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Oman Oil Marketing Company and TFG Marine establish bunker fuel supply joint venture

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Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) and TFG Marine, the leading international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, have established a bunker fuel joint venture to supply vessels visiting Oman’s ports of Duqm, Muscat and Sohar.

TFG-OOMCO, incorporated in Oman, will combine the local knowledge of OOMCO with the international footprint, sourcing of all grades of marine fuels, infrastructure and logistics capability of TFG Marine, to offer customers a reliable and transparent bunkering provider in the Arabian Gulf.

Tarik Al Junaidi, CEO of OOMCO, says: “This partnership aligns with Oman Oil Marketing Company’s efforts to develop the maritime transport and shipping infrastructure in Oman, which is in alignment with the objectives Oman Vision 2040. [Read more…] about Oman Oil Marketing Company and TFG Marine establish bunker fuel supply joint venture

Saildrone completes autonomous survey of Gulf of Maine

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Saildrone has mapped 1,500 square nautical miles in the north-central Gulf of Maine in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s efforts to survey deep-sea coral habitat.

The Gulf of Maine is a productive and dynamic marine environment, with a diverse array of marine life, productive fisheries, unique underwater habitats, and a complex topography of deep basins, shallow banks, and steep slopes.

However, there is extremely limited mapping data available, especially in deeper waters. [Read more…] about Saildrone completes autonomous survey of Gulf of Maine

QYSEA unveils ‘first’ modular AI underwater robot for professional underwater operations

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Underwater robotics company, QYSEA Technology, has releaseed its next-generation advanced underwater operations expert, FIFISH E-GO.

Delivering an innovative modular design, upgraded power and imaging system, multi-load capabilities, and AI-powered features, FIFISH E-GO stands as QYSEA’s most powerful professional-class underwater robot to date.

With versatile functionality, the E-GO excels in missions across a range of challenging subsea environments and applications. [Read more…] about QYSEA unveils ‘first’ modular AI underwater robot for professional underwater operations

Fugro strengthens position in marine robotics with acquisition of Sea-Kit International

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Fugro has reached a binding agreement for the acquisition of the remaining shares in Sea-Kit International, a long-standing partner in the development of hi-tech uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for low carbon emission maritime operations and research.  [Read more…] about Fugro strengthens position in marine robotics with acquisition of Sea-Kit International

Saildrone fleet surpasses 1 million nautical miles and 32,000 days at sea

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Saildrone says it has reached “another major milestone”. Its fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) has surpassed an incredible cumulative distance of 1,000,000 nautical miles during more than 32,000 days at sea, deployed on missions around the globe.

Equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth 48 times and almost 89 years at sea for a single vehicle, this achievement demonstrates the scale of Saildrone’s operations and the tireless efforts of its team to push the boundaries and capabilities of uncrewed systems.

The record was achieved exactly 10 years after the company’s first major milestone, when the very first Saildrone USV sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii in October 2013. The 2,200-nautical mile journey took just 34 days. [Read more…] about Saildrone fleet surpasses 1 million nautical miles and 32,000 days at sea

4ocean launches new drone to help keep the world’s coastlines clean

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4ocean, a startup company which specialises in building robots to clean up the environment, has unveiled its latest machine – the Pixie Drone. (See video below.)

The Pixie Drone is designed to help keep coastlines free of plastic and other floating debris without disturbing marine life.

The company says the Pixie is both remote controlled and fully autonomous, which “makes cleaning our waterways easier than ever”. [Read more…] about 4ocean launches new drone to help keep the world’s coastlines clean

Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

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Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean industries, has been awarded an additional $2.1 million under its current contract with Leidos, a science and technology company.

The additional funding augments the earlier award and this program has received $16.6 million in funding from Leidos since 2022. The technology developed is expected to underpin future, economically material opportunities. [Read more…] about Nauticus Robotics and Leidos execute additional $2.1 million contract extension

4Ocean robot cleans up Florida beach as part of startup’s mission to clean up the world’s oceans

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A robot built by 4Ocean is cleaning up Florida beach as part of the startup company’s mission to clean up the entire world’s oceans.

An ambitious mission for sure, and one for which the company admits “there is no playbook”, but 4Ocean has already collected 28 million pounds of trash from the plastic-polluted salty waters of the world and its program is just getting started.

The robot 4Ocean has supplied to Florida beach is called the BeBot, which collects things like cigarette butts, pieces of plastic and other trash, according to a report on the Fox Weather website. [Read more…] about 4Ocean robot cleans up Florida beach as part of startup’s mission to clean up the world’s oceans

Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

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Fugro has signed a contract with Kooiman Engineering and Van Oossanen Naval Architects for the naval design of Blue Prism, Fugro’s next generation of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).

Specifically engineered for operations in both coastal and offshore environments, the Blue Prism will combine an ultra-low carbon footprint with high quality data collection, weather resilience and endurance characteristics.

Available to clients in 2023, Fugro’s Blue Prism will acquire bathymetry and sub-bottom data of the highest accuracy using hull mounted sensors, whilst also having the ability to tow multiple geophysical sensors. [Read more…] about Fugro expands its autonomous vessel fleet for geophysical surveys

Marine robotics specialist Vaarst raises $20 million to expand

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Marine robotics specialist Vaarst has closed on the first $20 million of its Series B round led by energy transition investor Legal & General Capital, alongside the venture capital arm of the international energy company Equinor.

Existing shareholder Foresight Group also participated alongside In-Q-Tel, the strategic investor for the US intelligence and defence communities and allied nations.

Vaarst is a leading provider of autonomy and cloud managed robotics; supporting the offshore wind, wave & tidal, scientific, maritime security, and civils industries. [Read more…] about Marine robotics specialist Vaarst raises $20 million to expand