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Multibeam Echosounder and Surface Drones Offer Survey Versatility
Podlet is paired with BlueRobotics BlueBoat for a simple, cost-effective survey solution. (Credit: Picotech Ltd.)
By Melanie Tibbs • JP Cheminade
Rapid developments in technology, including portability, have created opportunities for new approaches to shallow-water hydrographic and bathymetric surveying in recent years. The holy grail is high-resolution imaging and accurate mapping using light, robust, agile, low-power and low-cost solutions.
New to the market for 2025 is Picotech Ltd.’s innovative Podlet multibeam sonar package in combination with Blue Robotics’ BlueBoat USV. Together they form the ultimate one-person-portable survey solution.
A leading innovator for more than a decade, Picotech Ltd. has long been a specialist in the design and manufacture of miniature multibeams. Its products’ small size, low weight, and class-leading power consumption enable rapid mobilization, simple launch and recovery, and long endurance. In 2016, Picotech Ltd. ventured into a new market with the PicoMB-120, which enabled one-person-portable, high-resolution USV multibeam echosounder (MBES) surveys at faster rates in confined spaces. In 2020, Picotech Ltd. released PicoPOD-130, the precursor to Podlet, with a new MBES, which now has a network of global users.
Podlet is a lightweight multibeam package that provides a turnkey solution for International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Special Order surveys. With low power consumption, it delivers long endurance for seamless, high-precision hydrographic data collection—all in a portable package with a combined mass of just 21 kg. BlueBoat+Podlet fits fully rigged in the trunk of a small hatchback and can be hand-launched and recovered at the point of survey.
Podlet is supported by industry-standard acquisition and processing software: BeamworX, EIVA NaviSuite, Xylem HYPACK, Teledyne PDS, and QPS QINSy. It also offers bathymetry and backscatter (snippets) as standard. Compatible with low-cost RTK base stations such as the Reach RS2 and built to include an SBG Ekinox Micro INS, Podlet is highly competitive at its price point. The system also opens up the world of hydrography to many traditionally land-based geomatics companies.
A construction studies class from St. Colman’s College, Midleton, County Cork, Ireland, visited the Celtic Interconnector Project in east Cork recently. The project is being developed by EirGrid and Réseau de Transport d’Électricité. The students visited the landfall at Claycastle Beach in Youghal where the submarine circuit will come ashore. (Credit: GreenC Marine)
Multibeam Sonar Applications
Picotech Ltd.’s multibeam sonars offer unparalleled capabilities in underwater surveying, imaging and mapping. Multibeams revolutionize underwater imaging by focusing and processing multiple beams of sound waves simultaneously. By covering a wider area and capturing more data points than single-beams, multibeam sonars produce highly detailed three-dimensional maps of the seafloor with much greater accuracy. This capability makes them indispensable in various fields, including marine research, underwater archaeology, offshore exploration and hydrographic surveying.
The bathymetry and snippets/backscatter outputs of Picotech multibeam sonars make them vital tools across a wide range of industries and applications. Snippets (backscatter) data outputs come as standard and provide invaluable additional information on bottom type (hardness). This combination means images show the same geographical extents, with each providing a different insight into the same environment.
In the hydrographic sector, Podlet allows for accurate mapping of navigable waterways, harbors and coastal areas. Detailed bathymetric data provide information for safe and efficient maritime navigation, as well as aiding the planning and construction of marine infrastructure projects. IHO Special Order surveys are achievable and routinely carried out all over the globe with PicoMB and Podlet.
Before and after images of dredging work in the Baltic. (Credit: K2sea/Czerwony Szkwał Maritime Works)
Similarly, in the ports, harbors and marinas sector, PicoMB multibeams play a vital role in bathymetric surveying for both hydrography and dredge support. Podlet with BlueBoat can access areas that larger vessels cannot, causing far less disruption to ongoing port/marina operations and enabling complete surveys to be carried out.
The agility of the system also lends itself to scour and accretion monitoring surveys, which look at spatial and temporal changes in bathymetry following the installation or removal of civil engineering works, such as dams, quay walls, flood defenses, tunnels, and bridges, as well as utilities surveying in aquatic areas, especially where depth, access, or flow rates limit the options for larger sonar systems and/or traditional crewed survey craft.
In the field of marine research, Picotech sonars play a crucial role in studying underwater ecosystems and mapping underwater topography and ecology. They have been used by the University of Southampton for the study of seagrass distribution and Newcastle University for the study of geomorphology in the Mekong Delta, to name just two examples.
In the skilled hands of surveyors, researchers, engineers, and explorers, Podlet unlocks the secrets of the underwater world in areas never before accessible, with unprecedented clarity and precision.
The Celtic Interconnector
A survey system comprising an MBES on a USV was deployed in April 2025 for the Celtic Interconnector cable, which will facilitate the transfer of 700 MW of electricity between Ireland and France, spanning a total distance of 575 km, with 500 km of the cable submerged underwater.
GreenC Marine was hired to handle the construction required to bring the cable ashore. The project involved creating a 95-m cofferdam, within which 4 m of material would be excavated. To ensure accurate dredging levels and maintain the required depths, Tower Software was brought on board to supply GreenC Marine with a survey system.
Tower Software selected Picotech’s Podlet, which integrates the PicoMB13P multibeam echosounder and a high-precision motion reference unit. This system was paired with the Blue Robotics BlueBoat, a compact, one-person-portable USV capable of operating autonomously for up to 6 hr. The Podlet proved ideal for the landfall site, where shallow waters and spatial constraints demanded a small yet powerful solution with sufficient range to meet the project’s unique needs.
The USV performed several key tasks, including confirming the cofferdam’s location, monitoring the dredge depths, and verifying the placement of concrete girders used to secure the pipes in place.
Baltic dredger with drone alongside, carrying PicoMB131. (Credit: K2sea/Czerwony Szkwał Maritime Works)
Dredging in the Baltic
The PicoMB can be a powerful tool in the dredging industry when properly integrated with a reliable USV. In this example, the USV mKurs 2.0 by K2sea in Poland was used for a dredging control survey in February 2025 to provide the dredger crew with information on the progress of the dredging process. The demanding task was performed at the entrance to a South Baltic harbor under significant time pressure.
The Polish dredging company Czerwony Szkwał Maritime Works tested the option of acquiring mid-dredge bathymetric data using the rapidly deployed USV. K2sea was able to provide an affordable solution by integrating the mKurs with the PicoMB131, positioned using SBG Ekinox Micro, along with water column parameters measured by AML Oceanographic sensors.
Groupe E’s marine drone carrying PicoMB131 is deployed to map the bottom of the body of water located upstream of a hydroelectric dam in Switzerland. (Credit: Maritech France and EscaDrone)
Managing Hydroelectric Infrastructure
Swiss company Groupe E is a utility active in the production, distribution, sales and trading of electricity, as well as energy-related services (telecommunications, district heating, public lighting), and it has acquired a French-made Bathydrone USV carrying a PicoMB130. The company uses the Picotech multibeam to measure the siltation level of some of Groupe E’s artificial lakes upstream of hydroelectric dams.
The stakes are high: Sediment deposited at the bottom of bodies of water reduces the volume of water available for electricity production and can compromise the safety of the structures. Previously, Groupe E carried out bathymetry operations using a motorboat.
“This new tool allows us to better document the state of our lakes and be more responsive,” said Project Manager Stéphane Dupont. “It can be deployed quickly, for example, to observe the consequences of a flood. We can also verify certain hypotheses.”
Sediment deposits risk causing dams worldwide to lose nearly a quarter of their storage capacity by 2050, according to a UN study published earlier this year. In Switzerland, dams have already lost approximately 23 percent of their initial capacity. By 2050, this loss could reach nearly 33 percent, according to the study, published in the journal Sustainability. Surveys carried out using PicoMB aboard Bathydrone enable successful dredging projects that lower sediment deposit risk.
Conclusion
The technologies developed by Picotech continue to drive new discoveries and insights in subsurface survey and inspection.
For more information about Picotech’s solutions, visit www.picotech-ltd.com or contact: sales@picotech-ltd.com.
Melanie Tibbs is a director of Picotech Ltd.
JP Cheminade is a director and hydrographic surveyor at Geodesea Ltd.
Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative
The Fugro Brasilis, a purpose-built survey vessel collecting high-resolution bathymetry in deepwater areas, primarily south of the Florida Keys and off the southeastern coast for the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative.
By Richard Goosen • Dr. Cheryl Hapke
Florida’s extensive coastline, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic, is a major economic driver. It contributes billions of dollars in revenue to the state each year through tourism, fishing, and maritime transportation. It also sustains three-quarters of the state’s population. This critical economic and population center faces increasing risks from intensifying storms and accelerated coastal erosion. Recognizing the profound impact of these changes to both lives and livelihoods, the state has implemented the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative (FSMI), a comprehensive program designed to enhance understanding of this complex coastal system.
Meeting Multiple User Needs
Administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the FSMI is a $100 million investment dedicated to providing high-resolution bathymetry data for Florida’s state coastal waters. It’s a project that directly supports a wide range of critical coastal adaptation and mitigation activities.
For storm preparedness, high-resolution bathymetry enhances the ability to predict floodwater heights and aids in identifying erosion-prone areas. In terms of infrastructure planning, these data help identify stable locations for new development while ensuring the avoidance of sensitive habitats. The mapping also bolsters environmental stewardship by pinpointing critical habitats for conservation, including coral reefs, oyster beds, seagrass meadows and mangroves, while also informing fisheries management for healthy marine ecosystems. For coastal tourism, the detailed bathymetry data allow for the identification of optimal recreational and navigation sites, ensuring these locations are both accessible and environmentally sustainable, thus safeguarding delicate coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, seafloor mapping data are essential to locating and assessing offshore sand resources for beach nourishment and the prediction of sediment transport.
Early Coordination Efforts
Serving multiple stakeholders and applications, the FSMI was informed by the efforts of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP), a coordinating body of federal and state agencies that are working to coordinate and facilitate the mapping of Florida’s coastal waters. Prior to FCMaP’s formation in 2017, seafloor mapping in Florida was conducted on an ad-hoc basis, primarily to support specific projects rather than broader, multi-stakeholder uses. To address this limitation, FCMaP advocated for a more comprehensive mapping approach, recommending seafloor mapping from the shoreline to the 200-m isobath, near the continental shelf break. To achieve this, they also recommended data collection standards: 1- to 3-m bathymetric models in shallow water (0 to 20 m) and a 10-m resolution in waters from 20- to 200-m water depth.
In 2019, FCMaP developed priorities through rigorous stakeholder engagement and an online digital interface where stakeholders allocated virtual currency to indicate their highest-priority mapping areas. (These priorities were further refined through formal consultation with federal, state, and academic agencies with a vested interest in coastal resilience and the marine economy for their highest mapping priorities.) Survey areas were generated from a heat map of these priorities minus any existing high-resolution data.
The FSMI Takes Shape
The FSMI encompasses a strategic, comprehensive “map once, use many times” approach. This ensures statewide data consistency and maximizes the value of collected information. The integrated survey design and standardized data acquisition protocols deliver a seamless, high-fidelity bathymetric data set that can be used at the local, regional, or statewide level for consistency in analysis and resource management. FDEP prioritized data collection using the foundation laid by FCMaP, augmented with further prioritization efforts statewide.
With funding secured for the program in 2022, DEP went about identifying available technologies and contractors capable of performing the work. To maximize efficiency and to address stakeholder priorities, the program was separated into two phases: an airborne lidar bathymetry (ALB) phase starting in 2023 to collect as much data as possible from the coastline to the 20-m (66-ft.) contour; and vessel-based sonar phase starting in 2024 to collect the remaining priority data, including areas where lidar proved ineffective due to turbidity, from 5 m (16 ft.) to the edge of the continental shelf at 200 m (660 ft.). Data collection will continue through 2025, with final mapping data scheduled for 2026. Working in concert with Florida’s Geographic Information Office, data will be made available to the public through a web portal, with data sharing to federal users, including the U.S. Geological Survey and NOAA.
Example of high-resolution bathymetry acquired by the Fugro Brasilis in the Florida Keys.
Fugro’s Role
Fugro has participated in both project phases and is contracted to perform 65 percent of the state’s required vessel-based surveying. Stretching approximately 1,350 mi., the coastal regions of Florida pose multiple mapping challenges. For instance, to map the continental shelf around the state from the coastline to a depth of 200 m (660 ft.) is a huge undertaking, especially on the west Florida shelf, considering the distances involved and the complexity of the environment. Here, the area of interest stretches from close inshore to over 100 nautical mi. offshore, all the way from the southern Gulf Coast down to the Florida Keys. On the East Coast, the shelf break can be as close as 3 nautical mi. from shore, but this proximity often means surveying directly into a 3- to 4-kt. current in the Gulf Stream. This can slow the vessel to a crawl when transiting to the Keys from the Cape Canaveral area, not to mention the many reefs and heavy recreational vessel traffic posing navigational hazards to survey vessels.
Fugro’s award of more than 40,000 sq. km of acoustic collection spans both coasts, requiring tailored mapping solutions that are efficient in vast shallow-water flats as well as steep continental drop-offs in all seasons. Given the scope of work and the relatively short time to achieve all data collection, upon contract award in 2024, Fugro immediately started sourcing, contracting, and then mobilizing three offshore vessels, capable of getting to and from the survey area at relatively high speed.
While normally used to resupply offshore installations and to perform crew transfers, the vessels were provided with research status by the U.S. Coast Guard following application for and proof that the vessels would be used exclusively for survey purposes for the duration of the project. All three of these craft were fitted with a proprietary hydrodynamic gondola mounted to a recoverable survey pole over the side of the vessel. Inside the gondola is a dual-head multibeam echosounder. Essentially two sonars fitted at an angle to each other to increase possible coverage, the dual-head technology allows for wide swath coverage in one pass. The vessels were calibrated over the same site to ensure that collected data would conform and meet project specifications.
To enhance efficiency in deepwater, Fugro also tasked one of its owned vessels to collect high-resolution data in deeper water, primarily south of the Keys and off the southeast coast of Florida. This hugely capable vessel, the Fugro Brasilis, can accurately map the seabed from a minimum of 10 m (33 ft.) to a maximum of 7,000 m (23,000 ft.) using a hull-mounted multibeam echosounder system. Fugro also tasked one of its smaller boats, the 32-ft. catamaran Pelagos, to collect data in depths less than 10 m (33 ft.). This vessel was also equipped with a dual-head multibeam echosounder to map the shallow-water region and reefs close to the operating areas of the bigger vessels.
Data from all program support vessels are transmitted via satellite to the cloud. There, a combination of automated processes and a dedicated team of data processing specialists compiles and analyzes it for coverage, quality, and completeness. This allows the team to provide near-real-time feedback to the vessels, shifting the traditional onboard processing role to shore-based personnel. Furthermore, all onboard systems can be controlled remotely, enabling a lean vessel-based team, enhancing data collection efficiency, and improving the safety profile of Fugro’s fieldwork.
These near-real-time data and coverage results are also uploaded to Fugro’s VirGeo cloud-based geodata engagement and delivery platform. Beyond internal project awareness and progress monitoring, VirGeo enables DEP to track the project using the same high-resolution portal. Notably, VirGeo was also successfully employed during the ALB phase, providing DEP with up-to-date information throughout the lidar data collection portion of the program.
Multibeam data over the USS Oriskany. Intentionally sunk in 2006 off Pensacola, Florida, this “Great Carrier Reef” is the world’s largest artificial reef, attracting marine life and divers.
Overcoming Mapping Challenges
The planned acoustic acquisition period, extending beyond a year, requires comprehensive preparation for the diverse weather conditions that Florida’s marine environment can present. The project’s commencement in the lead-up to winter was met with frequent frontal systems traversing the area, resulting in considerable weather-related operational delays. While the associated winds posed challenges for personnel, the quality of the collected data has consistently been high.
A key reason in the selection of the vessels was their ability to quickly relocate in response to developing weather systems. This capability is vital for ensuring the safety of personnel, assets and equipment while allowing operations to continue as effectively as possible. The vessels utilize a wide range of weather information sources, including the expertise of Fugro’s own meteorological forecasters, to make well-informed decisions, particularly in preparation for hurricane season.
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of weather trends and forecasts is crucial for maximizing opportunities to acquire high-quality data. The three primary vessels are equipped with advanced wide-swath sonar systems, enabling them to gather 3D data from an area up to six times the depth of the water below the sonar.
Continuous progress is further supported by a Fugro-designed moving vessel profiling system. This innovative system allows for the collection of sound velocity profiles of the water column while the vessels continue to acquire multibeam data, eliminating the need to slow down or stop. This information about water characteristics is essential for accurately predicting how sound travels through the water, thereby ensuring the seabed depth and position data obtained by the sonar system are as precise as possible.
By early April 2025, despite the significant impact of winter weather, more than 40 percent of the planned data collection has been completed, and the rate of acquisition is increasing with the arrival of more favorable weather. Progress is being carefully tracked to ensure that all data can be delivered and accepted by early 2026. Additionally, the possibility of deploying further assets remains an option to assist DEP in ensuring a successful program that achieves all its goals for coverage, accuracy and timely completion.
A Blueprint for Coastal Resilience
The FSMI represents a strategic investment in the state’s future. By adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to large-scale baseline mapping of its coastal waters, government and industry stakeholders will have access to the information needed to enable effective storm preparedness, responsible infrastructure planning, robust environmental stewardship, sustainable coastal tourism, and informed sand resource management.
Fugro is proud to have a significant role in this initiative, bringing cutting-edge technology and extensive expertise to the FSMI. By working closely with the DEP and leveraging advanced survey vessels and innovative data processing techniques, the company is contributing valuable data toward a future where Florida’s coastal resources are healthy and abundant.
As final mapping data are published in 2027, Florida will possess an invaluable asset to guide its coastal management decisions for decades to come, ensuring the resilience and sustainability of its economically and ecologically significant shoreline.
References
For a full list of references, contact Cheryl Hapke at: c.hapke@fugro.com.
Richard Goosen is the operations manager for Fugro’s marine hydrography operations in the Americas.
Dr. Cheryl Hapke is Fugro’s technical leader for coastal resilience in the Americas.
Cruise Ship Converted to Floating Carbon Capture Research Lab
Ocean wildlife restoration company Positive Polar has ventured into combining cruise ship travel with marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research, converting a cruise vessel into a floating research lab.
The company’s flagship vessel, called the Polar Angel, is a premium cruise ship that also serves as an ocean restoration hub and biotechnology laboratory.
Equipped with cutting-edge scientific facilities and a research lab, the ship also features interactive areas where cruise guests can participate in ongoing work as citizen scientists. Through this innovative creation, Positive Polar offers them a chance to experience scenic vistas while observing, participating in, and funding ocean biotechnologies onboard.
Inspired by the ocean’s “biological carbon pump,” Positive Polar has developed an environmental solution that mimics the positive environmental impact of whales.
As a marine species, whales play a vital role in supporting the continuous carbon processing cycle in oceans. By circulating nutrients in the ocean water, these giant mammals enable a feedstock for phytoplankton, the microscopic organisms that produce oxygen, keep the ocean water less acidic, and boost its CO2 intake capacity.
Positive Polar intends to use the revenue generated through its innovative cruises to channel funding towards proprietary technologies that help transform ship waste into tools that build up the ocean’s health.
The company will be able to host 200 guests onboard each cruise ship, expecting to have 5,000 passengers per ship annually. Through its novel cruise ship travel approach, Positive Polar is providing customers with a guilt-free sea travel experience that is focused on contributing towards a healthier climate.
Looking ahead, the company plans to scale its environmental impact by licensing its technology, hoping to generate hefty financial gains for its investors and power reinvestments into ocean restoration.
Recently, the company launched its first equity crowdfunding campaign, where interested parties can choose to support its solution and gain a part of the cruise line in exchange.
Kevin Lunday Nominated for Commandant of US Coast Guard
U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Adm. Kevin Lunday to serve as the 28th commandant of the Coast Guard (USCG). Lunday will continue serving as acting commandant until confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
His previous assignments include vice commandant, Atlantic area commander, commander Fourteenth Coast Guard District and commander Coast Guard Cyber Command. A judge advocate and military judge, Lunday has served in a number of intelligence, legal, and operations assignments, including command afloat and ashore.
The 28th commandant will lead the Coast Guard through a historic period of change that will include the establishment of the first Coast Guard service secretary and the implementation of Force Design 2028 (FD28).
FD28 aims to: create a more agile, capable, responsive fighting force; implement contracting and acquisition reform; deploy cutting-edge technology; and enable relentless effectiveness and maximum return on investment.
Web Tool to Calculate Total Mooring System Energy
Samson Rope Technologies Inc. has launched a web tool designed to calculate total system energy in high-performance mooring systems—an essential step in preventing dangerous snap-back or recoil events.
Snap-back, the sudden and violent release of tension in a mooring line system, remains one of the most serious hazards in marine vessel and terminal operations. This new tool enables users to evaluate how energy is distributed and stored throughout a mooring system, supporting informed design decisions that prioritize crew safety.
Total system energy is the combined energy stored in all connected system components, taking into account material and deployed length for both the mainline and the mooring tail, and the lengths and materials of both of these. Safety solutions under consideration need to be thoroughly evaluated and tested for recoil protection, as many aren’t designed to account for total system energy.
Empire Wind Construction Resumes
Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire), a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, has been informed by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) that the stop work order has been lifted for the Empire Wind project, allowing construction activities to resume in the designated area of the U.S. Outer Continental shelf off the coast of New York.
The stop work order was issued in April 2025. It has been lifted following dialogue with regulators and federal, state, and city officials.
Equinor will perform an updated assessment of the project economics in the second quarter. Empire aims to be able to execute planned activities in the offshore installation window in 2025 and reach its planned commercial operation date in 2027.
Empire will engage with suppliers and regulatory bodies to reduce the impact of the stop work order.
The project is currently more than 30 percent complete.
Cellula Robotics to Expand Market Presence in Northern Europe
Cellula Robotics Ltd. has entered into a sales and representation agreement with Subsea Europe Services GmbH (SES) and its defense division, FLANQ. This partnership will expand the market presence of Cellula’s advanced AUV technologies across Northern Europe.
Under the agreement, SES will promote and represent Cellula’s full AUV portfolio—including the Envoy, Porter, and Guardian AUVs; the Subsea Warden hovering AUV for ship signature management; and the Subsea Sentinel system for passive acoustic monitoring—in both the commercial and scientific sectors. SES will focus on customers in academic research, offshore survey, and geophysical industries, while FLANQ will engage with defense, maritime security, and government clients.
This new partnership will support customers in Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, offering local expertise and direct access to Cellula’s underwater platforms and sensors.
Report: Maritime Electrification
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has called for greater clarity regarding standardized safety regulations that will advance the development of maritime electrification technologies, following the publication of its new technology report, “Maritime Electrification: Maritime Battery Systems and Onshore Power Supply.”
The report explores how electrification technologies, specifically energy storage systems (ESS) and onshore power supply (OPS) solutions, can support maritime decarbonization strategies.
While OPS benefits from existing international standards, battery systems remain under-regulated, despite growing safety concerns. The risk of thermal runaway incidents within lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology poses a serious challenge to crew members. Thermal runaway, a rapid, uncontrollable increase in battery temperature can lead to fires that are difficult to extinguish and poses a significant hazard to crew welfare. Despite the increasing deployment of ESS across the global fleet, current safety guidance remains fragmented and largely nonmandatory.
Battery adoption is accelerating, with more than 1,000 battery-powered ships in service globally. Meanwhile, OPS systems are already supported by EU regulation, with FuelEU Maritime establishing the mandatory use of OPS systems for container and passenger ships docked at EU ports from 2030, followed by all EU ports with OPS facilities from 2035.
The new BV report follows the International Maritime Organization’s decision in April 2025 to set ambitious emissions reduction targets through 2040. However, current projections indicate the 2030 goals may not be met, prompting renewed focus on all viable low-emission technologies, including electrification. Comprehensive, enforceable international standards are needed to ensure the safe deployment of Li-ion technologies at scale and pace.
Today: NAMEPA Safety at Sea Seminar, ABS DC
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) will host the annual Safety at Sea Seminar and the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) Awards today, May 22, at the headquarters of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in Washington, D.C., during National Maritime Week.
This seminar is open to all members of the maritime community and stakeholders interested in shaping a safer, more resilient future for global shipping.
This highly anticipated event brings together maritime industry leaders, government officials, and subject matter experts to explore critical topics in maritime safety and seafarer well-being while also recognizing outstanding contributions to safety at sea through the AMVER Awards.
The seminar will open with welcome remarks from David Walker, vice president of global government services at ABS. Joe Hughes, chairman of NAMEPA, will then provide a strategic overview of the seminar and share his perspectives on maritime risk management in today’s complex operating environment.
Delivering the opening keynote address on the “U.S. Coast Guard and Safety” will be Capt. Rob Compher, director of USCG inspections and compliance.
He will be followed by Joan Bondareff, senior counsel at Blank Rome who is an expert on maritime policy. Her address, “A Maritime Renaissance from the View of Congress and the White House,” will offer valuable insights into federal maritime initiatives and the regulatory landscape impacting the sector.
The first panel discussion is titled: “Keeping Shipping Safe and Secure.”
Following a networking coffee/tea break, the seminar will reconvene for the second panel: “Keeping Our Mariners Safe and Secure.”
The day will conclude with the AMVER Awards ceremony, honoring vessels and their crews who have voluntarily participated in the U.S. Coast Guard’s global ship reporting system that supports search and rescue efforts worldwide.