ROVs and AUVs

Where space meets the sea

Where space meets the sea

Visitors to the Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Newquay Airport in Cornwall, UK may spot the first foundations of a brand new testing and training facility, dedicated to extreme deep-sea and space environment research. The 10acre Blue Abyss facility aims to give a monumental boost to the development of future space and marine exploration programmes, serving […]

Ghost gear busters

Ghost gear busters

The Lax Kw’alaams First Nation marine territory in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada has been plagued by a problem: over time, its fishing grounds have become polluted with discarded or lost fishing gear. As well as posing a risk to boat propellers and outboards, this ‘ghost gear’ debris has the potential to entangle, injure and kill […]

Surface support from the Hydronauts

Surface support from the Hydronauts

UK boatbuilder Diverse Marine has been contracted to build the initial run in a series of robotic vessels, monikered the Hydronaut class, for Houston-based Nauticus Robotics (formerly Houston Mechatronics). In order to comply with the terms of the US’ protectionist Jones Act, some of the 18m vessels will be constructed by Diverse Marine’s partner yards […]

Close to the drone

Close to the drone

  (image: Southern Ocean Laboratory)   China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) has launched what may be the world’s first remotely operated drone carrier. Zhu Hai Yun will function primarily as a research vessel, specialising in oceanography, but will also have the capacity for naval operations in the South China Sea.   The vessel was ordered by the […]