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Submarine Technology News

14 Sep 2023

Wicker Urges Navy Nominee to Focus on Shipbuilding

© Joseph Creamer / Adobe Stock

Roger Wicker, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, urged Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti to focus on shipbuilding and the expansion of the nation's naval forces.Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday led a full committee hearing examining the nomination of Franchetti to become the next Chief of Naval Operations.In his remarks, Wicker observed that China’s naval buildup and the United States’ shrinking Navy leave our…

30 Dec 2022

Tech File: A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind

STL’s Autonomous Synchronised Stabilised Platform being put through its paces at the University of Plymouth’s COAST Laboratory. Photo courtesy STL

With a background in subsea and offshore, coming up with new ideas is the norm’ for UK-based engineering consultancy STL (Submarine Technology Limited), writes Elaine Maslin.The last few years have been no different. The company has been focusing on ship-based robotics, including robotic arms. These aren’t just any robotic arms – they’re motion compensated systems for deploying/recovering people and robots to and from fixed or moving objects. That could be wind technicians to…

30 Nov 2022

A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind

STL’s Autonomous Synchronised Stabilised Platform being put through its paces at the University of Plymouth’s COAST Laboratory. Photo from STL

With a background in subsea and offshore, coming up with new ideas is the norm for UK-based engineering consultancy STL (Submarine Technology Limited), writes Elaine Maslin.The last few years have been no different. The company has been focusing on ship-based robotics, including robotic arms. These aren’t just any robotic arms – they’re motion-compensated systems for deploying/recovering people and robots to and from fixed or moving objects.That could be wind technicians to an…

21 Feb 2019

Marine-i Supports Robotic Arm Ambition

Marine-i has made a grant award to a marine tech company Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to focus on designing and building a futuristic robotic arm.The arm is a ship-based multi-axis robotic arm and will form an integral part of a new Autonomous Synchronised Stabilised Platform (ASSP) to enable intervention tasks to be carried from Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV).Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) is based on the Isle of Wight but recently opened an office in Penryn to develop the device, which it hopes will transform autonomous marine operations. Marine-i is a European Regional Development Fund funded programme set up to boost marine innovation in Cornwall."Typical intervention tasks will include equipment transfer and payload management, survey and inspection, launch and recovery.

07 Apr 2016

US Military Christens Self-piloting Ship

Photo: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

The U.S. military on Thursday christened an experimental self-driving warship designed to hunt for enemy submarines, a major advance in robotic warfare at the core of America's strategy to counter Chinese and Russian naval investments. The 132-foot-long (40-metre-long) unarmed prototype, dubbed Sea Hunter, is the naval equivalent of Google's self-driving car, designed to cruise on the ocean's surface for two or three months at a time - without a crew or anyone controlling it remotely.

11 Mar 2016

Japanese Submarine to Join Australia's Navy in Military Drill

Soryu-class JS Hakuryu and two warfare destroyers will work with Australian ships near Jervis Bay as part of bilateral exercises, reports AAP. The 4,000-ton Soryu-class stealth submarine JS Hakuryu, outfitted with a new lithium-ion battery propulsion system, will be joined by two JMSDF destroyers and two helicopters during the training exercise aimed to  â€śfoster collaboration” and “improve tactical skills,” according to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). All in all, around 430 JMSDF personnel will participate in the drill. The Soryu class submarine will join forces from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in conducting a number of joint training exercises…

06 Jun 2014

Australian Defence Minister to Tour Japan Stealth Submarine

Australian Defence Minister David Johnston will tour a Japanese stealth submarine when he visits Tokyo next week, his Japanese counterpart said on Friday, ahead of talks that could cement an agreement to cooperate in arms development. "We are planning to show Minister Johnston various military equipment including submarines," Itsunori Onodera told a news conference. Johnston will be the first foreign defence minister to tour the highly sensitive craft, a ministry spokesman said. Johnston and Onodera will discuss cooperation next Wednesday in meetings that will include both foreign ministers. The talks could yield an agreement similar to a deal struck between Japan and Britain last year that created a legal framework for closer cooperation on defence and security…

19 Sep 2012

New Offshore Wind Safety Product Completes First Testing

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).

17 Sep 2012

VMMS Achieves Excellent Results in First Tests

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).

31 May 2011

Submarine Lembit Reaches Land

The evening of Saturday, 21 May, saw the completion of a long and complicated engineering technical process, as a result of which the 600-tonne submarine Lembit is now securely on land. Submarine Lembitwas lifted out along a 100-metre ramp or slip built especially for that purpose at the Seaplane Harbour. For winching the submarine out, Lembit was supported by 8-metre pontoons and armoured car BTS-4, built on the basis of T54 and equipped with a winch, was used to pull the submarine out.

05 May 2011

Distinguished Rear Admiral Joins Marport Board

Ottawa, Ontario – May 4, 2011 – Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc., a leading developer of Software Defined Sonar® technology, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rear Admiral Millard S. Firebaugh, USN (ret) to the Marport Board of Directors. Admiral Firebaugh has held distinguished leadership positions in research and development, naval ship and system design, submarine technology and advanced electronics. “On behalf of the entire Marport organization, I would like to welcome Admiral Millard Firebaugh to the Marport Board of Directors.

26 Mar 2008

Engineer Sentenced For Trying To Steal Navy Secrets

A Chinese-born engineer convicted of conspiring to pass military secrets to the People's Republic of was sentenced to 24 years and five months in federal prison. Chi Mak, 65, of , was formerly employed by defense contractor Power Paragon. He was found guilty last May of trying to obtain U.S. Navy submarine technology and to illegally export that information to . According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service found that co-conspirators from the PRC instructed Mak to obtain specific defense information about current and future naval warship systems. Mak was advised to attend seminars to collect sensitive, restricted information discussed there and to compile that information on CD-ROM discs.

02 Dec 2003

Northrop Grumman Christens Submarine Model

ceremony on Nov. Experimental Model 1 (NNemo 1). model of Newport News' advanced hull-form concept submarine design. recovery procedures. research and development. the submarine in shallower water. Carderock Division provided general design guidance. Submarine Technology, Northrop Grumman Newport News. off-the-shelf Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. the project. Electronic Systems provided assistance with the propellers.

18 Dec 2003

News: New Sub Model Christened at NNS

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Newport News sector held a christening ceremony on Nov. 19 for its submarine model concept called Newport News Experimental Model 1 (NNemo 1). NNemo 1 is a scaled, radio-controlled model of Newport News' advanced hull-form concept submarine design. Testing of NNemo 1 will take place in December, and the data gathered will help predict full-scale ship performance in making turns, verifying dynamic stability and allowing the development of emergency recovery procedures. The Newport News sector designed NNemo 1 through independent research and development. The design is based on innovative pressure-hull technologies, structural materials and electric propulsion systems developed at Newport News to operate and maneuver the submarine in shallower water.

08 Jan 2001

World Renowned Propeller Expert To Retire

After a career leading the modernization of U.S. ship and submarine technology, Dr. William B. Morgan, Head of the Carderock Division's Hydromechanics Directorate, is retiring December 30th with almost fifty years of service. During his career, the Iowa native brought computers into naval engineering, revolutionizing propeller design by shifting from empirical to theoretical, becoming the first in the world to put the theoretical propeller data into a computer. This dramatically reduced propeller noise, enhancing submarine and ship acoustic characteristics. For example, he and his associates developed the highly skewed propeller with its superior vibration and acoustic properties. His largely unheralded work helped the United States win the Cold War. Dr.

24 Jan 2001

People & Company News

Maritime Surveys Ltd., Shoreham, Sussex, U.K., recently took delivery of the first SeaBat 8160 multibeam echosounder system from RESON A/S. The SeaBat 8160 was installed on one of Maritime's survey vessels, the Scotian Shore. Alastair MacDonald, managing director of Maritime Surveys, commented on the success of the sea trials: "The SeaBat 8160 delivered the highest quality multibeam survey data in a swath width of 1,300 meters at 3,000 meters water depth, even when experiencing a near 20 degree roll and 12 degree pitch. The excellent data quality combined with the system's portability makes the 8160 extremely valuable for our operations." During these trials the system was supported by GSE Rentals of Aberdeen who supplied a TSS POS M/V 320 system.

08 Jul 2002

Jebsen Appointed as Director For Ship Signatures at Navy Laboratory

Gary M. Jebsen has been elevated to the Senior Executive Service (SES) and the position of Director for Ship Signatures in the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division (NSWCCD). In this role, the Leesburg, Virginia resident serves as both directorate head and leader of the Signatures Group in the Naval Seal Systems Command (NAVSEA). Gary shoulders the responsibility for naval and federal ship design and research, development, test and evaluation, and overall program management in the area of ship signature performance. He is leaving a successful assignment as Submarine Technology Program Manager at the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

24 Jan 2006

Old Relic Remains at Bottom of Milford’s Harbor

At the bottom of Milford, Conn.’s city harbor lies a century-old, barnacle-encrusted submersible, belonging to native and inventor Simon Lake, a pioneer in the field of submarine technology and underwater exploration. While some mistakenly believe the submersible in the city's harbor is an early submarine, it is actually a chamber that would be lowered to the ocean floor by a boom on a ship. People could walk to the chamber through a 200-foot-long tube with a staircase that was connected to the structure. According to the Connecticut Post, one of three such chambers built by Lake was used by England in 1907 to salvage the Lutine, a treasure-filled ship that sank in the Zuider Zee, a former arm of the North Sea that was later shut off by dikes, according to the inventor's family.

09 Nov 2005

Chinese Nationals Arrested in Plot to Steal Navy Technology

According to an AP report, two Chinese nationals have been held without bond on charges of stealing sensitive documents on U.S. Navy warship technology and trying to smuggle them to China. A federal judge denied bond to Tai Wang Mak, a broadcast and engineering director for the Phoenix North American Chinese Channel, and his wife, Fuk Heung Li. The two allegedly conspired to take a disk containing information on U.S. submarine technology to Guangzhou, China. A hearing was scheduled for Nov. 15. The two were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 28 as they boarded a plane to China. In Li's luggage, authorities found a disk that contained information on U.S. technology designed to suppress the noise of submarine propulsion systems, according to the report.

30 May 2001

GD Takeover of NNS Could Curb Competition Within U.S. Warship Construction

General Dynamics Corp.'s contested $2.1 billion plan to take over Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. could stifle competition in U.S. warship building, a congressional analysis released Tuesday showed. The new company would account for about 70 percent of U.S. warship revenues and 82 percent of the in-house designers and engineers, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service said in a May 22-dated report. It also would get more than 95 percent of Navy research and development funds earmarked for the six private sector shipyards that build major U.S. Navy ships, based on 1999 Defense Department figures, the analysis said. The already agreed…

31 Aug 2001

Navy Lab Researchers Earn Office of Naval Research Award

Dr. Vernon Simmons, former Senior Scientist, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) and Dr. Yuan-Ning Liu, Chief Research Scientist, NSWCCD, received the annual Dr. Arthur E. Bission Prize for Naval Technology Achievement for leading-edge scientific research in structural acoustics. Dr. Simmons was unable to attend the August 23rd ceremony at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which marked the second year in a row NSWCCD researchers have won the award. Last year the project singled out for accolades was the advanced enclosed composite mast. Their accomplishments resulted in a greater understanding of the interactions of acoustics and structures for submarines, leading to major advances in stealth and sonar performance.