Following its inauguration ceremony in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the Swiss-based Allseas Group’s Pioneering Spirit will start its first job offshore Norway this summer with an integrated dynamic positioning and manoeuvring system based on state-of-the art Kongsberg Maritime, Norway, technology.

A spokesman for Kongsberg Maritime said the delivery includes forward and aft bridge systems in addition to an extensive automation network and the HiPAP subsea position reference system.

Eight years in the making, the Pioneering Spirit single-lift vessel is the largest construction vessel in the world. “Kongsberg Maritime has been involved with this ground-breaking project from near the very start, having been selected by Allseas to provide the dynamic positioning system for Pioneering Spirit early in 2008,” said the spokesman.

He added that Pioneering Spirit’s role as a platform installation, decommissioning and pipelay vessel demands the most comprehensive, reliable and feature-rich DP and manoeuvring system available.

“With sea trials already completed in summer 2014, Kongsberg Maritime’s Class 3, fully redundant DP system and other vital systems will next be put through their paces this summer, when Pioneering Spirit starts its first and particularly challenging project, the removal of the Yme platform topsides in the North Sea,” he said.

Ashtead Technology, UK, has launched Aperto, “a simple, easy-to-use web portal that allows customers to rent and track subsea rental equipment anywhere in the world, at any time, on any mobile device”.

“Every day millions of pounds of valuable subsea equipment is being moved around the globe to meet the demands of complex projects in which multiple people are involved,” explained Peter Simpson, operations director of Ashtead Technology. “Increasing efficiency and streamlining processes are the order of the day in the current lower oil price environment.

“Smart innovations are key to delivering real-time information to achieve cost savings. This is why we have created Aperto. It is our way of simplifying, speeding-up and streamlining the various processes involved in ordering and tracking rental equipment and ensuring that the multiple people involved are all up to speed at the touch of a log-in button.”

Aperto gives customers complete visibility on their rental equipment from initial enquiry through to order preparation and delivery, according to Ashtead. The company said that the ability to track the equipment in real-time throughout its project lifecycle and beyond will enable it and its customers to improve planning and project execution by knowing exactly what equipment they have on rental, where it is at any given time and having full access to key information critical to its operation.

Imenco, Norway, reports the launch of new high-definition over Ethernet subsea camera, the SubVIS Orca.

“Essentially a smart phone with a commercial subsea lens and housing rated to 4000 metres, the camera is apps driven and is capable of communication with all sensors installed on remotely operated vehicles,” said the company.

Marine Electronics, UK, has launched a new 2D imaging sonar developed especially for ROVs/AUVs. The company said the new Dolphin See View is a 700kHz system that has evolved from its existing Dolphin 3001 model but has introduced number of key advantages.

“Notable among these are its compact size and light weight which will make it an ideal choice for use in small ROVs/AUVs as well as for other applications on surface craft,” said Marine Electronics.

The company added that the new design also introduces the benefit of Ethernet connection integral to the underwater unit to provide increased versatility and ease of use.

Teledyne Gavia, Iceland, has introduced its new Gavia AUV Multibeam Profiler module. Built by Teledyne BlueView, USA, the module is derived from BlueView’s 2250 kHz MB-Series sonar.

“When used with off-the-shelf software applications, the BlueView system provides turnkey solutions for many commercial, military, and scientific AUV applications, including 3D bottom mapping, high-resolution target rendering and sidescan gap-fill,” said a spokesman.