forth. n
April 2015 / st
73
books
My Watery Self: Memoirs of a Marine Scientist
By Stephen Spotte
Paperback. 166 pp. Three Rooms Press. $12.85
Stephen Spotte shares accounts of his life in this book, starting with his early days in West Virginia and chronicling his
time living in a bohemian beach town, and eventually his
work as a marine biologist. After spending time in Beach
Haven, New Jersey, Spotte became inspired by the sea and
went back to school to become a marine biologist. Spotte
has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the New
York Aquarium and Aquarium of Niagara Falls, as well as
the Sea Research Foundation at the University of Connecticut and the Coral Reef Ecology Program in Turks and Caicos.
An Introduction to Ecological Economics,

Second Edition
By Robert Costanza, John H. Cumberland, Herman Daly,
Robert Goodland, Richard B. Norgaard, Ida Kubiszewski
and Carol Franco
Hardcover. 356 pp. CRC Press. $92.11
Focusing on working toward a future that is sustainable
and fnancially promising, this book demonstrates a different way to think about managing daily life and the planet.
An update on the original text, this second version lays out
approaches to how humans can interact with the Earth in
a viable way. The new edition offers boxes written by the
authors independently to provide greater context to the
original message and pinpoints progress in the integration
of studying society and nature.
Tsunami Science: Ten Years After

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Featuring the government and industry

news you need to know, Sea Tech e-News
delivers timely information straight to your
inbox, with details on recent product
releases, updates on new hires and
promotion, and workshops. We send out
the newsletter every other week, so youll
get a steadystream of news edited down to
what matters most.
Sign up today at
to receive your FREE bi-weekly
electronic newsletter
74 st / April 2015
Edited by Alexander Rabinovich, Eric L. Geist, Hermann M.

Fritz and Jose Borrero
Paperback. 390 pp. Birkhuser. $71.65
In the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, nations
worldwide contributed to making advancements in tsunami
science. This book is the frst volume of a compilation of
essays detailing the strides in research on tsunamis that has
occurred in the past decade. Papers in the book cover the
state of science when the tsunami happened, case studies
depicting hazards and how the warning system has changed
for this natural disaster. Also covered are studies on the
models that describe tsunami impact.
The Hadal Zone: Life in the Deepest Oceans

By Alan Jamieson
Hardcover. 382 pp. Cambridge University Press. $72.00
A vastly unexplored realm of marine science, the hadal
zone makes up nearly half of the total ocean depth range.
Throughout the past decade, advances in technology have
opened up this previously off-limits zone to new research.
This book provides an overview of the organisms that reside
in the hadal zone and also covers how trenches are formed,
food supply and hydrography. The text addresses this region
of the ocean in regards to sustainability and conservation of
marine life. n
contracts
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
has been awarded a seven-year contract to provide the oceanic data link
service to enable real-time data communications between pilots and air
traffc controllers, allowing aircraft to
fy more effcient routes to save fuel
and enhance safety. Federal Aviation
Administration.
Kymeta Corp., Redmond, Washington,
has entered into a partnership to commercialize Ku-band maritime satellite
terminals. The terminals will integrate
the electronically beam-steered mTenna satellite antennas, which are built
on metamaterial-based technology. Intellian.
AVEVA, Cambridge, England, software
licenses will be deployed in schools
to encourage the development of the
local marine industry. Students will be
introduced to the ship design process
through hands-on experience with essential engineering and design disciplines. Korean universities.
Fugro, Leidschendam, Netherlands,
has been awarded the annual pipeline
inspection contract for 2015, which
covers the inspection of defned sections of subsea pipelines between
Norway and continental Europe. Fugro
will utilize its Echo Surveyor Hugin
1000 AUV. Statoil Petroleum AS, Gassco AS.
The NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, La Spezia, Italy, signed a three-year framework agreement. The protocol makes
provision for joint innovation activities
and research in the maritime environment, with reciprocal exchange for
educational and scientifc purposes.
Promostudi.
Wrtsil, Helsinki, Finland, power
generation and electrical and automation solutions will be featured on two
new jack-up barges. For each vessel,
Wrtsil will supply three eight-cylinder Wrtsil 20 generating sets. National Petroleum Construction Co.
iSURVEY Pte Ltd., Singapore, has been
awarded a marine construction support contract to provide positioning
and survey support for a 2015 platform

installation program in Thailand. Solstad Offshore Asia Pacifc.
Helm Operations, Victoria, Canada,
announced that it has signed on a
barge feeting and marine transportation company to Helm Connect Preventive Maintenance. The signed company operates 11 push boats and two
feets and conducts midstream fuel operations. Magnolia Fleet LLC.
MMT, Vstra Frlunda, Sweden, was
contracted to perform geophysical,
geotechnical and cable-crossing surveys in preparation for the installation
of the COBRAcable. The COBRAcable
route will connect the electricity grids
of the Netherlands and Denmark. Offshore Marine Management.
Simple,
Compact
and Robust
Manipulators
Ceona, London, England, has secured

a letter of intent for the companys fagship feld development vessel, the Ceona Amazon. The scope of work will encompass the installation of an oil and
gas export line, tying a new platform
into existing pipeline infrastructure.
Walter Oil & Gas Corp.
Atlas, Aberdeen, Scotland, has secured a seven-year contract to deliver
second-generation safety critical training to the U.K. offshore workforce. An
expected 150,000 workers are anticipated to undertake the training during
the term of the contract. OPITO.
Pan
Tilt Units
Cylinders
Axa Engenharia Submarina Ltda., Rio

De Janeiro, Brazil, has been awarded
a contract for the provision of geohazard surveys on the Libra Field. Surveys
will be performed with a 3,000-meterrated AUV. Petrleo Brasileiro S.A.-led
consortia.
SeeByte, Edinburgh, Scotland, received an order to deliver a maritime
autonomy demonstration system,
which will consist of UUVs equipped
with SeeTrack Neptune software. The
order consists of three Iver3 UUVs.
U.K. Ministry Of Defence, Defence
Equipment and Support.
DOF Subsea UK Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland, has been awarded an extension
of a master service agreement. The
contract covers global provision of survey and positioning services on board
the clients vessels. Heerema Marine
Contractor. n
Camera Rotators
Subsea Tooling
and Components
Tel: +44 (0) 118 9736903
Email: enquiries@hydro-lek.com
www.hydro-lek.com
April 2015 / st
75
meetings
May 18-21OCEANS15 MTS/IEEE

Genova, Genova, Italy. generalchair@
oceans15mtsieeegenova.org or http://
oceans15mtsieeegenova.org.
June
10-12Aquatech
China,
Shanghai, China. +31 20 549 2357,
s.poelmann@rai.nl or www.aquatech
trade.com/china.
MAY
May 4-7AUVSIs Unmanned Systems, Atlanta, Georgia. meetings@
auvsi.org or www.auvsishow.org/au
vsi2015/public/enter.aspx.
May 19-21IMDEX Asia, Singapore.

+65 6542 8660, enquiries@imdexasia.
com or www.imdexasia.com.
May 4-7Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas. 972-9529494 or http://2015.otcnet.org/.
May 20-21Thetis EMR - International Convention on Marine Renewable Energies, Nantes, France. +33 1
49 54 73 45, odemaleville@thetis-emr.
com or www.thetis-emr.com.
June 15-17International Conference on Computational Methods in

Marine Engineering - MARINE 2015,
Rome, Italy. +34 93 405 4696, ma
rine@cimne.upc.edu or http://con
gress.cimne.com/marine2015.
May 8IMarEST Ballast Water Technology Conference, London, England.

+44 (0)20 7382/2702, events@imarest.
org or www.imarest.org/BWT.
May 11-14Blue Vision Summit,
Washington, D.C. 202-387-8030,
info@bluefront.org
or
http://bit.
ly/11DTNz4.
May 12-13ADCPs in Action, Gold
Coast, Australia. margo.newcombe@
teledyne.com.
May 13-15MAST Asia, Yokohama,
Japan. warren.edge@mastconfex.org
or www.mastconfex.com.
JUNE
June
1-5IAPH
World
Ports
Conference, Hamburg, Germany. +49
(0) 40 42847-2208, sabine.stueben@
hpa.hamburg.de or www.iaph2015.
org.
June
3-5UDT,
Rotterdam,
Netherlands. 44 (0)20 7384 7781,
stephanie.searle@clarionevents.com
or www.udt-global.com/index.cfm.
June 9-11Capitol Hill Ocean Week,
Washington, D.C. 301-608-3040
ext. 303, Allison@NMSFocean.org or
http://nmsfocean.org/CHOW-2015.
ENGINEERING MANAGER
L-3 Communications Klein Associates, Inc. (L-3 Klein) is a leading supplier of Side Scan Sonar, Bathymetry Sonar and Waterside Security and
Surveillance systems. We are currently seeking qualifed candidates to
fll an open Engineering Manager position reporting directly to the President. This position will be based out of L-3 Kleins Salem, NH offce.
Essential Functions:
Provide technical direction and leadership in order to execute to approved plans

Manage and lead Kleins engineering efforts (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, and Acoustics)
Establish and attain departmental manpower requirements, schedules, and budgets
Lead improvement projects that result in signifcant reduction in time-to-market and overall improvements in
engineering productivity
Drive design for Manufacturing best practices and partner closely with Operations to ensure smooth
introduction of products/changes into Manufacturing
Manage the Change Control process to ensure engineering modifcations are correctly evaluated and
defned prior to implementation
Provide guidance to Manufacturing, Marketing/Sales, and Product Development groups
Oversee development of design concepts and test criteria
Plan and direct annual IRAD programs
Complete technical proposals and quotes
Build organizational muscle through coaching and mentoring of existing engineering team and selective
recruitment of top talent
Perform all duties and maintain all standards in accordance with company policies and procedures
REQUIRED Qualifcations:
Minimum of 5 years of solid Underwater Acoustics knowledge and experience
MSEE (BSEE may be considered if signifcant applicable experience is evident)
Minimum of 10 years engineering experience
Minimum of 5 years of direct supervision of engineering teams and activities
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without company sponsorship
Additional Requirements:
Proven ability to convert technical concepts to commercially-executable programs
Profcient in MS Project (or other project management tool), Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Must be customer focused in all aspects of the position
Abilities to delegate, listen, communicate, motivate, and mentor
To apply for this position, go to http://www.l-3com.com/careers/us-job-search.html
and enter 064566 in the Keyword feld
11 Klein Drive, Salem, New Hampshire 03079

Tel: 603-893-6131 Fax: 603-893-8807 Email: Klein.mail@L-3com.com www.L-3Klein.com
L-3 Klein Associates is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage minorities, women, protected veterans and disabled individuals to apply.
76 st / April 2015
June 16-18CLEAN PACIFIC, Vancouver, Canada. 713-343-1878, careyb@

tradefairgroup.com or http://cleanpa
cifc.org.
June 16-18Seawork International,
Southampton, England. +44 1329 820
474, pyoung@seawork.com or www.
seawork.com.
June 21-26ISOPE Conference,
Kona, Hawaii. 650-254-1871, meet
ings@isope.org or www.isope.org.
June 21-26Underwater Acoustics
Conference and Exhibition, Crete,
Greece. +45 4399 5284, prof.lb@
mail.dk or www.uaconferences.org.
June 24-25World Ocean Power
Summit, Edinburgh, Scotland. +44 20
3141 0605, mmulazzi@acieu.net or
www.wplgroup.com/aci/conferences/
eu-eop2.asp.
SEPTEMBER
September 6-11European Wave
and Tidal Energy Conference, Nantes,
France. +44(0)2380 593941, info@
ewtec.org or www.ewtec.org.
September
15-17International
Workshop on Marine Technology MARTECH 2015, Cartagena, Spain.
info@martech-workshop.org or www.
martech-workshop.org.
September 17-25euRathlon, Piombino, Italy. +39 335 7809721, franc
esca.nacini@cmre.nato.int or www.
eurathlon.eu/site.
September 27-30SEG, Hobart,
Australia. 720-981-7882 or www.
seg2015.org.
September 29-October 1NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference and Expo, Baltimore, Maryland.
410-975-9425,
bcole@mcnabbmr.
com or www.nmea.org. n
people
HYPACK Inc. (Middletown, Connecticut) has appointed Harold Orlinsky as
president and Vitad Pradith as a new
member of the support team. Orlinsky
joined the company in 2005 as hydrographer and has served as chief operating
offcer since 2008. Pradith will provide
on-site trainings and system integration.
Matt Keith has been promoted to vice
president and geoscience manager at
Tesla Offshore LLC (Prairieville, Louisiana). Keith is experienced in marine
remote-sensing data acquisition and
analysis, and has accrued extensive experience surveying and excavating both
submerged and terrestrial archaeological sites.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell named Abigail
Ross Hopper as the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, which manages the development of the United States conventional and renewable energy and marine
mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Phil Ward has been appointed director of 2H Offshores
(Houston, Texas) Aberdeen, Scotland, offce. This new role
refects Wards experience and knowledge, and is a promotion from his current role as principal engineer. Ward will
work alongside the existing management team.
Atlantic Offshore (Kystbasen gotnes, Norway) Rescue has
appointed a new managing director for its U.K. division to
lead the organization from its Aberdeen, Scotland, base.
Matthew Gordon joined the company at the start of the year
and replaced John Bryce.
QinetiQ North America (Waltham, Massachusetts) has appointed Jeff Yorsz as its new president. As president, Yorsz
will oversee all aspects of strategy and operations. Yorsz
holds several degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
The Worlds Best

Underwater Lift Bags
from 25 lbs. to 50 tons,
Water Load Test Bags to 50 tons.
Dan Sadler has been announced as the new regional sales

manager for Cutwater Boats (Monroe, Washington). Sadler
has 35 years of experience working in the marine industry and represents a mix of retail and wholesale expertise.
Sadler spent the last 19 years as a regional sales manager at
Boston Whaler.
Rhonda Marie Johnson of Port Alberni, Canada, has been
appointed to the board of directors of the Port Alberni Port
Authority for a term of three years. Johnson has lived and
worked in Port Alberni since 2001, frst as general manager
of Batstar Adventure Tours, then as a lawyer since 2010.
IMCA Compliant.
ABS Approved.
MARK V/ORCA
WATER LOAD TEST BAGS
RAPID RECOVERY SYSTEMS
LIFEBOAT DAVIT TEST KITS
Rodney Mckechnie as the managing director for Unique

Hydra (Cape Town, South Africa). Mckechnie is a seasoned
executive with experience in international Fortune 100
companies across various industrial sectors. n
AIRCRAFT LIFTING BAGS
VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEMS
FEND
D- R
D-AIR
CABLE & PIPELINE FLOATS
INFLAT
T-A-TANK
A-
PIPE PLUGGERS
S
P.O. Box 2030, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA

Tel: +1 401 884 8801 Fax: +1 401 884 8868
www.subsalve.com richard@subsalve.com
April 2015 / st
77
2015
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
JANUARY
Annual Review & Forecast
**Euromaritime 2015, February 3-5, Paris, France
April Issue
FEBRUARY
Instrumentation: Measurement, Processing & Analysis
**U.S. HYDRO 2015, March 16-19, National Harbor, MD
**Interspill 2015, March 24-26, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
**Ocean Business 2015, April 14-16, Southampton, U.K.
MARCH
Electronic Charting/Vessel Management/Ports &
Harbors/Dredging/Homeland Security
APRIL
Offshore Technology/Alternative Energy & Ocean Engineering
**Offshore Technology Conference 2015, May 4-7, Houston, TX
**AUVSIs Unmanned Systems 2015, May 4-7, Atlanta, GA
**Oceans 15 MTS/IEEE Genova, May 18-21, Genova, Italy
MAY
Communications, Telemetry, Data Processing
**UDT 2015, June 3-5, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
**CLEAN PACIFIC, June 16-18, Vancouver, Canada
JUNE
Seafloor Mapping/Sonar Systems/Vessels
JULY
Deck Gear, Cable, Connectors, Power Systems & Salvage
AUGUST
Geophysical Exploration/Seafloor Mapping
SEPTEMBER
Ocean Resources Development & Coastal Zone Management
**Offshore Energy 2015, October 13-14, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
**SEG 2015, October 18-23, New Orleans, LA
**Oceans 15 MTS/IEEE Washington, D.C., October 19-22,
National Harbor, MD
OCTOBER
Environmental Monitoring, Remote Sensing & Pollution Control
**CLEAN GULF 2015, November 10-12, New Orleans, LA
NOVEMBER
Undersea Defense/Antisubmarine Warfare
DECEMBER
Diving, Underwater Vehicles & Imaging
**Underwater Intervention 2016, February 23-25, New Orleans, L
Compass Publications, Inc.
Tel: 703.524.3136 Fax: 703.841.0852
oceanbiz@sea-technology.com (editorial)
seatechads@sea-technology.com (advertising/production)
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SEA-TECHNOLOGY.COM
Follow Us On:
78 st / April 2015
st looksback
25 Years Ago
1990. For the second year, according
to the Electronic Industries Association
(EIA), the growth rate of U.S. electronics exports outpaced imports. EIA said
exports hit $65.2 billion the previous
year, an increase of 17 percent over the
1988 fgure of $55.5 billion. ... NOAA
Administrator Dr. John A. Knauss elevated Puerto Ricos Sea Grant Program
to National Sea Grant College status.
Knauss called attention to Puerto Ricos
support of marine projects. ... Scientists
participating in core-drilling experiments in the far western Pacifc Ocean
recovered 175-million-year-old fragments of sediments and ocean crust,
placing the age of the rock in the Jurassic period.
15 Years Ago
2000. Separation of Australia and
South America from Antarctica millennia ago impacted the global climate
system by isolating the southern polar
region from warm subtropical ocean
currents, consequently developing the
East Antarctic ice sheet, a study found.
... More than three-quarters of the estimated federal dollars designated for
research and development for the fscal year was positioned to go to nonfederal sectors, according to a National Science Foundation survey. ...
A spokesman from Seatex Division of
Navia Maritime AS (Trondheim, Norway) predicted that sun spot activity
could affect global positioning system
navigation in the future.
10 Years Ago
2005. NOAA announced the availability of a website and CD-ROM that provides digital geographic information
system data, maps and satellite imagery
depicting the location and distribution
of shallow-water seafoor habitats of
American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institutions deep-sea explorer, Dr.
Edith Widder, became a member of the
Women Divers Hall of Fame. ... A team
of geologists discovered that small sections of the ocean foor may be slowly
rotating like imperfectly meshing cogs
in a machine. n
professionalservices directory
An effective medium reserved for listing professional and consulting services. Size 3-5/16 x 1 inch, to a
maximum of 3. Rates: $95 per one-inch insertion for 1-6 times; $90 each for 7-12 consecutive times. Net
30 days. Discounts: 10% for advance payment for 6 or more consecutive insertions without copy change;
no agency commissions. Electronic fles accepted (please request our Desktop Checklist). No charge for
typesetting; however, production charges may be assessed for ads including logos and/or photos. Send ad
copy with order to seatechads@sea-technology.com by the 10th of the month preceding insertion month.
Avoid the high cost of switch failures
SWITCH to the most dependable switches available

Submersible Electric Switches - Solenoid Actuators - Solenoid Valves
Hydracon Company Inc., Anaheim, CA - USA
Tel: +1 714-281-2460 Fax: +1 714-281-1199
WWW.HYDRACON.COM
SONOTRONICS
10,000 N. Technology Drive, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

877-3PREVCO (Toll-Free) 480-837-0100 480-718-7723 (Fax)
MARK YOUR EQUIPMENT

Mark your underwater equipment for later
recovery in case of loss. With over 0 years
of experience in the manufacture of sonic
pingers, hydrophones, and receivers,
SONOTRONICS can provide equipment
for your underwater tracking needs
www.sonotronics.com
(520)746-3322
GALVANIC TIMED RELEASES
Cost-effective electrochemically degraded links available in durations ranging from one

minute to 100 days. Trigger closure mechanisms, open escape panels, release cable
support buoys or subsurface instrument locator floats. Stock and custom-designed releases available from:
International Fishing Devices, Inc.
935 Town Hall Ave., Unit 1, Jupiter, FL 33458
Ph: (954) 574-9517
Andr LaBont
P.O. Box 60, Waipu, New Zealand 0545
Ph/Fax: 011-64-9-432-0645
SUBSEA MODULES
CUSTOM BUILT HOUSINGS FOR 100, 300, 1000 meter plus
IDEAL FOR SCIENTIFIC, ELECTRONIC AND VIDEO SYSTEMS
www.underseareleases.com
Contact: Steve Greenaway, Research Director UK

www.greenawaymarine.com
Custom ROVs, control

systems and tooling
Smart Grapple
Option package for

4Kw ROV-Backbone
1500lb max lift
Hydraulic or
electric jaws
Control thrusters
Cameras lights,
sonar
Fiber Multiplexer
3 channels SD video
100mb Ethernet
8 serial channels
(RS -232/RS-485)
2 high-speed triggers
Aordable
www.seaviewsystems.com
April 2015 / st
79
New Homeport:
San Diego Bay!
72
R/V LIGHTNING
Available for Southern California Charter
Echologger EU400
Precision Echosounder in USB connection
Trawls Vibracores Grab Sampling

Oceanography Geophysical Surveys
Sea Surveyor, Inc. info@seasurveyor.com (707) 246-3696 www.seasurveyor.com
With just an EU400 and a PC, you are a professional.

Plug&Play, Realtime sediment monitoring and mapping
www.echologger.com
EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS
& DIVERSE FLEET OF ROVS
Dam Inspecton
Oceanographic Survey
Outall & Intake Inspecton
Custom Designed Tooling Packages
For more info contact:
info@gdiving.com | 1.800.441.3483 | www.gdiving.com
Like what youre reading?

Keep up-to-date with SEA TECHNOLOGY news
on Twitter.com/seatechnology,
Facebook.com/seatechnologymag and
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sea-technology-magazine.
DID YOU KNOW?

Sea Technology magazine is available not
only in print but also as an e-book.
DID YOU ALSO KNOW?

Both are available for free.
If you are currently reading Sea Technology in print but would also like to have
access to the digital version, there is no charge to receive both versions, but you will
need to update your information here:
https://www.sea-technology.com/form_change_address.html.
Once you have signed up, you will receive a monthly e-mail message from us
indicating that the new edition of Sea Technology is available for viewing, using a
passphrase. The passphrase changes each month.
Have you moved or is a move on your horizon? Keep Sea Technology coming to you seamlessly!
You can also change your address on the above form.
703.524.3136 seatechads@sea-technology.com
80 st / April 2015
soapbox
Reaching Farther With Cabled Ocean ObservatoriesRobert Thomas
Robert Thomas is a
system engineer at
TE SubCom (Eatontown, New Jersey) responsible for telecom
projects in the scientifc and offshore oil
and gas areas. For
over 30 years he has worked with undersea
cable systems in commercial and government applications. The material here summarizes Extending the Reach of Cabled
Ocean Observatories, originally presented
at OCEANS14 MTS/IEEE St. Johns, Canada.
abled ocean observatories, such as

Ocean Networks Canada, the National Science Foundations Ocean Observatories Initiative, and CSnet Internationals OCB system, which delivers
data to shore via the Poseidon subsea
cable network, provide environmental
monitoring, tsunami detection, and
real-time undersea video. Key benefts
of their fber-optic undersea cables include tremendous data transmission
bandwidth and the ability to power systems from shore. As systems like these
expand and proliferate, their sensors
will provide essential real-time scientifc and operational data worldwide.
Installing ocean observatories farther offshore and in deeper waters
enables scientists to collect data continuously, in remote areas previously
accessible only by shipboard observatories or ship-serviced facilities. With
a permanent monitoring presence in
these locations, we can better understand the geological, physical, chemical and biological processes taking
place in the oceans.
Many existing observatories depend
on nonrepeatered fber-optic shore
connections, limiting their reach and,
thus, the location of data collection.
Since the mid-2000s, undersea repeatered (optically amplifed) fber-optic
technology developed for international
telecom applications has been combined with subsea hardware and connection techniques to provide offshore
oil and gas facilities with high-bandwidth, low-latency communication
paths. Applying this same technology
to cabled ocean observatories extends
the reach of both the observatories and
their instrument packages.
A cabled ocean observatory includes one or more scientifc nodes

connected to shore using a powered
fber-optic cable backbone, which may
be repeatered depending on distance,
enabling the observatory to be electrically powered from shore facilities and
exploiting the high bandwidth and low
latency of fber optics.
The primary aspect of extending the
reach of observatories is signifcantly
increasing the backbone length via undersea repeaters, enabling the observatory location to stretch to thousands of
kilometers from shore in remote deepwater environments.
Repeatered systems rely on electrically powered optical amplifers
spaced regularly (50 to 150 kilometers) along undersea cable. Despite the
signifcant difference between typical
telecom capacities (terabits per fber
pair) and the more modest needs of scientifc observatories (gigabits per fber
pair), the same fundamental elements
of the amplifer product can be used.
Todays erbium-doped fber amplifer
(EDFA) provides a clear channel that
can be tailored to support applications with a wide variety of data rates
and modulation formats. Economical
datacom transceivers, already in use
subsea, offer suffcient bandwidth for
cabled ocean observatory applications.
The undersea telecom industry has
developed specifc products for scientifc applications that complement
repeatered architectures, offering connection fexibility and powering options. A high-current repeater has internal power-conditioning circuits that
provide power to the amplifers and divert excess current, enabling a scientific user to equip a single custom power
source that can power in-line repeaters
and provide observatory auxiliary operational power.
Dual-conductor undersea cable
(DCC) provides two independent
electrical paths in one common cable
structure. The second conductor provides a fully independent electrical
powering path to power branches and
undersea devices from diverse power
sources.
The secondary aspect of extending
the reach of observatories is to improve
the quality, reliability and survivability

of the extension cables that connect
observatory nodes with their instrument packages. Improved platforms,
tools and processes are available for
secure installation of these cables.
Cable connections between nodes and
sensors have typically been limited to
short distances, approximately 5 to
10 kilometers, for subsea installations
using an ROV approach. However,
cable-laying vessels are capable of
loading and laying more than 10,000
kilometers, easily supporting long extensions. Modern cable-laying vessels
are equipped with dynamic positioning class-two technology for precise
route placement of cables and use
proven cable installation equipment.
Most importantly, the ship, all equipment, and crew training are designed
for cable laying as the primary mission.
Facilities are available for electronic
storage, power testing and splicing of
all elements of an undersea system.
This makes extension cables in the
10-to-100-kilometer range, or longer,
practical beyond the capability of ROV
installation.
Deployment pallets have been developed for terminating subsea cable to
a multiport, wet-mate connector housing. The independent fying lead design
and connection approach has been
in use with single-conductor telecom
cables in oil and gas applications for
nearly a decade and is also suitable for
use with DCC.
An alternative approach is to use a
single, integrated wet-mate connector
and fying lead. This direct-connect architecture is currently in-service with
DCC.
Time-proven technologies combined with newer ones will place observatories in unexplored regions. Clearchannel EDFA repeaters, high-current
repeaters, dual-conductor cable, and
cable-ship installation can position
observatories thousands of kilometers
from a shore station, changing the very
nature of the science that can be conducted. With the objective of extending
the reach of ocean science, observatory
planners can employ a variety of tools
that are currently serving observatories
worldwide. n
April 2015 / st
81
apriladvertiser index
ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. ...................62
HYPACK, Inc. ................................................37
Specialty Devices, Inc. ..................................64
www.aslenv.com
www.hypack.com
www.specialtydevices.com
Aanderaa Data Instruments AS ......................17
*Instruments, Inc. ............................................66
SubConn .......................................................31
www.aanderaa.com
www.instrumentsinc.com
www.macartney.com/subconn
Ametek SCP, Inc. ...........................................44
International Water Conference .....................67
SubCtech GmbH ...........................................58
www.ametekscp.com
www.eswp.com/water
www.subCtech.com
Antcom Corporation ......................................55
InterOcean Systems, Inc. .................................3
www.antcom.com
www.interoceansystems.com
www.subsalve.com
BIRNS, Inc. ....................................................14
Knudsen Engineering Limited ........................12
www.birns.com
www.knudsenengineering.com
Teledyne AG Geophysical
Products Inc. ...............................................47
Bluefn Robotics Corporation.........................18
L-3 Klein Associates, Inc. ...............................76
www.bluefnrobotics.com
http://www.L-3com.com/careers/us-jobsearch.html
Teledyne DGO ..............................................47
*LinkQuest, Inc. ..............................................24
Teledyne Impulse...........................................47
CDA Technical Institute .................................56
www.cda.edu
*CSnet International, Inc. ................................28
www.csnetnternational.com
*Channel Technologies Group (CTG) ................2
www.channeltechgroup.com
Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. .......................34
www.deepocean.com
DeepSea Power & Light, Inc. .........................57
www.deepsea.com
DeepWater Buoyancy, Inc. ............................45
www.DeepWaterBuoyancy.com
EdgeTech .......................................................29
www.edgetech.com
www.evologics.de
www.falmouth.com
www.jwfshers.com
Teledyne Marine ............................................54
www.marinemagnetics.com
www.teledynemarine.com
*Marine Sonic
Technology, Ltd............................................38
www.generaloceanics.com
*Geometrics Inc. .............................................71
www.geometrics.com
*Geospace Offshore........................................68
www.geospace.com
Global Dynamix, Inc. ....................................63
www.gdynx.com
Hydro-Lek Ltd. ..............................................75
www.hydro-lek.com
Hydroid, Inc. .................................................59
Teledyne Marine
Interconnect Solutions .................................47
www.marinesonic.com
www.teledynemis.com
McMillan Design, Inc. ...................................53
Teledyne Marine Systems Group................5, 26
www.seacatch.com
NiGK Corporation .........................................56
Teledyne ODI ................................................47
www.nichigi.com/ocean
www.odi.com47
Oceans 15 MTS/IEEE
Washington, DC ..........................................73
Teledyne RD Instruments .................................4
OSIL ..............................................................13
PREVCO Subsea Housings.............................84
RBR Ltd. ........................................................23
www.rbr-global.com
General Oceanics, Inc. ..................................77
www.hydroid.com
Marine Magnetics Corporation ......................42
www.prevco.com
*J.W. Fishers Mfg. Inc. .....................................20
www.dgo.com
www.teledyneimpulse.com
www.osil.co.uk
*Falmouth Scientifc, Inc. ................................50
www.aggeophysical.com
www.link-quest.com
www.oceans15mtsieeewashington.org
EvoLogics GmbH...........................................83
*Subsalve USA Corporation ............................77
*RTsys .............................................................41
www.rdinstruments.com
*Teledyne SeaBotix Inc....................................48
www.SeaBotix.com
Teledyne Storm
Cable Solutions ...........................................47
www.stormcable.com
*Teledyne TSS Ltd............................................16
www.teledyne-tss.com
Ultra Motion..................................................30
www.rtsys.eu
www.ultramotion.com
Saab Seaeye Limited ........................................8
Vaisala Oyj ....................................................65
www.seaeye.com
www.vaisala.com/maritime
Sea-Bird Scientifc .........................................32
Valeport Limited ............................................70
www.sea-birdscientifc.com
www.valeport.co.uk
*SEA CON Group.........................................22
VideoRay LLC..................................................6
www.seaconworldwide.com
www.videoray.com
SECO Seals Inc. .............................................69
WAASP Ltd. ...................................................61
www.secoseals.com
www.wassp.com
*Southwest Electronic Energy Group ...............21
www.swe.com
R. M. Young Company ...................................58
www.youngusa.com
* For more information, consult the 2015 Sea Technology Buyers Guide/Directory.
MISSION STATEMENT
Sea Technology is the worldwide information leader for marine business, science & engineering. Our goal is to provide our global audience with current information on the various segments of the worldwide marine/ocean industry
through state-of-the-art and application articles, news columns, and staff reports; and to provide our advertisers with a cost-effective, valuable, and useful vehicle by which to promote their products and services.
For permission to photocopy portions of Sea Technology, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center 222 Rosewood Dr. Danvers, MA 01923 Phone (978) 750-8400 FAX (978) 750-4470
Sea Technology news magazine, including Underwater Engineering, UnderSea Technology, Oceanology International Offshore Technology, and its website,
is edited for executives, scientists, engineering and technical personnel in industry, government, and education engaged in the feld of undersea defense, oceanography, anti-submarine warfare, marine sciences,
underwater exploration, diving and construction, drilling, and mining. While effort is made to verify material published, opinions of authors are not necessarily those of the publisher, and the publication accepts
no responsibility in connection with any liability that might occur as a result of published material.
Like what youre reading? Keep up to date with SEA TECHNOLOGY news on Twitter.com/seatechnology, Facebook.com/seatechnologymag and
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sea-technology-magazine.
82 st / April 2015
UNDERWATER
COMMUNICATION
AND POSITIONING
SOLUTIONS
S2C TECHNOLOGY: COMMUNICATION AND TRACKING COMBINED

-
time, space and cost - saving solutions

low power consumption for autonomous operations
advanced data delivery algorithms, addressing and networking, remotely congurable settings
extendable platform with multiple conguration options: power-saving Wake Up module, acoustic releaser, additional sensors, custom solutions, OEM versions available
USBL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
LBL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
simultaneous positioning and communication - no need

to switch between positioning mode and modem mode
highly accurate, precise and stable performance,

simultaneous positioning and data transmissions
exible SiNAPS positioning software

reliable data transmissions
range: up to 8000 m
accuracy: up to 0.04 degrees
exible SiNAPS positioning software

reliable data transmissions
range: up to 8000 m
accuracy: better than 0.01 m
UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC MODEMS

reliable data transmissions even in adverse conditions,
customizable standard modems or new M-series mini
modems in a light and compact design, special editions
for developers, S2C communication and positioning emulator for free with every purchase
- range: up to 8000 m
- depth: up to 6000 m
- data rate: up to 31.2 kbps
EvoLogics GmbH
Ackerstrasse 76,
13355 Berlin, Germany
tel.: +49 30 4679 862-0

fax: +49 30 4679 862-01
Meet us at
OCEAN BUSINESS
2015!
14 -16 April 2015
Southampton, UK
Stand W22
sales@evologics.de
evologics.de
April 2015 / st
83
84 st / April 2015

SEA Apr 2015

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

SEA Apr 2015

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Be In The Know.

ST News Splash brings you the latest in news

Power of Vertical Integration - Let It Work for You

MATERIALS SYSTEMS INC.

Making the Invisible Visible

Every day, our products are hard at

SHELL MARINE LUBRICANT TECHNICAL SERVICES BRING OPERATING DIVIDENDS

OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

THE ARCTIC AS THE NEXT GLOBAL ENERGY POWERHOUSE

AUVSIS UNMANNED SYSTEMS

OCEANS15 MTS/IEEE GENOVA

MANEUVERING UNDER THE ICE

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE POST-HURRICANE SEASON

Autonomous Undersea Gliders

DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS FOR HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS

GPS ERROR REJECTION IMPROVES ACCURACY OF OFFSHORE PLATFORM WATCH CIRCLE

A Teledyne Marine Company

Autonomous Undersea Vehicles

Remotely Operated Vehicles

ERRORS IN TRACKING SURFACE CURRENTS WITH DIFFERENT FLOAT GEOMETRIES

Ocean Research ........................................70

Flotation and Releases

Communication and Positioning

Deep Survey Systems

I NCLUDING U NDER S EA TECHNOLOGY

RAdm. Jonathan White, Oceanographer of the U.S. Navy,

The Industrys Recognized Authority

The Polar CodeBringing

Sea Technology back issues available on microform.

COMPASS PUBLICATIONS, INC.

Celebrating more than 50 years

Leap into the future

The most advanced compact work ROV ever

THE WORLDS LEADING UNDERWATER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER

Shell Marine Lubricant Technical

issues before they become critical. SMPs reputation is built

The HOSCO Group approached SMP in September 2013

monitoring services, so the operator

With no need for prior calibration,

crew can simply dispatch a sample that has been tested on

Dr. Sara Lawrence, global technical manager at Shell

Offshore Technology Conference

lans are underway for the 2015 Offshore

CLOV Angola, Ichthys LNG, and the Gulfstar One

while recognizing the increased interconnectivity of our

to collectively support the communities in which they operate.

Intelligent compensation for

The Arctic as the Next

Yet as scientists investigating pipeline blockages discovered,

subsea bed of methane hydrate in the Pacifc Ocean. With

The Arctic is thought by many

Your search begins by

Splash Proof PC Available

Fishing Boat on the Bottom

Side scan sonars are one of the most

Call for a free catalog or visit our web site: jwfishers.com

mounted parallel behind the upper

Gold mining is a useful analogy

Because the methane hydrate solid

What Happens to the Environment

One great little duet...

Introducing the RBRduet - our new, smaller, two-channel logger.

AUVSIs Unmanned Systems