Ashtead Technology has signed a deal with Blue Ocean Monitoring to store, maintain and supply underwater gliders for worldwide ocean data monitoring.
The gliders are capable of transmitting data in real-time and can be deployed and recovered easily, at a fraction of the cost of traditional vessel-based or fixed-mooring monitoring approaches, lowering both project costs, and health, safety and environmental risks.
Unlike autonomous vehicles which are driven by conventional propellers, the gliders operate using either buoyancy or wave motion propulsion mechanisms, which allow for longer deployment periods and the collection of large datasets continuously over extended time scales.
Simon Illingworth, Managing Director, Blue Ocean Monitoring, explained: “Initially used for academic and military applications, these gliders are now increasingly being embraced by the oil and gas industry for a range of purposes, include pipeline leak detection, oil spill response, decommissioning studies, dredge/construction plume monitoring, environmental monitoring and metocean studies.”
Tim Sheehan, Commercial Director, Ashtead Technology, said: “We will hold gliders in each of our bases around the world, from where we will store, maintain and supply them providing our customers with a new, proven technology solution for ocean data collection.
“The gliders can be equipped with a choice of over 40 different sensors, and can be deployed in the water for up to a year at a time. With two-way satellite communications the gliders can be deployed and controlled anywhere in the world, they are highly weather-resilient and have no environmental impact.”
New manager at helm of Kongsberg Maritime, Aberdeen
Kongsberg Maritime has appointed a new business manager for its Aberdeen-based Offshore Production division.
David Wilson has over 27 years’ experience in the marine engineering industry, mostly with Kongsberg, holding positions in technical sales and business development, covering offshore support, offshore survey and construction and marine research.
Since 2012, he has been general manager of Kongsberg Maritime Middle East in Dubai.
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