DOF ASA is pleased to announce that the Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel (OSCV) Skandi Africa, delivered from Vard Søviknes to our subsidiary DOF Subsea, has been named "Ship of the Year 2015" in Norway. Skandi Africa is the latest purpose built state-of-the-art vessel to join the DOF fleet. It is specially designed and equipped for subsea operation duties with a high focus on sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performance and low fuel consumption. The DP class 3 vessel is designed for harsh environments, and for deep water subsea construction and flexlay operations up to 3,000 m in depth.

This article features three case studies of work performed under water at dams and hydro facilities in North America. The case studies illustrate challenges faced and lessons learned that other project owners can apply. Work that needs to be performed under water at dams and hydropower facilities can run the gamut from assisting with unit repairs to modifying infrastructure. Challenges abound with this type of work, and the below three case studies clearly illustrate what those challenges can be, as well as how they can be overcome.

The growing importance of Maritime Autonomous Systems will characterise naval activity of the future, according to the Global Marine Trends 2030 (GMT 2030) report launched today. Written and researched jointly by Lloyd's Register, QinetiQ and Southampton University, the report looks at how future naval operations will be conducted, considering the application and integration of emerging technologies over the next two decades across maritime security, warfighting and humanitarian operations.

Visiongain's new 244 page report reveals that the ROV market will see CAPEX of $1.253bn in 2015, including spending on ROV new builds and ROV Operations. The ROV New Build submarket is worth $157.5m in 2015 while the ROV Operations submarket is worth $1.095bn in the same year. Though the oil price fall has affected spending in both sections of the ROV market, strong growth is anticipated for much of the ten year forecast period owning to the increasing depth and complexity of operations and expanding HSQE regulations.

DeepOcean AS, a subsidiary of DeepOcean Group Holding BV (DeepOcean), has been awarded a call-off contract for provision of ROV based Survey Services by Shell in the North Sea.

By laying in the first power cable between the monopiles "SB 28C" and "SB 29C" Vattenfall and Stadtwerke München (SWM) have started the so-called inner park cabling of the offshore wind farm Sandbank, 90 km west of the coast of Sylt.

OPEC on Monday predicted higher demand for its crude oil next year, sticking to its view that a strategy of letting prices fall will tame the U.S. shale boom and cut a global surplus. The monthly report from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also said a weaker outlook for China would contribute to slower global oil demand growth next year. "U.S. oil production has shown signs of slowing," OPEC said in the report.

K Line Offshore and IKM Subsea have come to an agreement to extend the current ROV services contracts on KL Sandefjord and KL Saltfjord by 5 years until mid-2020. The contract value including options is 140 million NOK and duration term is firm for 5 years + 2 yearly options.

VNG Norge AS, operator of production licence 586, is in the process of completing the drilling of wildcat wells 6406/12-4 S and 6406/12-4 A. Well 6406/12-4 S was drilled approx. 33 kilometres southwest of the Njord field in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea and approx. 1.7 kilometres southeast of discovery well 6406/12-3 S (Pil).

Underwater Intervention 2016
Call for Papers

China International Diving and Salvage Offshore Summit 2015
6-8 November 2015 – Xiamen, China

For some 30 years SEALAB I has sat with little attention, now on the heels of its 50th anniversary, a group of volunteers has undertaken the task of restoring this historical vessel and re-commissioning it in the configuration as it served as America's first underwater house. Be part of the effort to help fund this project. Click the link below for more information and to donate to the cause.

Entering the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory hangar is akin to stepping onto the set of a Spielberg film. The dull metal shell, perched on the Makai pier along the Windward Coast of Oahu, is nondescript, but the inside bristles with Zodiac boats and a dizzying assortment of hoists and tools, and the walls are festooned with 30 years of snapshots.

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base announced today that it wants to buy a remotely operated vehicle capable of plunging 1,000 feet into the sea and recording high-resolution video, among many other tasks.

On Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Crown-of-thorns starfish is the scourge of the deep as it eats and destroys large swathes of coral and threatens the overall health of the reef. This starfish is proving difficult to find and eradicate with conventional methods, so Queensland University of Technology researchers have created a hunter-killer robot – dubbed the COTSbot – that's designed to automatically search out and destroy these aquatic pests.

The Northwest Straits Foundation, based in Bellingham, Washington, in conjunction with Global Diving & Salvage has used a Saab Seaeye Cougar XT ROV and supporting Falcon ROV to remove derelict fishing nets from deeper waters without adversely affecting the habitat.

OpenROV’s Kickstarter campaign for its new Trident underwater drone is now live, and the early sales are impressive. The campaign has absolutely exploded on Kickstarter, reaching its goal within five minutes of launch. With 44 days still left to go, the consumer-oriented underwater vehicle has raised $370,000, exceeding its original goal of $50,000 by a factor of six. According to OpenROV, the Trident has the versatility of a ROV (remote operated vehicle) and combines it with the efficient operation of an AUV.

In May 1983, Seiko ocean-tested two Professional Diver’s 600ms. They were attached to a JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) research deep-sea submersible called the Shinkai 2000. The watches were originally only intended for use up to 600 meters; however they both withstood water pressure from a depth of 1062 meters. Neither legibility, precision nor the exterior of the watches were affected.

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 SMT’s Light Weight Taut Wire to their equipment sales and rental inventory. STR have signed an exclusive sales agency agreement to promote and sell SMT Taut Wire product globally.