Online Features
National WWII Museum’s PT-305 Close to Launch
The National WWII Museum’s fully restored PT-305 will be ready for public rides beginning April 1. The U.S. Navy used this vessel to attack Axis supply ships and troops transports in the Mediterranean during World War II. The vessel will be the only operational combat-veteran PT boat in existence, marking the culmination of a 10-year journey to return it to water.
Funding Opportunity: FY 2017 Ocean Technology Transition Project
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Program is seeking to fund projects that advance new or existing technology-based solutions that address long-standing and emerging coastal observing, product development and data management challenges.
The projects will be focused on technologies with demonstrated operators who commit to integrated, long-term use of those technologies and open data sharing. The technologies must be sufficiently mature for long-term operations.
This announcement specifically funds activities needed to progress those technologies through the transitional stages between research and full operations, such as system integration, testing, validation and verification.
Full proposals are due by Monday, March 20, 2017.
See details here.
Caption: CTD package being deployed east of Abaco Island, Bahamas, aboard the RV Knorr. (Photo Credit: NOAA AOML)
Semifinalists Named for Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE
The semifinalists for the $7 million Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE have been announced.
The teams advancing will test their entries at a depth of 2,000 m, racing to map at least 20 percent of the 500 sq. km competition area at 5-m resolution and identify and image at least five archeological, biological or geological features at any depth, all within 16 hr.
Up to 10 finalist teams will be selected to proceed past Round One and will split a $1 million milestone prize purse. In Round Two, they will need to operate their entries at a depth of 4,000 m, aiming to map at least 50 percent of the 500 sq. km competition area at 5-m resolution and identify and image at least 10 archeological, biological or geological features at any depth, all within 24 hr. A $4 million grand prize and $1 million second place prize will be awarded to the teams that receive the top scores for demonstrating the highest resolution seafloor mapping after meeting all minimum requirements for speed, autonomy and depth.
As part of the total $7 million prize purse, 12 teams will also be competing for the NOAA $1 million bonus prize and will need to demonstrate that their technology can “sniff out” a specified object in the ocean by tracing a biological and chemical signal to its source.
See the 21 advancing teams here.
Image Credit: Ocean Discovery XPRIZE
Sea Technology, Vol. 58, No. 2—February 2017
Florida Manatee Bowl Winners Will Go on to National Ocean Science Bowl
The Florida Manatee Bowl will be held this Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). Teams of local high school students will gather in Fort Pierce, Florida, for the annual regional competition that tests teams through quick-answer buzzer questions.
The winners earn a spot in the National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB).
HBOI co-hosts the event with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, with the event location alternating each year between Fort Pierce and Miami.
“Now in its 20th year, the Florida Manatee Bowl opens up the world of environmental and Earth sciences to high school students,” said Dr. Dennis Hanisak, FAU Harbor Branch director of education and event coordinator. “By exposing students to ocean science early on, they are better prepared to become knowledgeable citizens and future leaders.”
Caption: Fort Pierce Inlet, Fort Pierce, Florida. (Photo Credit: Don Ramey Logan)
iVital Ocean Telemedicine Launches
Martek Marine has launched iVital, a telemedicine service that could lead to annual industry-wide savings of up to $168 million.
At any given time, 1.5 million seafarers are operating around 55,000 merchant vessels across the globe. Of these seafarers, about 7 percent each year will be evacuated from the vessel on which they are working due to ill health. The annual cost to the industry of diversions and helicopter evacuations is $760 million, almost a quarter of which is ultimately unnecessary.
iVital could save shipowners hundreds of thousands of dollars each by avoiding costly, unnecessary course diversions and helicopter evacuations through the misdiagnosis of ill or injured crew members.
Image Credit: Martek Marine
Wild Dolphins Prone to Injury If Fed by Humans
A new study based in Sarasota Bay, Florida, concludes that wild dolphins are more likely to be injured if humans feed them, even through unintentional means like discarding bait.
This is the first study that directly links human-related feeding of wild dolphins with increased risks of injury from human interactions such as boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear or ingestion of hooks and line.
If humans feed wild dolphins, the dolphins can become conditioned to seek food from humans, which puts them in harm’s way of boats, fishing lines or piers.
The study analyzed data collected from 1993 to 2014 by the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program wild dolphin experts and Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program.
Caption: A dolphin calf was entangled by five different kinds of fishing gear and died in 2011. The calf and its mother were observed together patrolling within 20 m of fishing lines prior to the calf’s injury. (Photo Credit: Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/CZS)
Interested in an Ocean Science and Tech Career? Come to OINA
If you’re interested in a career in ocean industries and will be in San Diego February 14 to 16, come check out Oceanology International North America (OINA 2017).
The conference will address education and career development within the ocean tech industry with a dedicated Education & Career Development Day February 14 to provide advice and inspiration for K12 educators and college students considering a career in ocean science and technology.
There will be a morning Careers session for college students, and the afternoon will provide an opportunity for students to network with OINA 2017 exhibitors. The OceanSTEM & Blue Economy Workforce Development panel will look at how to cultivate industry entrepreneurs and workforce.
You can register for OINA here.
Caption: Students visiting Oceanology International 2016 in London for Careers Day.
Jamaica Seeks Seat at IMO Council
Jamaica launched its bid to be elected to Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council last Thursday (February 2).
The IMO Council comprises three groups of states, designated as Categories A, B and C. Category C is open to 20 states that have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
As an island nation, Jamaica depends on the maritime industry to support jobs and to import foods and goods. The country seeks to be a viable maritime hub that would attract more shipping and allied services and help grow the economy.
Caption: Jamaica launched its bid for the IMO Council. (Photo Credit: Maritime Authority of Jamaica)
New Artificial Reef off Texas Coast
A 6,000-ton, 371-ft. former cargo vessel has been sunk to create an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico 67 mi. off the Galveston coast. Matrix New World Engineering helped the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program ensure that the cargo ship Kraken was free of environmental hazards and safe to support coral, fish, sea turtles and other aquatic life.
The Kraken’s new resting place is near the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, a triad of coral reef systems popular with divers and fishermen, about 100 mi. off the Gulf Coast.
Funding for the project came from donations and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill natural resource damage settlement.