Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based CCC (Underwater Engineering), the provider of offshore construction and subsea services in the Middle East and India, has selected UK-based Sonardyne’s Ranger 2 acoustic positioning technology for its entire fleet of dynamically positioned diving and support vessels.  

Supplied by Sonardyne Asia Pte in Singapore, the Ranger 2 systems will be used as independent position references for each vessel’s dynamic positioning system and to track underwater targets including divers and ROVs.

Four multi-purpose vessels make up CCC’s fleet, including two new 65-metre vessels rated for Class 2 operations. All are fitted with DP systems from General Electric, USA, with CCC’s two 90-metre DSVs, the CCC Pioneer and the new-build Said Alethia, equipped with dual redundant Ranger 2 Pro systems, the highest specification available.

“This capability allows CCC to utilise its vessels on survey projects where maintaining a reliable position is a critical operational requirement,” said Sonardyne.   

For all of its Ranger 2 installations, CCC additionally specified Sonardyne’s “optimised USBL” configuration. Here, Sonardyne’s attitude and heading reference system Lodestar is interfaced directly with the Ranger 2 acoustic transceiver allowing raw range, bearing and attitude data to be simultaneously processed.

“This integration achieves a tightly compensated solution and allows users to meet the positioning specifications of a wide range of subsea construction and survey projects,” Sonardyne said. 

Derrick Green, marine operations manager at CCC, said: “Our vessel fleet is geared up to support all manner of complex underwater projects. Ranger 2 meets our needs in every respect, offering stable and precise positioning for DP, reliable tracking in any water depth and hardware that is easy for our crews to set up and use. We could not be happier with the results we are seeing back from the field.”

UK-based subsea contractor Modus Seabed Intervention reports it has secured a major contract to conduct pre-installation works on Denmark-headquartered DONG Energy’s Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, located west of the existing Burbo Bank offshore wind farm, approximately seven kilometres off the coast near Liverpool, UK.

The workscope has been divided into two packages – an initial investigation survey of known ferromagnetic unexploded ordnance targets to identify any explosive ordnance within the site, followed, if required, by an explosive ordnance disposal operation to dispose of all positively identified explosive ordnance.

To deliver the project, Modus will be working with subcontractors N-Sea of the Netherlands (survey specialist) and Ramora of the UK (ordnance specialist). The project will utilise the DSV Noordhoek Pathfinder, equipped with Modus CS ROV, as well as N-Sea’s daughtercraft Aberlour to support diving operations.

Nigel Ward, commercial director of Modus Seabed Intervention, said: “This is a major contract to have secured and we are delighted to be working with DONG Energy on such an important UK offshore wind farm project, and we look forward to completing another safe and efficient service with our key subcontractors.

“The contract also demonstrates DONG Energy’s commitment to working with UK contractors in the construction of these strategic wind farms.”

OceanServer Technology of the USA has delivered an Iver3-580 AUV to the Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit, USA.

The system operates at depths to 200 metres and includes USA-based EdgeTech’s 2205 high-resolution sidescan sonar.

“OceanServer has sold more than a dozen systems to customers in the Great Lakes region, including four systems to the University of Michigan and one Iver3 system shipped to Michigan Tech University in 2013,” said a spokesman.

He added: “The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit has a lot of ground (water) to cover with thousands of inland lakes and shorelines on four of the Great Lakes. The Iver platform will allow the team to rapidly deploy the AUV not only in shallow water, but in depths more than 50 metres where towed sonar systems and diver operations are far more challenging.”

AUVs allow users to programme fixed lawn mower style sweeps of wide areas with very little logistical support or cost. The EdgeTech 2205 sonar system comes with two frequencies (1600kHz/600kHz) to give investigators the option for very fine resolution or wide area survey capability.

AUVs are increasingly being called into service for support in underwater forensics and search and recovery operations.

Kongsberg Evotec of Norway, a fully owned subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime, Norway, reports it has entered into an agreement with CSSC Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou, China, for the delivery of two ROV launch and recovery systems.

The contract includes the first delivery of the recently patented K-LARS port frame solution, in addition to a tried and tested moon pool LARS system. Both are scheduled for delivery in June 2016 and will be installed on board Singapore-based Jumeirah Offshore’s advanced new diving support vessel.

“Our newly patented K-LARS system, where both ROV hangar door and A-frame is integrated, fits perfectly for the design of Jumeirah Offshore’s new vessel and many other DSVs,” said Torkjell Ringstad, vice president of handling solutions at Kongsberg Maritime.