Marine Electronics – May 2019
Teledyne Important Partner
In Titan Project
OceanGate’s Titan manned submersible has reached a major milestone by successfully completing a 4,000-m validation dive off the coast of the Bahamas. This dive makes Titan the only commercially operated manned submersible capable of reaching this depth. The vessel allows up to five crew members.
Teledyne Marine has become a key partner and extensive technology provider to OceanGate for this innovative project. Teledyne Benthos acoustic modems have been designed into the vehicle to provide real-time “text” communications up to 6 km, allowing for the critical exchange of information between the vehicle’s pilot and the surface throughout the dive. OceanGate has also enabled the modem’s positioning capability through the use of Benthos DAT to capture the position of the vehicle relative to the ship.
A 6,000-m Teledyne RDI phased-array Pioneer DVL, with XRT extended tracking, has been installed to provide critical precision vehicle navigation capability at full depth, complemented by a Teledyne RDI Citadel CTD.
Teledyne BlueView’s 2D and 3D high-resolution imaging sonar systems are installed. The 2D system is used to support navigation and obstacle avoidance while the 3D sonar provides detailed 3D point clouds of areas/objects of interest.
Smart Maritime Council
To Drive Tech Collaboration
Representatives from major maritime technology companies and related industry stakeholders gathered in London for the inaugural meeting of the Smart Maritime Council, a new initiative created by the Smart Maritime Network to support collaboration and standardization in the development of IT systems for the shipping sector.
Smart Maritime Network was formed in January 2019 to promote the benefits of enhanced integration and data sharing among stakeholders in the maritime and transport logistics sectors, providing a platform to inform the industry on technological developments and innovations while providing wider opportunities for relationship building and knowledge sharing.
The Smart Maritime Council includes maritime technology developers, systems integrators and other key stakeholders. Vessel operators are represented in the membership to provide the end-user’s perspective on maritime technology development. The council will hold five more meetings in 2019.
Cat Marine Tech Complies
With New EU IWW Regs
Caterpillar Marine has developed new technology solutions for European Union inland waterway (IWW) vessels. The new solutions are designed to comply with the next generation of regulatory emissions required for EU IWW applications and will be available starting in 2020 for various power ranges. This includes engines with less than 130 bkW; 130 to 300 bkW; and 300 to 1,350 bkW.
Evolution of Underwater
Camera Systems
Approximately 71 percent of the planet is covered in water. Up to 1 million species live in the oceans, with up to 66 percent not yet named or discovered. There are hundreds of thousands of marine species waiting to be captured and shared by video. The tools to capture underwater video will continue to be in high demand, especially as technological advancements dramatically increase their effectiveness.
The earliest underwater video is generally accepted to have been filmed in 1940 by Austrian biologist and diver Hans Hass; it premiered in Berlin in 1942. Titled “Pirsch unter Wasser” (“Stalking under Water”), the video is 16 min. long. In 1947, Hass released an 84-min. underwater film titled “Menschen unter Haien” (“Men among Sharks”).
In 2019, JW Fishers (JWF) continues to develop advanced underwater video systems for a variety of projects. The MC-2 mini-camera, recently upgraded from the MC-1 to include powerful LED lights, is the ideal tool for commercial companies in need of capturing underwater video footage while utilizing a diver. Many customers mount the camera on their helmet and keep in contact with ship-based surveyors via JWF’s video recording system (VRM) that also allows the mini camera to be pole mounted for easy manipulation and deployment in hard to reach places.
Accelerator Program Supports
Oil, Gas Tech Pioneers
Autonomous underwater swarm robots and micropolymers to reinstate well integrity are just some of the exciting new technologies that have secured funding through the Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s TechX Pioneer Accelerator Programme. Nearly 200 applications from more than 35 countries were received this year, covering oil and gas and clean tech solutions to maximize economic recovery and transition to a low-carbon economy.
The final 16 companies were whittled to 10 for this year’s cohort, starting in May. Each start-up gets up to £100,000 to develop its business and technology as part of an intensive 16-week accelerator program that includes expert mentors, development partners and deep access to the industry.
After graduating, pioneers have the opportunity to join a 12-month incubator called TechX+, with two companies awarded an additional share in £130,000 funding from BP.