Michael Johnson News

The owner and skipper of a rowing vessel has received a 12-month prison sentence after a 21-year-old was lost overboard in the middle of the Atlantic.In February 2016, Michael Johnson was swept overboard by a large wave in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Canary Islands and Barbados, during a world record row attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 32 days. The seven remaining crew members on board were unable to save Johnson.Simon Chalk, owner of the rowing boat Toby Wallace…

Sea Machines Robotics and HamiltonJet have launched a new intelligent voyage control product, named JETsense, that uses autonomous navigation, multi-sensor fusion, and computer vision "to move waterjet vessels to the forefront of 21st-century navigation and utility."JETsense utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced autonomy to perceive the domain and maintain precise control of steering and speed during a voyage and re-route to avoid traffic and obstacles while enabling a new level of streaming data to improve on-water operations…

The autonomous tug Nellie Bly has completed what is claimed to be the world’s first 1,000+ nautical miles autonomous and remotely commanded journey of a commercial vessel at sea.The journey around Denmark, aptly named the Machine Odyssey, officially started September 30, when the Nellie Bly departed Cuxhaven, Germany, (near Hamburg) for Denmark.The news of the successful journey completion was shared Thursday, by Sea Machines Robotics, a Boston-based developer of autonomous command…

U.S. Coast Guard licensed officers in Boston are commanding an autonomous workboat on a voyage around Denmark.The American Maritime Officers (AMO) trade union has entered into a labor agreement with autonomous command and control systems developer Sea Machines Robotics for the project, which will see AMO-represented merchant mariners support Sea Machines’ first-of-its-kind 1,000 NM autonomous journey.The voyage, which Sea Machines is calling "The Machine Odyssey", aims to prove the world’s waterways are primed and ready for long-range autonomous vessel operations…

Rolls-Royce and Sea Machines Robotics announced they are working together to deliver remote command, autonomous control and intelligent crew support systems to the marine market.As part of this agreement, Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems and Sea Machines, the developer of remote-vessel command and autonomous control systems, will join forces on the development and sale of fully and semi-autonomous vessel control systems.Michael Johnson, CEO and founder of Sea Machines, said…

An ocean tug is set to embark on a 1,000 nautical mile autonomous and remotely commanded journey around Denmark to prove that the world’s waterways are primed and ready for autonomous vessel technologies, autonomous command and control systems developer Sea Machines announced on Tuesday.The vessel will depart from Hamburg, Germany on October 1 with full onboard vessel control managed by autonomous technology while operating under the authority of commanding officers located in the United States. During the journey, which Sea Machines is calling The Machine Odyssey, human passengers on board will enjoy the benefits of autonomous operations…

Autonomous command and control systems developer Sea Machines Robotics announced it has advanced its multi-year Other Transaction (OT) agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Phase 2 of the multiphase contract delegates $3.1 million to the deployment of a full-scale oceangoing replenishment platform.In October 2020, Boston-based Sea Machines was enlisted by the DoD to engineer, build and demonstrate ready-to-deploy system kits that transform existing commercial barges to platforms capable of landing and replenishing military aircraft.

To ensure the high level of service that has defined this family-owned business for the past 30 years, DSC Dredge, LLC has five key values: commitment, quality, innovation, service and customization. This is what the foundation of DSC is built upon, and clients who become long-standing business partners and friends only confirms what this company strives to do each and every day.Magnolia Dredge & Dock LLC., headquartered in Mandeville, La., was founded in 2009 through the merging of two companies.

Sea Machines Robotics CEO & President.Michael Gordon Johnson is a marine engineer, an accomplished entrepreneur and sector leader with a primary goal of building progressive and sustainable innovation for modern society. He is the founder of Sea Machines, a Boston-based tech company that is a leading provider of autonomous control and intelligent perception systems for marine vessels. Johnson earned a marine engineering degree from Texas A&M University before starting a career focused on complex projects in offshore oil and gas, marine transportation and salvage.

While there remains much debate as to what an autonomous future looks like in the maritime sector, one company, Sea Machines, is helping to pace the field with product development, partnerships and investment.Sea Machines Robotics announced today that it had closed a $10 million Series A investment led by Accomplice VC, with participation from several corporate titans including Toyota AI Ventures; Brunswick Corp., through investment partner TechNexus Venture Collaborative; Eniac Ventures…

The near-shore and inland workboat fleet is at the leading edge for autonomous vessel developmentWhile the advent of autonomous workboats are not exactly mainstream, you better believe that in the not-too-distant future they will be a reality on waterways in and around the U.S. Today there remain more questions than answers, particularly on the legal, logistics and insurance side of the coin. But the technology is evolving at record pace, providing many in the industry with mixed emotions. Excitement. Controversy. Curiosity. Skepticism. These are just a few of thoughts, and emotions that arise to any mention of the topic of autonomous vessels.It’s happening now.

U.S. based Sea Machines announced that it has moved its team in Hamburg, Germany to a larger waterfront work space in the Hammerbrook area.The company said the move supports growing in interest in its autonomous controls and advanced perception technology in European markets ahead of an upcoming product release. The new location more than triples the space Sea Machines had previously and provides dockage for the company's test vessels. The space also accommodates the locally expanding team…

Emerging spill response trends fit into two big categories: technology and a combination of economic and social forces. Both will shape what comes next.Florida’s stunning Tampa Bay stands out as exactly the kind of place where you have to think about hazardous materials emergencies. It was 25 years ago, on August 10, 1993, that a freighter collided with two barges near the entrance of Tampa Bay, causing a fire and spilling over 32,000 gallons of jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline and about 330,000 gallons of heavy fuel, devastating beaches, wildlife and habitat.

Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk will be the first in the world to trial artificial intelligence (AI) powered perception and situational awareness technology on a containership.Under a deal signed with Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, Maersk will install computer vision, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and perception software aboard one of its new-build Winter Palace ice-class containerships.Sea Machines said its solution uses AI to improve at-sea situational awareness…

Boston-based developer of autonomous vessel technology Sea Machines Robotics announced it will open an office in Hamburg, Germany in a move aimed at better access to European-based customers, innovators and investors. The company said its second office will provide convenient access to several key locations and will support growing demand for engineering, sales and marketing across Europe. Sea Machines founder and CEO Michael Johnson said the company is growing as demand for autonomous technology is increasing.

Boston based Sea Machines Robotics said it will collaborate with Danish boat builder Tuco Marine to offer remote and autonomous control products as factory options in Tuco’s line of ProZero workboats. Last week, the two companies successfully demonstrated the remote command capability of the Sea Machines 300 technology at Danish Maritime Authority's “Zooming into Marine Autonomy Conference” where they gave live remote command of the water craft to Danish Minister of Industry, Brian Mikkelsen.

Following a recent capital investment and the growing global interest from the marine sector, Sea Machines Robotics said it has been expanding its crew and is poised for further growth, expecting to deliver first generation systems to marine customers this summer. Over the past two months, Sea Machines has added multiple new members to its experienced team of engineers, scientists and mariners. Among the new hires is Phil Bourque, the company’s new director of business development.

Sea Machines is bringing autonomous self-driving systems to the world of workboats. At an impressive virtual reality demonstration seen late last year and then again at a frigid, late winter visit to the Boston waterfront, the future of workboat technology became all too evident for this writer. The late George Allen, former head coach of the Washington Redskins football team perhaps said it best when he coined the phrase, “The future is now.” If so, then Michael Johnson, the founder of Sea Machines Robotics has brought that reality to the marine industry. The technology company targets the emerging market of autonomous marine vessels. That’s not some sort of futuristic vision; those capabilities are here, now.

When maritime stakeholders think about dredging, they typically first conjure up visions of harbor deepening projects to accommodate those giant, post-Panamax boxships. Conversely, inland players hope for maintenance dredging in the heartland to keep the nation’s 31,000 cargo barges afloat as they head for the coast. But, there is much more to it than that. In Louisiana, dredging, of course, keeps Louisiana's waterways open for navigation, provides material for coastal restoration and helps industrial plants with drainage. The biggest projects are sponsored by the U.S.

SAL Heavy Lift announced the completion of one of its most challenging projects: the crew of MV Svenja has installed an offshore development platform over a subsea gas well conductor in Alaska's Cook Inlet. It is the largest exploitation area in Alaska’s Cook Inlet – surrounded by active volcanoes and extremely strong tidal currents. “Kitchen Lights Unit # 3” is exposed to a tidal range of 25 feet which provokes currents in excess of 5 knots. And here SAL Heavy Lift faced one of the most challenging missions in its 35 years of history.

Captain Alex Sweeney joins Crowley’s Solutions Group as Vice President, Project Operations. Sweeney, who most recently served as vice president of operations for Crowley’s petroleum distribution group in Alaska, will remain in Anchorage and report to Michael Johnson, vice president, project management. In his new role, Sweeney will be responsible for the planning, coordination and management of select solutions projects. He will also assist the solutions business development team in pursuing project opportunities.

Elliott Bay Design Group is pleased to announce two recent additions to its staff. Eric Tally has joined the team as Senior Designer and Michael Johnson has joined the firm as Computer Systems Administrator. Eric Tally has over sixteen years of pipe system construction and design experience. He is currently designing the firemain system for the new Seattle Police Boat and is developing EBDG's comprehensive pipe specification database. Michael Johnson brings over fifteen years of information technology experience to the firm. Prior to joining EBDG's staff, he worked as a software test engineer at Microsoft. His skills and experience include designing…

Ravenscroft Shipping Inc., has contracted with ABS Nautical Systems for its advanced ABS-NS SafeNet fleet management software. To be installed both ashore and aboard, the SafeNet fleet management system offers a completely integrated method of tracking and controlling key operational requirements and expenditures. Ravenscroft Shipping has contracted for the Crew Management & Payroll, Maintenance & Repair, Purchasing & Inventory and Financial Reporting modules of ABS-NS SafeNet. management of a fleet," said Michael Johnson, ABS Nautical Systems Director, Operations. Ravenscroft Shipping is certified to both ISM and ISO 9002 management system standards.