Ocean Observing Systems News

Danish developer Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind has signed a research partnership  with Rutgers University, the University of Rhode Island and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to support academic research activities related to offshore wind.The group is set to launch the Ecosystem and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (ECO-PAM) project.Ørsted signed an initial memorandum of understanding with Rutgers University in May 2019 to support academic research activities related to offshore wind. The ECO-PAM project will be in addition to this initial funding agreement.The company plans to apply the project’s learnings to develop tailored processes and procedures to better protect the North Atlantic right whale during survey, construction and operation phases of their U.S. offshore wind farm portfolio.

A new research vessel for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has completed sea trials and is transiting to its home port in Virginia.The new vessel, the R/V Virginia, will support the institution’s fisheries research projects and greatly expand VIMS’ capability to perform general oceanographic research in the Chesapeake Bay as well as mid-Atlantic coastal waters. Interest in the new research vessel is already growing rapidly as next season is almost fully booked with science cruises.The 93-foot vessel was built by Meridien Maritime Reparation.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science of Gloucester Point, Va. awarded a contract to Meridien Maritime Reparation of Matane, Quebec to construct a 93-foot research vessel. JMS Naval Architects of Mystic, Conn. designed the research vessel to replace VIMS’s current vessel, the R/V Bay Eagle. The primary mission of the Institute’s fleet is to provide inshore and offshore work platforms for the support of fisheries related oceanographic research projects. The new vessel will be capable of conducting fisheries assessments of greater capacity…

Since the first deployment of in-situ monitoring instrumentation, biofouling has been a problem. Without an effective solution, people have historically had to accept the limits biofouling imposes on ocean sensing work, with significant repercussions. When instrumentation is deployed in-situ, the value of the data taken during the deployment corresponds with the longevity: information gleaned from a longer deployment is often more useful than information from one of a shorter term.

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.

JMS Naval Architects of Mystic, Ct. was competitively awarded a contract from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to provide concept through contract-level design, shipyard bid support, and owner’s rep services for VIMS’ next research vessel. The VIMS research vessel will be used for scientific research in the main stem and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, and capable of conducting extended science missions in coastal and offshore areas within the Mid-Atlantic region. The JMS Coastal Research Vessel Series concept-model provides a multi-purpose…

Register is now open for the 2013 Nortek Technical Symposium in San Diego, California on September 20-21, Nortek announced. This year’s event features keynote speakers from Ocean Observatories Initiative, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Attendees and presenters also include a host of other scientific researchers, engineers, system integrators and operational clients. The Nortek Technical Symposium is an opportunity for sharing industry professionals’ experiences…

Congressmen Farr and Young introduce a bi-partisan Congressional Resolution designating September 22, 2013 through September 28, 2013, as “National Marine Technology Week”. Resolution coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Marine Technology Society and OCEANS 2013 in San Diego. The Marine Technology Society is an international community of ocean engineers, technologists, policy-makers and educators that provides the ocean community with forums for the exchange of information and ideas through its peer-reviewed MTS Journal, conferences, newsletters and Web site (www.mtsociety.org).

Companies operating in the marine science and ocean technology have only one more month to submit an abstract for next year’s Oceanology International 2014 conference. Taking place at London ExCeL between Tuesday and Thursday, March 11 and 13, 2014, the next Oceanology International is due to be the busiest of its series, with already 86.6% of exhibition spacebooked and eightone-day conference programs taking place alongside three new panel discussions. Professor Ralph Rayner is again the overall conference chairman, and that many key players in the relevant sectors have agreed to chair a program in their area of expertise. Dr. Professor Michael Bruno, Dean, Stevens Institute of Technology, U.S. Justin Crump, CEO, Sibyline Risk and Security Consultancy, U.K.

The World Ocean Council’s newly formed Marine Sound Working Group is a collaborative industry forum focused on identifying and implementing real-world technical and operational solutions to understand and reduce potential negative impacts of sound from industrial activities on marine life. Ocean businesses concerned with the marine sound issue are invited to the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS 2013) session on this complex challenge to help move forward with cross-sectoral collaboration and leadership in tackling the ocean sound issue. Form partnerships with existing efforts on ocean sound and marine life. Engage industries that generate sound but have been less involved to-date.

Maritime Communication Services (MCS), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) , has signed a strategic agreement with CSnet International to collaborate on the marketing, design, development and operation of ocean observing systems. The systems will be used for exploration of energy resources, monitoring of pipelines and reservoirs, marine science, warning of seismic events, and monitoring of infrastructure security. CSnet's Offshore Communications Backbone (OCB) consists of a network of power and fiber optic cables and sensor ports connected to a surface communications buoy. The communications backbone provides global users with a pre-engineered, expandable system that can be deployed - and redeployed - anywhere in water depths of up to 3,000 meters.

Regular visitors to this year’s Oceanology International (OI) will be surprised to learn that the Exhibition and Conference is moving to the ExCeL (Exhibition Center London) in London Docklands. Since 1969 the Exhibition and Conference has been at the Brighton Metropole, emerging as the largest event in the marine science and ocean technology sector. This year OI, which will take place from March 5-8 , offers the 600 exhibitors from 50 countries and over 6,000 visitors unparalleled modern facilities in a waterfront environment in the heart of London, along with a collection of vessels that will be moored directly alongside the Exhibition. Many exhibitors plan the launch of new products and services to coincide with this meeting of the global marine science community.