A universal interface to facilitate Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) docking with subsea structures is being developed through international collaboration between companies and universities in Brazil, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK. The consortium, led by WiSub, includes leaders from industry and academia; Bergen University, DOF Subsea, easySubsea, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Kongsberg Maritime, Saab Dynamics, Sonardyne, Statoil, Swire Seabed and Warsaw University of Technology.

Xodus Group has appointed Enrico Salardi as its decommissioning director to lead the company’s experienced ‘decom division’ which was formed in 2015. Mr Salardi has more than 20 years’ experience in the management of oil and gas assets. He joins Xodus from operator Quadrant Energy where he was senior project manager for a number of decommissioning programmes in Australia.

The Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF)’s latest Innovation Network Tech Talk event will bring together technology developers, industry bodies, service companies and operators to discover the opportunities for efficient and cost-effective decommissioning and well abandonment. The free event will be held during the week of SPE Offshore Europe at the Chester Hotel, Aberdeen on Tuesday, September 5 at 6pm.

M2 Subsea, the global independent provider of ROV services, has formed an alliance with leading vessel operator, Harvey Gulf Marine International to provide subsea ROV services in the Gulf of Mexico. The alliance will see M2 Subsea’s ROVs utilized on board Harvey Gulf’s DP2 survey support vessel, the Harvey Bronco. The offshore supply ship will focus on the survey and inspection market and will be equipped with M2 Subsea’s 150HP Triton XLX34 ROV system.

A major new entrant to North Sea decommissioning, launched last week, has made its first acquisition. Well-Safe Solutions, a specialist well abandonment company, has acquired Intervention Project Management (IPM) for an undisclosed sum.

Topaz Energy and Marine (“Topaz”), a leading offshore support vessel (“OSV”) company, today announced a new $100 million contract with Dragon Oil, the upstream oil and gas subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) whose principal asset is the Cheleken Contract Area, in the eastern section of the Caspian Sea, offshore Turkmenistan. Under the terms of the contract, Topaz will supply Dragon Oil Turkmenistan with six vessels, comprising five anchor-handlers and one Emergency Recovery and Response Vessel. The contract has already commenced with vessel mobilization and operation ramp-up under way. The contract is scheduled for a five year term with a two year option and brings Topaz’s market leading revenue backlog above $1.5 billion.

Underwater vehicles operate in challenging environments - and that includes the current market environment. With 2017 seeing the “new norm” of $50 oil, there are also signs that an increase in activity may not be too far away. However, the challenge for the sector is to look where it can add value and increase efficiency in underwater operations.

Trelleborg will be sharing its offshore expertise with the renewables industry when Phil Walsh, Business Development Manager at Trelleborg’s offshore operation in Houston, presents as a panelist at this year’s Offshore Wind Executive Summit, which takes place from August 9-10 in Houston, Texas. He will focus on the parallels between wind energy and oil and gas operations, discussing the way that oil and gas experience can benefit wind energy operations.

A major new entrant to North Sea decommissioning has been unveiled today (Friday 4th August). Well-Safe Solutions, set up by a group of oil industry stalwarts - including Alasdair Locke, Mark Patterson, and Paul Warwick - will provide a ground-breaking approach to the safe and cost-efficient decommissioning of subsea wells. The new start company, which aims to attract £200million in investment and create 400 new jobs, will offer a specialist well abandonment service that allows operators to meet the challenges and regulatory imperatives around decommissioning, while significantly reducing costs.

On behalf of the Marine Technology Society and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, the OCEANS ’17 MTS/IEEE Anchorage Local Organizing Committee is honored to invite your participation in this prestigious event. The theme, “Our Harsh and Fragile Ocean,” or “How to protect the Fragile from the Harsh with application of modern technology and traditional knowledge working together” will bring consideration of the issues of Climate Change, Diminishing Arctic Ice Pack, Ocean Acidification, Increase vessel traffic in Arctic waters, Energy extraction and much more.

New oil & gas industry resource gets seal of approval from Lord Cullen at official launch.

The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association - Aircraft Recovery Team is hosting two new courses on the topic of Aviation Archaeology as it relates to the marine environment. The courses are for novice and professionals interested in Marine Archaeology, conservation methods of artifacts and using your digital camera to 3D model artifacts and sites.

Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) is relocating its servicing operations to the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Dock estate in South Shields (UK). The Tyneside based manufacturing company is already a global leader in building remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), deployed underwater in the global oil and gas, telecommunications and renewables industries.

Decommissioning will be a special focus at SPE Offshore Europe 2017 with a range of expert speakers announced as part of the plenary and new Decommissioning Zone technical programme. Shell will host a keynote panel session with senior spokespeople from CNR, Chevron, Heerema Marine Contractors, Marine Scotland and the UK regulator BEIS.

Andrew Blears, Director for leading Energy, Marine and Renewables recruitment specialist Atlas Professionals, will now be based in the company’s Singapore office to support the team and enhance Atlas’ collaboration with local businesses in the Asia-Pacific.

ROV Planet Magazine Issue 12: The magazine of choice for Subsea Construction and ROV Professionals. Featuring Oceaneering Subsea Services Advance Further Into Digital Future – JANUS: The First Digital Underwater Communications Standard – New Technologies Drive Greater ROV Control and Automation – SMD Atom for Submarine Rescue Operations – Tritech Multibeam Sonar Performance – Event Review: Oceans’17 Aberdeen – Poster – Event Preview: SPE Offshore Europe – Trelleborg Combining Glass & Air to Create Custom Buoyancy – The Gladiator Control System – Technology Focus: Subsea Lights: Deepsea Power & Light Multiray LED Sealite - Do More, See More – Technology Focus: Subsea Lights: Arctic Rays Deep-Sea Light Strobe – ROVs Using Powerline Communications – The RUD ROV Hook: An Innovative Approach to Safe Subsea Lifting Operations – ROV Pilot Tech Training: High Voltage and Electronics.

Searov, established in 2008, is an agile and cost effective ROV service provider with a strong focus on West Africa. The company owns and operates ten Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) from its operating bases in Pointe Noire, Congo and Port Gentil, Gabon. Searov has a proven track record of delivering inspection, maintenance and repair and construction support services to a variety of international oil companies in West Africa.

Commercial dive companies, law enforcement, Search and Rescue dive teams, and wreck hunters all rely upon a carefully chosen inventory of highly technical equipment to accomplish their goals in a safe, timely, economical and professional manner. Selecting the right tools for the job involves detailed planning and depends entirely upon what an organization is searching for. JW Fishers Mfg. specializes in the manufacture of a diverse line of underwater search equipment to provide operators with a one stop shop for all of their search needs. Over the past 45 years, JWF has worked tirelessly to develop this carefully chosen inventory so that operators can focus on what’s truly important; the mission. Operators of all backgrounds repeatedly return to JWF for assistance in complex searches so that they may have these critical tools for the job, often calling without knowing exactly what they need.