Energy Sales, Inc. will unveil its newest, most cost efficient alkaline battery design for deep ocean applications at Oceanology International North America (February 14-16, San Diego). The Energy Sales Pressure-Tolerant Battery System (PTBS) is an alkaline battery solution specifically for the oceanographic community. The new design replaces the need for housings made of titanium or other costly advanced composite materials. Working with the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab (UW/APL), the company sought to develop a cost-efficient battery solution specific to the deep ocean – depths that range from 1800 to 3000 meters. “Collaborating with UW, we’ve been able to not only identify and design in better cost efficiency, but to demonstrate a remarkable cost/performance breakthrough with the PTBS,” said Jean-Michel Bourdon, CEO at Energy Sales.

Fugro has been awarded a framework contract in the Asia Pacific region for inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) services. Under this contract, IRM services can be called off as needed by the client. The total value of the contract is estimated at around EUR 80 million over the three year period.

Siem Offshore Contractors (SOC) is pleased to announce that all 73 inner array grid cables of the Veja Mate Offshore Wind Farm have been installed and trenched 10 weeks ahead of schedule. The submarine composite cables were successfully installed since 01-Oct-2016 using the “Siem Duo” consisting of the Cable Lay Vessel Siem Aimery and the Installation Support Vessel Siem Moxie. The Siem Duo demonstrated its advanced weather operability during the harsh winter season, whereby both the operations of the gangway on the Siem Moxie as well as post-lay trenching by the Siem Aimery were undertaken in significant wave heights of up to 3 m. The Siem Aimery loaded in excess of 95 km of copper core submarine composite cables directly into its two turntables in addition to the cable protection systems, which were loaded into a dedicated under-deck storage compartment. While the Siem Moxie assisted with the cable pull-in, termination and testing activities deploying SOC’s dedicated offshore support units (OSU) equipped with generators, pull-in winches, tools and equipment for personnel life support at the individual offshore work sites.

Subsea Technology & Rentals Ltd (STR); global specialists in the design, production and rental of advanced subsea technology for the offshore industry are pleased to announce the purchase of a 106G Series Submersible GPS from Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited. This recent purchase represents a further investment in advanced technology from STR as they continue to increase their equipment rental inventory. The 106G is an additional GPS receiver designed to survive immersion that complements the operation of a nearby standard subsea positioning beacon. This arrangement is suited to coastal construction tasks where submersible vehicles may periodically break the surface. Whilst submerged, positioning data is provided by a standard positioning beacon but once the vehicle breaks the surface the 106G takes over to provide the information required, typically cabled to the vessel based positioning system via the vehicle umbilical.

Hydrocarbon production from the ‘Golden Triangle’ – incorporating the deepwater (>500 m water depth) plays of Brazil, the US Gulf of Mexico and West Africa – will peak in 2019 due to the lack of projects sanctioned in recent years. Production data from Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) new online analysis tool, SECTORS, shows combined oil & gas production will reach its crux in two years’ time at some 7.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mmboe/d) before declining into the 2020s. This is largely due to Petrobras’ continuing financial and tendering problems in addition to significant delays to large developments in West Africa – notably Bonga South-West (Shell) and Zabazaba (Eni).

Borets, a global leader in the engineering, manufacturing, sales and service of electric submersible pump (ESP) systems, has named Obren Lekic as CEO of Borets U.S., located in Houston. With more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Lekic will lead the executive team by spearheading strategic market growth through new product development, implementing strategic sales and marketing tactics and leading regular assessments of existing and potential sales channels and products.

ENPRO Subsea’s managing director Ian Donald has been recognised by his peers for his outstanding contribution to the sector at the prestigious Subsea UK Awards 2017. Mr Donald was commended for his pioneering work, which has seen innovative solutions redefine key sections of the marketplace, during a black-tie dinner attended by around 600 industry leaders in Aberdeen (Thursday 2nd February 2017). He was chosen to receive the accolade in light of his leadership, creativity and commitment to delivering results in both enhanced recovery and subsea decommissioning arenas.

Over 4,500 unique visitors made their way to Europe’s largest subsea event, Subsea Expo, held in Aberdeen this week. Delegates flew in from all corners of the world, including Brazil, China, Japan and Mozambique. The largest wholly-focused subsea event in Europe, Subsea Expo is organised by industry body Subsea UK. Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK, said: "The worst of the pain appears to be behind us and there are promising signs of recovery. The subsea opex market should remain relatively robust and there are signals that delayed projects may be getting back on track.

The Hydro Group was named subsea company of the year at the Subsea UK’s annual awards while Enpro’s Ian Donald was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the industry. The awards, which celebrate the achievements of companies and individuals in the UK subsea industry, were presented at a gala dinner in Aberdeen during Subsea Expo - Europe’s largest subsea-focused exhibition and conference. The awards were presented in front of over 500 leaders from the subsea sector. Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK hosted the ceremony with former England rugby captain Matt Dawson as guest speaker. The top award, Company of the Year, was presented to The Hydro Group. With over 100 employees, the company is at the forefront in the development and innovation of subsea product technologies. In a period of tough external dynamics, The Hydro Group has focused on market diversification, while delivering profitable and steady growth based on its people and technology.

Ocean Installer has recently completed the very first permanent subsea installation at the Johan Sverdrup field, marking the kick-off of the Johan Sverdrup offshore work. The offshore campaign took place late January in line with project plans and schedule and involved the installation of a subsea template for water injection. The template weighed 290 ton and was installed making use of the CSV Normand Vision.

Ocean Business 2017, which takes place in Southampton at the National Oceanography Centre on 4-6 April 2017, is shaping up to be a vibrant international event for the ocean technology industry. Now larger than ever before, the team are delighted to be welcoming over 340 exhibitors; of these, almost 50 are first time exhibitors at the show, and from 26 countries around the globe.

THE newly merged Aberdeenshire-based Underwater Engineering Services (UES) and Houston headquartered Seanic Oceans Systems has secured its first contract in Tunisia, a region which neither firm had previously operated in. As part of the merger between their parent companies ATR Group and Centurion Group last year, the newly formed business of UES Seanic will support Oceana Subsea on a decommissioning campaign in Tunisia, North Africa.

SBG Systems releases a new version of the Ellipse Series, its popular product line of miniature inertial sensors. The Ellipse has been greatly improved, showing unmatched performance in attitude and heave measurement while adding Galileo constellation to its GNSS receiver. After thousands of Ellipse miniature inertial sensors operational on the field, SBG Systems proves again its capability of continuous innovation. With major improvements, the Ellipse line of miniature inertial sensors strengthens its position as “best combination of innovation, performance, and reliability” while keeping the same form factor and price level.

Subsea 7, a global leader in seabed-to-surface engineering, construction and services, has taken delivery of Seven Arctic and Seven Kestrel, successfully completing a substantial and targeted fleet investment programme that has added six new-build vessels to the Subsea 7 fleet since 2014. Seven Arctic is a heavy construction flex-lay vessel designed to meet the demands of deep water and harsh environments. Capable of working at depths of 3,000 metres, the vessel features a 1,000t offshore crane and a 600t top tension (tiltable) lay system.

M² Subsea has opened its new office in Aberdeen and created 30 jobs. The fledgling subsea business, which secured private equity investment towards the end of 2016, has moved people and equipment into substantial, headquarter premises in Arnhall Business Park at Westhill in Aberdeenshire. Set to become one of the largest independent providers of ROV services globally, M² Subsea has got off to a flying start in 2017, recruiting onshore commercial and operational personnel, taking possession of 27 remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and mobilising 10 of them onto a diverse fleet of subsea vessels. The company, which is also based in Houston, expects to create 50 onshore and 100 offshore jobs by the end of the year. Around 30 people have joined the management team in the UK and the US with more expected to be recruited as imminent contracts are signed.

Solutions-based approach could see £6million boost to company revenues Global leader in subsea technology and services, Ashtead Technology, is launching a new service to increase efficiency and drive down risk and cost in subsea and marine operations. By applying its engineering and technical know-how to solve specific subsea challenges, Ashtead has already delivered integrated product applications to several of its clients and is currently using this approach on projects worth £6million. This has spurred Ashtead on to establish a dedicated Engineered Measurement Solutions Group to focus exclusively on this solutions-based approach to complex applications, including attitude monitoring, vibration and stress monitoring, optical metrology, data communications, engineering data analysis and integrity management

Competition Technical Manager, Matt Gardner, will broadcast live on February 2 at Noon PST/2p.m. CST. He will review the 2017 SCOUT class mission tasks and describe and demonstrate the mission props. Teams will have the opportunity to see the actual mission props and ask questions so that they are prepared to tackle them on competition day!

Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) are pleased to announce the signature of a contract with S.B. Submarine Systems Co., Ltd. (SBSS) for the design, manufacture and delivery of the next generation MD3XT submarine telecom cable plough. The complete plough system will come equipped with an optical umbilical and SMD purpose-designed and manufactured umbilical winch. This will be supplied together with the control and power cabins to provide a complete turnkey solution.