Wave Farm to Create Hundreds of Jobs (UK)

Aquamarine Power’s proposed wave farm on the Western Isles could create hundreds of long-term skilled jobs in one of Britain’s most remote communities, according to figures published today.

The Edinburgh firm’s 40MW Lewis wave farm – which was fully consented by the Scottish Government earlier this year – could generate between 98 and 200 jobs during construction and inject up to £9 million a year into the Western Isles and wider Highland economy.

The project would involve installing up to 50 of Aquamarine Power’s Oyster near-shore energy machines along the north-west coast of Lewis. The company is currently testing their second full-scale prototype, the Oyster 800, at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

The figures come from an in-depth assessment carried out by Aquamarine Power using a methodology developed by consultants ABP Marine Environmental Research and Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd. A link to an early draft of the methodology can be found here.

The consultants were commissioned by seabed owner the Crown Estate, using funds from their Pentland Firth and Orkney waters enabling actions programme, to develop an objective technique which project developers could use to identify the economic opportunity presented to the UK by the wave and tidal industry.

Aquamarine Power’s study showed that their 40MW wave energy project in the Western Isles could generate:

98 to 200 jobs in the Outer Hebrides and wider Highlands and Islands during the construction phase, generating an estimated £4.49 million to £9 million gross value added per year;

23 to 37 jobs during the 20 year operations and maintenance phase, generating £1.3 million to £2.1 million per year.

The calculation includes all direct employees and contractors used by Aquamarine Power, indirect jobs such as shops, hotels and local services, and induced jobs created by the increased overall activity in the area.

The first two Oyster devices have been almost entirely British-built, and the study confirms that future machines could be manufactured wholly in the UK, with the potential to source a hundred per cent of the farm’s manufacturing supply chain within Britain.

“The UK is looking for success stories where British businesses can build on British innovation to create economic activity and jobs here in the UK,” says Aquamarine Power Chief Executive Officer Martin McAdam.

“Wave energy has been invented here, is being tested here and has the potential to be a home-grown global economic success. Our study shows there is the potential to secure all of the manufacturing, construction and operations and maintenance supply chain here in Britain.

“The vast majority of the UK’s wave resource lies in remote locations, where economic opportunities are few. Wave energy offers a real opportunity for these communities, even for a relatively small project. With hundreds of megawatts of wave power in Scotland’s islands there is genuine potential for the UK to capture the entire supply chain of this exciting new industrial sector.”

Lindsay Leask, Senior Policy Manager for Offshore Renewables at Scottish Renewablessaid: ”This study shows yet again that wave and tidal energy has the potential to create thousands of jobs across Scotland. Importantly, many of these new, skilled jobs will be in some of our most remote communities.

“However, we must not forget this is exactly the kind of prize that could be lost unless access to the grid is secured and connection charges for Scotland’s island-based marine energy projects are set at a competitive level.”

Councillor Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Local Authority for the Western Isles, said: “The Western Isles are home to one of the best wave energy resources in Europe, if not the world, and our community is determined to maximise the benefits from this resource. At a time when the islands are facing serious structural disadvantages on account of peripherality, transport costs, distance to markets and so on, it is important that the opportunity to develop new industries and to create employment is grasped. We have worked closely with Aquamarine Power as they have developed their world-leading project off the Atlantic seaboard of the Western Isles and have long recognised the potential for local investment and employment through this project. Up to 200 jobs in construction and up to 37 long term jobs in operation and maintenance will make a huge difference in our fragile economy and we will continue to lobby for equitable transmission charges for the islands so that projects like Aquamarine Power’s can reach commerciality and contribute to UK security of energy supply. We must make sure that the UK retains its competitive advantage in this emerging technology which will have global application as it matures and as more maritime nations seek to address climate change issues.”

Calum Davidson, Director of Energy and Low Carbon with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “We have been committed to the development of the marine energy industry in the Highlands and Islands for well over a decade, and there is no doubt that the region is now widely regarded as the global leader.

“Through the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, we have been pleased to enable Aquamarine Power to test and develop its Oyster devices to bring them to the stage when they can be put into commercial use, both in Scotland and around the world. Wave energy is still a relatively young part of the renewables sector, and this assessment underlines its tremendous potential to generate substantial economic benefits in some of our most fragile areas.”

David Krohn, Wave and Tidal Energy Development Manager, Renewable UK, said: “This is a great example of a leading wave energy technology, developed and demonstrated in the UK, having a real positive effect on the British economy. This methodology will enable marine energy projects to highlight the capacity for the industry to deliver real socio-economic benefits to the United Kingdom. We recommend the use of this tool to other developers looking to demonstrate the use of local supply chains.”

ABP Marine Environmental Research and Risk and Policy Analysts developed the methodology to look at all of the socio-economic inputs (both positive and negative) of wave and tidal energy developments in Scotland. It enables developers to gather all of the relevant information related to a project – such as materials and services used – based on standard industry data, and then runs this information through an excel-based spread sheet to deliver a set of objective, standardised outputs.

“The beauty of this methodology,” says Stephen Hull, Technical Director at ABP Marine Environmental Research, “is that it can be picked up and used by other renewable industries such as offshore wind, to demonstrate the positive impact their projects will have on the UK supply chain.

“There is real potential for other businesses in the renewable energy sector to show, in an objective way, the jobs and economic activity their projects will create.”

Press Release, October 21, 2013

Subsea World News:

Hydrex Team Performs Permanent Underwater Hull Repairs in Florida


Last month a Hydrex team mobilized from the office in Clearwater, Florida, to a 170-meter roro vessel berthed close by in Port Everglades to perform underwater hull repairs.
Despite the relatively small scale of this operation, it was nonetheless vital for the shipowner. It allowed him to keep his vessel out of drydock and avoid having to go off hire.
Hydrex on-site hull repair services include the renewal of both small and large areas of damaged hull plating.
These repairs can be carried out above or below water, according to the circumstances, with tailor-made mobdocks. Normal commercial activities can therefore continue without disruption.
These operations follow the Hydrex procedure for welding cracks and inserts in the vessel’s shell plating and they are approved by the major classification societies.
Permanent insert repair in Port Everglades
A cavitation hole needed to be repaired in the bottom plating of the ship. A Hydrex diver/technician team therefore carried out a detailed inspection of both the onboard as well as the water side of the affected plating.
Next the team installed a cofferdam over the area.
The cofferdam was modified to fit perfectly over the rounded shape of the hull.
This allowed them to remove the longitudinal frame covering the damage.
The diver/technicians could then cut away the damage and the surrounding area. Next they positioned a new insert plate, measuring 300 x 300 mm.
The insert was then secured following the Hydrex class-approved procedure for insert plates, using a full penetration weld.
An independent tester carried out ultrasonic testing and the repair was approved by the classification surveyor who was present during the operation.
The diver/technicians then refitted the frame and removed the cofferdam, concluding the repair.
Press Release, October 18, 2013


Source: Subsea World News

Shaft Seal Replacement- Any time and Any Where

DSC02693While cruising the Mediterranean Sea a cruise vessel encountered excessive water leakage on one of its propulsion shaft seals. Considering the severity of the situation, the client contacted Subsea Global Solutions to dive into action. Maintaining specialized equipment in various locations throughout the world and maintaining fully certified diver / seal technicians on staff, a full compliment of qualified personnel and equipment was efficiently dispatched to the vessel.

Subsea Global Solutions’ operations team worked together with the vessel’s superintendent and operations staff to develop a time line for this repair to ensure the vessel would remain in service and NOT be delayed in any port of call. This required Subsea Global Solutions to stage the gear prior to the vessels arrival. Upon its arrival into a port in Italy, Subsea Global Solutions performed all of the preparatory work necessary to support the shaft seal renewal. This preparatory work included the removal of the rope guard using a carbon arc gouging system. By using this advanced technology to remove the rope guard, minimal prep work is required to reinstall the same rope guard since the cut line is clean and straight. With the preparatory work being performed in advance of the actual repair, this minimized the required time needed to renew all of the affected propeller shaft seals.

DSC01708Upon the vessel’s arrival in Malta, Subsea Global Solutions’ team of expert diver / technicians dove into action. The specialized flexible hyperbaric cofferdam, Transhab, was installed over the affected propeller shaft seal. With the space properly de-watered and sheltered from the sea, a factory authorized and class approved renewal of the shaft seals took place. All oil and water lip rings were removed, the seal housings were cleaned, liner was inspected and new oil and water lip rings were “vulcanized” using OEM approved jigs, glues and procedures. With all the lip rings renewed the oil system was air tested, pressure tested and properly filled. The water lip rings were assembled around the propeller shaft, air tested and pressure tested. Subsea Global Solutions completed the job in Malta in less than 48 hours by re-installing the rope guard utilizing the groups class “A” wet welding procedures. Diver / Welders coded to Subsea Global Solution’s class approved class “A” wet welding procedures performed the welding on this critical component. By using coded underwater diver / welders to perform this weld repair ensures that at the conclusion of the repair there will be no notation from class on the rope guard weld repair performed. The vessel departed Malta on time with a happy crew and happy passengers!

Subsea Global Solutions delivers unrivaled service to keep your vessels in service. We remain the trusted service provider to the cruise industry in all ports of call around the world. We always remain available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to support your needs.

Global Marine Exploration, Inc. (GME), the successful Florida-based treasure salvage company seeks to raise $12 million dollars to continue development of their deep underwater salvage division GME Deep. This effort is the next step in the company’s plan to rescue billions in gold and treasure from the ocean depths.

GME, in collaboration with world-renowned shipwreck explorer and archaeologist Sir Robert Marx, will be hosting a private investment event in Orlando, Florida. Investors will be treated to an in-depth look at the new age of historic shipwreck exploration. In this seminar Marx will explain; now is the time to get involved in this developing industry, and why GME will quickly become the industry leader. Marx has published 64 books more than 900 archaeological reports and articles on the subject of shipwrecks and salvage. He has been knighted in 3 countries for his work, which spans 50 years and 60 countries.

Recent advances in deep-water technology are opening up a trove of immensely profitable and previously unobtainable shipwrecks. GME’s use of Nuytco Research’s ‘DeepWorker’ submersibles and the new state-of-the-art ‘Exosuit’ one atmosphere pressure suit will position GME as the only organization in the world using these deep-ocean tools in treasure salvage operations. The Nuytco Research devices are currently in use by the US Navy, a number of international navies, NASA, NOAA and several other deep-ocean research institutes.

GME has created a lean and highly successful business model that is ushering in the next generation of shipwreck exploration and changing the face of the modern treasure salvage industry. Combining revolutionary technology with five decades of experience and a substantial database of shipwrecks, sunken treasure potentially worth billions will become accessible for the first time in history. GME seeks investors to expand its already successful exploration and salvage operations as part of their long-term strategy and planned IPO on NASDAQ.

Press Release, October 04, 2013

Curso IWS – inspectores de buques a flote

El curso IWS - inspectores de buques a flote se ha finalizado el pasado 27 de septiembre, con éxito, contando una vez más con la participación y la dedicación de nuestros alumnos. Fueron dos semanas intensas con clases diarias (teóricas y prácticas) y también largas horas de estudios extra curriculares. 

Agradecemos la participación de “NAVANTIA” que una vez más nos abrieron sus puertas, permitiendo que los alumnos realizaran un taller de prácticas en un buque. Los exámenes finales han sido concluidos con la participación del inspector de Lloyd´s Register que ha validado los procedimientos empleados por nuestra empresa. Las instalaciones del Instituto Zaporito en San Fernando, Cádiz, como siempre, nos han permitido realizar el programa del curso sin incidencias o retrasos. 

J D Neuhaus Designs Handling & Lifting Equipment for Toughest Offshore Environments

The range of robust handling and lifting equipment supplied by the J D Neuhaus company is currently in use around the world on Jack-up rigs, Semi-submersibles, Drillships and FPSO vessels. Their product range incorporates both air and hydraulically powered hoists, with individual lifting capacities ranging from 250kg to 100 tonnes.

These products can also be incorporated into single or double girder overhead travelling cranes, underslung cranes with special low headroom trolley designs, together with purpose designed slewing jib cranes. Hoists can be supplied for specific function duties such as BOP handling (up to 200 tonnes), as well as providing virtually unlimited lifting and general load movement solutions including both oblique and horizontal pulling under pre-determined conditions.

The products are also impervious to dust and damp working conditions and operate within a temperature range of -20ºC to +70ºC. Where supplied for offshore operation, on either rigs or ocean going vessels, then the equipment is provided with a full ‘Offshore Package’ which includes extra corrosion protection to cater for rough, salty weather conditions. The main body component parts of both hoists and cranes are supplied with a four layer marine paint top coat, having a 280 microns total minimum dry thickness in standard traffic yellow RAL 1023 colour.

All hoists in the JDN Profi TI range incorporate top hook suspension mounting and feature pendant push-button controllers as standard. These hand controllers provide sensitive, infinitely variable or single speed control of the load lift, lower and powered trolley traverse movements where overhead rail mounting is utilised. Trolley mounting options include manual, reel chain and motorised variations. All hoists are also fully ATEX rated for operation in hazardous or potentially explosive atmospheres to a standard classification of Ex II 2 GD IIA T4 / II 3 GD IIB T4.

Standard safety features of the hoists include integrated adjustable overload protection for load ratings of one tonne and above. A self-adjusting fail-safe braking mechanism is fitted, together with trolley anti-climb drop devices and an emergency stop switch integrated in the main power supply. An emergency lowering device can also be supplied for the Profi TI hoists covering lift capacities from 25 to 60 tonnes. This involves fitting a separate air tank, with two additional buttons also incorporated into the hand controllers. This air reservoir is automatically maintained at the full working air pressure and acts as a positive emergency braking system when required. The device becomes operable in the event of a severe reduction or total loss of mains air pressure, with a two-handed control operation provided to avoid unintentional lowering. One control button selects between normal hoist operation and emergency lowering, with a second button providing braking to ensure a controlled lowering and safe grounding of the suspended load under the action of its own dead weight.

Additional optional safety features include rack and pinion trolley drives, Delta-P overload protection and load monitoring together with air, hydraulic, radio or electrical remote controllers. Special purpose hoists engineered for extreme conditions can be supplied to cover operations at arctic temperatures down to ‑45ºC, together with underwater hoists for operation down to 70 metres below water levels.

Certification by Det Norske Veritas can also be provided on request, to comply with safety requirements involving applications for offshore cranes as well as power driven hoists. The standard ATEX classification is according to EC Directive on Hazardous Locations 94/9/EEC with increased spark protection also available if required to a rating EX II 2 GD IIC T4.

Buceadores españoles realizan NDT en buques de Maersk

       Buceadores españoles han realizado ensayos por partículas magnéticas (MPI)" en el Bow thruster de uno de los buques de Maersk para evaluar la soldadura del "Gearbox bracket" que está conectado al túnel del impeler. Posteriormente realizaron trabajos de soldadura subacuática para sanar pequeños desperfectos.

Technip, a world leader in project management, engineering and construction for the energy industry, has posted a video on its new Deep Energy pipelay vessel.

The fastest and one of the largest and most capable pipelay vessels ever built, the Deep Energy is supporting subsea developments up to 3,000 meters water depth.

It has a high transit speed of 19.5 knots. Specifically designed to operate on Atlantic basin and intercontinental projects, the vessel has the capability to handle rigid pipe up to 18”, flexible pipe and umbilicals. It also incorporates an efficient PLET handling system.

Press Release, May 20, 2013

Oportunidades de empleo (actualización).

Actualizamos la información anterior ya que Hidrex nos ha llamado pidiendo que los currículum vitae sean enviados a "Hydrex España".
El e-mail es: spain@hydrex.es en atención a Sylvia Colomo. Nos han matizado que necesitan buceadores especializados en buques con buen dominio del inglés.

Trident realiza reparaciones en un buque en Algeciras.

Trident  en conjunto con Underwater Contractors Spain - UCS , ha realizado un trabajo de reparaciopn en la hélice del buque "Irene´s Raybow".  Triadent es una empresa vinculada al grupo "Subsea Solution" especializada en reparaciones y mantenimiento subacuático de buques, con sede en las afueras de Antwerp. 

Oportunidades de empleo.

Hydrex, empresa especializada en reparaciopnes y mantenimiento de buques, está contratando a buceadores para trabajar en Antwerp - Bélgica. Mayores informaciones: hydrex@hydrex.be

Fifth Subsea Platform Installed on Costa Concordia Site, Italy


In the last few days on Giglio island platform n° 2 has been installed. It is the fifth of 6 subsea platforms that will provide a safe supporting structure for the wreck after it is rotated into a vertical position (“parbuckling”, as this is known).
The platform, which was built at the Rosetti shipyard in Marina di Ravenna, weighs about 1,000 tons, measures 40m and is 22m in height and is supported by 5 big pillars (almost 2m in diameter) secured to the granite seabed about 10m deep.
Work continues relentlessly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently, there are 25 vessels and 460 workers working on site.

DCN Divers Rescue Survivor from Jascon 4 (Nigeria)

On Sunday 26 May, the tugboat Jascon 4 ran into difficulties whilst engaged in static towing operations, capsized and sank with a crew of 12 on board.
At the time, the tug was approx. 30 km off the coast of Escravos in
Nigeria, offering assistance to a tanker being loaded at a Single Mooring System (SBM). The rescue operation involving helicopters and other vessels swung into action almost immediately. At that time, there was no trace of the crew members.
At the moment of the disaster, the Lewek Toucan, chartered by West African Ventures, with a team of DCN divers on board, was 17 hours sailing distance from the accident site. The team was involved in saturation diving work for the Okpoho-Okono 16 pipeline project being undertaken by DCN Diving in collaboration with DCN Global.
As Internet reports about the accident continued to develop, the realisation grew among the divers that there could still be survivors of the Jascon 4, trapped in an air pocket.
Direct contact between the client and the management of DCN Global resulted in the immediate order to head for the accident site and offer all possible assistance in finding the crew members.
The current operation was immediately halted, with divers from DCN actually in saturation at a pressure of 70 metres. The Jascon 4 had however sunk in 30 metre-deep water. The 17 hour sailing time was used to bring the divers to a saturation pressure of 30 metres. Once at the accident site, the divers discovered that the wreck was upside down, and the cook on board the Jascon 4 was indeed trapped in an air pocket in a still intact compartment. After 62 hours trapped in the air pocket, he was brought to the surface safe and well, by the divers from DCN.
This successful rescue raised hope among the DCN team that other live victims would perhaps be found, but further investigations sadly revealed only the remains of 10 deceased crew members.
The 6 divers, the deck crew and technical staff worked uninterrupted. They can be duly proud of the result of their work: 1 person rescued alive, and 10 crew members retrieved from the wreck. Even the retrieval of remains represents an important contribution to the mourning process for the victims’ families.

Entrevista con la primera “buceadora especializada en inspecciones subacuáticas clasificadas en buques” en España.

En el buceo profesional es difícil encontrar mujeres que se dediquen a esta profesión ya que es dominada casi que exclusivamente por hombres. Existen algunos ejemplos aislados en Inglaterra o Estados unidos, donde la presencia de las mujeres crece de manera tímida pero de forma constante en el mercado de trabajo.

En España es fácil encontrar mujeres que se dediquen al buceo deportivo, pero es casi imposible en el buceo profesional.

La buceadora profesional  Ana Isabel Quero Parrillas, o “Ani” para sus amigos es una de las buceadoras que se destacan no solamente por ser una mujer pero también por su profesionalidad y empeño en su trabajo. Es una de las primeras buceadoras inspectoras, especializadas en buques de España.

 

A principio, los buceadores le decían que por su aspecto frágil y delicado, no podría trabajar como buceadora, pero ha ido superando obstáculos y sorprendido a todos debido a su determinación y, como no, su inteligencia. Hoy en día trabaja en Contratas Submarinas en Barcelona y es respectada por todos sus compañeros.

Ani nos cuenta que entre que ha nacido lejos del mar, en Madrid, y que en los 90 no era muy fácil encontrar trabajo con una buena remuneración, dejó el buceo aparcado en el cajón de los sueños, junto con otros tantos.

Debido a esos giros del destino, en 2000 emigró a Irlanda y allí, en 2003, empezó a bucear con el club Irish Subaqua Club. Se enfrentó a las fuertes corrientes irlandesas y se sumergió en todos los aspectos que envuelven las operaciones de buceo.

Luego vino un primer intento frustrado de acceder al mundo del buceo profesional, al pedir informaciones a una escuela de buceo profesional en la Isla de Arousa, en Galicia. Debido a la dureza de las pruebas físicas y las pocas plazas disponibles, pensó que nunca podría competir con los hombres que se presentaban al proceso de selección.

Un nuevo cambio de rumbo le ha llevado a Asia, pero manteniendo el buceo en su vida, ahora en un centro de buceo recreativo en Tailandia. Sin embrago, la mercantilización y la política de esos centros de buceo, donde el cliente paga y va  al agua, sin importar la seguridad, tanto del turista como del medio ambiente le hizo decidirse definitivamente por el buceo profesional.

Así que, después de algunos años de búsqueda y ahorros descubrió que se podía acceder al buceo profesional a través de módulo de segundo grado, pero una vez más, el destino le jugó una mala pasada ya que debido a sus 33 años y a vivir en Irlanda (a pesar de ser Española), no era posible acceder al curso. “En España no se estudia después de una cierta edad” como nos comenta Ani.

Su determinación la llevó a una escuela privada en Barcelona, donde realizó el curso de buceador de pequeña profundidad, logrando así alcanzar el primer peldaño de su sueño: Dedicarse al buceo profesional. Una vez más tuvo que luchar con los prejuicios de ser una mujer en una “profesión para hombres”, así que compaginó la actividad de instructora de buceo deportivo y sus primeros pasos en este “mundo tan cargado de testosteronas como es el buceo profesional. Enseñó a sus alumnos, las bellezas subacuáticas desde Lanzarote, hasta Galicia, hasta que fue contratada por “Contratas Submarinas”, empresa que trabaja ya a casi dos años (y que no dispensa elogios sobre su profesionalidad). Podemos definir su determinación, espirito crítico y deseo de avanzar y perfeccionarse de acuerdo con su testimonio:

 

“Levo casi dos años trabajando para Contratas Submarinas, realizando cursos vinculados a mi carrera y me he dado cuenta de que, en este oficio se necesitan muchas horas de agua para convertirse en un buen profesional, mucho intercambio de experiencia y la adquisición de conocimientos técnicos…en suma nunca se sabe lo suficiente y que pese a todas las reacciones de desconfianza que he recibido por parte de muchos compañeros de profesión “por mi aspecto femenino”, me siento segura para decir que cada uno de nosotros tenemos unas cualidades diferentes y que debemos sacar provecho de estas calidades y que al final, para que se realice un trabajo de calidad, necesitamos la participación de todos.

Esta es una más de las lecciones que podemos encontrar en el día a día. No importa sexo, color o raza, sí la determinación y la fuerza de voluntad.

Soldadores subacuáticos españoles

El equipo de soldadores españoles vuelve a destacarse realizando más un trabajo importante y con  gran eficacia y profesionalidad. Los trabajos se iniciaron en “Tánger Med (Marruecos)” y terminaron en la terminal del puerto de Algeciras. Fueron más de 16 horas de soldadura subacuática en la tobera del túnel de maniobra de proa (Bow thruster FWD). Había que retirar parte de la tobera dañada, alrededor de la hélice (stainless steel liners), y soldar una nueva sección, así como sanear las posibles grietas encontradas.  A parte del equipo de soldadura, el grupo ha contado con la participación de otros buceadores profesionales que realizaron el apoyo necesario para el corte y la colocación de la nueva chapa. La empresa responsable por los servicios de soldadura subacuática ha optado única y exclusivamente por buceadores españoles, sin recurrir a buceadores extranjeros.

“Los buceadores españoles del equipo, están en el mismo nivel de los demás buceadores europeos, demostrando un excelente nivel profesional” en palabras del supervisor del equipo de buceadores. 

O-lay is a state-of-the-art disruptive method to install offshore pipeline in a safe way and with a minimum of costs.

The method has following stages: Welding and construction onshore, pulling the pipe in the water supported by floatation devices, spiraling the pipe in a flat mono-layer spiral on the surface of the water while the steel remains in its elastic area (this is the “O” in O-lay) , transportation of the spiral towards the location where it has to be laid. Finally the pipe is laid to the bottom with the help of a simple but specially designed lay barge.

The laying is done with a type of S-lay where the pipe will leave the barge at an end position or through the center of the barge which will give the barge a better stability and a better floating support.This means that the pipe can be laid deeper with a lighter barge.

When the spiral is made the method makes use of special bending method whereby at certain intervals “points of inflection” are applied. These points are actual end points of anchor lines in the outer circumference of the ‘spiral to be made’. The method can also be used to retrieve pipe from the sea bottom. Instead of the anchor lines, the method makes use of small but powerful boats which are then attached to the pipeline for creating the perfect circle. All boats are attached to a dynamic positioning system that will “coordinate” the whole operation.

With this method pipes can be laid in very shallow water (some meters of depth whereby a special pontoon will be used) and very deep water (several thousands of meters with the aid of a lay barge)

Due to the fact that almost all work is prepared onshore (including welding and inspecting the pipe) the pipe can be installed at a speed of 25 km per day.

VIDEO: Virginia Researchers Unveil Robotic Jellyfish (USA).

Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish the size and weight of a grown man, 5 foot 7 inches in length and weighing 170 pounds, as part of a U.S. Navy-funded project.

The prototype robot, nicknamed Cyro, is a larger model of a robotic jellyfish the same team – headed by Shashank Priya of Blacksburg, Va., and professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech – unveiled in 2012. The earlier robot, dubbed RoboJelly, is roughly the size of a man’s hand, and typical of jellyfish found along beaches.

“A larger vehicle will allow for more payload, longer duration, and longer range of operation,”said Alex Villanueva of St-Jacques, New-Brunswick, Canada, and a doctoral student in mechanical engineering working under Priya. “Biological and engineering results show that larger vehicle have a lower cost of transport, which is a metric used to determine how much energy is spent for traveling.”

Both robots are part of a multi-university, nationwide $5 million project funded by U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Office of Naval Research. The goal is to place self-powering, autonomous machines in waters for the purposes of surveillance and monitoring the environment, in addition to other uses such as studying aquatic life, mapping ocean floors, and monitoring ocean currents.

Jellyfish are attractive candidates to mimic because of their ability to consume little energy owing to a lower metabolic rate than other marine species. Additionally, they appear in wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors, allowing for several designs.

They also inhabit every major oceanic area of the world and are capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures in both fresh and salt waters. Most species are found in shallow coastal waters, but some have been found in depths 7,000 meters below sea level.

Partner universities in the project are Providence College in Rhode Island, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Stanford University. Priya’s team is building the jellyfish body models, integrating fluid mechanics and developing control systems.

Cyro is modeled and named after the jellyfish cyanea capillata, Latin for “lion’s mane jellyfish,” with “Cyro” derived from “cyanea” and “robot.” As with its predecessor, this robot is in the prototype stage, years away from use in waters. A new prototype model already is under construction at Virginia Tech’s Durham Hall, where Priya’s Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems is based.

“We hope to improve on this robot and reduce power consumption and improve swimming performance as well as better mimic the morphology of the natural jellyfish,” Villanueva said, adding that the project also allows researchers such as himself to better understand aquatic creatures live. “Our hopes for Cyro’s future is that it will help understand how the propulsion mechanism of such animal scales with size.”

A stark difference exists between the larger and smaller robots. Cyro is powered by a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery, whereas the smaller models were tethered, Priya said. Experiments have also been conducted on powering jellyfish with hydrogen but there is still much research to be done in that area.

In both cases, the jellyfish must operate on their own for months or longer at a time as engineers likely won’t be able to capture and repair the robots, or replace power sources.

“Cyro showed its ability to swim autonomously while maintaining a similar physical appearance and kinematics as the natural species,” Priya said, adding that “the robot is simultaneously able to collect, store, analyze, and communicate sensory data. This autonomous operation in shallow water conditions is already a big step towards demonstrating the use of these creatures.”

The robot can maneuver in water by a rigid support structure with direct current electric motors which control the mechanical arms that are used in conjunction with an artificial mesoglea, or jelly-based pulp of the fish’s body, creating hydrodynamic movement.

With no central nervous system, jellyfish instead use a diffused nerve net to control movement and can complete complex functions. A parallel study on a bio-inspired control system is in progress which will eventually replace the current simplified controller.

As with the smaller models, Cyro’s skin is comprised of a thick layer of silicone, squishy in one’s hand. It mimics the sleek jellyfish skin and is placed over a bowl-shaped device containing the electronic guts of the robot. When moving, the skin floats and moves with the robot, looking weirdly alive.

“It has been a great experience to finally realize the biomimetic and bio-inspired robotic vehicles,” Priya said. “Nature has too many secrets and we were able to find some of them but many still remain. We hope to find a mechanism to continue on this journey and resolve the remaining puzzles.”

Hydratight Holds Product Showcase Event in The Netherlands

Hydratight BV, the Dutch entity of the world leading joint integrity and bolting solutions company have recently held a product showcase event for both current and potential customers in Den Helder, Netherlands.

The 3 day event, which was the largest of its kind ever held by the company in Europe, saw over 87 technical and general managers attend from a range of companies working in the offshore sector, including; Shell, Total E&P and GDF Suez.

Attendees from 15 organisations were welcomed to the event, as well as a technical school, who sent 31 attendees. The event took place in a venue specifically hired for the event, meaning that demonstrations could be given to all organisations in the vicinity of Den Helder, even if they only had office facilities in the locality.

The live demonstrations, given by Hydratight’s Dutch team, showed attendees a wide range of the products and services offered by the company.

These included; flange facers, mechanical connectors and quick release nut technologies, as well as demonstrations of onsite machining, bolting and leak sealing.

Sales Engineer at Hydratight BV, René van den Sigtenhorst, who organised the eventsaid: “This was a really great project to be involved with. It allowed us to meet with a number of our current clients, as well as potential clients too, and show them the full range of services that Hydratight can offer.

“Although we have held smaller events in the past, this was the biggest so far. Since the event we have had a lot of interest in the products and services we offer from attendees and we are looking forward to holding future events in other locations around Europe.”

Hydratight will be visiting other locations around Europe over the coming year in a specially designed van and trailer, containing the full range of tools the company offers.

Próximo curso de Inspectores subacuáticos - IWS

El curso será realizado en las instalaciones del Instituto Zaporito en San Fernando (Cádiz) el próximo 16 de septiembre de 2013.

Mayores informaciones en la página web: www.m6subseatraining.com

La novedad para este próximo curso es la participación de buceadores venezolanos que cruzarán el “charco” para la realización de este curso. Las plazas son

limitadas

Estamos de vuelta...

Después de más de cuatro semanas sin publicaciones, volvemos a la carga. Han sido cinco largas semanas sin publicaciones debido a una carga de trabajo excesiva, principalmente en reparaciones y mantenimiento de buques. Así que, aquí estamos, con nuevas publicaciones de interés general, curiosidades, etc. 

Finalizado el curso de formación de inspector subacuático de buques a flote

Hemos concluido el curso de formación de buceadores inspectores de buques a flote el pasado 22 de marzo. El curso ha sido realizado de manera intensiva,  con clases teóricas y prácticas con un total superior a 60 horas.  Fueron dos semanas de mucho trabajo, con la participación de algunas empresas y buceadores, que se dedicaron al máximo en todas las etapas del curso. 




También ha sido realizada una visita a las instalaciones de NAVANTIA en Cádiz, posibilitando la realización de una inspección detallada en las obras vivas de un buque y sus sistemas. . 

La evaluación teórica y práctica ha sido acompañada por el inspector Sr. José Luis Hidalgo de Lloyd´s Register

NAVANTIA de Cádiz, posibilita una inspección a un buque en dique seco a nuestros alumnos,  reforzando así el conocimiento adquirido en las clases teóricas.

Agradecemos la participación de todos los alumnos por su dedicación, esfuerzo y empeño durante todo el curso.