| Press Releases - June 2005
June 30, 2005- Nova Ray Inc. Expands Into
Southeast Asia
June 24, 2005- Williamson & Associates,
Inc. Completes Deepsea Rock Drill
June 20, 2005- Carl Hayden Robotics Students
Beat MIT - Again
June 16, 2005- European Union's "Teledrive"
Project Develops Protoype ROVs
June 16, 2005- Virginia Air & Space
Center Exhibits Liberty Bell 7 Capsule, and Tells Story of its Recovery Using
ROV
June 14, 2005- Scientists Map Ocean Floor
Near Palmer Station in Antarctica with AUV
June 12, 2005- Fishermen Snare Yellow Submarine
June 8, 2005- Odyssey Shipwreck & Treasure
Attraction to Open in New Orleans Featuring ROV Console
June 7, 2005- Oceaneering's Wasp & ROV
Pull-In Riser For Medusa Spar Tieback
June 3, 2005- Seimac Expands the Novatech
Product Line for Deep Sea Alarm Applications
June 3, 2005- Subsea 7 Orders Pipelay Newbuild
Including ROV Spread
June 3, 2005- URI Scientists Use ROV to Reveal
First Photo Evidence of Cause of Tsunami
June 2, 2005- Oceaneering Announces ROV Fleet
Expansion
June 2, 2005- Swedish Navy Upgrades Include
ROVs
June 1, 2005- ROV Produces First Photographic
Evidence of the Cause of the Tsunami
Past press releases are also available:
Current Press Releases
Date: June 30, 2005
Organization: Nova Ray, Inc.
Nova Ray Inc. Expands Into Southeast Asia
 (Kirkland,
WA) - Nova Ray, Inc. a manufacturer of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for
use underwater announced today that it has signed an agreement with Wako Kousan
Co., Ltd. Of Tokyo, Japan (www.wakoshop.jp)
to represent Nova Ray in Southeast Asia. The Agreement allows Wako Kousan to
represent, sell, promote and advertise Nova Ray ROVs in Japan, the Republic
of South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore.
Nova Ray President, Krist Geriene stated, "We feel that the market for our ROVs
in Southeast Asia is significant and will grow nicely as customers understand
the advantages of the Nova Ray® ROV. Partnering with Wako Kousan will strongly
launch our products in the area."
The Nova Ray patented arcuate wing design solves long-time industry struggles
with cable drag in strong currents. The wing design eliminates the phenomenon
know as "Dutch Roll Instability," a problem experienced by flat wing designs.
The arcuate-shaped wings of the Nova Ray counteract the lifting force of the
umbilical (also described as the tether or cable). Therefore, the speed of the
boat (or other vessel) or current has little effect on the operational stability
of the Nova Ray. The wings increase cable use efficiency and reduce the amount
of cable necessary to operate or tow at depth.
Nova Ray's arcuate wing configuration is remarkably stable in turbulent currents
and provides true axis flight. There is little tendency for the vehicle to rock
in shifting currents. The wings, combined with other secondary control surfaces,
tend to counter any destabilizing forces. The close proximity of the thrusters
to the control surfaces allows for very tight maneuvering. The overall result
is an ROV system that can do more and perform where other underwater systems cannot.
Please visit our web site at www.novaray.com
for more information.
Contact:
Krist Geriene, President Nova Ray, Inc. at 13600 NE 126th Place, Ste B Kirkland,
WA USA 98034-8720; Phone: 425-825-0654 ext. 12; Mobile: 206-349-8275;
Fax: 425-825-9364
Date: June 24, 2005
Organization: Williamson & Associates,
Inc.
Williamson & Associates, Inc. Completes Deepsea Rock Drill
Seattle, WA (PRNewswire) - Williamson & Associates, Inc. of Seattle, Washington
has completed construction of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) designed to
obtain 20 meters of rock core in water depths to 6000 meters. This is the second
such system designed and built by Williamson & Associates, Inc. for Nichiyu
Giken Kogyo Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan; the first, delivered in 1996, is still
in operation. Called Benthic Multi-coring Systems (BMS), these drills are operated
by the Deep Ocean Resources Development Company, Ltd. for the Japanese Government.
Upon completion of local testing and sea trials in July, the new system will
be shipped to Japan for installation on the research ship Hakurei Maru Number
2.
In addition to diamond bit rod coring capability, the new BMS includes 9 video
cameras, a scanning sonar system, doppler current meter, attitude sensors, altimeter,
precision depth sensor, hydraulic thrusters and an emergency release system.
All coring and drill monitoring are controlled topside via a fiberoptic telemetry
link. Bit pressure, rotary rpm, rotary torque, flushing water flow/pressure,
selection of specific drill bits and coring rate are among the operator controlled
functions.
Each drill is self-leveling on slopes up to 15 degrees and capable of drilling
on 20 degree slopes. They weigh 5 metric tonnes and are 3.5 meters wide by 4.5
meters long and stand 5.9 meters high (legs retracted). Additional specifications
are available on the Williamson & Associates, Inc. website (www.wassoc.com).
Williamson, established in 1982, applies leading edge technology to
meet complex client goals in the areas of seafloor mapping, marine geophysical
surveying, geotechnical sampling and ocean engineering.
Media Contacts: Art Wright, Survey Manager, artw@wassoc.com, 206-285-8273 and
Mike Williamson, President, mikew@wassoc.com, 206-285-8273
Date: June 20, 2005
Organization: Carl Hayden High School
Carl Hayden Robotics Students Beat MIT - Again
(By Karina Bland, The Arizona Republic) - A group of inner-city kids from Carl
Hayden High School in Phoenix placed third in a national underwater robotics
competition in Texas - not as good as last year's first place finish but, hey,
they still beat Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Last year, four students from Carl Hayden stunned educators and scientists when
they won a national underwater robotics competition in California, beating high
school and university teams, including from renowned MIT.
Last weekend, the team finished third in the Marine Advanced Technology Education
Center ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) competition for high school and college
students at the Johnson Space Center near Houston. A team from Newfoundland, Canada
finished first.
"They really did do a good job in the competition, and they deserved to win,"
said Allan Cameron, one of the Carl Hayden coaches, via email Monday. Second place
went to Monterey Peninsula College from California.
Still, the team from Carl Hayden was upbeat, Cameron said: "The kids are in a
good mood, and we feel we did well considering that we did not do as well as we
were capable of doing."
The team of Cristian Arcega, 16, and Lorenzo Santillan, 17, who competed last
year, along with first-time competitors Pablo Santillan, Luis Gutíerrez, Analisa
Regalado and Cindy Casteñeda had a stressful performance mission June 18 that
began with the discovery of a leak in their ROV, "Smokey."
A dropped probe 40 feet under water, a failed temperature sensor, and power failure
on the return to the surface meant some tasks were not completed. The team scored
52 out of a possible 120 points.
"The kids were pretty bummed out," Cameron said, though other teams suffered similar
problems. MIT's robot became entangled in its fiber optics and couldn't finish.
The Carl Hayden team actually finished second in the performance mission when
the Newfoundland team scored 65 points a day later, on June 19. But the judging
also includes a technical report, presentation and a poster display during the
three-day competition. Monterey edged out Carl Hayden for second place with a
better technical report score.After last year's win, the Carl Hayden students
were featured in Wired magazine. Since then, they have been flooded with financial
help for college and even movie offers.
Their notoriety continued in Houston, where a radio station featured the team
and arranged for a dinner with NASA astronauts, said Craig Pletenik, Phoenix Union
High School District spokesman.
Cameron and fellow coach Fredi Lajvardi, and some of the students will speak at
Wired magazine's Nextfest in Chicago this week and at the National Council for
La Raza conference in Philadelphia in July.
 Then,
the students will get some well-deserved rest before school starts in August.
Cameron said, "I'm amazed how well the kids can work with only four to six hours
of sleep a night. I bet when we get home, they will sleep for 24 hours straight."
Carl Hayden High robotics student Lorenzo Santillan checks over one of
his class projects.
Date: June 16, 2005
Organization: University of Zaragoza
(Spain)
European Union's "Teledrive" Project Develops Protoype ROVs
Taking Telepresence to a New Level
Opening the door to a new world of education and entertainment the development
of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and simulator allows users to go where
few others have gone before, taking telepresence to a new level.
Developed by nine partners from four EU countries under the IST project TELEDRIVE,
the system allows users to go underwater in an aquarium or in the sea without
getting their feet wet or to visit an archaeological site where human presence
could be damaging.
"TELEDRIVE allows people to take virtual journeys in real locations that would
otherwise be inaccessible," explains project coordinator Mario Maza at the University
of Zaragoza in Spain. "Sensors and cameras on the vehicle relay not only sight
and sound but also motion to a simulator showroom, allowing people to experience
what the remote vehicle is experiencing with all their senses."
The use of ROVs that transmit motion as well as audiovisual information for the
purpose of education and entertainment is a major innovation, going a step beyond
traditional virtual reality simulators.
"Traditional simulators offer a completely virtual environment. What they show
is nothing more than a computer model," Maza notes. "In the case of TELEDRIVE
what users see, hear and feel is from a real vehicle in a real place transmitting
its surroundings to a showroom in real time."
Within the scope of the project two prototype ROVs - a submarine and a wheeled
vehicle - were developed alongside the showroom and control room, both of
which are mounted on a moving platform that emulates the motion of the vehicles.
In the case of the submarine, the control and show rooms are connected to the
vehicle by cable, while for the land version full duplex radio is used.
The system was tested and demonstrated last year, in one instance with the remote
vehicle at the University of Zaragoza being operated via satellite from Nepal.
Trial users were 'awed' by the possibilities the system offers to visit remote
and inaccessible locations, the coordinator explains.
At the Oceanopolis aquarium in Brest, France, which was one of the trial sites,
the TELEDRIVE system is currently undergoing further development to offer visitors
underwater tours, while Italian project partners Superelectric and OK Games are
developing a similar remote operated submarine for use off the coast of Sardinia.
Spanish partner Irosa is developing a basic version of the wheeled vehicle and
simulator.
Commercial products are likely to be on the market over the coming months in the
key entertainment and education sectors, with Maza also seeing the potential for
TELEDRIVE technology to be used in the future in industry and mining for work
in hazardous environments.
Contact:
Mario Maza, Ed. Agustín de Betancourt Campus, ACTUR University of Zaragoza,
C/ María de Luna, s/n, E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Tel: +34-976-762558 Fax: +34-976-762147 Email: mmaza@unizar.es
Date: June 16, 2005
Organization: Virginia Air & Space
Center / The Discovery Channel
Virginia Air & Space Center Exhibits Liberty Bell 7 Capsule, and
Tells Story of its Recovery Using ROV
(By Mark St. John Erickson, Daily Press) - Astronaut Gus Grissom and the Liberty
Bell 7 won a stellar place in history when they splashed down into the Atlantic
Ocean in 1961. But their story didn't end with the conclusion of America's second
manned space flight just 15 minutes after it started.
Floating in the waters just north of the Bahamas, the 2-ton Mercury space capsule
appeared unfazed by its 302-mile extraterrestrial trip until a ring of explosive
bolts behind the hatch detonated ahead of schedule. That catapulted the metal
square into the sea long before either Grissom or the helicopter hovering overhead
were prepared - then transformed the sinking Liberty Bell 7 into the only manned
NASA space vehicle that was never recovered.
Not until 38 years later, at least - when ocean explorer Curt Newport led an expedition
that discovered the missing capsule about 16,000 feet below the surface. And it's
this dual story of loss and rediscovery that makes "The Lost Spacecraft: Liberty
Bell 7 Recovered" such a compelling window into an increasingly distant yet still
dramatic chapter of aerospace history.
"We take so many of our successes and - unfortunately - our failures for granted
now. We have no concept of what it was like to be space pioneers," says curator
Allen Hoilman of the Virginia Air & Space Center.
"But this exhibit takes us back to a time when it really was a race to be the
first into space - and it was a race that we, as Americans, initially lost."
Sponsored by the Discovery Channel - which also backed Newport's 1999 recovery
mission - "The Lost Spacecraft" starts by transporting visitors back to the Cold
War living rooms in which most Americans followed the space race between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
Period furnishings, vintage magazines and newspapers and television news footage
from the time recreate the tension and excitement experienced by millions as they
watched the contest unfold on their TV screens.
Among the images on display is a large group portrait of the nation's first seven
astronauts, all of whom trained for the pioneering flights of the Mercury space
program at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton.
"It's a very nice connection for us," Hoilman says, underscoring the VASC's role
as Langley's official visitor center. "This is where America's space program began."
Disastrous video from several unmanned launch pad explosions demonstrates the
risks that the first astronauts accepted as routine. A mock-up of NASA's original
Mission Control traces Grissom's historic second manned flight with archival video
and audio tracks, reconstructing the drama and daring felt by the world as it
watched the 118-mile-high sub-orbital flight unfold.
From the launch pad and booster separation to re-entry and parachute deployment,
the pioneering journey went almost exactly as the NASA controllers wanted. Then
the ring around the hatch exploded not long after the Liberty Bell splashed down
in the ocean.
"I was just sitting there minding my own business when - POW! - the hatch went,"
Grissom later reported. "I saw nothing but blue sky and water starting to come
in over the sill."
Within seconds, the startled astronaut pushed his body through the awkward opening
and leapt into the sea. Weighed down by his spacesuit, he treaded water for nearly
5 minutes, fighting the prop wash and the waves as a Marine helicopter struggled
to save the doomed spacecraft a few yards away.
Grissom was near exhaustion when the helo commander finally let the capsule drop
in order to save the stranded astronaut.
"By then the capsule was filled with water," Hoilman says. "The helicopter simply
didn't have the power needed to lift both it and a couple of extra tons."
No one knew then that the discovery and rescue of the lost spacecraft some 38
years later would be nearly as dramatic.
Operating a Remotely Operated Vehicle from 16,000 feet above the ocean floor,
Newport and his crew had narrowed their search from 88 to 7 targets over an area
of 24 square miles. Audio from their control room and video from the ROV recorded
their surprise when the capsule emerged from the murk on the very first pass across
the bottom.
"Oh my God! This is it! I don't believe it! This never happens!" Newport yells.
"You can see the writing on the side. It says, 'United States.' "
Whether Newport succeeded so quickly because of extraordinary planning or extraordinary
luck, there's no doubt about the high degree of skill required to carry out the
mission.
Visitors to the exhibit can get a good taste of that expertise through a pair
of interactive displays that enable them to try their hands at such demanding
deep-sea jobs as sonar scanning and ROV operations.
Other interactive stations include a centrifuge training simulator that recreates
the experience of shooting through space - and withstanding mock acceleration
and deceleration forces that measure more than two times earth's gravity. A mission
re-entry sequence simulator employs actual data from the Liberty Bell flight,
while an ingenious capsule control simulator demonstrates how Grissom's regulated
such motions as pitch, roll and yaw through a pioneering onboard flight command
system.
Even more instructive, however, is the eye-opening sight of the capsule itself
- which took 12 conservators more than $250,000 and 7 months to preserve. Smaller
and far snugger than an old Volkswagen Beetle, the rudimentary spacecraft looks
unbelievably primitive today - making an impressive testament about the courage
of its pilots and the ambition of a nation.
"There aren't many places where you can see an original Mercury spacecraft just
a few feet away from an actual Apollo space capsule," Hoilman says.
"I still get chills knowing that they're here together."
Date: June 14, 2005
Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute / University of Southern Mississippi
Scientists Map Ocean Floor Near Palmer Station in Antarctica with AUV
Using inflatable boats, a portable depth sounder with GPS, and a REMUS
autonomous underwater vehicle, a team of scientists and engineers has created
the first detailed, comprehensive chart of the ocean floor around Palmer Station
in Antarctica, revealing previously unknown submerged rocks.
 The
autonomous underwater vehicle REMUS (foreground) conducts a survey near Palmer
Station (background). The polar research vessel Lawrence Gould is docked at
the station. (Photo by Vernon Asper, University of Southern Mississippi)
The new chart, the first in 50 years, was made by a research team from the Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of Southern Mississippi
over five weeks in April and early May as they looked for sites for a new underwater
observatory. Their findings revealed a number of previously unmapped submerged
rocks, among them a set of sharp rocky pinnacles that are potential navigational
hazards. Some rise nearly 100 meters (about 330 feet) to a depth of six meters
(about 20 feet) below the surface and near to the routes generally taken by
ships through the area.
The previous nautical chart of the area was produced in the mid 1900's by single
soundings taken at very wide spacing. Although some underwater hazards were
marked on the earlier chart, the old chart was found to be incorrect by at least
0.5 nautical miles (just under one mile).
Since Palmer Station was first established as a scientific outpost in 1965,
ships have followed a particular route through the visible rocks.
In typical marine navigation in poorly charted waters, ships new to the area
proceed cautiously, making continuous soundings with their bridge fathometer.
They then note their routes on charts and follow the same routes when entering
and departing the area.
"We were astounded to find these rocks so close to the surface and the shipping
lanes," said Scott Gallager, an associate scientist in the Biology Department
of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "When you think of all the ship
traffic that has passed through the area through the years and the often hostile
weather conditions, you realize how skillful and lucky they have been."
Gallager and co-principal investigator Vernon Asper of the University of Southern
Mississippi conducted the survey with WHOI engineers Keith von der Heydt and
Gregory Packard. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation's Office
of Polar Programs.
Palmer Station is at 64°46' S, 64°03' W, on protected Arthur Harbor on the southwestern
coast of Anvers Island, about midway down the Antarctica Peninsula. Palmer is
one of three U.S. research stations on the continent and the only station north
of the Antarctic Circle. Named for American sealer Nathaniel B. Palmer, who
in 1820 was one of the first to see Antarctica, the station was built in 1968
to replace the prefabricated wood huts of 'Old Palmer' station, established
in 1965. In 1990 Palmer Station was designated by the National Science Foundation
as a long term ecological research (LTER) site.
Most researchers travel to the station from Punta Arenas, Chile across the Drake
Passage aboard the research vessels Laurence
M. Gould and Nathaniel B. Palmer,
operated by the National Science Foundation for the Antarctic research community.
In light of the new information, the Gould
and the Palmer are now using modified
access routes into Palmer Station to give a wider berth to the newly imaged
rock hazards.
Gallager, Asper and their team went to survey the sea floor around Palmer Station
to locate possible sites for the installation of the first underwater cabled
observatory in Antarctica. The Polar Remote Interactive Marine Observatory (PRIMO)
will be equipped with sensors to monitor ocean properties during an entire year.
It will be installed in the Austral fall of 2006 about two nautical miles to
the south of Palmer Station on the ocean bottom at a depth of approximately
130 meters (425 feet), connected by a fiber-optic and electrical cable to a
newly constructed building at Palmer Station.
Instruments, including current meters, plankton imaging systems, and an under
ice video observation system, will travel up and down through the water column
throughout the day from the observatory's base to just below the surface, even
after the pack ice forms and covers the area. Proximity sensors on the
top of the profiling platform will send and receive acoustic signals to prevent
it from contacting the ice. The scientists hope to use this first observatory
as a proof of concept and test-bed for a similar observatory to be located in
deeper water. Other scientists, students and educators around the world
will be able to access PRIMO via the Internet and conduct experiments related
to plankton distributions, carbon cycling, and climate change.
"Protection of the cable and underwater platform from grounding icebergs at
depths of 100 meters (330 feet) or greater is a major concern, and the primary
reason for needing the detailed underwater maps, but finding the rocks was an
unexpected bonus of the trip," said Gallager. "The real challenge now is to
design and build a platform that will survive the harsh Antarctic winters in
the water and provide us the first ever long-term, high resolution glimpses
of what is going on in this region of the Southern Ocean. That will be exciting!"
Date: June 12, 2005
Organization: Royal Navy
Fishermen Snare Yellow Submarine
Fishermen are hoping for a finder's fee after netting a mini yellow submarine
seen floating near a Scottish island.
Scotland (BBC News) - The remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), which is used to
detect mines, is 10ft long and weighs 850kg. It was spotted by fisherman John
Baker off Islay after apparently breaking free from a Royal Navy ship.
It was towed to Port Ellen, hauled ashore and taken to a "safe place" by locals
who say they are waiting for the navy to come and claim the vessel. Mr Baker's
brother-in-law, Harold Hastie, said the vessel had been found floating about three
miles from the Mull of Oa.
Lifting Gear
His relative called him and started singing "We're all living on a yellow submarine"
before explaining what had happened. As Mr Baker's creel boat did not have the
lifting gear needed to get the craft ashore, Mr Hastie went down to help. "I fish
scallops and have a winch and heavy lifting gear, so John towed it back to Port
Ellen and then we transferred it.
"We lifted it out of the water and onto my own vessel and I got a friend who has
a haulage business to take a digger down to the pier. He lifted it off my vessel
and onto the pier and we took it away for safe keeping," he said.
Mr Hastie, who is a member of the local coastguard, contacted his colleagues at
Clyde Coastguard to explain what had been found. They passed the details on to
the Faslane Naval Base, but were initially told that no submarines were missing.
The navy later admitted that one of its vessels was missing. However, Mr Hastie
said the navy had not been in touch with either of the two men to thank them for
what they had done.
"You would think they would have phoned up and thanked us because it is quite
an expensive piece of kit to leave lying about. It took quite a bit of organisation
to get it out of the water and haul it onto the pier." Mr Baker said he was hoping
to receive compensation from the navy, although he said: "We are not going to
claim vast amounts." He added: "I have never seen anything like this floating
about before.
Loss Reported
"You see the odd fridge and things, but not wee submarines."
 A
Royal Navy spokesman told the Scotland on Sunday newspaper that the loss of
the vessel had been reported within an hour. However, he said the message did
not reach Faslane until a week later. "We are conducting a investigation into
what went wrong," he added.
 Harold
Hastie helped haul the mini submarine out of the water (above). Harold Hastie
(standing) and fellow coastguard Peter Campbell with the vessel (below).
Date: June 8, 2005
Organization: Odyssey Marine Entertainment,
Inc.
Odyssey Shipwreck & Treasure Attraction to Open in New Orleans Featuring
ROV Console
French Quarter Attraction to Feature New Orleans-bound SS Republic Shipwreck
Tampa, FL (Business Wire) - Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., a leader in the
field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration, announced today that its subsidiary,
Odyssey Marine Entertainment, Inc., will open an interactive shipwreck and treasure
attraction in the French Quarter this summer.
Located in the Jax Brewery, Odyssey's Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure will
appeal to the universal public fascination with shipwrecks and sunken treasure.
The attraction will reveal the compelling stories behind some of the world's most
famous shipwrecks, their treasure and historical artifacts, and will allow visitors
to experience the adventure and excitement of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration
through multiple hands-on exhibits.
The attraction will feature the SS Republic, a Civil War-era ship with an intriguing
connection to New Orleans. The ship sank in a hurricane off the coast of Georgia
while sailing from New York to New Orleans in 1865. Odyssey discovered the Republic
nearly 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the summer of 2003
- nearly 138 years after the ship went down. More than 51,000 gold and silver
coins, and approximately 13,000 additional artifacts, were recovered in the world's
most extensive deep-ocean archaeological excavation.
The attraction will also tell the enthralling stories of SS Republic passengers,
one of whom was Charles Sauvinet, the longest serving African American in the
Union Army. Sauvinet was headed to New Orleans to take a job with the Freedman's
Bank in 1865. After the Republic sank, he was rescued on a lifeboat 100 miles
off the coast of Georgia. Sauvinet eventually made his way to New Orleans, where
he went on to become the first African American to serve as Orleans Parish Civil
Sheriff.
Odyssey's Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure was painstakingly designed to appeal
to both adults and children, and to advanced or amateur ocean explorers alike.
The attraction will showcase the history, personal stories, artifacts, coins,
high-definition film and images from the SS Republic shipwreck. It will also feature
interactive exhibits that present the methods and technologies Odyssey uses to
conduct deep-ocean shipwreck searches and archaeological excavations.
Some of the attraction's interactive exhibits include a weather and science station
where visitors can build, sink and recover model ships, consoles to pilot a Remotely
Operated Vehicle (ROV) and operate the manipulator arms used to pick up objects
in the deep ocean, a wind tunnel that allows visitors to experience hurricane-force
winds, a search exhibit in which sunken ships can be found using sonar and other
technologies, and a display to learn about the treasures Odyssey has uncovered
thousands of feet underwater. The adventure offers something to engage and intrigue
every member of the family.
"When John Morris and I founded Odyssey Marine Exploration in 1994, we dreamed
of being able to share the excitement of shipwreck exploration with the public.
Odyssey's Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure makes that long-held dream a reality.
This new attraction will reveal a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look into how
we find shipwrecks and their amazing treasure, artifacts and cargo. We think visitors
will find the highly interactive approach to shipwreck exploration to be very
entertaining," said Greg Stemm, co-founder of Odyssey Marine Exploration.
John Morris, co-founder of Odyssey Marine Exploration, added "We're proud to make
New Orleans the first location of our shipwreck and treasure attraction. This
not only brings the intriguing world of shipwreck exploration to the public, but
it's also a strategic step toward realizing our long-term business plan for the
Company. The attraction demonstrates how we intend to leverage future shipwreck
discoveries into public exhibits, merchandising opportunities, and other entertainment
possibilities such as books, films and TV specials."
George Becker, President and CEO of Odyssey Marine Entertainment, observed "We
think residents and visitors to New Orleans will find Odyssey's Shipwreck &
Treasure Adventure to be a fun, hands-on look into the thrilling world of deep-ocean
shipwreck exploration. And our focus on the New Orleans-bound SS Republic shipwreck
will truly make the astonishing story behind the ship and her treasure all the
more compelling to the New Orleans market."
Odyssey's Shipwreck & Treasure Adventure is scheduled to open in the Summer
of 2005. Cost will be $13.95 for adults and $8.95 for children ages 3-12. Annual
passes will be available for $35 for adults and $20 for children. For more information
about the New Orleans attraction, please visit www.shipwreckandtreasure.com.
For additional information about Odyssey Marine Exploration, please contact John
McNeilly, the Company's Manager of Corporate Communications, at 813-876-1776.
Date: June 7, 2005
Organization: Oceaneering
Oceaneering's Wasp & ROV Pull-In Riser For Medusa Spar Tieback
WASP III installing clamp. (Photo courtesy of Oceaneering)
Oceaneering's WASP III and a Hydra® Millennium ROV successfully completed the
riser pull-in for the first subsea tieback (North Medusa, MC 538) to the Medusa
Spar. The Oceaneering work scope encompassed engineering and project management,
hardware manufacture/supply, umbilical supply and offshore installation of the
flowline and umbilical systems. The project hardware included dual-flowline
pipeline end terminations (PLETs) for production and pigging.
Oceaneering holds a 37.5% ownership position in the Medusa spar. The spar will
produce the Medusa Field (MC 582) and also serve as a hub and host for other
subsea oil and gas tiebacks.
For further information on the North Medusa tieback or other Oceaneering subsea
tieback capabilities, contact Andy Henderson: E-mail: ahenderson@oceaneering.com
Phone: 713.329.4532
Date: June 3, 2005
Organization: Seimac
Seimac Expands the Novatech Product Line for Deep Sea Alarm Applications
(Dartmouth, NS) - Mr. Paul Adlakha, Manager, Marketing and Sales, is pleased to announce the release of the latest Novatech beacon, the AS-900A ARGOS Beacon.
"While Seimac's traditional Novatech beacons are mostly used to assist in location and recovery of assets at sea over search zones of up to 10 nmi or so, the AS-900A beacon provides a truly global alarm capability via satellite for unexpected surfacing of payloads or unexpected deep sea events anywhere in the world", stated Mr. Adlakha.
The AS-900A beacon can be deployed with ocean bottom sensors or on platforms down to 7,300m and remain there for up to two years. Once at the surface the beacon transmits an identification and position message for up to 30 days. This message can be sent to notify clients located anywhere as long as there is phone or internet access.
"The AS-900A combines the mechanical engineering strengths of the traditional Novatech products with the advanced technology of Seimac's X-CAT Argos transmitter to produce the ideal alarm beacon", said Mr. Roger Scrivens of R.S. Aqua, a long-standing Value Added Partner of the Novatech product line.
For further information on Novatech Beacons or other Seimac products, please contact Seimac at 902 468.3007 or visit www.seimac.com
About Novatech Products
Seimac Limited is the manufacturer of the world leading Novatech line of specialized Radio Beacons and Xenon Flashers for oceanographic recovery and warning applications. Seimac has customers in more than 36 countries around the world that utilize its Novatech products. The customers include government agencies, the military, universities, oil companies, private research organizations, survey and exploration companies, salvage companies and the fishing industry.
Seimac's Novatech Radio Beacons, Xenon Flashers, and Direction Finders are used throughout the oceans of the world in a wide variety of submersible and surface applications. For submersible applications they are attached to underwater equipment such as ROV's (remotely operated vehicles) and scientific equipment. When the equipment returns to the surface the Radio Beacon and Xenon Flasher turn on automatically to provide a radio signal and an intense flashing light to assist in the recovery of the equipment. For surface applications they are used for search and rescue, drift studies, oil spill tracking, equipment location and warning applications.
Date: June 3, 2005
Organization: Subsea 7
Subsea 7 Orders Pipelay Newbuild Including ROV Spread
Subsea 7, a subsidiary of Siem Offshore Inc., has signed contracts for a new-build,
rigid pipelay and construction vessel. The overall project cost is $180-200
million and is based on fixed prices from the shipyard and equipment supplier.
Subsea 7 will take delivery of the completed ship in 2Q 2007.
The vessel is 157 m long and 28.4 m wide and will have a top tension capability
of 300 tons, which is upgradeable to 400 tons. The vessel will carry 3,500 tons
of steel pipe on the main reel. It will have a 400-tons deepwater crane, a built-in
deepwater ROV spread, and a comprehensive survey system. The vessel will be able
to install flexible flowlines and umbilicals.
The vessel is much larger than the company's Skandi Navica pipelay vessel. It
will have 50% more carrying capacity and double the top tension capability.
"We have seen considerable growth in our business since Subsea 7 was formed in
2002, and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to consolidate our position in
the premier tier of contractors. The investment in a new vessel also demonstrates
our considerable commitment to the global marketplace for underwater engineering
and pipeline construction operations," Mel Fitzgerald, CEO, Subsea 7, says.
SIEM's board of directors performed a medium- to long-term market assessment for
rigid pipelay and subsea construction. The board expects demand to grow and deeper
water development to be a significant portion of that growth, particularly in
West Africa and Brazil. SIEM will finance the new vessel through a combination
of debt, existing liquidity, and operational cashflow.
Date: June 3, 2005
Organization: University of Rhode Island
URI Scientists Use ROV to Reveal First Photo Evidence of Cause of Tsunami
Kingston, RI (The Westerly Sun)- An international team of the world's leading
scientists, led by a University of Rhode Island oceanographer, has just returned
from the first scientific expedition to dive 4,500 meters into the Indian Ocean
to explore the seabed site of the 2004 Asian tsunami. They have revealed dramatic
photographic evidence of seafloor ruptures that contributed to the deadly December
26 tsunami.
Beginning May 10, scientists spent 17 days at sea exploring the seafloor off the
coast of Sumatra in order to gain a better understanding of the forces that led
to the devastating tsunami. Led by URI's Kate Moran accompanied by URI researchers
Stephan Grilli and Yang Shen, the expedition's results will help piece together
the dramatic sequence of events of how the giant earthquake caused the tsunami.
"We gathered an experienced and diverse team of specialists for this expedition
because it was one of the essential ingredients for this challenging goal to find
evidence of the sources that created this devastating tsunami," said Moran.
Using geophysical survey tools, operated by the Geological Survey of Canada, and
a unique deep-water remotely-operated vehicle, operated by Oceaneering International
Inc., the Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami Offshore Survey (SEATOS) team's mission
is the first time that marine scientists have been able to find and film such
critical ruptures at such an incredible depth in the Indian Ocean.
The project was filmed for a BBC, Discovery and ProSieben documentary, by award-winning
UK production company Darlow Smithson Productions, for broadcast later this year.
The mosaic of photographs the team has released today show a 3 meter high x 8
meter wide section of compacted sediment, only a small part of a huge cliff that
was faulted and upthrust during the enormous earthquake and which undoubtedly
contributed to the creation of the tsunami.
Don Fisher from Pennsylvania State University said: "The faults are absolutely
fresh and it's mind-blowing that we were fortunate enough to find these faults
nearly 3 miles down."
The faults, which were found on the outer edge of the continental shelf, provide
important evidence for reconstructing the events of December 26. The observed
seafloor fault surface is referred to by geologists as striated because it is
smoothed by rocks moving against each other as the seafloor is ripped open. Leading
the Census of Marine Life biologists, Professor Paul Tyler of the National Oceanography
Centre, UK, was "surprised to find absolutely no evidence of deep-sea animals
at the site during a 14 hour dive with the ROV submersible. This is unprecedented
in 25 years of sampling the deep sea."
"This discovery is a critical piece of the puzzle for reconstructing the December
26 tsunami," said Dave Tappin, co-chief scientist of the expedition from the British
Geological Survey. Seafloor models that re-create the motions from the measured
earthquake energy are crude in terms of their ability to pinpoint exact locations
of fault movements at the seabed. The SEATOS expedition is specifically designed
to explore the seafloor in search of direct evidence for the critical locations
where the seabed moved and generated the giant wave.
The SEATOS team comprises a group of 22 from six countries combining a variety
of scientific disciplines, including tsunami model experts, geophysicists, biologists,
seismologists, engineers, geologists, and visualization experts. This unique range
of experts enabled a fully integrated approach to the expedition.
The data from the expedition will take months to analyze, and the full implications
of the results will also take some time to gauge, but the scientific team are
all delighted with the mission's success and are confident that their findings
will enable them a far greater and detailed understanding of the forces that led
to the tsunami. The team will re-convene later this year to draw their conclusions
after initial analysis has taken place.
David L. Mearns, director of Blue Water Recoveries Ltd UK, who conceived the expedition
and is acting as marine coordinator, says: "Everyone involved in the project is
thrilled that we have made such a significant scientific discovery in the relatively
short period of time we have been at sea. We had a good scientific plan and our
share of good fortune but we owe a great deal to the UK Hydrographic Ship HMS
Scott, which surveyed the area earlier this year and provided a roadmap of seabed
features that allowed us to zero-in with our high-resolution cameras on the most
likely fault areas."
The expedition was filmed on location for Journey To The Heart Of The Tsunami
by Darlow Smithson Productions. Directed by Ed Wardle with Julian Ware as the
executive producer, it will be broadcast later this year on BBC ONE, Discovery
US, ProSieben in Germany and Discovery International. Also supporting the expedition
is the National Science Foundation's ARMADA Project, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
for the Census of Marine Life Program, Oceaneering Inc, BP Marine Limited and
Science Application International Corporation (SAIC).
Date: June 2, 2005
Organization: Oceaneering International Inc.
Oceaneering Announces ROV Fleet Expansion
Houston, TX - Oceaneering International, Inc. announced today that it is adding
12 work class vehicles to expand its worldwide market leadership position in
providing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services to the oil and gas industry.
At the end of the first quarter of this year Oceaneering's work class ROV fleet
size was 167 vehicles.
The vehicles are of the Hydra® MAGNUM, MILLENNIUM, and MAXXIMUM designs, have
10,000 feet water depth ratings and are being equipped with 100 to 300 horsepower
packages. They are being built at Oceaneering's ROV manufacturing facility in
Morgan City, Louisiana at a total estimated capital cost of approximately $20
million.
Long-term work commitments on ten vehicles, six to provide drill support and four
to deliver construction services, and a short-term drill support contract on another
vehicle have been secured. These are for assignments in the Gulf of Mexico and
offshore West Africa, Norway, and Canada. Three contracted vehicles are expected
to be working by the end of the second quarter and the remaining eight have staggered
contract commencement dates during the last half of 2005. Several long-term job
prospects exist for the one uncommitted vehicle.
John Huff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "This expansion of our
ROV fleet underscores our commitment to maintain our worldwide leadership position
in providing deepwater work class ROVs to the oil and gas industry.
"The fact that we have already obtained long-term work commitments for ten of
the systems reflects the growing market demand for ROV services and our status
as being the premier supplier. We intend to continue adding more systems to our
fleet, either by new construction or acquisition, as opportunities present themselves."
Oceaneering is an advanced applied technology company that provides engineered
services and hardware to Customers who operate in marine, space, and other harsh
environments. Oceaneering's services and products are marketed worldwide to oil
and gas companies, government agencies, and firms in the telecommunications, aerospace,
and marine engineering and construction industries.
For further information, please contact Jack Jurkoshek, Manager Investor Relations,
Oceaneering International, Inc., 11911 FM 529, Houston, Texas 77041; Telephone
713-329-4670; Fax 713-329-4653; http://www.oceaneering.com;
E-Mail investorrelations@oceaneering.com.
Date: June 2, 2005
Organization: Swedish Navy
Swedish Navy Upgrades Include ROVs
(Kockums AB)- The comprehensive Landsort project has now been launched at Kockums
in Karlskrona. Five of the Swedish Navy's mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs)
are to undergo mid-life upgrades, as well as modification for international
missions.
The total order is worth more than one billion Swedish kronor. Kockums is principal
contractor and will be responsible, among other things, for procurement of command
and sonar systems.
"We have already had an initial technical meeting, prior to the launch of the
project, with our customer FMV (Swedish Defence Matériel Administration) and our
subcontractors," says Jörgen Arbholt, who has been appointed project manager.
Intensive efforts are currently being made on the construction side, while the
work of removing obsolete equipment has already started on the first, HMS Koster.
HMS Vinga and HMS Ulvön will soon follow their sister vessel into the shipyard.
Initially, these three vessels will be modified to enable participation in the
Swedish international rapid reaction force, after which they will undergo a general
refit. Later, all five vessels will be equipped with new weapon and command systems,
new air-defence systems and a remote-operated underwater vehicle (ROV) which will
possess a mine-hunting capability, among other features.
The Landsort class, constructed of Glassfibre Reinforced Plastic (GRP), was built
at Kockums' Karlskrona shipyard in the early 1980s, and will continue play an
important role in the Swedish Navy's future organisation.
Date: June 1, 2005
Organization: Oceaneering International Inc.
ROV Produces First Photographic Evidence of the Cause of the Tsunami
A scientific team has just returned from the first scientific expedition
to dive 4,500 metres into ocean water to explore the seabed site of the 2004
Asian tsunami. They have revealed dramatic photographic evidence of seafloor
ruptures that contributed to the deadly December 26 tsunami wave.
(Newswise)- An international team of the world's leading scientists has just
returned from the first ever scientific expedition to dive an amazing 4,500
metres deep into ocean water to explore the seabed site of the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
They have revealed dramatic photographic evidence of seafloor ruptures that
contributed to the deadly December 26 tsunami wave.
Since May 10, scientists have spent 17 days at sea exploring the seafloor off
the coast of Sumatra in order to gain a better understanding of the forces that
led to the devastating tsunami. Their results will help them to piece together
the dramatic sequence of events of how the giant earthquake caused the tsunami.
Using geophysical survey tools, operated by the Geological Survey of Canada, and
a unique deep-water remotely-operated vehicle, operated by Oceaneering International
Inc., the Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami Offshore Survey (SEATOS) team's mission
is the first time that marine scientists have been able to find and film such
critical ruptures at such an incredible depth deep in the Indian ocean.
The project is being filmed exclusively for a BBC, Discovery and ProSieben documentary,
by award-winning UK production company Darlow Smithson Productions, for broadcast
later this year.
The mosaic of photographs the team has released today show a 3 metre high x 8
metre wide section of compacted sediment, only a small part of a huge cliff that
was faulted and upthrust during the enormous earthquake and undoubtedly contributed
to the creation of the tsunami wave.
Dr Don Fisher from Pennsylvania State University said: "The faults are absolutely
fresh and it's mind-blowing that we were fortunate enough to find these faults
nearly 3 miles down."
The faults, which were found on the outer edge of the continental shelf, provide
important evidence for reconstructing the events of December 26. The observed
seafloor fault surface is referred to by geologists as striated because it is
smoothed by rocks moving against each other as the seafloor is ripped open. Leading
the Census of Marine Life biologists, Professor Paul Tyler of the National Oceanography
Centre, UK, was, "surprised to find absolutely no evidence of deep-sea animals
at the site during a 14h dive with the ROV submersible. This is unprecedented
in 25 years of sampling the deep sea."
"This discovery is a critical piece of the puzzle for reconstructing the December
26 tsunami wave," said Dave Tappin, Co-chief Scientist of the expedition from
the British Geological Survey. Seafloor models that re-create the motions from
the measured earthquake energy are crude in terms of their ability to pinpoint
exact locations of fault movements at the seabed. The SEATOS expedition is specifically
designed to explore the seafloor in search of direct evidence for the critical
locations where the seabed moved and generated the giant wave.
The SEATOS team, comprises a group of 22-strong scientists from six countries,
combining a variety of scientific disciplines, including tsunami wave model experts,
geophysicists, biologists, seismologists, engineers, geologists, and visualization
experts. This unique range of experts enabled a fully integrated approach to the
expedition. Dr Kate Moran, Co-chief Scientist from the University of Rhode Island,
explained that "we've gathered an experienced and diverse team of specialists
for SEATOS because its one of the essential ingredients for this challenging goal
to find evidence of the sources that created this most devastating of tsunamis."
The data from the expedition will take months to analyse, and the full implications
of the results will also take some time to gauge, but the scientific team are
all delighted with the mission's success and are confident that their findings
will enable them a far greater and detailed understanding of the forces that led
to the tsunami. The team will re-convene later this year to draw their conclusions
after initial analysis has taken place.
David L Mearns, Director of Blue Water Recoveries Ltd UK, who conceived the expedition
and is acting as Marine Coordinator says: "Everyone involved in the project is
thrilled that we have made such a significant scientific discovery in the relatively
short period of time we have been at sea. We had a good scientific plan and our
share of good fortune but we owe a great deal to the UK Hydrographic Ship HMS
Scott, which surveyed the area earlier this year and provided a roadmap of seabed
features that allowed us to zero-in with our high-resolution cameras on the most
likely fault areas."
The expedition is being filmed on location for - Journey To The Heart Of
The Tsunami - by Darlow Smithson Productions. Directed by Ed Wardle with
Julian Ware as the executive producer, it will be broadcast later this year on
BBC ONE, Discovery US, ProSieben in Germany and Discovery International. Also
supporting the expedition is the National Science Foundation's ARMADA Project
(http://www.armadaproject.org/), the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for the Census of Marine Life Program (http://www.coml.org/),
Oceaneering Inc, BP Marine Limited and Science Application International Corporation
(SAIC).
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