WINTER 2019
SHOWNEWS
COMMERCIAL MARINE & WORKBOAT EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE • Mayflower Park, Southampton • 9-11 June 2020
AUDIENCE & NETWORKS Reach and influence commercial marine professionals
COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE
7,700+ Seawork attendees from 70 countries
31,300 distributed Seawork Show News
30,300 to Seawork eNews inboxes
Technology project sees new approach to SAR A new approach to search and rescue in the North Sea using ship’s radar, a drone, a fast rescue boat and a wave prediction system has just been trialled in the North Sea. Damen, Next Ocean and Delft Dynamics have collaborated on the new system; the goal being to test the limits of drone helicopter operations offshore, with the drone and the fast rescue boat launched from a Damen Sea Axe Fast Crew Supply (FCS) Vessel. The partners foresaw that the most challenging part of the project would be launching and landing the drone and boat in rough seas. The wave prediction system uses ship’s radar to map the sea approximately 1 nautical mile around the vessel, enabling the prediction of wave activity accurately for the coming three minutes. “With this we can predict when there will be a window of opportunity to launch the drone and the rescue craft. Take-off and landing of the drone takes just 30 seconds, for example,” explains Albert Rijkens, Damen High Speed Craft Portfolio Manager R&D.
“The wave prediction system makes this approach feasible and safe.” Karel Roozen, Co-Founder of Next Ocean said,”The system is in a state of constant evolution… We gathered information during this trial which will help prepare it to operate at up to 25 knots or even higher speeds, paving the way for a whole new set of additional applications.” This cooperative approach is, according to Albert, the key to innovation. “At Damen we hold the philosophy of ‘collaborate to innovate’. It’s something we have done for years already. Working together with our partners – particularly start-ups with the innovative ideas they are looking to trial – is an excellent way to look at ways in which technology can help our clients make their maritime operations safer, more efficient and more sustainable.” The test was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence with support by the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Netherlands Coastguard, paving the way for future use in a wide variety of offshore operations, including search and rescue, fishery inspection, border patrol and humanitarian aid missions.
See us at Seawork < Tel: +44 1329 825335 ❘ Email: info@seawork.com >
26,100 Average online unique visits to MJ every month
6,200 Maritime Journal magazines printed
31,100 to MJ eNews inboxes
8 To be part of Seawork’s dedicated exhibitor news coverage, secure your exhibition space by talking to Seawork sales on +44 1329 825335 or contact sales@seawork.com