Underwater Technology News
Fincantieri, WSense Team to Bring 'IoUT' Tech to Maritime Infrastructure
Fincantieri is advancing its push into high-tech maritime infrastructure through a new agreement with WSense, a fast-growing underwater technology scale-up specializing in subsea communication and environmental monitoring systems. The partnership—signed by Giorgio Bellipanni, CEO of Fincantieri Infrastructure Opere Marittime, and WSense CEO Chiara Petrioli—aims to integrate real-time underwater sensing and Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) capabilities into major port and coastal projects.Under the collaboration…
TKMS Enjoys Defense Boom in Stock Market Debut
Warship builder TKMS rode a global defence boom to reach a valuation of 6.3 billion euros ($7.35 billion) in its blockbuster stock market debut on Monday, surpassing that of parent and main shareholder Thyssenkrupp.The listing of TKMS is the German conglomerate's latest move to simplify its structure and take advantage of growing demand for defence assets.Shares in Thyssenkrupp, which will keep a 51% stake in TKMS after the spin-off, were down 19% at 1109 GMT, reflecting the transfer of the stake in the naval vessel business…
Fincantieri Presents Underwater Segment, Revenue Expected to Reach 920 Million in 2027
During the DEEPDIVE - Analyst and Investor Underwater Day held in Milan, Fincantieri presented its long-term strategic vision for the development of its underwater segment to the financial community.Accounting for about 4% of Group revenue in 2024, the segment is set to double in 2027, reaching 8%, with expected revenue of approximately USD$920 million (820 million euros) and estimated EBITDA of USD$170 million (152 million euros), with an EBITDA margin approaching 19%. Forecast results for 2025 and 2026 confirm the strength of this trend…
EDGE and Fincantieri Deepen Partnership for Underwater Protection Solutions
EDGE and Fincantieri have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), deepening their cooperation through joint venture Maestral, which will be focused on the design, development and creation of unmanned systems for critical underwater infrastructure protection and seabed mapping, next-generation submarines, drone-carrier ships, and lightweight torpedoes.The MoU is based on both companies collaborating to develop underwater technologies, supporting the United Arab Emirates…
Tech File: A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind
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…
A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind
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…
Kongsberg Maritime's Sonar and Navigation Package for Norwegian and German Navies' Type 212CD Subs
Kongsberg Maritime's active sonar suite and bottom navigation technology has been selected for installation on Type 212CD class submarines for both the Norwegian and German navies.The contract was awarded through a comparative and thorough process governed by Kongsberg Thyssen Atlas JV (kta naval systems) and tkMS (thyssenKrupp marine systems) with another vendor(s).The Kongsberg technology package consists of SA9510S MKII Mine Avoidance and Navigation Sonars (MANS) plus a Bottom Navigation System (BNS) containing EM2040 MIL multibeam echo sounders and an EA640 echo sounder suite.
Preston Joins Global Diving & Salvage as Director of Marine Technology
Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has appointed Alisa Preston, P. Eng., as Director of Marine Technology to lead the growth of the marine services company’s underwater technology resources.Preston will be responsible for advancing the development of sustainable and innovative marine technology and remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) services as part of the overall business strategies for both Seattle-based Global and sister company MER Diving.Preston brings to the role a background in mechanical engineering, nuclear physics, project management and entrepreneurship.
The Path to Zero: First Wave of Ships Explore Green Hydrogen
While there is no consensus on what will be the maritime 'fuel of the future', developers across the world are for the first time testing the use of hydrogen to power ships as the maritime industry races to find technologies to cut emissions and confidence grows the fuel is safe to use commercially.To reach goals for the shipping industry set by the United Nations, industry leaders say the first net-zero ships must enter the global fleet by 2030. Ships powered by green hydrogen…
Ocean Explorer Finds WWII Submarine off Hawaii
A veteran ocean explorer and his team have employed advanced underwater technology to discover and scan World War II submarine USS S-35 (SS-140) offshore Hawaii.This is the 7th US WWII submarine found by Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Project" team. This recent discovery utilized pioneering robotics and methods at the forefront of today's underwater technology. The explorers applied a combination of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and advanced 4D Modeling photogrammetry.The USS S-35…
Sunken Submarine USS Stickleback Found
A World War II era submarine sunk during a Cold War training exercise off the shores of Hawaii more than six decades ago has been discovered by a team of ocean explorers utilizing pioneering robotics and methods at the forefront of today's underwater technology.USS Stickleback (SS 415), lost in nearly 11,000 feet of water 62 years ago, was discovered by veteran ocean explorer and Tiburon Subsea CEO Tim Taylor and his "Lost 52 Project" team equipped with a combination of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV)…
Kongsberg Sells Subsidiary Hydroid to HII
Kongsberg Maritime AS has signed an agreement to sell its underwater technology subsidiary company Hydroid, Inc. for $350 million to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). In conjunction with the transaction, HII and Kongsberg Maritime are also establishing a strategic alliance to jointly market naval and maritime products and services to the U.S. government market and potentially to global markets.Kongsberg Maritime acquired Hydroid for USD 80 million in 2007 and is now selling this US subsidiary for USD 350 million on a debt-free and cash-free basis and as adjusted off an agreed upon working capital."Kongsberg Maritime has driven technology development and created considerable value during the 12 years it has owned Hydroid, and we are capitalizing on this now.
Book Review: Getting Down to It; 50 Years of Subsea Success in Norway
The Norwegian Continental Shelf’s journey from the very first basic marinized subsea trees to today’s complex and sophisticated subsea processing equipment has been a rapid, at times turbulent, but always remarkable.There are many engineers who have seen through that journey, from the first exploration wells using Norwegian rigs in the mid-1970s to today. One has now written the history of subsea technology in Norway and this year’s Underwater Technology Conference (UTC) has been chosen for its launch…
Oi: Tracking 50 Years of Ocean Innovation
As Oceanology International celebrates its 50th Anniversary, Marine Technology Reporter explores half a century of subsea technology development and discovery. Oceanology International Americas runs February 25-27, 2019 in San Diego.When Oceanology launched in 1969 in the seaside resort of Brighton the world was a very different place. For a start, Brighton was home to the mods and rockers, who would square off against each other on the town’s elegant seafront. The British currency included shillings and ha’ pennies and man had yet to step foot on the moon.More crucially…
Marine Technology: Top Five New Products @ SMM 2018
The SMM 2018 scheduled to take place September 4-7, 2018, in Hamburg, Germany, is held every two years and is the traditional launching platform for a variety of commercial shipping and shipbuilding technologies. Five new marine technologies to look for in Hamburg include:Dredging TechCompany: HydrexBooth: B7.505Product: Dredging innovationHydrex will unveil a new concept developed to protect the marine environment from the spread of contaminated sediments during dredging operations.
Wreckage of USS Ward Found in the Philippines
The U.S. Navy warship that famously fired the first American shot in World War II has been found resting on the seabed in Ormoc Bay near Ponson Island in the Philippines. The historic vessel USS Ward was discovered and documented by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen's expedition crew aboard Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, who has now released video images just prior to the anniversary of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. At 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, December 7…
MAN’s Subsea Compressors Reach Field Proven Status
Both subsea compression trains at Statoil’s Åsgard field have achieved more than 25,000 operation hours with an availability close to 100 percent. The world’s first subsea gas compression facility features two MAN Diesel & Turbo HOFIM motor-compressor units. The Åsgard subsea compression system has officially reached the highest Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 with both trains surpassing 10,000 operating hours. The subsea facility demonstrated an availability close to 100 percent - the very few interruptions were caused by failure of the power supply from the vessel. “MAN Diesel & Turbo’s persistence in driving technology solutions…
Delay Averted with Underwater Sterntube Renewal
Hydrex Underwater Technology has assisted an excavation vessel hemorrhaging oil from a stern tube seal entangled with steel wire to pass safely through the Panama Canal. The 156m long, Dutch-owned vessel was unable to make the canal transit until the propeller shaft seal had been repaired, potentially delaying operations and resulting in financial penalty for the owner. Antwerp-headquartered underwater ship repair specialist Hydrex, however, repaired the leaky seal allowing the vessel to continue without disruption to its schedule.
ROV Winch Supplied for Antarctica Expedition
Antarctica expedition benefits from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) winch supplied by MacArtney Underwater Technology. An icebreaking polar supply and research vessel is to map out underwater conditions in the icy waters in terms of subsurface and marine life. The winch system, which was acquired through Swedish SubSea Solutions on the part of University of Gothenburg, will be put to good use on board South African icebreaking polar supply and research vessel S. A. Agulhas II designed to carry out scientific research and supply to South African research stations in Antarctica.
Sonardyne, NDI Partner for US Maritime Security
As part of its continued business expansion and long-term commitment to the region, underwater technology specialists, Sonardyne International Ltd, U.K., has entered into a nonexclusive agreement with Northern Defense Industries (NDI) to become its strategic partner for maritime security and defense projects in the U.S. Virginia-based NDI supplies integrated security solutions for maritime, energy and critical infrastructure applications both in North America and around the world.
MacArtney Connectivity for Navy Bow Sonar Systems
MacArtney Underwater Technology supplied SubConn underwater connectivity solutions for the bow mounted sonar systems that are essential to the impressive undersea threat detection and response capability of the advanced FREMM frigates currently operated by the French, Italian and Moroccan navies. In close cooperation with naval defense technology contractors; Thales (France) and WASS (Italy), MacArtney has designed and delivered the outboard and inboard cable and connector solutions that interface all sonar elements and connect these to the on board communications and power network.
Okeanus to Represent MacArtney Group in Brazil
Underwater technology provider MacArtney Group has signed an agreement with Okeanus Ltda. to be the group's official representative in the Brazilian market, MacArtney Group announced today. This is the third such deal MacArtney Group has signed in the South American in the last six months, following agreements with Cledirsa in Uruguay and Alakaluf in Chile. Founded by marine scientist Laura Azevedo and her father in 2007, Okeanus is a technical consulting company offering products…
Registration Open for Oceanology International
Registration for the largest-ever Oceanology International (ExCeL London, March 11-13, 2014) is now open at oceanologyinternational.com. With 520 exhibitors from 35 countries taking up over 8,000 m2 net of space, the biennial global forum is where industry, academia and government come together to share knowledge and connect with their peers in the marine technology and ocean science community, thus improving their strategies for measuring, exploiting, protecting and operating in the world’s oceans. “It is not only the exhibition that is record-breaking, we have an impressive series of eight conferences and three highly topical panel discussions planned by the industry for the industry,” explained Event Director, James Coleman of Reed Exhibitions.