tidingsOnline

Issue 99 - 7th December 2007

All the latest news from the marine industry...

OSIL are now confident of the areas and times for collection which will give them nutrient levels well within the quoted LNS specification, currently less than 1 micromolar in nitrate, nitrite, silicate and phosphate. By using these new-found collection criteria, OSIL can now achieve the maximum levels of 0.1 micromolar nitrate, nitrate and phosphate, and 0.5 micromolar silicate in their Low Nutrient Seawater which was not previously possible. Nigel Higgs, OSIL’s Seawater Chemist, explains, “these new lower nutrient concentration will be very helpful to our customers, particularly those measuring at low levels. We hope to maintain our current specifications for all future batches of LNS to reflect this enhancement of quality.”

ICELAND'S STAR-ODDI TEAM WITH PLANET OCEAN

Planet Ocean Ltd of Surrey UK announce that Icelandic marine research instrument manufacturer Star-Oddi, have selected them as their approved distributor in the UK and Ireland.

Planet Ocean’s Terry Sloane, comments “Star-Oddi are well known for designing and producing the worlds smallest marine instruments and data loggers used primarily in fish biology, research and aquaculture. These innovative devices have a much wider use in general oceanography and even industrial applications.”

Star-Oddi offers a wide range of environmental research equipment such as fish archival tags, miniature CTD loggers (salinity), submersible temperature and depth loggers, and other underwater data loggers. Known for their small size, accuracy and reliability, most people will be familiar with the range of data storage tags measuring and recording temperature, depth and salinity, but Star-Oddi also produces micro miniature loggers for GPS position, pitch and roll, and compass heading.

“The UK market has always been important for Star-Oddi, and we are glad to start working with Planet Ocean, to expand our business further in the UK.” says Star-Oddi’s Baldur Sigurgeirsson.

For further information please visit: www.planet-ocean.co.uk

NEW SONARDYNE SENTINEL DIVER DETECTION SONAR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES US NAVY TRIALS

The new Sentinel Diver Detection System, from Sonardyne International, successfully completed a four-day series of intensive trials at the US Naval Underwater Warfare Center, Newport, Rhode Island during October. Although full details of the tests cannot be disclosed, the US Navy subjected the system to a variety of threat scenarios. The Sentinel not only met all requirements of the tests, but also exceeded expectations during the challenging appraisal.

Rob Balloch, strategic development director for Sonardyne said; “For a product such as Sentinel, the US Naval Underwater Warfare Centre is the ultimate test bed. Exceeding the US Navy’s requirements for diver detection is the finest accolade. We believe that we can now offer Sentinel

confident that our product will meet the expectations of anyone needing a high performance underwater intruder detection system at a realistic price. This could be for naval, commercial or private vessels, offshore and coastal installations or complete harbours.”

Sentinel is a third generation sonar system designed specifically for underwater security. Compact and easily deployed, the Sentinel head is only 30cm in diameter, 40cm high and weighs less than 65lb. The 360 deg sonar can operate as a stand-alone portable system or has been designed to allow multiple heads to be networked together to provide a wide area domain awareness.

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

MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Marine Technology Society Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has selected a new executive director. Richard Lawson will come onboard at MTS headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, on January 7, 2008. The executive director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the society.

According to MTS President Bruce C. Gilman, P.E., Mr. Lawson was a standout choice from a strong field of candidates. "Rich's selection was a thorough, objective and professional process carried out by the Search Committee members, and I think all of us will be pleased with the results."

A new annual Undergraduate Award Scheme for final year students studying physical oceanography, applied oceanography and/or meteorology has been launched by Fugro GEOS and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).

The competitive award scheme, open to student members of IMarEST enrolled on a full-time course at a UK university or College is based on a single payment of up to £500 to the winning student.

At the beginning of each academic year, IMarEST will circulate details of the scheme to the Heads of Department at all Universities and Colleges with appropriate courses, inviting them to submit applications from students in their departments.

Applicants, and their sponsors, will be required to complete an application form setting out details of their course and including an abstract written by the applicant about his/her final year dissertation. A recommendation by his/her sponsor is also required. Completed forms should be received by IMarEST by the last working day of February 2008.

For further information please visit: www.imarest.org/theimarest/awards/default.asp

A key aspect of the Neptune Instructor System is its integrated recording and playback functionality. Recording of all activity during the simulation excercise takes place automatically and review/debriefing can include the replay of parts of, or the entire exercise in order to focus on specific learning objectives.

"The Neptune Instructor System offers highly intuitive operation and flexible installation options," comments Mark Treen, Sales & Marketing Manager, Kongsberg Maritime Simulation. "Its modular design enables training institutes to add components as and when necessary, choosing between initial options of Standalone, Neptune Basic and Neptune Pro."

For further information please visit: www.kongsberg.com

IXSEA DELIVERS 1000TH OCTANS TO FUGRO SINGAPORE

Fugro Singapore took delivery of OCTANS Serial Number 1000, part of an order of eight OCTANS for their FCV 3000 Work Class ROV Systems, in November 2007.

The FCV 3000 is a 150HP Deep Water Work Class ROV. Designed and built in-house by Fugro, it boasts state of the art positioning, construction support, inspection and survey technologies. It is capable of undertaking a range of complex underwater intervention and support tasks at water depths up to 3,000 msw below sea level.

“It’s a matter of selecting the best sensors on the market and Fugro is very satisfied with the ease of use and performance of OCTANS,” said Jim Mann, Fugro’s Global ROV Manager. “Fugro will be completing the eighth FCV 3000 shortly and the company plans to produce eight more FCV Systems in 2008.”

AWARDS IN PLENTY AT OI08

The premier global forum for the marine science and ocean technology community and the largest meeting of its kind anywhere in the world, the OI08 conference and exhibition will be held 11-13 March at London’s ExCeL. The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) are tasked with organising all elements of the milestone conference and also organising four very special awards - the OI Lifetime Achievement Award, the Alan Greig Memorial Prize, the Bob Barton Memorial Award; and the AMSI Business Person of the Year 2008 Award.

The OI Lifetime Achievement Award with its prize awarded by OI08 organisers, Reed Spearhead, is selected by a panel of international experts. “It really is an award that honours the lifetime achievements of someone who is acknowledged as an international expert in the field of oceanology and marine science,” explains Dr Ralph Rayner, Vice President of IMarEST, a member of the SUT Council, and Chairman of Reed Spearhead Exhibition’s Marine Division. “Past recipients have included Dr Sylvia Earle (oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer); Dr Vincent Cardone (Oceanweather Inc); Prof Walter Munk (Scripps institute of Oceanography); and Prof Klaus Hasselmann (Max Planck Institute for Meteorology).”

“We are eager to attract a record number of nominations and entries for the other three extremely prestigious awards, and entry/nomination forms have now been posted to the SUT, AMSI, IMarEST and OI08 websites,” explains Ralph Rayner. “One award is made for an outstanding contribution to commercial operational oceanography, another is made to a young journalist, and the third award does exactly what it says on the tin and recognises the Business Person of the Year 2008.”

The closing date for both the Alan Greig and AMSI awards is 31 December 2007; and 14 January 2008 for the Bob Barton Memorial Award, all the Awards will be presented during OI08.

The relevant forms can be found at www.oceanologyinternational.com

TIDELAND WARNING SYSTEMS FOR AKER'S SMART 1 FPSO