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.

M² Subsea today (Wednesday 1st March 2017) announced the appointment of Stuart Bannerman as the company’s new chief financial officer. Bannerman brings more than 30 years of executive management experience to the fledging subsea business, having worked with several high growth oil and gas firms across the globe. In his previous role as chief operating officer for BW Offshore, he played an instrumental part in helping the company achieve record safety and financial performance in 2013-14. He also led the development and implementation of key initiatives which led to the successful and efficient operation of the firm’s fleet of 14 FPSOs. Previous to this, he held the chief financial officer position at Remedial Offshore and regional CFO position at Technip.

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. has delivered a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to ESEA Submarine AS to perform a variety of offshore roles, including inspection, survey and salvage work. The powerful and compact Sub-Atlantic™ Mojave will also be used by ESEA Submarine’s sister company, ESEA Marine AS, which has customers that include fish farms, port authorities and insurance companies. In addition, the Mojave will play a training role in helping ROV pilots to develop their skills. Georg Stranden, general manager at ESEA Submarine, said: “We see opportunities in the Norwegian inshore market and found the Mojave suitable for the purpose because it is a truly mobile system which is very powerful for its size.”

Borets, a global leader in the engineering, manufacturing, sales and service of electric submersible pump (ESP) systems, has purchased a new operations facility in Midland, Tx. The 11.2 acre site, located at 1100 S FM 1788, Midland, provides more than 58,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing and service capabilities, along with approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art office space.

Delegates at this week’s ITF Technology Showcase will be given an insight into how a novel snake-arm robot could take offshore inspection to a new level ahead of its first trial with Chevron. Technology developer, OC Robotics has proven the capability of the P100 snake-arm robotic inspection system onshore and is now exploring the feasibility of robotic inspection of offshore oil and gas pressure vessels. Snake-arm robots are driven by wire ropes and controlled by OC Robotics’ proprietary software. Snake-arm robots are especially suited to working in confined and hazardous spaces as they can navigate and traverse cluttered environments. Only the arm itself is deployed into the workspace as the main drive motors, electronics and control systems are located away from the inspection area. The project is being funded by Innovate UK’s ‘Energy Game Changer’ programme. OC Robotics & Chevron are exhibiting on Innovate UK’s stand along with a number of companies that secured funding through the competition last year. Innovate is the UK’s innovation agency which aims to drive science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy - delivering productivity, new jobs and exports.