Ashtead’s Subsea Technology Training Academy has secured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation. CPD accredited courses include; Introduction to Offshore Survey Equipment, ROV Sensors and Multiplexors, Acoustic Positioning Systems and Pipe and Cable Tracking. In addition to these regular courses, Ashtead Technology is able to design tailor-made training to meet specific needs of individual customers.

SMD have now completed their first deliverable for the ¡VAMOS! (Viable Alternative Mine Operating System) project, finalizing the system architecture on schedule. The consortium made up of 17 project partners, is now progressing to deliver a number of spec documents as well as a project manual. ¡VAMOS! is a 42 month Research & Development Project, which was launched in March this year as part of the Horizon 2020 programme. At an estimated cost of approximately 12.6 milllion Euros, the project will help to provide an opportunity to tap into the wealth of unexploited European mineral resources.

The International Marine Contractors Association’s (IMCA) 2014 survey of remotely operated vehicle (ROV)s, and ROV personnel reveals that in February 2014 a total of 3,369 ROV personnel (superintendents, supervisors, pilot techs and other offshore ROV support personnel) were working, and in August the total figure was 3,617. The total number of ROVs in February was 677 and in August 726. These figures compare with 3,663 personnel in February 2013 and 3,962 in August 2013; and 580 ROVs in February 2013 and 636 in August 2013.

The countdown is on for submissions to the call for abstracts for Oceanology International 2016 (ExCeL, London, 15-17 March 2016), the world’s largest marine technology and ocean science exhibition and conference. The deadline for 300-word abstracts for the eleven conference streams is Friday 28 August 2015. As Conference Chairman, Professor Ralph Rayner explains: “Oceanology International is a unique event. No other exhibition and conference connects the manufacturers and users of ocean technology with such a diverse spectrum of scientific and industrial stakeholders.

The Super Yacht Sub 3 is to make its world premier at the Monaco Yacht Show from the 23rd to the 26th of September. U-Boat Worx, the world’s leading submersible manufacturer, is to showcase this first purposely designed 3-person luxury private submersible for super yachts at the Monaco Yacht Show 2015.

OXNARD, CA − BIRNS, Inc. has recently invested in advanced equipment for the development and testing protocols for its high performance connectors and cable assemblies. The investment is to meet the needs of the ever-increasing levels of precision that are required in the applications of the company’s wide customer base. The NAVSEA PRO-020 certified global subsea design and manufacturing leader is pleased to add two new precision inspection machines to its industry-leading engineering and testing programs.

3rd August, 2015, London, UK – Ceona, SURF contractor with heavy subsea construction capabilities, has expanded its West African reach after entering into a strategic partnership with Interoil Angola Lda. The partnership will see Interoil Angola, which is a key player in offshore support vessel management in West Africa, support Ceona’s plans to expand into Angola. Ceona is already active in West Africa through its Ceona-Seaweld joint venture in Ghana as well as the company’s strategic partnership with Marine Platforms Limited in Nigeria.

Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a contract with a value of approximately USD 500 million by BP, and partner DEA, for the development of the Taurus and Libra subsea fields offshore Alexandria, Egypt. The contract is the first phase of Egypt’s West Nile Delta project where field development will be at depths of approximately 800 metres. The contract scope includes the engineering, procurement, installation and pre-commissioning of subsea infrastructure required to develop the hydrocarbon resources from nine wells including 75 kilometres of umbilicals and 100 kilometres of pipeline.

Fugro has been awarded a contract by BG International Limited Sucursal Honduras to conduct an integrated multibeam echosounder survey and seabed coring campaign over its offshore acreage in the Honduran Caribbean. As part of BG’s exploration licence commitments, the campaign will map the seafloor to interpret, identify, sample and analyse potential hydrocarbon seeps. Fugro’s modern 65-metre survey vessel, MV Fugro Brasilis, commenced the two-month mapping and interpretation portion in July 2015.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is launching a new online resource for engineers at an international conference next month as part of its “commitment” to the oil and gas industry. The website – ‘oilandgas-seals.com’ provides a comprehensive overview of seal profiles proven in the oil and gas industry, enabling engineers to identify optimum sealing solutions for specific applications within the field. It provides information on material compatibility covering issues such as sour gas and rapid gas decompression, spanning different applications, including drilling and exploration, completion and production systems.

New independent testing of the recently launched BIOGEN WIRESHIELD® wire rope and ROV umbilicals lubricant demonstrates consistently high lubrication performance within an industry-leading temperature range of -50ºC to +180ºC.

Atlas Professionals has been chosen as the 1st tier supplier for Dutch-German transmission system operator TenneT for the supply of senior personnel to the North Sea. The contract will allow for Atlas’ senior personnel such as Client Representatives to oversee operations of some of TenneT’s Offshore Projects including the various stages of BorWin, DolWin, HelWin and SylWin in the North Sea sector.

OCEANS'15 MTS/IEEE Washington, DC is pleased to announce that Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, USN will be joining Honorary Co-chair Dr. Rick Spinrad as our featured Plenary speakers. The conference will be held October 19-22 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The Plenary Session is part of the opening ceremony on Tuesday morning, October 20, and is open to all registrants. Those not registered for the conference, may attend the Plenary and visit the Exhibition Hall at no charge by registering for "Exhibits Only" to get an entrance badge. Rear Adm. Gallaudet heads the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and oversees the collection, processing and exploitation of accurate, relevant and timely oceanographic, meteorological, hydrographic, precise time and astrometric information. In September he will also assume the duties of Oceanographer of the Navy.

HARKAND has successfully carried out the first ever free inertial metrology in Mexico’s waters and at a new depth for this approach in the region. The global inspection, repair and maintenance company achieved the survey results for their client at a depth of 380fsw in the Bay of Campeche, setting a new record in the area. The scope of work saw Harkand working in collaboration with their metrology technology partner Zupt to complete the survey project in support of the installation of an expansion spool piece for a new pipeline and platform campaign in Mexico. AJ Jain, Harkand managing director North America and Africa said: “Our client wanted to know if the inertial metrology would better suit the project over the acoustic method.

Employers and training providers working to achieve the highest safety standards in the oil and gas industry are being invited to submit their nominations for the sixth annual OPITO Safety and Competency Awards 2015. The accolades will be presented at the OPITO Safety and Competency Conference (OSCC) held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Abu Dhabi 3 November 2015. These awards recognise companies that are committed to building a safe and competent workforce through OPITO standards. The event will bring together around 500 industry, government and training provider executives to explore how the industry maintains competence and continues to keep its people safe in a lower oil price environment.

Students undertaking ROV training at the Fort William based subsea facility, The Underwater Centre, are to benefit from newly revamped courses providing even more contextual training modules. The Centre has been working with industry to identify areas of its ROV training suite which can be enhanced and courses for the remainder of 2015 will reflect this with major developments across the board. Students on the ROV Pilot Technician Course will benefit from entirely unique training elements including time on the Centre’s Loch Sunart ROV vessel and training in the ROV electrical and mechanical workshops, features unavailable at any other facility.

Seabed Geosolutions will soon mobilise for the variation order that was signed today by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with CGG to conduct a shallow water seabed survey. The survey is over the Ghasha-Butini field, will take around 12 months and has a value of around USD 125 million. The recent successful completion of the Hail-Shuweihat survey has promoted this variation order, confirming ADNOC’s confidence in Seabed Geosolutions’ ability to operate safely and efficiently.

Subsea Technology & Rentals Ltd (STR); global specialists in the design, production and rental of advanced subsea technology for the offshore energy industry are pleased to announce the addition of IKM Technique’s ROV Gas Sampling Systems to their expanding range of ROV sensors and tooling. The Gas Sampling Unit is designed for taking gas samples of small gas leaks for analysis. The tool is simple to operate and consists of a deployment frame with a funnel, Xlite sampling bottles and two ROV operated valves.