Remote Systems News

Ocean Infinity's Armada 7801 has reached Norway after a long journey from Vietnam, where its hull was built last year at the Vard Vung Tau shipyard."Our first new ship has arrived in Norway, having set sail on its maiden voyage from Vietnam in November. Installation of the payload equipment and remote systems will now commence ahead of the ship entering service on offshore data acquisition tasks in the coming months," Ocean Infinity, a seabed survey and ocean research company based in the United States…

At a time when the world has become more aware than ever before about the vital importance of the world’s ocean shipping fleet, which carried supplies, merchandise and much needed personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased risk from a different threat, cyberattacks, presents a set of new challenges. According to Israeli cybersecurity specialist Naval Dome, since February 2020, there has been a 400% increase in attempted hacks on the maritime realm…

Cambridge Pixel has added dual redundancy to its SPx Tracking Server to support high reliability radar tracking. The enhancement will protect against system failure by providing two processing paths for the radar data and allowing automatic switching from one to the other.Support for dual redundant radar tracking is designed for developers of high reliability or remote systems such as in maritime and coastal surveillance applications where multiple radars are located along a coastline…

Lloyd's Register (LR) has launched the LR Unmanned Marine Systems Code, a goal-based code that takes a structured approach to the assessment of unmanned marine systems (UMS) against a set of safety and operational performance requirements. With current and expected developments in autonomous and remote systems LR envisages that, within the near future, UMS will enter into widespread use through many sectors of the maritime industry. LR has been active in understanding how it can support the industry to demonstrate safe design and quality manufacture of critical aspects for unmanned systems. The LR Unmanned Marine Systems Code provides an assurance process in order to certify the safe design…

Network visualization expert Barco is delighted to see its OpSpace operator workspace solution make inroads in control rooms around the world. Since October, operators at the new operations control center of German IT services provider Finanz Informatik have been experiencing how OpSpace helps them work more comfortably and more effectively and take better decisions faster. In addition to the 28 units installed at the Finanz Informatik facility in Germany, OpSpace is currently being rolled out at control rooms of other companies in EMEA, the US, Brazil and APAC countries. Finanz Informatik provides professional IT services to clients in the financial sector.

Statoil has awarded Palfinger Dreggen a contract for the complete rebuild and upgrade of six blowout preventer (BOP) cranes for the Gullfaks field in the northern part of the Norwegian North Sea. Each of the BOP cranes to be delivered from Palfinger Dreggen will have the capacity to lift 2 x 20 tons. In addition, the cranes are equipped with an auxiliary hoist with SWL 5 tons for smaller lifts. The delivery includes complete new trolleys with hoisting machineries, new modern control systems for the cranes and radio remote systems to make the operation of the cranes easy and flexible.

Simulators are used for many purposes in the offshore industry such as for work planning/mission planning purposes including engineering development, procedure development, technical assessments, research, and asset risk assessment. Importantly too they are used in the training environment and as part of competence assessments where they enable measurable assessment of individuals in training to be undertaken. It is particularly with training and competence assessment in mind…

KVH Industries, Inc., (KVHI) has rolled out a new dedicated voice configuration for its mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) global maritime satellite network. The network's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is now delivered on a prioritized and protected data stream, separate from the network's overall broadband data traffic. VoIP service is also prioritized onboard the vessel for quality VoIP service even during times of heaviest broadband data use. By prioritizing phone service…

Bibby Offshore’s Houston-based division, Bibby Subsea has signed a three year contract with Bordelon Marine to charter a new vessel. The Brandon Bordelon is an ultra-light intervention vessel (ULIV) and will commence a three year charter in August 2015 primarily operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The addition of the Brandon Bordelon to Bibby Offshore’s existing international fleet of specialised vessels enhances the capability throughout the Americas region. The purpose built, high specification Brandon Bordelon vessel provides a versatile and cost effective approach to a variety of operations, including IMR operations (inspection, maintenance and repair), light construction, survey and inspection work.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Secretariat says that Chris Baldwin has joined its team as a Technical Adviser following a short secondment from the Royal Navy. The association has a strong team of eight Technical Advisers working with Jane Bugler, IMCA’s Technical Director. Chris has spent 29 years in the Royal Navy and most recently held a position in the UK MoD’s Defence Safety and Environment Authority, as the Diving Regulator and Superintendent of Diving. His career path has given him a wide maritime experience including: DP, AUV and ROV operations; ship and Offshore Installation security; competency training, safety auditing and most recently commercial diving.

Chris Charman took over as Chief Executive of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) in December of last year. IMCA’s Chief Executive leads the IMCA secretariat and is responsible for delivering the association’s extensive global work program. Charman, perhaps not widely known to our North American readership, nevertheless brings impressive qualifications to this important advocacy group for the international offshore, marine and underwater engineering sectors.

Massimo Fontolan, of Saipem Ltd., takes on the role of President of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). Mr. Fontolan is currently Vice President Commercial, North Atlantic and Arctic at Saipem Ltd. In addition to becoming President of IMCA, he also becomes Chairman of the association's Overall Management Committee (OMC), having served as Vice President of IMCA for the past two years. He is a Civil Engineer with a degree in hydromechanics and quick to point…

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published a variety of guides, templates and discussion documents aimed at raising awareness on contracting issues (including liability and insurance), promoting discussion and providing tools that may be useful for its contractor members, their clients and sub-contractors. All are subject to revision to ensure usefulness to all stakeholders and that it just what has happened to a key document – ‘IMCA Marine Construction Contract’, with revision to others relating to offshore survey and ROV work in the pipeline.

User interface is the most visible system component when it comes to equipment operation. From the steering wheel and instrument cluster on your vehicle’s dashboard to the most complex industrial control system, the purpose is the same; it must allow human interface into a system. The interface must provide the user a means to control the equipment, provide feedback from the equipment to show operational conditions and alert us when something is wrong. And it should do these things efficiently, be easy to use, and visually and ergonomically pleasing.

Oceanology International 2010, held in London last month, proved to be the ideal place for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to hold a dedicated workshop on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) umbilical and handling systems, the first being at IMCA’s Annual Seminar in November 2009 in Rio de Janeiro. “The workshops have proved to be highly rewarding occasions, bringing together IMCA members from around the world including engineering managers; vessel operators; ROV contractors; ROV suppliers – including manufacturers and designers of handling systems and umbilicals; and the insurance world,” said Hugh Williams. Jim Mann of Fugro opened the session at the London event…

Hallin Marine executive Ian Huggins has been voted onto the management committee of the International Marine Contractors Association by his industry peers.  Huggins will serve on the Remote Systems & ROV Division management committee for the Asia Pacific region. Huggins is the second Hallin executive to be serving on IMCA - Hallin's West Division managing director, , was appointed to the Europe and region of the same committee in 2007.

Cal Dive International, Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire 85 percent of Canyon Offshore, Inc., a supplier of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and robotics to the offshore construction and telecommunications industries. Cal Dive would purchase the remaining 15 percent at a price to be determined by Canyon's performance during the years 2002 through 2004. The purchase price from $66 million $74 million is four to five times expected Canyon EBITDA. Hart Scott Rodino filing, is expected to close before year-end. Owen Kratz, chairman and chief executive officer of Cal Dive, said, "Acquiring Canyon will be a vertical integration which flows from the CDI policy of directly controlling all aspects on the critical path of significant projects. John S.

Records set by previous events in the series have been broken by the 15th Annual Seminar of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), being held in Paris 6-7 November. This year, with a week to go before the Seminar is held, there are over 330 delegates from 25 countries and 16 exhibiting companies. The IMCA is the international trade association representing offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies with 420+ members in 48 countries. The event has returned to Paris after eight years touring the world in locations as varied as Houston, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Organization has been by all four IMCA technical divisions - Diving…