tidingsOnline

Issue 104 - 2nd May 2008

All the latest news from the marine industry...

OSIL SUPPLY SKOMER WITH A DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM

OSIL (Ocean Scientific International Ltd.) have recently supplied the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) with a data collection system for background monitoring at Skomer Marine Nature Reserve. The system consists of an OSIL Shearwater Data Buoy, fitted with a Campbell CR200 Data Logger and a VHF Omi-directional Antenna. When deployed the 1.2 diameter buoy will be attached via a data cable to a customised OSIL Seabed Mounting Frame.

The octagonal mounting frame has been fitted with a YSI 6600 Multiparameter Sonde which will be primarily monitoring CTD, DO, turbidity and chlorophyll. Once collected, the data will be transmitted back via VHF to Skomer’s Ethernet network where it will be downloaded onto a PC and later published on a website for public viewing. The buoy will be attached to the seabed by a two point mooring to prevent excessive movement of the buoy due to the extremely harsh environment of the nature reserve.

The system was purchased by CCW to collect environmental data which will support marine biological monitoring in Wales. The system has been designed to support any marine research that takes place in Wales and it is hoped will be the first of many systems purchased by CCW as part of a network of monitoring platforms around the Welsh coastline.

SONARDYNE GROUP ACQUIRES WAVEFRONT SYSTEMS

Sonardyne Group Ltd has announced the acquisition, effective from April 1st 2008, of Wavefront Systems Ltd., a UK design company specialising in sonar and underwater technology. Wavefront Systems Ltd, based in Sherborne, Dorset, was founded in 2004 by a team of defence sonar engineering professionals and has grown substantially with a focus on design and development services to the military and commercial undersea market worldwide. The Wavefront team’s extensive knowledge and experience covers all aspects of sonar system design including performance modelling, acoustics, algorithms, hardware and software.

Wavefront adds many years of sonar design experience to Sonardyne’s subsea technology engineering team, adding an extra dimension to its core oil and gas capability and its innovative and rapidly expanding maritime defence and security expertise. John Partridge, Chairman, Sonardyne Group Ltd. added, “The success of the recently launched Sonardyne Sentinel diver detection system illustrates the real strength of the co-operation between the two companies. This acquisition enables a longer term approach to system design and development.”

Although part of the Sonardyne Group, Wavefront will continue to operate as an autonomous subsidiary developing innovative hardware and software solutions for the next generation of sonar systems with industry partners and customers alike.

For further information please visit: www.sonardyne.com

CODA ECHOSCOPE REAL-TIME 3D SONAR DEPLOYED IN MIDDLE EAST FOR UNDERWATER CONSTRUCTION

CodaOctopus Products is pleased to announce an agreement with Van Oord, the world’s leading dredging and marine contractor based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to deliver Coda Echoscopes for deployment on various underwater construction projects.

Two of three Echoscopes ordered by Van Oord have already been delivered for their Middle East operations. In an interesting new application, the systems assist crane operators to correctly position massive 10 ton blocks (Accropodes) on the seabed, 7.5 metres (25 feet) below the surface of the water. In trials, the Coda Echoscope enabled operators to interlock these specialised Accropode blocks significantly faster than conventional technology and with considerably less risk, as it removes the need to use divers to position the concrete blocks. The real-time 3D information provided by the Coda Echoscope allows operators to work with an extremely high level of accuracy based on visualisation to an extremely high resolution.

Jason Reid, Coda Octopus Group President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “These deployments open up a large and strategically important market for CodaOctopus as a commercial supplier to marine construction projects. We could not be more pleased to be working with Van Oord, which is one of the most highly respected dredging and marine contractors in the world.”

For further information please visit: www.codaoctopus.com

KEPPEL FELS DELIVERS ITS KFELS SUPER B CLASS RIG TO DIAMOND OFFSHORE

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M) has delivered its KFELS Super B Class jackup drilling rig to Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc (Diamond Offshore). The Ocean Shield marks the 20th KFELS B Class drilling rig constructed by Keppel FELS since the launch of this design in 2000. It will also be the first of two KFELS B Class designed rigs commissioned by Diamond Offshore in 2005. The second is being built by Keppel FELS sister company, Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas, USA.

The KFELS Super B Class rigs are an enhanced version of the KFELS B Class and are equipped with cantilever skid-off capabilities and high capacity hook loads of two million pounds for operation in extreme high-temperature and high-pressure wells. Hailed as one of the world’s deepest drilling rigs of its class, the Ocean Shield will be capable of operating in water depths of up to 350 feet.

The rig is currently preparing for its first assignment. Additionally, Diamond Offshore’s Victory-class semisubmersible, the Ocean Monarch, is being upgraded to an ultra deepwater drilling unit, capable of drilling in water depths of up to 10,000 feet, at Keppel FELS and is due for completion late in 2008.

For further information please visit: www.diamondoffshore.com

STATOILHYDRO AND KONGSBERG MARITIME JOIN FORCES FOR AUTOMATION AND SAFETY SYSTEMS OPERATION

TRITECH SONARS UNCOVER SECRETS OF MALTA'S HISTORIC WATER SYSTEMS

Miniature sonars, engineered by north east Scotland based Tritech International Limited, have been invaluable in helping to uncover the deep secrets of Malta’s historic fresh water systems. Several reservoir sites in Malta and Gozo have been the focus of collaborative archaeological explorations by AURORA Trust, Marine Resources Development Foundation and California Polytechnic State University. The investigations aim to understand the complexities of underground cisterns and infrastructures and to research their evolution.

Tritech’s ultra compact, CHIRP digital sonar was fitted to a small, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and lowered into the cisterns. The ROV needed to travel between 30ft to 40ft from the access point and as deep as18ft into the chambers to discover previously unknown passageways and inter-connecting rooms believed to date back to third century BC. Sonar data and video images were collected through a 250ft cable, attached to a control box and computer at the main access points.

Project investigator, Christopher Clark, from the California Polytechnic State University, spoke of the performance of the sonar and how it has helped the project findings: “The Tritech sonar was ideal for our mapping application for two reasons. Firstly, the quality of the measurements were excellent. There were fewer false reflections and much less noise than I expected. Secondly, the compact size of the sonar allowed the ROV to fit through tight passages that were not accessible when using other sensors.”

Six of the sites visited were mapped using mosaic and robot Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms. For further information on the project please visit: http://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~cmclark/MaltaMapping/index.html

BIOFUELS AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

Lloyd's Register CEO Richard Sadler has called on the shipping industry to make preparations for the global drive towards biofuels and argues that if second and third generation technologies are successful then current projections of demand would see the world fleet unable to cope with the logistic demands.

Speaking last night at IMarEST's annual Stanley Gray lecture, targeted at shipowners, regulators, economists, engineers and the general public, Richard Sadler concluded that the increase in demand for biocargoes would require an additional fleet size of 400 Handysize equivalents by 2030. Moreover, with additional environmental pressures, these vessel requirements may well increase. The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook projections for biofuel demand may well be inflated by political pressures to find alternative bio energy in shortening timescales.

The implications for the shipping industry are significant. Whether first or third generation, whether biodiesel or bioethanol, shipping will be at the heart of the supply chain and anticipatory investment will have to be made by the industry. Contradictory information makes the risk in that investment uncertain and therefore it is vital to look at ways to hedge the future - through flexible initial oil tanker design for vessels to be constructed now and converted in the future to take advantage of growing biotrade.

The biofuels industry is in the early stages of low carbon impact second and third generation biofuel development. Companies investing time and money in developing technology into economically viable and socially acceptable solutions are naturally keeping quiet about the technology or products being developed. Whether as a cargo or for use in the engine room, these new solutions will have to be incorporated into marine systems. Current ship designs are constrained by current legislation, creating poor designs if biofuel becomes a large scale global energy source. New standards may be required to meet essential safety and environmental needs and an early start is essential to meet these challenges. Lloyd's Register welcomes dialogue with all concerned and is ready to assist.

To read the full lecture please visit: www.lr.org

JOB VACANCIES

Join a world class team in an award winning company specialising in high-tech, subsea equipment. Tritech International Ltd produces a technically advanced and integrated range of acoustic, mechanical and electrical subsea products for export worldwide.

Current vacancies include:

Mechanical Technician
Stores Manager
Technical Sales Engineer
Customer Support Technician/Engineers
Software Development Engineer

To read the full job specifications please visit: www.tritech.co.uk/contact/contact-vacancies.htm

To apply for any of these positions please send your C.V. to hr@tritech.co.uk or by post to HR Department, Tritech International Ltd, Peregrine Road, Westhill, Aberdeen AB32 6JL.