HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY
AUTONOMOUS SURVEYS UNDER SAIL US company Saildrone, Inc. has launched a 22m version of its uncrewed surface vehicles, known as saildrones Powered by wind and solar energy, saildrones are capable of extreme-duration missions of up to 12 months in the open ocean. This latest and largest version, the first in the Surveyor class of USVs, is called the Saildrone Surveyor, and carries sonar equipment capable of seafloor mapping down to 7,000m. Coinciding with the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the launch of the Saildrone Surveyor is claimed to present a paradigm shift in enhanced seabed mapping, which is currently done with very large and expensive manned ships. The Surveyor, uncrewed and powering its robust sensor suite by harvesting renewable energy, delivers an equivalent survey capability, but at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint of a traditional survey ship. “We are excited to see the launch of the Saildrone Surveyor,” said Alan Leonardi, director of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. “NOAA is supporting the development and testing of this new uncrewed system because we are confident it will expand the capability of our existing fleet of ships to help us accelerate in a cost-effective way our mission to map, characterize and explore our nation’s deep ocean territory, monitor valuable fisheries and other marine resources, and provide information to unleash the potential of our nation’s Blue Economy.” In 2019, NOAA provided a three-year grant through the National Oceanographic Partnership Program to the University of New Hampshire, in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Saildrone, to integrate and test sensors on the Saildrone Surveyor for
mapping the seafloor and revealing life in the water column. While conducting the mapping, samples of DNA, referred to as “environmental DNA,” will be collected to reveal the genetic composition of organisms inhabiting the water. “The launch of the Surveyor is a huge step up, not just for Saildrone’s data services but for the capabilities of uncrewed systems in our oceans,” said Richard Jenkins, founder & CEO of Saildrone. “For the first time, a scalable solution now exists to map our planet within our lifetime, at an affordable cost.”
8 The latest version of Saildrone is 22m (72ft) long
Two subsea companies have entered a new strategic cooperation to share knowledge and services that will simplify the acquisition of high-quality marine data for clients across Europe. Signed on 1 January, the agreement between Hamburg-based Subsea Europe Services and Nicosia, Cyprus-based Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Services C.S.C.S. Ltd is the foundation for matching the extensive autonomous and long-term water column survey experience of Cyprus Subsea and Subsea Europe Service’s seafloor surveying expertise to provide a harmonised hydrography and oceanography portfolio from a single, Europe-wide source. Sören Themann, CEO of Subsea Europe, said, “Adding Cyprus Subsea to our team of trusted partners brings a new dimension to
16 | JANUARY 2021
Photo: Subsea Europe Services
Hydrography and oceanography portfolio combo
8 Subsea Europe Services and Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Services aim to provide a harmonised hydrography and oceanography portfolio from a single, Europe-wide source
our activity. While extending our geographical reach is in line with our next day delivery goals, the capability to characterise oceanographic processes in and around hydrographic survey sites will give our clients a more complete picture of their study
regions and how they are changing.” Additionally, both companies will share knowledge on the continuing development of autonomous solutions for marine surveying, developments that will help to bring high-quality marine data to more companies and organisations. Working closely together, the agreement facilitates a new local hub for Subsea Europe Services in the Mediterranean and extends the reach of Cyprus Subsea to Northern Europe. Both partners will be positioned to provide Gliders, Moorings and related services from Cyprus Subsea as well as Multibeam Echo Sounders (MBES), including the state-of-the-art integrated Hydroacoustic Survey System (iHSS), and ancillary equipment on a rental, sales or subscription basis from Subsea Europe Services.
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