Underwater Laser Scanner an Industry Leader in Offshore Survey & Inspection. After several months of intensive development and testing, 2G Robotics will be publicly launching the ULS-500 PRO at the April 2017 Ocean Business Exhibition in Southampton, UK. The ULS-500 PRO improves upon 2G Robotics’ proven dynamic underwater laser scanning solution by increasing the ease with which surveys can be performed. The ULS-500 PRO boasts industry leading sample rates facilitating faster vehicle speeds while providing higher density point clouds. The system’s higher sensitivity sensor provides more accurate data capture and has achieved results up to 20m in range. The addition of the SeaShot Imager Stills Camera and the SeaShot LED provides synchronized laser and stills camera operation for an even higher degree of detail during survey campaigns. Additionally, the ULS-500 PRO comes standard with a 4000m depth rating. With the best accuracy in the industry and real-time data acquisition, the ULS-500 PRO will replace the ULS-500 as the accepted technological norm for high resolution subsea survey.

Another Greensea system is entering the market – this time with the versatile, long duration, Exocetus Coastal Glider. Greensea is providing their commercially available navigation, control, and automation product based on their patent-pending OPENSEATM operating platform – the first operating platform for the marine industry – for the command and control of the Exocetus vehicle and sensors. The Exocetus AUV carries more payload and is faster than competing gliders. It also operates well in changing salinity conditions common along the coast. “But the main differentiator for users is its open architecture design and ease-of-use,” said Joe Turner, Co-founder.

Ashtead Technology has expanded its equipment rental pool following a significant investment in the latest Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) technology to deliver faster, more accurate asset integrity inspections. A global leader in marine technology, non-destructive testing and subsea services, Ashtead will now supply the Eddyfi Lyft™, an inspection tool for identifying corrosion under insulation (CUI), a major asset integrity issue for the oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors. CUI is a type of corrosion that occurs as a result of a moisture build-up on the external surface of insulated equipment. The corrosion is most commonly galvanic, chloride, acidic, or alkaline, and if undetected, the consequences can lead to the shutdown of a process unit or an entire facility.

- New research sheds light on youth perception of North Sea career prospects – YOUNG people living in the UK’s key energy hubs preparing for and making choices about their future careers still believe there is a long term future in the North Sea and want to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry, according to a new study. More than 500 students from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Great Yarmouth, Waveney and Norwich were asked to contribute to the Youth Perception of a Career in the Oil & Gas Industry report which was conducted by oil and gas industry skills organisation OPITO throughout 2016. The study will be shared with industry as well as the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) National Careers Service, to help inform and shape national career initiatives in the year ahead.

It’s a go ahead for new design development and configuration for the established OceanWorks International observatory communication nodes, thanks to approved funding from The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). The OceanWorks Subsea Instrument Interface Modules (SIIM), or junction boxes originally were developed for the Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) Neptune and Venus observatories, where they have been in place since 2006. There is a total of 14 junction boxes that have been delivered to ONC for deployment on both Neptune and Venus. Three more junction boxes are being delivered to ONC for implementation this year, for a total of 17.

Software start-up offers unique solution for high-risk robotics operations. BluHaptics, the software company pioneering new solutions for telerobotics, has secured $1.36 million in Series A financing. This investment follows more than a million dollars in recent U.S. government grants, which together will be used to support the company’s expansion and launch of its first commercially available product. Seattle Angel Fund, a member-directed investment fund focusing on early-stage, growth-oriented businesses in the Pacific Northwest, led the round with participation from Seattle’s Alliance of Angels. “We are as excited about the management team they have put in place as we are about their groundbreaking technology,” said Susan Preston, managing member of the Seattle Angel Fund.

Industry doyen Sir Ian Wood has kicked-off a new campaign ahead of SPE Offshore Europe 2017 to encourage previous and future visitors, exhibitors and speakers to share their experiences of the event and what they are looking forward to seeing at September’s conference and exhibition. OE & Me is a new online hub which invites people to send their stories of SPE Offshore Europe and organisers are looking for contributions from both within and outside the oil and gas industry. Short-style video footage from phones or tablets is the recommended format to upload to the hub. Full details are available at: http://www.offshore-europe.co.uk/en/OE--Me/

OceanWorks International is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jonathan Fether as Atmospheric Diving System (ADS) Product Line Manager. A trained submersible pilot and experienced OceanWorks HARDSUITTM pilot, Jonathan will work closely with OceanWorks customers carrying out the training and support for the ADS. Finding new manufacturers and sourcing component suppliers is also a significant part of his new role.

Energy services company Proserv has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract with Premier Oil for work in Asia Pacific. Proserv will supply a subsea control system and associated equipment for the BIGP (Bison, Iguana & Gajah Puteri) development project, located in the Natuna Sea, Indonesia. The scope of supply is a three well subsea control system, which includes the company’s award winning Artemis 2G subsea electronics module, tied back to two platforms, Naga and Pelikan, in approximately 90m water depth. Bison and Iguana will tie back to the Pelikan platform and Gajah Puteri will tie back from a controls perspective to the Naga platform. The Gajah Puteri well is the longest step out at 21km.

Ashtead Technology has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of a business development director. With a career spanning more than 20 years in the oil and gas industry, David Mair joins Ashtead from Hoover Ferguson Group where he held the position of global business development director. Prior to this, Mr Mair worked at Subsea 7 where he held a number of senior management roles, including group vice president of business development.

Dear MTS / IEEE OES Colleagues, On September 18-21, 2017, the OCEANS North America conference will be hosted in Alaska for the first time ever! On behalf of the Marine Technology Society and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, the OCEANS ’17 Anchorage Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is honored to invite your participation in this prestigious event.

Solstad Offshore in Singapore has recently awarded IKM Subsea Singapore a service contract to provide ROV services onboard on the DLB “Norce Endeavour” for construction support projects offshore in Thailand (hat-trick award from 2015). The barge will be mobilized in Singapore and will be working in the Gulf of Thailand for various clients. IKM Subsea will provide the Merlin WR 200 Work class ROV together with the required tooling’s to execute the project which consist of numerous platform and Pipelines installation coupled with dive support for Subsea tie-in and commissioning.

C-Kore Systems recently delivered two further C-Kore units to Statoil. The C-Kore Subsea Testing Tools proved the insulation resistance and continuity of spare electrical cables located on the seabed that had no connection to topside equipment. The C-Kore Subsea Testing Tools are used on both fault-finding and construction campaigns to confirm the health or find faults in all types of electrical assets, including umbilicals, EFLs, SCMs and distribution units.

A leading manufacturer of sensors to measure maritime distances at sea has received a prestigious national award for their innovative targetless sensor. Launched last year, RangeGuard is the first sensor from Guidance Marine not to use physical targets. The innovative system was deemed worthy of the prestigious Dynamic Positioning 2017 Award, which can only be given to the developer of an innovative DP product or system, or contractor responsible for an especially innovative application of DP on a project.

OceanWorks International is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Gage, P.Eng in the role of Director of the Project Management Office (PMO). Rich is responsible for overseeing and supporting the successful execution of all projects. Through the management of the PMO, the Project Director facilitates the required approval of project scopes, schedules, and budgets. Rich’s extensive experience is directly in line with OceanWorks’ growing subsea technology business in Oil & Gas, Submarine Rescue, and Ocean Observing Systems.

Diversified Communications UK are delighted to announce that the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) will be delivering an exciting programme of workshops at Ocean Business 2017, taking place on 4-6 April in Southampton, UK.

Osprey3 announces further investment to enhance its Operations division with the appointment of Kevin Jamieson as Operations Manager. Based in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Osprey3 manufacture and supply filtration equipment to remove solids, contaminants, toxins and hydrocarbons from fluids created during Petrochemical production. With sales and rental capacity well established, the investment in the Operations team will give clients the option of having Osprey3 provide complete project management services inclusive of manufacturer-trained personnel to mobilise at short notice and to client locations in support of hired or purchased equipment.

Global energy services company Proserv has launched a new subsea sampling cylinder that can improve the quality of results and reduce risks normally associated with sample transfer. Based on existing technology, the Proserv Subsea Sampling Cylinder (SSC) is the world’s first fully qualified and certified ‘for shipping’ sample cylinder to be deployed in a subsea environment. The system accurately captures well properties throughout the lifetime of a field. Subsea cylinders allow operators to take representative production samples from a subsea system for direct transfer to a laboratory. Proserv’s SSC eliminates the risks associated with handling and transferring samples on the surface, reducing the risk of containment loss and exposure to H2s / CO2 which can present a danger to people and the environment. Andrew Anderson, Senior Vice President for Production Equipment Services (PES) at Proserv, said: “With operators facing increased challenges in maximising production from geologically complex, high pressure and temperature and often remote and inhospitable fields, being able to generate accurate and reliable information from wells is critical in establishing its status and prospects.