Sonar Systems News

U.S. President Joe Biden will meet leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego on Monday to announce a way forward for Australia to receive nuclear-powered submarines in Canberra's biggest-ever defense project.The three countries announced the so-called AUKUS plan in 2021 as part of efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region.However, questions remain over strict U.S. curbs on the extensive technology sharing needed for the project and about the length of time it will take to deliver the submarines.Australia is expected to buy up to five U.S.

Harland & Wolff's Appledore site in the UK's southwest has won a £55 million (around $65 million) contract to regenerate a former Royal Navy mine-hunting vessel, HMS Quorn. "On behalf of the Lithuanian Government, the Defence Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) awarded the contract that will see HMS Quorn renovated and restored, bolstering NATO maritime capability in Europe," the UK Ministry of Defence said Thursday."Supporting ambitions to bolster British shipbuilding, laid out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, the regeneration will support 100 jobs at the south-west shipyard.

Propspeed, an innovator of underwater foul-release coatings, received an endorsement from FarSounder, a pioneer in navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, which has tested the Propspeed Foulfree foul-release coating and recommends it for application by their customers, dealers and partner shipyards.“Our unique, patented technology is designed to paint a clear picture of what lies ahead underwater and along the bottom,” said Cheryl Zimmerman, CEO, FarSounder. “Marine growth on our transducers could limit the effectiveness of our products and potentially put a vessel in a hazardous situation.

To find the mine warfare challenge with the highest degree of difficulty, start at the bottom.Lurking unseen below the surface, naval mines pose a serious problem. They’re cheap, relatively easy to deploy and can inflict heavy damage against even the most sophisticated warships. They can be hard to detect and difficult to counter. What you can’t see can hurt you. And the most difficult mines to find and eliminate are bottom and buried mines. Navies have developed ships to hunt for mines in the water column so they can be avoided or destroyed…

This year marks two decades that FarSounder has been dedicated to developing its unique 3D Forward Looking Sonar technology (3D FLS). Back in 2001, the company's founders saw a need for a solution to answer the question of what is in front of my vessel underwater right now. This real world issue has since been mitigated with the innovative Argos navigation sonar systems.“These 20 years have been a fascinating journey. We started by listening to the marketplace, focusing on delivering a high-quality product and providing superior customer service.

ROV manufacturer Forum Energy Technologies has completed the construction of what it says is a highly advanced submarine rescue vehicle (SRV), which may be utilized to extract submariners from distress situations.According to Forum, the LR-class SRV is capable of rescuing up to 17 people at a time and operate at depths of up to 600 meters. "The new model has increased power and an advanced auxiliary thruster control system that allows for speeds of up to four knots, enabling it to operate in high currents.

Ocean mapping at scale is the target of a new unmanned systems player started by two ex-US Navy SEALS. They have big ambitions, from new building unmanned vehicles to creating the intelligence that will drive them to changing how accessible ocean data is. Elaine Maslin learned more. The pace of change in the ocean mapping space has been fast in recent years. New entrants have come into the scene offering “force multiplier” mapping using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

Ship and boat designer Robert Allan Ltd has been awarded a contract by the Government of Canada to design a new version of the Near Shore Fishery Research Vessels (NSFRVs) currently operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.The new vessel will be used for fishery research by Fisheries & Oceans Canada and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.The Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of NSFRVs plays a key role in the delivery of fishery research in Canada’s waterways. Currently, there are four NSFRVs in service.Originally known as Inshore Science Vessels (ISVs), three were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. under the Economic Action Plan (EAP 2009) and entered into service in 2012 as the CCGS Vladykov, CCGS Leim and CCGS M. Perley. The new design is a direct development of these existing Robert Allan Ltd.

Marine Components International (MCI) in the UK has been chosen by Denmark’s Daniamant to distribute its British-designed EchoPilot forward-looking 3D sonar systems (FLS 3D).Dorset-headquartered maritime company supplies a wide range of high-end marine products to leading yacht builders and shipyards worldwide. MCI managing director Andy Scott said he is delighted to welcome EchoPilot to MCI’s portfolio.“EchoPilot is a pioneer in Forward Looking Sonar ever since patenting the World’s first forward looking sonar in 1992, and its latest FLS 3D sonar system is one of the very best on the market,” he said.“Boat owners are very familiar with 2D sonars, but these can only give a representation of what lies directly below, and what has already passed, the keel, with a significant time lag.

For Marine Technology Reporter's (MTR) 14th Annual "MTR100" - a look at 100 innovators and technologies in the subsea space - MTR editor-at-large Elaine Maslin reports on five companies and technologies that are worth the watch for the remainder of 2019 and beyond. For the full edition, see https://magazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MarineTechnology/201907/Blue Logic: Entering a new eraCompletely new modes of operation are entering the underwater domain for oil and gas operations and…

Since summer 2017, four vessels equipped with analog sonars have been upgraded using RTsys AS3i technology (Analog Surface Ship Sonar Improvement), which digitalized and improved the processing of signals rendered by sensors.Brittany-based company RTSYS does not only deals with AUV, subsea recorders and buoys, but can also display a full range of sonar systems such as handheld devices for divers or sonar retrofit. The latter of which led the French SME to lately offer in summer…

Florida-based SeaRobotics Corporation, which specializes in small, smart vessels that are remotely or autonomously operated, has completed its factory acceptance testing of its new entry into the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) workboat market — the SR-Endurance 7.0 meter (22.96′) system.According to a press release from the the innovator behind the HullBUG, a groundbreaking hull cleaning ROV, and the HYCAT, the system is optimized for sonar research through the utilization of an optionally manned helm configuration and a serial diesel electric propulsion system.Outfitted with an instrumented launch and recovery system (LARS), and supporting hydrographic winch system…

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as “motherships” for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones…

A pair of U.S. Navy submarines recently surfaced in the Arctic Circle as part of multinational maritime exercise north of Alaska. Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) and Seawolf-class fast attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22) surfaced in the Arctic Circle March 10 during the multinational maritime Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2018. Both submarines, as well the UK Royal Navy submarine HMS Trenchant (S91), are participating in the biennial exercise in the Arctic to train and validate the warfighting capabilities of submarines in extreme cold-water conditions. "From a military, geographic and scientific perspective…

Kongsberg Maritime said it has been selected to deliver ST2400 VDS (Varial Depth Sonar) systems for Anti-Submarine Warfare applications (ASW) to the Royal Swedish Navy as part of SAAB’s upgrade program for the Göteborg-Class Corvettes fleet. The main purpose of the ST2400 VDS is to detect submarines, mines and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in Littoral waters. The ST2400 VDS upgrade will strengthen the Göteborg-Class Corvettes Anti-Submarine capability operating in the Baltics.

Sunk by Japanese torpedoes near the end of World War II, heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis disappeared to the darkest depths of the Philippine Sea, where it remained undiscovered for more than 70 years. Recently a team of civilian researchers led by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen set out equipped with an arsenal of high-tech search equipment on a mission to locate the historic vessel last seen on July 30, 1945. The story of the USS Indianapolis is one of military might, heroism, tragedy, controversy and mystery.

Cruise ship marine operations expert John Schneider is joining the board of directors at FarSounder, Inc. Over the last 12 years, Schneider has worked in the cruise ship segment of the marine industry as fuel and energy optimization manager (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), superintendent engineer (Celebrity Cruises), and as vessel manager for ResidenSea’s residential passenger vessel The World. In this position, he was responsible for the overall management of the vessel within the marine operations department reporting to both WSM and to ResidenSea's Senior Management.

Kongsberg, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH(TKMS) and Atlas Elektronik enter into a comprehensive teaming agreement for submarines. The companies join resources and establish a joint venture company in Norway that will be the international strategic and exclusive supplier of combat systems for thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ submarines. On February 3rd 2017, the Norwegian Government announced that Germany was chosen as strategic partner for new submarines, and that Norway enters into negotiation with prime contractor thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Following the decision, Kongsberg, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Atlas Elektronik today entered into a comprehensive teaming agreement. As part of this agreement, the partners will establish a new company based in Norway.

Raymarine Unveils an all-new version of its popular Wi-Fish mobile app for use with Dragonfly-PRO and Wi-Fish CHIRP Sonar systems. The app has been expanded and now includes Augmented Reality Viewing of your saved waypoints and fishing hot-spots. The app works with the GPS, compass and camera in your smartphone or tablet to show precisely where you are in relation to your saved waypoints. The name, symbol, bearing and range to each waypoint is displayed as a dynamic overlay on a real-time view of the waterway in front of you. Simply pan your smartphone or tablet 360° across the horizon, the precise positions of your waypoints are shown on the live camera feed. This makes it easier than ever to locate your favorite fishing spots and navigate right to them!

Cohort plc company SEA will start work in December on upgrading the Combat Systems Highway (CSH) infrastructure on the Chilean Navy’s three former Royal Navy Type 23 frigates. The upgrade on the Chilean frigates Almirante Cochrane, Almirante Condell and Almirante Lynch follows a similar obsolescence upgrade carried out on the RN’s 13 Type 23 ships. SEA has a support contract covering the CSH for RN frigates and also supports CSHs for various defence Primes. CSH manages data exchange messages, which are a vital and integral feature of the ship’s Combat System, enabling valuable operational assets such as the Combat Management System, surveillance, weapon and sonar systems to communicate in a reliable and deterministic manner.

JSC Admiralty Shipyards has finished building a series of six submarines for the Russian Navy’s Black Sea fleet, marked with a flag lifting ceremony on the large diesel-electric submarine Kolpino, which was transferred to the Russian Navy. The ceremony was attended by Chief of the Navy, Vladimir Korolev; president of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation, Alexei Rakhmanov; and CEO of JSC Admiralty Shipyards, Alexander Buzakov. “It is difficult to overestimate the significance of today's event for our team,” said Buzakov.

MAN Diesel & Turbo has been selected to supply the main engines to a new, icebreaking, supply-and-research vessel for the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). The 2 × 16V32/44CR main engines – each producing 9,600 kW – were chosen for their highly reliable and fuel-efficient design that will serve in an environment with a demanding operational profile, including temperatures down to -30 degrees and extended mission times. The vessel is being procured by Serco Defence through DMS Maritime (prime contractor) and will be designed and built by Damen Shipyards Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS).

Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Hunter Tootoo, announced that Kanter Marine Inc. of St. Thomas, Ontario is the winning bidder for the procurement of seven new survey vessels for the Canadian Hydrographic Service to support the seabed surveying and charting of Canada’s navigable waters. The $5.3 million investment will go toward customized hydrographic survey vessels that will be outfitted with permanent state-of-the-art multibeam sonar systems to help the Canadian Hydrographic Service continue to meet rigorous international standards for hydrographic surveys. Once built, the seven new vessels will be added to the existing survey vessel fleet located across Canada. The new vessels will be employed to collect data in the St.