ADCI Underwater Today

November 22, 2010

J.D Neuhaus L.P.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
90-Day Public Review Announcement

The draft of the ADCI Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations, 6th Ed. is still available for public review. The 6th Edition Draft, Introduction to the 6th Edition Draft, and Gap Analysis between the 5th and 6th Editions can be accessed and downloaded from the Underwater magazine website, www.underwatermagazine.com. The review process is open to all industry stakeholders.

The official dates of the review period are 25 September – 25 December 2010.

The Association would like to thank everyone who has taken the opportunity to submit comments.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/adc-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=131730&issueID=23403 to view the full article online.

 
Ben Miller – acknowledging Ben Miller’s significant contributions to the commercial diving industry, specifically as a world-renowned helmet, mask, harness, and weight belt manufacturer.

Tom Angel – significant contributions to the commercial diving industry, specifically as one of the founding members of the Association of Diving Contractors and being instrumental in the introduction of saturation diving to the Gulf of Mexico. Participation in "Project 600" demonstrated the practicality of saturation diving as it applies to the oil field, as well as setting a world record for open sea diving at the time.

Joe Sanford – acknowledging the groundbreaking formation of the first Gulf Coast Diving Contractor that carried insurance, Sanford Brothers Diving, as well as the formation of Morgan City Rentals.

 
As the deadline for receiving scholarship applications is quickly approaching, I would like to send a gentle reminder. It has been a very unusual year. I do not need to speak of the economy, or the lack of work, as we are all feeling the effects of both issues. But none so much as those looking to further their education or explore another career with which to feed their families and pay their bills. Scholarships are the only way many can realize their dreams. In many states, colleges and universities are contemplating a 30% - 50% raise in tuition. I know that you, the General and Associate members of this great organization, are aware of someone in your organization, circle of influence, or families who would benefit from our generous scholarships.

With the deadline of December 1st around the corner, it is important to remind those interested to get their applications, complete with essay and transcripts, in to the ADCI office, or to send them directly to me at dori@divecommercial.com.

 
If you are in the business of getting jobs done in the undersea environment, you want to be part of the Underwater Intervention 2011 technical program.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/adc-nwl/pdf/UI_Call_for_Presentations_2011.pdf to view the full article online.

 
Interested in contributing to UnderWater magazine?

UnderWater magazine is seeking feature stories and photography covering subjects of broad significance to the commercial diving industry. Possible article topics include but are not limited to: safety, new techniques, new equipment, equipment reviews, recent projects, etc. Special attention will be given to articles highlighting safety; however, all topics of general interest to diving contractors will be considered. Photography accompanying your story is welcome and encouraged.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/adc-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=131732&issueID=23403 to view the full article online.

 
It was decided to ask for the support of our industry as a whole, given the significance of Dan Wilson's lifelong work. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is excited about creating a special display with Purisima to supplement existing diving and early offshore oil industry exhibits.

All of us were excited about the possibility of ADCI membership sponsoring this unique display that will honor our industry and a man who dared to "think outside of the box." Additionally, the display will be a significant representation of ADCI and commercial diving for tourists and visitors at the museum.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/adc-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=131733&issueID=23403 to view the full article online.

 
FOX INDUSTRIES, INC.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India's navy is set to purchase advanced diving equipment in order to speed up deep sea clearing missions within operational deployments. A request for information has been issued to the defense firms that presently manufacture DPVs (Diver Propulsion Vehicles) and, further down the line, the maritime branch of the Indian armed forces will move to invite tenders for an eventual contract.

Visit http://bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13797 to view the full article online.

 
The past and present converge in "Odyssey's Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure," a traveling exhibit at the Maryland Science Center that explores several ships located by Odyssey Marine Exploration, a company that searches for deep-ocean wrecks.

Visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/17/AR2010111706167.html to view the full article online.

 
Karachi, Pakistan — Navy Divers Assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, attached to Combined Task Group (CTG) 56.1, participated in dive training with Pakistani navy divers and Special Service Group (SSG) sailors at a Pakistan submarine base in Karachi Nov. 1-3.

Visit http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/us-navy-divers-train-with-pakistan-navy.html?col=1199425493425 to view the full article online.

 
Naval Experimental Diving Unit Public Affairs – Naval Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU), Panama City, Fla., recently completed the first manned dive of the Saturation Fly-Away Diving System (SAT FADS) and will conduct bell operations Nov. 29.

Visit http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/testing-for-new-diving-system-underway.html?col=1199425493425 to view the full article online.

 
The clean-up of the nuclear plant has uncovered the most potentially hazardous radioactive particle yet found at the site in 26 years of monitoring at the Sandside Beach in Caithness. The Dounreay Particles Advisory Group (DPAG) yesterday revealed that a remotely controlled vehicle deployed by diving contractors at the site had picked up a radioactive particle that measured 100 million becquerels (Bq) of radiation.

Visit http://news.scotsman.com/inverness/Most-deadly-substance--yet.6631713.jp to view the full article online.

 
At a glance, Jim McClain's office décor is not particularly revealing of his love for the ocean. A general map of the seafloor covers the wall opposite of his desk, while the movie poster for Endless Summer: In Search of the Perfect Wave, occupies the wall to his left. One shelf of his bookcase seems to be dedicated entirely to family photos.

But from among these framed pictures, the professor of geology and oceanography and associate dean of the College of Letters and Sciences selects one that is wedged in between the wall of the shelf and a turquoise rock – an image of him smiling as he lowers himself into the hatch of the submarine Alvin, taken just prior to his descent 18,000 feet under the sea.

Visit http://theaggie.org/article/2010/11/18/a-dean-and-his-submarine to view the full article online.

 
Naylor, LLC
INDUSTRY NEWS
Seaward Marine Services, Inc., Fairfax, Va., was awarded a $9,096,597 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-09-D-4219) on Nov. 13, 2009, for waterborne hull cleaning and associated services to support the director of ocean engineering, supervisor of salvage and diving. The primary purpose of this contract is to provide hull cleaning, hull inspection and other related ship husbandry services on the underwater portion of Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Military Sealift Command ships and craft.

Visit http://americanshipbuilders.com/story.aspx?sid=217381 to view the full article online.

 
New research released by energy business analysts Douglas-Westwood reveals the world offshore wind market will see expenditures of $60.7B over the next five years. By 2015, annual expenditures will be in excess of $19B.

Visit http://www.seadiscovery.com/mtStories.aspx?ShowStory=1040862097 to view the full article online.

 
OceanServer Technology delivered two multibeam sonar equipped AUVs to the Navy Special Warfare (NSW) Command. These AUVs were competitively procured and operationally tested prior to delivery to the NSW Command at the Stennis Space Center in September of 2010.

Visit http://www.seadiscovery.com/mtStories.aspx?ShowStory=104084 to view the full article online.

 
CTC Marine will be showcasing its subsea technology and services at the forthcoming OSEA 2010 exhibition and conference, which will take place on 30 November – 3 December 2010, at the Suntec exhibition centre in Singapore.

Visit http://www.offshore-technology.com/contractors/dredging/ctc-marine/press6.html to view the full article online.

 
Aberdeen, Scotland – Unique System (UK) Ltd, a global provider of specialised products, services and turnkey solutions to the diving and survey industries, has further expanded its rental pool of global acoustic positioning systems (GAPS) with an order for additional systems and transponder beacons from iXSea worth more than $1m. Unique System is a principal supplier of high-performance subsea positioning systems to customers worldwide.

Visit http://www.youroilandgasnews.com/unique+system+%28uk%29+expands+rental+pool+with+%241m+gaps+purchase_56549.html to view the full article online.

 
Hamilton, Bermuda – Seadrill has entered into a turnkey contract to build up to four new ultra-deepwater drillships at the Samsung yard in South Korea. The first two drillships are firmly ordered with delivery in the first and second quarter 2013, respectively.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/sdrl-seadrill-orders-new-ultra-deepwater-drillships-for-delivery-in-2013/ to view the full article online.

 
Canacol Energy Ltd. ("Canacol" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:CNE) (BVC:CNEC) is pleased to announce its participation in the Sociedad Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S. ("OBC"), a consortium composed of seven shareholders. The Corporation, through its 100% owned Colombian subsidiary Rancho Hermoso S.A., has a 0.5% interest in the OBC.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/canacol-energy-ltd-announces-participation-in-colombian-oil-pipeline-consortium/ to view the full article online.

 
Subsea 7 Inc. (OSE Symbol: SUB), through its i-Tech division, today announced an award by Petrobras International for the provision of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services onboard a new build ultra-deepwater drillship. The contract is valued at US $18m.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/i-tech-announces-contract-award-from-petrobras-international/ to view the full article online.

 
The $8.2 billion project, which involves building 500 turbines, will be developed by companies such as Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/massive-offshore-wind-farm-to-be-built-by-south-korea/ to view the full article online.

 
Subsea 7 Inc., one of the world’s leading subsea engineering and construction companies, announced that it has been awarded a contract by BP for a two-and-a-half-year frame agreement for life-of-field services in the UK and Norwegian North Sea.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/subsea-7-announces-us100-million-contract-award-for-bp-in-the-north-sea/ to view the full article online.

 
Sustainable Marine Technologies (SMT), the innovative company creating practical engineering solutions for the marine renewable energy industry, has become a corporate member of RenewableUK.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/sustainable-marine-technologies-joins-renewableuk/ to view the full article online.

 
NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY
A researcher in the US is developing a non-lethal weapon for protecting ports from divers with malicious intentions. Dr. Alexander Sutin, a research professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, believes such divers could be thwarted with an acoustic device that overwhelms them with the amplified sound of their own breath.

Visit http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/device-to-deter-hostile-divers-in-non-lethal-manner/1006143.article to view the full article online.

 
A robotic vehicle with the ability to fly and swim could have a variety of applications. For example, the vehicle could be used to inspect underwater oil pipes while flying to and from remote oil rigs. It could also be used for aerial and aquatic surveillance for counter-terrorism purposes. Variations in the missions could require very different operating speeds in each medium. The numerical model developed by the researchers takes these issues into consideration and can provide mission-specific optimal values to use in future concept vehicle designs. Currently, the researchers are developing an experimental platform from which they can investigate various parameters associated with flapping propulsion during aquatic locomotion.

Visit http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-seabird-morphing-wings-robots.html to view the full article online.

 
A new recipe for TIG welding electrode material offers significant benefits in quality, cost, safety and ease-of-use, says its British developer.

Visit http://cdiver.net/news/multi-strike-electrodes-offer-safer-cheaper-tig-welding/ to view the full article online.