tidingsOnline

Issue 100 - 18th January 2008

All the latest news from the marine industry...

OSIL NAMED UK DISTRIBUTOR FOR SONARDYNE'S ACOUSTIC RELEASES

OSIL(Ocean Scientific International Ltd.) have been appointed by Sonardyne International Ltd to be the sole distributor for their acoustic release transponder product range for the UK and Ireland. Sonardyne’s durable releases are relied upon worldwide for the efficient retrieval of moored underwater equipment and have a proven track record in a wide variety of oceanographic applications.

OSIL are delighted to add Sonardyne’s acoustic releases to their vast catalogue of marine instruments as they provide OSIL with yet another way to supply their customers with a complete and professional environmental system at a low-cost. Managing Director, Richard Williams says of the new distributorship, “we are proud to be associated with such an innovative company and are sure that this new addition will be well received by our customers.”

For further information please visit www.osil.co.uk

OFFICIAL OPENING OF OSIL'S NEW OFFICES

Environmental instruments and systems company OSIL (Ocean Scientific International Ltd.), officially opened their new premises, Culkin House, on Friday 14th December 2007. The ceremony took place at the company’s new offices in Havant, Hampshire, and was performed in the presence of guest of honour Dr. Fred Culkin, after whom the building is named.

Dr. Culkin has a long and prestigious career in marine science, particularly in the field of seawater chemistry. He graduated from London University in 1952 and received his PhD in 1960 from the University of Liverpool for research on trace elements in seawater. His research interests included physical properties and chemistry of seawater, organic chemistry of marine organisms and salinity standards. From 1975 until 1989 he was the Director of the Standard Seawater Service and was a member of the Joint Panel of Oceanographic Tables and Standards (JPOTS).

OSIL’s Chairman, Paul Ridout remarks, “I have worked with Fred since 1974 and I am proud to be able to recognize his significant contribution to marine science by naming OSIL’s offices after him. Much of his pioneering work has paved the way for the work that OSIL is involved in today, which includes supplying instruments and systems for monitoring the effects of climate change and marine environmental impact assessment.”

For further information please visit: www.osil.co.uk

JW FISHER ROV HELPS CLEAN HARBORS

Environmental services company Clean Harbors has successfully completed two more inspection projects using their JW Fisher SeaOtter ROV. At the Mystic Power Station in Boston the ROV "swam" into intake lines in a holding pond to verify the line was clear of obstructions. The ROV was used because the pond could not be safely locked out, which meant is would be extremely dangerous for divers to enter. While on site the ROV also inspected seawater coolant intakes for debris buildup to help in planning a revised cleaning schedule. On another job in Connecticut, a hole was cut through 6 inches of ice covering a retention pond. The SeaOtter was deployed through the hole and inspected the freshwater feed and recirculation lines for sediment build-up. Both clients were very pleased with the performance of the ROV and the service provided, reports Marine Operation director Scott Metzger.

Clean Harbors is one of the leading environmental services provider and the largest waste disposal company in North America. Their services include emergency response and industrial maintenance. With a substantial increase in this part of their business over the last couple of years, the company decided an underwater camera would be a very useful tool to assist in the response and maintenance operations. Mr. Metzger was tasked with determining which of the many camera systems available would be best for their varied applications. After extensive research SeaOtter ROV was selected as the best tool to fit their needs and budget. The remote operated vehicle is equipped with a powerful four motor propulsion system, a high resolution color camera, and four 100 watt lights. The ROV is controlled by an operator on the surface who uses joysticks to manipulate the camera and "drive" the vehicle to the underwater site.

Before performing their first open water inspection, Clean Harbors decided to take the ROV to the Mass Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay and demonstrate the ROV’s capabilities for the media and public officials. During the demonstration two cadet interns piloted the SeaOtter as part of their co-op program. In an interview Metzger said the advantages of having an ROV is not having to risk the life of a diver in dangerous situations and being able to instantaneously record images. He added that it’s also good for extended underwater operations. The ROV can stay underwater all day and all night with no concern about running out of air or decompression issues.

OSIL RECOGNISED IN GUILDLINE'S 50th YEAR

The Canadian company Guildline Instruments Ltd. are celebrating their 50th anniversary as a leading manufacturer of precision metrology instrumentation. Guildline are renowned throughout the oceanographic community for their industry standard Autosal and Portasal Salinometers and as part of their celebrations Guildline have recognised the contribution OSIL (Ocean Scientific International Ltd.) have made to their success by distributed their products for several decades.

OSIL, based in Havant, Hampshire, have been distributing and providing technical support for Guildline’s well-known range of Salinometers worldwide for over 15 years. More recently they have become the UK distributors for their entire range of metrology products, which includes DC Precision Bridges, fluid baths, thermometers and standard resistors. Guildline’s President, Richard Timmons comments, “during this important milestone in our history we wish to thank OSIL for their outstanding service to Guildline and look forward to a very long lasting working relationship.”

For futher information please visit www.osil.co.uk

IMarEST INDORSES INAUGURAL MEOST

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is delighted to be endorsing the inaugural Middle East Ocean Science and Technology Expo conference and exhibition (Abu Dhabi, 21-23 January 2008).

“Our active Mid East Division with its branches in Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan (a joint branch with RINA), Sri Lanka and of course the United Arab Emirates was established in 1994 and continues to go from strength to strength, and we look we look forward to welcoming members , and potential members, from the Region and from further afield to our stand (1006) at MEOST,” says IMarEST’s Chief Executive, Keith Read CBE. “I hope too that many will take the opportunity to attend the conference. Dr Ralph Rayner, Vice President, IMarEST will be delivering a scene-setting keynote presentation on the first day of the event.”

Dr Rayner’s presentation ‘Ocean energy resources and the ocean environment - how ocean science and technology can help save the world’ will emphasise that the world’s oceans contain the greatest untapped energy reserves on the planet as well as being a critical source of food, a medium for transport of the bulk of world trade and the major driver of future climate. He sees exploiting the ocean's huge reserves of hydrocarbons and renewable energy and at the same time protecting the ocean environment and the environment of the planet as a whole as the greatest challenge facing the ocean science and technology sector. His keynote will set the scene by introducing the future potential of the oceans as a source of energy and outlining the issues surrounding sustainable and environmentally acceptable use of these
resources.

“We congratulate the organisers of MEOST on this interesting new initiative and look forward to a very stimulating three days and to renewing many acquaintances and making new contacts in a highly important part of the world,” adds Keith Read.

For further information please visit www.imarest.org or www.meost.com

TRITECH LAUNCH NEW MERLIN ROV EXCAVATION AND JETTING SYSTEM AT SUBSEA UK ’08

A brand new 35 h.p. - 60 h.p. Merlin excavation pump is being launched at The Subsea ’08 Exhibition on 14 February, Tritech stand A5. Aberdeenshire based, subsea technology company, Tritech International are showcasing the new Merlin, which is said to be small, light and robust, with great performance in both excavation and jetting functions. Paul Hudson, Marketing Executive for Tritech says, “The Merlin is the natural successor to the Excalibur pump, which has proved as efficient and reliable as the whole ZipJet family.”

The Merlin has been designed to avoid any block or jam as there are no moving parts in the suction flow path. A flow reversal valve can be operated to back flush the suction nozzle should there be an obstruction. Power is derived from a stream of high velocity fluid creating a low pressure region behind the suction nozzle.

The pump has three modes of operation and may be rapidly switched from suction to jetting, or be configured to an intermediate position allowing jetting and excavation to be carried out simultaneously.

SAILOR 250 FLEETBROADBAND TERMINAL RECEIVES TYPE APPROVAL

Thrane & Thrane has received Inmarsat Type Approval for its SAILOR 250 FleetBroadband terminal and expects to ship the first units before the end of January 2008. The Inmarsat FleetBroadband service, which went live officially on 19th November 2007 is a great leap forward in communication at sea. The cost-effective equipment and airtime, in combination with full IP connectivity has the potential to improve everything from crew welfare to vessel maintenance.

Thrane & Thrane was a key partner in the building of the network infrastructure for FleetBroadband. This experience has enabled the company to get ahead of the game by being first to market, with high-quality terminals that harness the power of this revolutionary new communications platform.

Following the April 2007 launch and September 2007 market introduction of the SAILOR FleetBroadband products, Thrane & Thrane has experienced an overwhelming interest and has already received a considerable number of orders. The first consignment of SAILOR 500 FleetBroadband was shipped on December 14th 2007, with some of these terminals already operational at sea as we enter 2008.

"The type approval on our SAILOR 500 and SAILOR 250 systems, makes Thrane & Thrane the only company able to supply FleetBroadband terminals for both services," comments Casper Jensen, Manager Maritime Global Marketing. "The fantastic interest in SAILOR FleetBroadband makes us confident that these products will be very successful in the market, especially as more and more operators see the inherent benefits that FleetBroadband can bring to operation."

For further information please visit: www.thrane.com

TIDELAND WARNING SYSTEMS FOR SAIPEM'S NEW DRILLING BARGE

Tideland Signal has won the contract to supply navigational warning systems for Saipem's new TAD1 tender-assisted drilling barge currently under construction and destined for deployment in the Angolan offshore oil fields. Tideland’s contract was awarded by Piaggio & Figli of Genoa, which is responsible for electrical systems on TAD1. The vessel will be marked by two 10 mile lights, one at each end, and a fog signal with a range of 2 NM, all conforming to IALA recommendation O-114 for the marking of offshore structures.

Both lights are provided by Tideland's ML-300 GMU lanterns, a lightweight, corrosion-resistant design featuring a one-piece acrylic Fresnel lens capable of achieving up to 7,288 candela. The lanterns are equipped with Tideland’s TF-3B MicroPower OMNIBUS II flasher/lampchanger equipment, which incorporates a timer circuit card to permit input voltages up to 36V and provides up to 256 user-selectable flash codes.

A unique and cost-effective feature of the Tideland equipment is that it does not require a separate control panel, although these are frequently supplied as an option. The OMNIBUS timer and control circuit allows the operator to synchronize a number of units, including fog signals, switch codes, show alarms and indicators.

The Tideland AB-560 fog signal incorporates five drivers/emitters producing 133.2 dB at 1 metre equivalent and with a usual range of two miles. It broadcasts a 360° sound beam in the horizontal plane, with a pre-selected code. It can be operated either from mains power using a battery charger and battery, or DC power using primary depolarized cells or a solar power system. The drivers/emitters are housed in robust GRP casings and are mounted in a galvanized steel structure designed to withstand severe storms. They operate at less than 25% of rated capacity, which results in exceptional efficiency and life expectancy.

The Saipem TAD is designed for drilling in workover in waters up to 150 metres deep. Measuring 91.44 m overall, it has a flat bottomed hull with an eight point mooring system and is equipped with erecting and service cranes, an 800,000 lbs. derrick, helideck and accommodation for 100.

For further information please visit: www.tidelandsignal.com

MTS/IEEE MARINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE TO ‘VOYAGE TOWARD THE FUTURE’

Topics as wide ranging as Arctic engineering, marine recreation and submarine cable networks are among areas of interest that will draw scientists from around the world to the OCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE KOBE-TECHNO-OCEAN'08 Conference (OTO'08), to be held April 8-11, 2008, in the Kobe International Exhibition Hall, Kobe, Japan.

The theme of ‘Voyage Toward the Future’ was chosen to encourage participants to take up the challenges presented at the last conference, in 2004, according to the conference’s Executive Committee Chair Dr. Ken Takagi, associate professor, Osaka University.

The conference’s core topics are underwater acoustics; sonar and image processing; ocean observing technology; remote sensing; ocean data visualization; modeling and information management; oceanography; meteorology; optics; marine law and education; offshore structures; and ocean vehicles and floating structures.

Along with the technical sessions and exhibition area, there will be tutorials, a student poster session and a gala reception at the Kobe Kacho-En. Technical tours will include visits to the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, the Large Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel Chikyu.

The conference is sponsored by the Japan Section of the Marine Technology Society and the Japan Chapter of the Ocean Engineering Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

For further information and to register please visit: www.oceans08mtsieeekobe-technoocean08.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

Traceable Determination of Practical Salinity and Mass Fraction of Major Seawater Components
PTB based in Braunschweig, Germany, are coordinating a joint pilot study CCQM-P111 on salinity and would like to invite laboratories to participate in the practical salinity intercalibration exercise.

For further information please contact: Petra Spitzer on petra.spitzer@ptb.de or Steffen Seitz on steffen.seitz@ptb.de

The Seiche Courses in Basic and Advanced Underwater Acoustics
March 31 - 4 April 2008, Melbourne, Australia.
For further information please contact: Norm Broner, Tel: +61 3 92483362, Email: NBroner@skm.com.au

The Seiche Courses in Basic and Advanced Underwater Acoustics and Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Wildlife
15 -19 September 2008, National Physical Laboratory, London, UK.
For further information please contact: Gillian Coates, Tel: +44 1407 720474, Email: gacoates@seiche.com