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BREAKING NEWS
| 2012 | ||
| February 9 2012 | |
PREVCO’ SELLS ITS 3000th PRV!’ Prevco has sold more than 3000 of its ‘Titanium Dual Seal Pressure Relief Valves’ in less than a year and the product has become one of its fastest selling accessory items. The valve is typically fitted to subsea housings where internal components may cause off-gassing, i.e. batteries/electronics or where high external temperatures may cause pressures to increase to dangerous levels. The valves can be fabricated from Anodised Aluminium (100 meters rated) or Titanium (6000 + meters) treated with a dielectric coating which helps to prevent galling and corrosion from dissimilar metals. The valves typically crack at either 5psi or 10psi and make removal of endcaps completely safe. The product is available from both the USA and UK branches. More info at Prevco.com |
| 2011 | ||
| September 1 2011 | |
ISE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT Port Coquitlam, BC, September 1st, 2011 – International Submarine Engineering Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of James A.R. McFarlane as Vice President, ISE Ltd. Mr. McFarlane commenced his subsea vehicle development and piloting career in 1979 when he started with International Submarine Engineering Ltd. From there he became an ROV pilot and technician in the offshore oil and gas industry, military mine counter measures and search and recovery operations. In 1987, Mr. McFarlane took his experience to Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) becoming the Chief ROV Pilot for MBARI’s VENTANA ROV. In 1997 he became Director, Technical Support with MBARI. In 2003, Mr. McFarlane formed McFarlane Marine Services, LLC a consulting company to support subsea technical system development and marine operations for a diverse client list. In 2007 he became Vice President, Sound Ocean Systems Inc., and was involved with, inter alia, design, manufacturing, business development and daily corporate operations. In 2009 Mr. McFarlane became Head of the Office of Resources and Environmental Monitoring for the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. Mr. McFarlane is a member of the Marine Technology Society and a Fellow National of the Explorer’s Club. He is an experienced speaker and has been involved in the creation of many documentaries and educational videos on marine technology and its use in oceanographic research. Mr. McFarlane brings his corporate development, extensive technical and subsea systems experience back to ISE and looks forward to reconnecting with all ISE staff and customers. International Submarine Engineering Ltd. ISE was formed in 1974 to design and build underwater vehicles. Based just outside Vancouver, Canada, ISE has delivered more than 240 vehicles and over 400 robotic manipulators to more than 20 countries around the world. The ISE family of vehicles includes ROVs, AUVs, semi-submersibles, active towfish and manned submersibles. ISE has a robotics capability, having built underwater manipulators for a variety of functions and land based robotic systems including an automated car refueling station and the Canadian Space Agency robotic manipulator training system. |
| August 30 2011 | |
JAMES McFARLANE RECEIVES IEEE VANCOUVER CENTENNIAL AWARD Dr. James R. McFarlane, founder and president of International Submarine Engineering Ltd. has been awarded the IEEE Vancouver Section Centennial Award for a lifetime of contributions to underwater vehicles and robotics and the Canadian advanced technology sector. This is Dr. McFarlane’s third IEEE Award, following a Technical Achievement Award in 1987 and Engineer of the Year in 1998.
The award was presented to Dr. McFarlane by Charles Henley, the IEEE Centennial Awards Committee Chair on August 23rd 2011 at the celebration ceremony of IEEE Vancouver’s 100th birthday.
Dr. McFarlane started ISE in 1974 and has been involved with the design, construction, and operation of manned, tethered and untethered Remotely Operated Vehicles as well as subsystems of these vehicles including manipulators and computer control systems. Since that time, Dr. McFarlane has been a part of engineering teams that have built over 400 robotic manipulators and over 200 vehicles. In 2009, ISE was inducted into the Offshore Energy Center Hall of Fame and was also named as one of Canada’s top 40 defence companies. Dr. McFarlane is the author of many papers on submarines, manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), including the world’s first automobile refueling system for Shell. He has also made keynote presentations in Europe, India, Japan, China, Korea, USA and Canada. Two notable presentations include the inauguration of the India Chapter of IEEE, Oceanic Engineering Society at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in 2008, and most recently at the Institute of Industrial Science, at The University of Tokyo in 2010. McFarlane has served on many committees for international meetings and has been honoured as guest speaker at many conferences around the globe. He has also received numerous awards including the Officer of the Order of Canada, BC Science Council Award for Industrial innovation, and the BC Science and Engineering Gold Medal. About IEEE Vancouver Centennial Celebrations IEEE Vancouver celebrates its centennial in 2011. A series of events are planned to commemorate the section’s rich history and the many contributions made by its members. Centennial committee members have commenced assembling historical records and artifacts, and a display will be constructed illustrating IEEE Vancouver’s history with the goal to publish a permanent record of its first century.
International Submarine Engineering Ltd. ISE was formed in 1974 to design and build underwater vehicles. Based just outside Vancouver, Canada, ISE has delivered more than 240 vehicles and over 400 robotic manipulators to more than 20 countries around the world. The ISE family of vehicles includes ROVs, AUVs, semi-submersibles, active towfish and manned submersibles. ISE has a robotics capability, having built underwater manipulators for a variety of functions and land based robotic systems including an automated car refueling station and the Canadian Space Agency robotic manipulator training system. |
| August 28 2011 | |
USACE, Army divers team up for solutions at Kajaki and Dahla dams Maintaining underwater structures at dams, even under the best of circumstances, takes periodic inspection and repair. The Kajaki and Dahla dams in southern Afghanistan, however, have not had the benefit of either for several years, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to remedy the neglect. U.S. Army divers, at the request of the Afghanistan Engineer District-South, arrived at the district’s headquarters at Kandahar Airfield in early August to help inspect both the Kajaki and Dahla dams. Their plan was to use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to collect data and images of the gate structures, release valves, inlet tunnels and trash racks. The team intended to obtain data, such as sediment buildup, structural integrity and concrete cavitations and provide it to USACE engineers and project managers working to analyze and improve the dams’ integrity. “When we first decided we needed to look below the surface, we didn’t know who to call,” recalled Noori Nader, project manager for the Kajaki Dam. “After spending several months contacting everyone I could think of, Sue Fox (the South District’s safety manager) had the solution.” “I have a long work history with the Army dive teams,” said Fox. “As the deputy diving coordinator in the (USACE) Portland District, I worked with them every year at our dams in Portland. I also worked with an Army dive team in Iraq in the past and knew they would be perfect for this mission. Once we got the go ahead from our command, I coordinated with the team to get them here; it actually happened quite quickly.” The dive team The four-Soldier dive team deployed from the 7th Engineer Dive Team, 65th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to Kuwait in February. The team—1st Sgt. William “Scott” Baumgartner, Staff Sgt. Sean Rowley, Sgt. John Hoover and Sgt. Britton Hall—support military operations in the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations from their base in Kuwait, but this was their first mission in Afghanistan. “We work throughout Centcom’s AOR and have done a lot of diving in Iraq to support bridging operations primarily; however, we perform a full spectrum of dive operations as well,” said 1st Sgt. William Baumgartner, a master diver and the team lead for this mission. In addition to bridging operations, during its one-year deployment, the team may be called upon to perform body recovery, obstacle removal, port opening, underwater surveying and demolition, salvaging, vessel security and inspections, and force protection missions. “We are a dive team,” said Baumgartner. “But this mission required no diving at all.” The team did its entire fact finding through surface observation and the ROV. The ROV findings will help the district’s engineers determine the best way to repair the various components of the Kajaki Dam and its irrigation tunnel. At the Dahla Dam, the data collected will help engineers determine the extent of sediment buildup at the reservoir and the conditions at the entrance to the outlet tunnel. Mission One – Kajaki Dam The Kajaki Dam was constructed in the 1950s by an American construction company as part of the Helmand Arghandab Valley Authority Project. The project was an ambitious undertaking by the Afghan and U.S. governments and was designed to store water for downstream irrigation. In the 1970s, U.S. Agency for International Development funded the hydro power plant construction at the dam which included two 16.5-megawatt generators. Years of neglect, however, have taken a toll on the dam and its ability to perform as designed. Work is ongoing to improve power generation as well, but this reconnaissance mission was solely to evaluate the irrigation component of the dam. The original construction of the irrigation intake structure includes a trash rack that prevents debris from entering the tunnel and causing damage to the downstream valves and a 98-ton concrete maintenance bulkhead gate. The gate has a steel wheel which is supposed to open and close with a crane. The operational weight capacity of the crane is only 75 tons and therefore, it cannot raise and lower the gate. “The crane failed, leaving the gates stuck in a fully open position,” said Noori. “So, no maintenance can be performed on the structure and we didn’t know its condition. “As a result of the permanently opened concrete gate, the next component of the irrigation system, the downstream intake tower, relies on a set of roto valves for emergency closure and a set of jet valves for a regulated release of irrigation water from the reservoir,” Noori continued. Neither of the valve systems was designed to function in the capacity, so South District engineers are concerned that their condition has deteriorated over the years. “Without a functioning maintenance bulkhead gate, there is no way to take the valves off-line for preventative maintenance or to assess the reliability of the system,” said Noori. “Should the valves fail, there is the potential for an uncontrolled release of water into the irrigation system.” Uncontrolled release means flooding for the Helmand River valley. If water from the reservoir is allowed to freely flow downstream, potentially there would be loss of property. Additionally, the hydroelectric power station at the Kajaki Dam would be rendered inoperable, effectively cutting off renewable power to Helmand and Kandahar provinces. As a result of the potentially tenuous condition of the valves and maintenance gate, there is risk of failure. “The repair of the intake structure is essential to the longevity of the irrigation and hydroelectric systems,” said Noori. “This mission is the first step to determining the scope of repairs required to make the dam structures function as intended. “I will use these findings and the ROV video to develop a specific contract, and pass these findings on to the contractor. They will now be able to ‘see’ the condition of the structure underwater,” continued Noori. “Having the information will make a big difference in defining the potential repair project.” Inspection The dive team and Fox made their way to the Kajaki Dam area via helicopter to FOB (forward operating base) Zeebrugge, located adjacent to Kajaki Reservoir. Basing out of Zeebrugge, the team rose early to arrive at the dam by 5:30 a.m. each of the five days they were there. After a short briefing from the U.S. Marines about the security situation in the area, the team learned that not just insurgents were nearby. Jackals, scorpions, hornets and cobras were also real and present threats. “We saw scorpions and hornets, and we heard the jackals every night,” said Fox. Like all missions in Afghanistan, the dive team encountered a few issues they were not expecting. Although they anticipated deploying the ROV from their Zodiac boats, extremely low water levels prevented them. As a result, the team had to deploy the ROV from the intake tower, some 150 feet above the water surface. Almost immediately, the deployment of the ROV became problematic. The 150 feet of cable tangled with the chain used to deploy the trash racks. Before the mission could continue, the ROV had to be freed so that it could continue its descent into the reservoir. An additional challenge was the scarcity of fuel for the ROV. Low-quality, contaminated fuel was all that could be found and the ROV’s function was impaired as a result. “We spent about 1.5 hours the second day we were at the dam just repairing the ROV. We had to disassemble it, clean it and then reassemble before we could continue the recon mission,” said Baumgartner. Despite the frustration of the first day, what the ROV encountered under the water gave the USACE team some much needed optimism. Findings “We expected a significant amount of sediment to collect at the intake gate,” said Noori. “What the ROV video showed, though, was a sediment level of less than 1/8 inch. We didn’t know what to expect with respect to the condition of the intake structure. But what the ROV found was that the gates were in good condition as were the intake openings.” There was a small leak that requires repair, but according to Noori, the fix is not complex. Next, the ROV inspected the trash racks. Those were all in good condition, but trees and boulders were caught in the racks and must be removed. A guiderail was twisted and bent which will require repair. Nevertheless, Baumgartner said the trash racks were fairly clean and there was good flow. At the irrigation tunnel outfall, the ROV was focused on the concrete walls and tunnel floor. Some scouring has occurred over time, exposing the rebar which will require repair, and some unidentified piping under the valves will require evaluation. “We are pleased with what the ROV found and the dive team’s efforts,” said Noori. “With this data we can develop a comprehensive plan to repair the irrigation structure at Kajaki.” Mission II – Dahla Dam After nearly a week at Kajaki Dam, the dive team split up. Rowley and Hall returned to Kandahar Airfield to plan the dive team’s return to Kuwait. Baumgartner, Hoover, Fox and Steve Bredthauer, South District’s project manager for the Dahla Dam, continued on to FOB Frontenac, their base of operations for the dam inspection. “Delta Troop, 5-1st Cavalry were our hosts for the Dahla Dam inspection,” said Baumgartner. “We met with them the night before our mission to get the mission plan and threat brief.” The following morning, the team departed FOB Frontenac in a MRAP (mine-resistant, armor-protected) vehicle convoy to Dahla Dam. After a 20-minute ride, the team arrived and began its inspection. “The mission here was much different than the mission at Kajaki,’ said Fox. “ We weren’t able to perform an underwater inspection because August is the peak of irrigation season and the dam could not be shut down.” Baumgartner and Hoover instead measured the intake tower and determined the elevation measurements at the tower and its base. They took elevation measurements of the outfall structure and roughly estimated the total footprint of the reservoir. “The goal was to get a general idea of shape of the reservoir because it’s a dynamic body of water,” said Baumgartner. “We also needed to see if there was any unexploded ordnance, trees or boulders that would impede navigation for our next trip out here.” The dive team will be returning in the fall to conduct a hydrographic survey and contour of the bottom of the reservoir to determine the maximum pool depth, which equates to how much water can be stored for future years. USACE will use that data and compare it to similar data obtained in the 1970s to determine how much sediment accumulates during the spring floods. “This mission was successful all the way around and it feels good to be involved in such an important project,” said Fox. “We had some frustrating moments, but the information gained will help the projects progress and will make the next trip out here easier.” Baumgartner agreed. “One of our big concerns is weather and its potential impact on our follow-on mission. There are no docks or boat ramps, so the marshy and muddy banks of the reservoir may be difficult to navigate and launch from. Having that information in advance will help us plan more effectively.” Noori looks forward to the team’s return. “They have other capabilities that we could use in the future, such as surveying and measuring the level of cumulated sedimentation in the reservoir. I look forward to the team coming back and helping us with that task,” Noori concluded. |
| June 21 2011 | |
The Marine Technology Society’s ROV Committee announces the winners of its 2011 Annual Scholarships Houston, Texas, June 2, 2011: Trevor Uptain, Adam Simko, Michael Filimon and Zachary Miller have been selected as recipients of the Marine Technology Society’s 2011 ROV Committee Scholarships. In addition Russell Ives, Houston Fortney, Kip Hacking and Sebastian Baca received MTS ROV Committee MATE Center Scholarships. Trevor Uptain was awarded $10,000 and will be attending the University of Washington studying Mechanical Engineering. Adam Simko was awarded $7,500 and will attend UC Davis studying Mechanical Engineering. Michael Filimon received $5,000 and will attend the University of Rhode Island pursuing a Masters in Ocean Engineering. Zachary Harris received $2,500 and is attending Florida Institute of Technology studying Ocean Engineering. As winners of the MTS ROV Committee MATE Center (Marine Advanced Technology Education) Scholarships Russell Ives was awarded $10,000 and will attend Auburn University studying Mechanical Engineering. Houston Fortney received $7,500 and will pursue an Electrical Engineering degree at Purdue. Kip Hackling received $5,000 and will attend Brigham Young University pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Sebastian Baca received $2,500 and is attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo pursuing a degree in Marine Science. All will be recognized during the Awards Presentations at Underwater Intervention ’12 in New Orleans, Louisiana www.underwaterintervention.com Drew Michel, Chairman of the ROV Committee of MTS initiated the scholarship program in 1994. Since then it has awarded over $250,000 to deserving students who have an interest in Remotely Operated Vehicles. Scholarship applications for 2012/13 must be postmarked by April 15, 2012. Details on how to apply and additional information on the MTS ROV Committee can be found on this website. |
| February 22 2011 | |
Kongsberg Expands the Envelope of Multibeam Sonar Performance with the new M3MultiMode Multibeam Sonar™ Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd. announces the introduction of the M3 MultiMode Multibeam Sonar™. The M3 Sonar™ is characterized by truly innovative design, versatility, and ease of use in a light, compact design. The first two models of the M3 series are intended for the underwater vehicle market, in particular, work class ROV operations. According to Peter Fox, Ph.D., Principal Systems Engineer of Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd. and leader of the development team, “The M3 Sonar™ is a radical departure from conventional multibeams; with a simple, elegant user interface driving a versatile multichannel sonar transceiver capable of extreme spatial and temporal agility, with highly innovative composite transmit and receive transducers, a state-of-the-art-signal processing with true time delays, dynamic focussing, and pulse compression; all orchestrated to produce The Full Picture in stunning quality”. Truly Innovative The M3 MultiMode Multibeam Sonar™ combines imaging, profiling and true zoom modes in a single design. Short range (0.2 meters) and long range (100 meters) imaging capability plus multiple true zoom windows are now possible. Dynamically variable bandwidth provides optimized images and target detection with high resolution and enhanced shadows. Versatile ROV operators can now take advantage of the high refresh rate of conventional multibeam technology or tradeoff refresh rate for Enhanced Image Quality Modes providing detailed images of exceptional quality. The M3 Sonar™ enables operators to use the same sonar for obstacle avoidance at 100 meters range and close work in zero visibility conditions. Enhanced Image Quality Modes and true zoom windows provide high resolution and high Signal-to-Noise Ratios where the operators need it, with centimetre range resolution and beamwidths less than 1°. The sonar is available in either 500 m or 4000 m depth rated versions for shallow or deep water applications. Compact The M3 Sonar™ provides the sophistication and performance levels formerly found only in high end multibeam sonar in a compact package of only 3.8 kg. dry weight with an 18 cm diameter and 14 cm length. Compact deep water rotators from Kongsberg enable operators to aim this compact multibeam where they want it. Easy to Use The M3 Sonar™ employs a new user interface with an elegant simplicity that provides intuitive control, based on the task at hand. The M3 Sonar provides an unmatched viewing volume for navigation and obstacle avoidance with a 120 degree (horizontal) and 30 degree (vertical) coverage with a maximum range of 100 metres. The vertical coverage is also adjustable to suit the operator’s requirements. Ethernet telemetry is standard. About Kongsberg Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd., (KML) based in Port Coquitlam Canada is the manufacturer of the M3 Multi-Mode Multibeam Sonar™. KML supplies a worldwide customer base with a range of products for defence, fisheries, oilfield, scientific and other underwater acoustic applications. Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd. is part of the Subsea division within Kongsberg Maritime, a business area of Kongsberg Gruppen, a publicly traded company on the Oslo Stock Exchange. |
| 2010 | ||
| September 15 2010 | |
Deep Sea Intervention Opens ROV Tooling Manufacturing Facility in Singapore. DSI Singapore opens new dedicated facility to develop and manufacture remote intervention ROV tooling and sub-sea engineering products for sale and rental. Deep Sea Intervention Pte. Ltd. is a global supplier to the offshore oil and gas industry providing in-house design, development and fabrication of standard or customized remote intervention ROV tooling and other sub-sea engineering services and products. Based in Singapore, DSI supplies a turnkey engineering solution from concept through to design, prototyping and manufacturing in the fields of mechanical engineering, hydraulic and automation. DSI works closely with its clients to provide an “ad-hoc problem solving” solution to time critical projects. The new 5,500 sq. feet facility in Loyang Industrial Estate includes a dedicated manufacturing area which is equipped with the latest CNC 4-axis milling machine, CNC lathe, Conventional Lathe and Mill, 3D CNC routers, 3D digital scanning laser, state of the art 3D CAD/CAM computer design software and in-house engineering department. Through its subsidiary company AMC which specializes in the design, development and manufacture of advanced composite materials, DSI is now also able to offer its clients an unrivalled range of innovative products of low weight and maximum strength for a growing number of offshore applications. DSI Can offer the following equipment for Sale or Rental: - ROV 1 – 4 Torque Tools and associated ancillaries ROV Hot Stab Systems both API and ISO versions available ROV Docking Probes (ISO) ROV Friendly Sub Sea Valves (Various configurations available) ROV Cable Cutting Systems (Various sizes available) Equipment Under Development FLOT’s, Torque Tool Control Systems, AX / VX Seal Replacement Tool, Brush Cleaning Systems, ROV Friendly Shackles, Tooling Skid, Survey Skid, Camera Boom Arms, Observation Vehicle Manipulators, Chop Saw and more to come !!! For More Information Please contact Mr. Stuart Kendal TEL: +65 6542 7717 |
| July 26 2010 | |
Autonomous Surface Vehicles, Ltd. joins C & C Technologies, Inc. as a part of Global Fusion, Inc. Lafayette, Louisiana, July 8, 2010 - Global Fusion, Inc., an international marine services company, is pleased to welcome Autonomous Surface Vehicles, Ltd. , to the Global Fusion family of companies. ASV will join C & C Technologies, Inc. as a part of Global Fusion's Unmanned Systems Group. ASV is based in the United Kingdom. The company provides unmanned marine vehicle services and products worldwide with commercial, military, and academic applications. Services include the following: - Conversion of conventional craft to unmanned craft - Concept design, testing, prototype construction and sea trials - Detailed design and engineering services for specific projects The company also provides the following products: - Fast marine target drones - Unmanned survey and surveillance vehicles - Mobile buoy networks for positioning of underwater vehicles - Minehunting platforms for naval mine warfare applications - Fast towed-body vehicles ASV can be contacted at +44.1243.784.333 or at the following address: Autonomous Surface Vehicles Ltd. Unit 6A Trafalgar Wharf Hamilton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 4QB, UK About Global Fusion Global Fusion is a privately owned international marine services group based in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. The Global Fusion family of companies provide a range of marine services including offshore positioning, survey, geoscience, and autonomous marine vehicle services worldwide. For more information, please contact Thomas Chance at +1.337.210.0000. |
| July 8 2010 | |
The Marine Technology Society’s ROV Committee Announces the winners of its 2010 Annual Scholarships Houston, Texas, June 3, 2010: Zachary Miller, Camille Pagniello, Robert Lister and Zachary Harris have been selected as recipients of the Marine Technology Society’s 2010 ROV Committee Scholarships. In addition Eduardo Moreno, Steven Roberts and Kendall Samuel-Jakubos received MTS ROV Committee MATE Center Scholarships. Zachary Miller, who will be attending the Florida Institute of Technology was awarded $10,000; Camille Pagniello who will be attending Hawaii Pacific University received $7,500. Robert Lister who will attend Embry Riddle and Zachary Harris who will attend Webb Institute each received $5,000. As winners of the MTS ROV Committee MATE Center (Marine Advanced Technology Education)scholarships, Eduardo Moreno who will attend the University of Arizona was awarded $7,500, Steven Roberts who is undecided as to which University he will attend at this point received $3,000 and Kendall Samuel-Jakubos who will attend the Univeristy of Rhode Island received $2,000. All will be recognized during the Awards Presentations at Underwater Intervention ’11 in New Orleans, Louisiana www.underwaterintervention.com). Drew Michel, Chairman of the ROV Committee of MTS initiated the scholarship program in 1994. Since then it has awarded almost $200,000 to deserving students who have an interest in Remotely Operated Vehicles. Scholarship applications for 2010/11 must be postmarked by April 15, 2011. Details on how to apply and additional information on the MTS ROV Committee can be found at on in the education section on this website or click here. |
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| IN THE NEWS | |
| MATE 2011 | |
|
ROV Committee Names Scholarship Winners |
| PREVCO’ SELLS ITS 3000th PRV! | |
| Prevco has sold more than 3000 of its ‘Titanium Dual Seal Pressure Relief Valves | |
| UI '12 - January 24-26, 2012 | |
| New Orleans | |
