marine technology society “opportunity runs deep” with new mts

MarineTechnologySociety

News from the Marine Technology Society

W h a t ’ s n e W

Mts PresidentDiscusses the

new LogoPage 3

Mts Increaseseducation spending

Page 4

san Diego honorssubmarine Vets

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Record numberVie for Mtsscholarships

7

Marine technology society, Inc.5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 108

Columbia, MD 21044410-884-5330

410-884-9060 Fax

www.mtsociety.org

I n t h I s I s s u e : MTS Conference News 2

Society News 3

Members & Others in the News 6

Section News 8

Professional Committee News 10

Business News 11

Science and Technology News 15

Education News 17

Legislative News 18

Ocean Community Calendar 19

M A Y / J U N E 2 0 0 9 ■ V O L U M E 3 2 , N O . 3

“Opportunity runs deep” with new MTS logo

TherebrandingeffortbeganlastJulywhenthesocietyhiredtheDavidJamesGroup(DJG)basedinOakbrookTerrace,Ill.Thecompanypridesitselfonmarketingsolutionsthataredata-driven,anditapproachedtherebrandingofMTSbyconductinginterviewsandfocusgroups,thenassessingtheresults.

Asafirststep,DJGdevelopedseveralpositioningstatementsbasedoninde-pendentresearchofMTSandthroughconversationswiththeMTSstaffandleadership.Oncethesepositionstatements See MTS logo on page 14

TheMarineTechnologySocietyhasanewlogo.OnMarch1,afteraseven-monthprocess,theMTSBoardofDirectorsunanimouslyapprovedthenewlogoandtagline“Opportunityrunsdeep™.”

“Theprocesswasinvolvedandcareful,”ExecutiveDirectorRich Lawsonsaid.“Theoriginallogohasalonghistory,datingbacktothebeginningofthesocietyin1963,buttheboardfeltforsometimethatitneededtobemodernizedtoreflectthesociety’snewapproachesandtoappealtothenewergenera-tionsweareattracting.”

weredeveloped,DJGbegantheresearchphaseoftheprocess,whichincludedbothqualitativeandquantitativeresearch.Forthequalitativeresearch,DJGorganizedthreefocusgroups:MTSprofessionalmembers,non-memberprofessionalsandstudents(bothmembersandnon-members).ConductedlastJuly,thefocusgroupswereopenconversationswithdis-cussionsaroundtheattributesandperceptionsofMTStodayandwhatMTSshouldbetomorrow.Participantswere

Surrounded by the Board of Directors, President Liz Corbin holds the new MTS logo. Around her, from left, are Jill Zande, Kevin Hardy, Karin Lynn, Jerry Wilson, Rich Lawson, Bruce Gilman, Debbi Kill, Jerry Boatman and Karen Kohanowich.

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9�

Currents, published bimonthly, is a membership benefit of the Marine Technology Society, the leading multidisciplinary society for marine professionals. Individual membership is $75. Life membership is a one-time $1,000.

To join MTS, visit the Web site at www.mtsociety.org or e-mail [email protected].

Send information for Currents to [email protected].

the deadline to get items in the next issue of Currents is June 15.

Send address changes to [email protected]

O F F I C E R SPresidentElizabeth [email protected]

President-electJerry [email protected]

Immediate Past PresidentBruce C. Gilman, [email protected]

VP – section affairsKevin [email protected]

VP – education and ResearchJill [email protected]

VP – Industry and technologyJerry C. [email protected]

VP – PublicationsKarin [email protected]

treasurer and VP – Budget and FinanceDebra [email protected]

VP – Government and Public affairsKaren [email protected]

executive DirectorRichard [email protected]

editor-in-ChiefSusan [email protected]

Conference News

EnergyOcean �0096th Annual Conference/ExpoJune 16–18Rockport, Mainewww.energyocean.com/2009

EnergyOceanfocusesonrenewableandsustainableenergyfromtheoceans.Attendeeswilllearnofthelatesttechnologicaladvances,investmentopportunities,regulatoryissues,andplannedandimplementedprojectsaroundtheworld.Theconferencecoversalltypesofoceanenergy:wind,wave,tidal,current,thermal,solarandhybrids.CommunicationsManagerSusan Branting willbemanningbooth202whereshewillbetoutingMTSandthe2009MarineTechnologyforOff-shoreWindPowerWorkshop(seepage5).TheMTSwindpowerworkshopwillbemorefocusedontechnologyandsoprovideacomplementaryopportunityforthesameaudienceinterestedinwindpower.VisitourboothatEnergyOcean.

Dynamic Positioning ConferenceOctober 13–14Houston, Texaswww.dynamic-positioning.com

ThehighlyacclaimedDPConferencewillincludetopicsonoperationsandprocedures,simultaneousoperations,thrusters,sensors,designandcontrol,powerplantmanagement,risk,vesselsandtrainingmethods.Theconferenceisrecognizedastheleadinginternationalsymposiumcoveringdevelopmentsandtechnologypertainingtodynamicpositioning.EarlyregistrationendsSeptember14.

OCEANS’09 MTS/IEEE BiloxiOcean Technology and Our Future:Global and Local ChallengesOctober 26–29Biloxi, Miss.www.ocean09mtsieeebiloxi.org

TheOCEANS’09ConferencepromisestobeoneofthemostexcitingOCEANSconferencesever.Forthefirsttime,theconferenceisofferingaCareerFair—slatedforOctober26—toallexhibitorsandattendeesatnocost.Newsponsoringopportunitiesarealsoavailable:•Sponsor-A-Studentwillhelpexpandthestudentpostercompetition.•HighSchoolOutreachgiveslocalseniorsachancetoseemarinedatainaction.•TheinauguralCareerFairprovidesaforumforemployeesandpotentialemployerstomeet.•Transportationletsyouputyourcompany’snameonconferencebuses.Alongwiththecoreconferencetopics,OCEANS’09includesfouradditionaltopicsfocusedonlocalinterests:OperationalOceanography,OceanObservingSystems,CoastalRestorationandHurricaneKatrina:LessonsLearned.EarlyregistrationendsAugust31;onlineregistrationclosesOctober16.

Advertising InformationCurrents is sent to all national and international MTS members and is also on the MTS Web site, which is accessed by over 400,000 hits per year. For more information about prices, contact [email protected]. NOTE: The publisher reserves the right to reject copy that fails to meet the standards of taste and fair statement that Currents follows.

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9 �

Society News

D R I l l D O w N

New logo for a new strategyliz CorbinMTS President

InmylastDrilldownintheJanuary/Februaryedition,Ipointedtohowweasaprofessionalsocietycanthriveonchange.OnechangetheBoardofDirectorshaspursuedisaredesignoftheMTSlogo.Whychangethelogo,youmayask,andit’sagoodquestion.

Therearemanyreasonstochangeacorporatelogo.Someofthemostcommonare:1)theexistinglogolooksalittletiredandoutdated;2)theorganizationhaschangeddirectionsorproductsand3)theorganizationhaschangeditsname.Well,wehaven’tchangedourname.Weareworkingonbuildingonoursolidinternationalreputationasanactivecommunityofleadingoceanengineers,researchers,technologists,policymakersandeducators.And,weareworkingdiligentlyonimprovinghowMTSworksandmeetstheneedsofourmembers.

In2007,theBoardofDirectorsdevelopedastrategicplantosetnear-andlong-termgoals,whichwasreportedattheannualmeetingsandinCurrents.OneofourgoalsisthatMTS will be recognized by all as the resource for marine technology information and knowledge. Tohelpusrealizethisgoal,theBoardengagedtheservicesofamarketingfirmtodevelopanintegratedmarketingplan forMTS(e.g.,keyoutcomes,targetedaudiences,messages).

TheDavidJamesGroupofIllinoiswasselected.OneoftheirpriorityrecommendationswastoimprovetheMTSbrandandimage,includinganewlogothatwasmodern,freshandcon-veyedasenseoftheMTSmission.Duringtheirinterviewprocess,theyfoundthatsomeofthewordsthatpeopleusedtodescribeMTSare“professional,”“leading-edge,”“technical,”“innovative,”“expandingthefield”andeven“cool.”

BasedontheinformationgainedfromtheinterviewsandareviewoftheMTSstrategicplanandotherdocuments,theDavidJamesGroupdevelopedastatementtopositionMTSinthemarinecommunity.ThestatementincludedkeyattributesrelatedtoMTS’scommitmenttostrengtheningourmembersthroughprofessionaldevelopmentandnetworking,strengtheningthefutureofourfieldbyattractingyoungmembersandsponsoringavarietyofeducationalprograms,andexpandingourroleasthevoiceofmarinetechnologyinthemediaandonCapitolHill.

Thedevelopmentofournewlogowasanimportantstepintheimplementationofthenewmarketingstrategy.AsmallgroupofvolunteersfromtheBoardparticipatedinamulti-stepprocessofreviewingcandidatesforanewlogo.Itwasachallengingexercise,aswellasalotoffun,tonarrowthechoices,suggestrefinements,reviewrevisionsandultimatelyselectalogothatwecouldenthusiasticallyrecommendtothefullBoardforapprovalattheMarchBoardmeeting.WhatIpersonallyfindexcitingaboutthefinalchoiceisthateachoftheBoardmemberssawsomethingdifferentinit,buteverythingwesawsupportedtheunderlyingvisionofMTS.

Alongwithournewbrandingslogan,“Opportunityrunsdeep™,”wethinkthenewlogorepresentsafreshlookthatwillhelppropelMTSintothefuture.Wehopeyouagree.■

Look for the new TechSurge logo on workshops sponsored by MTS under the new MTS workshop program. The first TechSurge workshop is 2009 Marine Technology for Offshore Wind Power,June 29–30 at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va. See page 5 for details.

See Society News on page 4

M

Marcel Montrose

New MTS student rep sees learning opportunity arcel Montrosesaysheis“astrongbelieverinpeoplehelpingotherpeople”andis“alwaysinterestedinwhatotherpeoplehavetosay.”ItisthesequalitiesthatpromptedhimtoapplyforthepositionofstudentrepresentativetotheMTSCouncil.Hisappli-cationwasapprovedinthespringbyacommitteecom-prisingJill Zande,VPofEdu-cationandResearch;Dr. Sue Cook,chairoftheMarineEducationProfessionalCom-mittee;andDr. Tom Consi,chairoftheMTSScholarshipCommittee.

Montrose,28,receivedadiplomaoftechnologythisspringfromtheMarineEngi-neeringSystemsDesign,Fish-eriesandMarineInstituteofMemorialUniversityofNew-foundland.HehailsfromthetownofSealCove—population300—butnowlivesinSt.John’s.Heplanstocontinuehiseducationinpursuitofabacheloroftechnologydegree.Anolderstudent,hesayshedidn’ttakehisfirststintatuni-versityseriouslyenough.Afterdroppingoutandspendingseveralyearssellingpipe,hose,tubing,valvesandfittings,hedecidedtoreturntoschool.“Itwasafunjob,”hesaidofhisyearsasasalesman,“butnotacareer-definingone.”

Get the technology surge!


Asastudentrepresentative,Montrosewillattendtwocouncilmeetingsthisyear,atOTCinHoustonandatOCEANS’09inBiloxi,Miss.“Ilookatthispositionasanexcellentlearningopportunity,”hesaid.

MontrosereplacesJacob Foster,whowasgraduatedthisspringfromTexasA&MUni-versityatGalvestonwithaB.S.inmaritimesystemsengi-neering.Asoneofthefirsttwostudentrepresentativestothecouncil,Fosterwasassignedtoservejustoneyearwhilethesecondstudent,Katy Croff,wasassignedtoatwo-yearterm.Thetermsareintendedtobetwoyears,butFoster’swaskepttooneyearsoheandCroffwouldnotbeleavingthecouncilatthesametime.Montrose’stermwillbefortwoyears,whichmeanstripstothewarmerclimateofHoustonforOTC‘10andamorefamiliarclimateofSeattle,Wash.,forOCEANS’10.■

Capitol Hill MeetingsExecutiveDirectorRich LawsoncontinuestomeetwithstaffmembersonCapitolHilltoofferMTSasaresourceforinformationonmarinetechnology.InAprilhespokewiththestaffoffivesenatorswhorepresentareasoftheU.S.

whereMTShaslargenumbersofmembers.SeveralstaffwereparticularlyinterestedintheupcomingMTSwindpowerworkshop(seepage5),becausetheyareresponsibleforwritingrenewableenergylegislationforthesenators.Thesenators,allRepublicans,wereThadCochran,Mississippi;DavidVitter,Louisiana;MelMartinez,Florida;RichardShelby,Alabama;andJeffSessions,Alabama.

MTS at IEEE OCEANS’09MTSoffereditssupporttotheIEEEOCEANS’09ConferenceinGermany,inmid-May.VicePresidentofIndustryandTechnologyJerry Wilson,ExecutiveDirectorRich LawsonandChris Barrett,directorofprofessionaldevelopmentandmeetings,mannedanMTSbooth.ThisisthefirsttimethesocietyhashadaboothattheEuropeanconference.

Free Membership RocksWell,thatdidn’ttakelong!CollegestudentswholearnedthroughtheMTSFacebookpageandwordofmouthaboutthefreeMTSstudentmember-shipofferedbytheBoardofDirectorswastednotimeinfillingupthe100slots.WhilestudentsfromTexasA&M-Galvestongrabbedmanyslots,thereweremanyothersfromsuchfar-flungplacesasPortugal,NewfoundlandandMinnesota.■

Society News

Scholarship Awards education (tuition)

MTS Home Office Bussmann Scholarships 5,000 MTS Student Scholarships 50,000 Bajus Scholarship 1,000 Paros-Digiquartz Scholarship 2,000Sections Houston 26,000Committees ROV Committee 25,000total $109,000

MATE (ROV Student Competition)

MTS Home Office Memberships to MATE 1,125 Coaches and Winners

Sections Houston 5,278 Monterey 100 Puget Sound 5,200 San Diego 200Committees ROV Committee 27,000total $38,903

Programs Donation, Funding/ equivalent

MTS Home Office Free Memberships to 2,500 College Students Membership for NOSB 600 CoachesSections Gulf Coast 400

Houston Human Powered Sub, 10,000 Floating Classroom, Science Fair

San Diego Summer Intern Program 14,940 San Diego Science Fair 1,420Committees ROV Travel to UI 3,000 Awards 150total $33,010

MEducation spending jumps in FY �008TScontinuestomakeprogressinsupportingitseducationmission,asillustratedintheincreasingfundingforeducationinFY2008overthepreviousyear.InFY2007,thesocietyspent$146,815onscholarships,studentcompetitions,awardsandothersupport.InFY2008,thenumberbouncedupto$180,913,awhopping$34,098abovelastyear.AgoodportionofthatincreasecamefromtheboosttheBoardofDirectorsgavetoscholarships,whichrosefrom$34,000in2007to$50,000in2008.Inaddition,boththeHoustonSectionandtheROVCom-mitteeincreasedtheircontributionstotheMATEROVCompe-titionbymorethan$2,200and$5,000,respectively.

Notethattheseamountsdonotincludethecostsofstafftoadministerthescholarshipsorthefinancialrepresentationofthehundredsofvolunteerhoursmembersspentjudgingcompetitions,raisingfunds,mentoringstudentsandorganizingevents.■

DONATE to theMTS Scholarship Fund and help the best young minds toward a career inmarine technology.

Engineer the Future

www.mtsociety.org/donate/index.cfm?fa=donate

New student repcontinued from page 3

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9 �

�009 Marine Technology forOffshore wind Power workshop

Doubletree hotel Crystal City300 army navy Drive arlington, Va 22202

June �9–�0

Interested in Attending... Exhibiting... Sponsoring?Visit www.mtsociety.org/conferences/windworkshop.aspx or call Chris Barrett at (410) 884-5330

Highlights■ The workshop will open with keynote speakers and an analysis of the current situation in the U.S. as compared to other countries.■ On the first day, the afternoon session will focus on case studies, with experts from a number of European countries as well as the U.S. discussing their experiences.■ Day two of the workshop will have a more technical flavor, with sessions on site selection, structure and foundation design, and power transmission, as well as costs and the difference between installing on land versus offshore.

Speakers (As of May 1)■ Dr. Walter Cruickshank, Acting Director of the Minerals Management Service, and Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator at NOAA, will be among the keynote speakers.■ Tom McNeilan, P.E., Vice President at Fugro Atlantic: Site considerations■ Bonne Dijkstra, engineer with Darwind, a branch of Ecofys/Econcern , Netherlands: Darwind Project’s construction phase and foundations■ Jean-Francisco Wintgens, General Manager of Fugro Engineers in Belgium: Cable trenching and installation, the strengths and limitations of tools in different soil conditions, selecting the most appropriate tool for a specific area■ Jim Pryah, Ph.D., chartered geologist with the British firm CTC Marine Projects: Cutting versus jetting, cable protection, and installation techniques

Exhibitors (As of May 1)■ ABS Consulting■ Minerals Management Service/Ohmsett■ Hibbard Inshore■ Fugro■ SEACON

SponsorsFugroSea Technology MagazineMinerals Management ServiceOcean Renewable Energy CoalitionMTS Renewable Energy Professional Committee

Program ChairsTom McNeilan, Fugro AtlanticHank Lobe, Marine Safety SystemsBob McClure, BioSonics

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 96

Members and Others in the News

Larry Nordell

larry Nordell HonoredCongratulationstoMTSmemberLarry Nordellforreceivingthe2009OceanScienceLeadershipAwardforhisworkwiththeMTSSanDiegoSection’sStudentInternProgram.Theaward,witha$500stipend,wasgivenbytheQuikSCiencePartnership,acollaborationbetweenUni-versityofSouthernCalifornia,theUSCWrigleyInstituteforEnvironmentalStudies,Quik-silverandtheQuiksilverFoun-dation.Thepartnership’smissionistoimproveK-12scienceeducationinAmericabyusingchildren’sloveoftheoceantomakesciencemoreapproachable.TheMTSprogramprovidesasix-weeksummerexperienceforhighschoolstudentsatalocalSanDiegomarinetechnologycompanyorresearchinsti-tution.Nowinitseleventhyear,theprogramwascreatedbyNordell,whocontinuestomanageit.

TAMU Students HonoredCheerstoMTSstudentmembersVanna KellerandAutumn Kidwell forbeingselectedtoreceivetheMTSHoustonSection’sOut-standingOceanEngineeringStudentAwards.Aplaqueandcashprizeof$150werepresentedtotheTexasA&MUniversity-CollegeStationstu-dentsduringajointmeetingofMTS’sandtheSocietyofNavalArchitectsandMarineEngineering’sstudentsec-

tions.Robert Keith,HoustonSectionsecretary,wasonhandtopresenttheawards.Kelleristhecurrentpres-identoftheTAMU-CollegeStationStudentSectionandamemberoftheOceanEngi-neeringhonorsociety,OmegaEpsilon.Kidwellisvice-chairoftheMTSTAMU-CollegeStationStudentSectionandpresidentofOmegaEpsilon.SheisthetoprankedOceanEngineeringseniorstudent.Thisisthe20thyeartheHoustonSectionhashonoredoutstandingengi-neeringstudents.

Dr. Jochens HonoredKudostoMTSmemberDr. Ann JochensofTexasA&MUni-versity,whoreceivedtheMin-eralsManagementService’sOffshoreLeadershipAwardfordemonstratingexceptionalleadershipandaproactiveapproachinbringingfederalagenciestogethertoobtainandcompileinformationaboutthewhales’biologyandbehavior.ShewasrecognizedataluncheonheldduringtheOffshoreTechnologyCon-ferenceatReliantParkinHoustoninMay.TheawardisgivenannuallytoindividualswhoperformvoluntaryactsorservicesthatassistMMSinaccomplishingimportantobjectivesintheareasofoff-shoreenergyandmineralsmanagement.

Miller at white HouseMTSmemberDr. Jerry MillerhasacceptedaseniorpolicypostattheWhiteHouse

OfficeofScienceandTech-nologyPolicy(OSTP)wherehewilladdressoceanscienceandtechnologyandrelatedmatters,includingaspectsofmeteorology,remotesensing

andclimatechange.OSTPadvisesthepresidentontheeffectsofscienceandtech-nologyondomesticandinter-nationalaffairs.

Nakahara on PanelMTSmemberHiroyuki NakaharaoftheResearchInstituteforOceanEconomicsvisitedWashington,D.C.,fromJapantoparticipateonapaneltitled“WealthoftheOceans:ProtectingMaritimeResourceDevelopment,TradeRoutes,andPorts,”whichwasheldduringanAprilcon-ferenceonProtectingtheSeas:MaritimeSecurityintheAsiaPacific,America’sInterestsandAsia’sFuture.

leadership SwitchMTSmemberShirley Pomponi,theConsortiumforOceanLeadership’sboardoftrusteeschair,steppeddownfromlead-ershipoftheConsortium’sOceansStudiesBoard.ThenewchairisMTSmemberMarcia McNutt,presidentandCEOoftheMontereyBayAquariumandResearchInstitute.

New Face at COlDr. Mel Briscoe isthenewdirectorofresearchandeducationprogramsattheConsortium for Ocean Lead-ership,anMTSmember.Heisresponsibleforproviding

strategicandprogrammaticoversightforresearch-andeducation-relatedprograms,includingthenationalandinternationalCensusofMarineLife,NationalOceanPart-nershipProgram,InteragencyWorkingGrouponOceanObser-vationsandtheNationalOceanSciencesBowlprograms.

Subsea 7 HonoredKudostothefolksatMTSmemberSubsea 7.AtechnicalpresentationfromSubsea7washonoredwiththe“BestPresentationAward”attherecentDeepOffshoreTech-nologyConferenceinNewOrleans,La.,inFebruary.Thepresentation,titled“Auton-omousVehicleMeetsNewChallenges,”wasgivenbyJames JamiesonofSubsea7’sRemoteTechnologyGroup.ItdescribedhowSubsea7andsoftwarespecialistSeeBytehavejoinedforcestodevelopanautonomousunderwatervehiclecapableofbothinspectionandlightinter-ventionoperationsinanoffshoreenvironment.

Fletcher KeynotesBarbara Fletcher,chairoftheSanDiegoSection,servedasakeynotespeakeratthefourthGirl’sDayOuteventatSanDiegoStateUniversity

See Members on page 7

Hiroyuki Nakahara (left) was accompanied to the U.S. by research fellow Kanae Komaki. Executive Director Rich Lawson (second from right) and Member Groups Manager Mike Hall met the two for dinner in D.C.

Jerry Miller

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9 7

welcome New Members

Mts is pleased to welcome the following professional members:

CaliforniaGeoff Ball Robin Barker Wayne Beckman Tim Boyd Chris Catlin Crisz Christianson Mike Clancy Robin Gauss David Iddings W. James Kear L-3 MariProDennis Long Steve Meehan Matthew C. Nerz Bob Norman John Reardon Nazeeh Shaheen Peter Yinger

hawaiiReza Ghorbani John T. Laufer Hans E. Ramm

LouisiannaJoseph Orgeron

MassachusettsRobert Brown Duane Fotheringham Ernest Petzrick

MaineRoyce Randlett

MississippiRaymond L. Burnett III

new JerseyDebbie Montagna

new YorkCole Houston Raph Hubbard Aviv Crowell Lang John C. O’Malley Joshua Rosenthal Kimberly A. Schwab

OregonJohn W. Lavrakas Jed M. Smith

texasJavier Avellan Dalmo Barros John Blair Trevor Davis David B. Driver David G. Ellison Abdolreza Feizkhah Brook Foreman Devin LeWayne Galimore Thomas Joseph Gaseor Yasuhiro Ishise Pete Jacobs Erica Kasundra George Li Tony Macaione Ric Massie Wilburn McDonald Sue Mcmahon Brian Moreno Ryan Morton Linda Muchisky Matthew William Padgett

Marcel Petie Farid Shecaira Peggy Sommer Chris Thayer Sabrina Vickroy Timothy J. White, Jr. William Y. Zakroff Spencer Yamada

WashingtonGreg Kurras

Washington, D.C.Bonnie Ram

ChileSergio A. Rosales

JapanKanae Komaki Keisuke Watanabe

KoreaTae Ho Kim

Mts is pleased to welcome the following student members: CanadaLucretia A. Naugle Mark E. Riggs Matthew Mulloy Vikramjeet Singh Sandhu Stephanie Turpin-Holmes

GermanyAnuj Sehgal

united statesJose Luis Alvarez Robert Armstrong Robert J. Arnold, Jr.Alyson Azzara Alyssa Rae Baker Sherry Banks David R. Barclay Megan Bettilyon Michael Ross Bradberry Laurel Harrison Breece William Brooks Catherine J. Carroll Jessica L. Chepp Jason Cho Nathaniel P. Clarady Christine Clark Christian Evan Clark Violet M. Compton Jessica Nicole Conway Clarice Cote Rachel E. Crane Vanessa M. Diaz Vanessa N. Diaz Heidi Doland Kevin A. Eichinger David Farris Dyell FinneyJaclyn Fraser John Vincent Gatto Kristina L. Gillahan Wayne A. Glidden Leah Grant Nathaniel Grefe Craig Griffin Alexandra Hall Doug Hammond Jason Havluck Patrick C. Hickey Danielle Hoffman

Chelsey Hulett Kurt A. Jankowski Ian Jasper Regis Jues Adam C. Jones Yasin Khalil Mason Keith Lawangeen Khan Zachary Kowalski Andrew V. Krupski Juan Leiva Emily P. Lemagie Rebecca Levy Amanda Mackintosh Nara Main John Edwin Majoris Arash Mamnoon Fabio Marquez Raul Martinez Wayne M. McAlister Chris McDaniel Matthew McVay Ruben Medina Tasha Mehranian Zachary T. Miller Mohamed MohassebKatie Moore Cassandra Morecroft- King Zaki D. Moustafa Jim Mulcahy Ruth Mullins Megan Murray Delvon Quartez Napier Heather Nelson Megan Nepshinsky Denise Nguyen Bryan J. O’Malley Haley Allena Ottinger Ian Perez

Jaine Elizabeth Perotti Ryan A. Pfeifer Kelly D. Ratchinsky Peter Rico Christopher Roca Robin Rose Edwin Sanders Betsy Seiffert Marcia Silva Adam D. Skarke Bret S. Smart, Jr. Alana Stevens Marin Sung Navid Tahvildari Alex Torres Orlando A. Torres Lee M. Tran Sabina Turlea Baird R. Ullrey Ferruh Unlu Jessica Unzueta Avery Noel Vaughn Andrew J. Verderame Alex Vongkoth Nate Vredenburgh Nicholas I. Walker Andy Walsh Mark Wagner Jessica Weise Whitney M. Westman Amethyst Whitaker Teddy Whitman Simmy Willemann Harleigh Williams Ryan Wood Caitlyn Zimmerman

Members and Others in the News

continued from page 6inFebruary.Thepurposeoftheseeventsistogivemiddleschoolgirlstheopportunitytoexplorescience,technology,engineeringandmathsubjectswhileonacollegecampus.Judgingfromthecrowd’senthusiasm,theeventwasabigsuccess,withover30girlsfromschoolsalloverSanDiegoattending.

New Ashtead DirectorDerek Shepherdhasjoined

MTSmemberAshtead Technol-ogy’sboardasanon-executivedirector.Forthelast10years,ShepherdhasbeenmanagingdirectorofAggrekoInterna-tional.ThisappointmentisthelatestadditiontotheboardsinceAshteadTechnologywasacquiredinJune2008byPhoenixEquityPartners.

Former ED HiredJudith T. Krauthamer,pastexecutivedirectorofMTS,hasbeenappointedexecutive

directoroftheMid-AtlanticCoastalOceanObservingRegionalAssociation,anon-profitcorporationthatprovidesoceanandweatherdatatocit-izens,communities,businessesandemergencymanagementoperationsfromCapeHatteras,N.C.,toCapeCod,Mass.

woods Hole HiresWoodsHoleGrouphashiredJim BajekasseniorprojectmanagerandseniormarineecologistandDr. Heidi Clark

asenvironmentalscientist.Bajek,whowillmaintainaprivate,independentconsultingbusinessinaddition,hasover30yearsexperienceincoastalandfreshwaterregulatorypermitting,dredgedmaterialmanagementandenvironmentalassessment.Clarkhas12yearsofconsultingexperiencewithenvironmentalandecologicalindustry,governmentandprivateresearchorganizations.■


Section News

The Gato-class submarine model was dedicated in honor of the Submarine Veterans of World War II and donated to the San Diego Maritime Museum by the San Diego Section. Inset: MTS Fellow and U.S. submarine veteran Capt. Charles Bishop (photo courtesy of Mark Olsson).

Florida Institute of TechnologyThestudentsectionhasanewcounselor.AssistantProfessorStephen Wood,P.E.,istheprogramchairoftheOceanEngi-neeringDepartmentofMarineandEnvironmentalSystems.Hisresearchinterestsincludeautonomousunderwatervehicletech-nology,specificallytheareasofnavigation,andpathplanningandcontrolusingneuralnetworks,fuzzylogic,artificialintelli-genceandexpertsystems.

HawaiiThesection’sAprilmeetingdrewover40peopleandfeaturedMTSPresidentLiz Corbinandfourpresentationsonmaritime/oceanissues.CorbinannouncedthenewprogramtoincreaserecognitionofMTSasthevoiceofmarinetechnology,inpar-ticulartoCongress,whichispartofthestrategicplan.SheadvisedmembersthatMTSwillnotbeadvocatingforparticularpositions,butprovidingexperttechnicalinformationtohelpdecision-makersandwouldbeseekinginputfromtheHawaiimembershiponwhatareastheyarepreparedtoprovideinfor-mationon.TechnicalpresentationscamefromMTSmemberRick Shema,AppliedMarineSolutionsandweatherguy.com,whopre-sentedanoverviewofthosecompanies;BruceHowe,UniversityofHawaiiDepartmentofOceanandResourcesEngineering,whotalkedaboutoceanobservatories;EvanRapoport,Archi-noetics,whogaveanoverviewofProjectNIU(NatureImpartsUnderstanding)thatconnectsstudentstotheocean;andScott

TheU.S.SubmarineVeteransofWorldWarIIwerehonoredattheMarchSanDiegoSectiondinnerheldonboardtheSanDiegoMaritimeMuseumvesselBerkeley.Ninetyguestsattendedwhatallagreedwasaverymemorableevening.

TheWWIIsubmarinerstooktheirironshipstoseaandleftanunparalleledrecordofcourageandduty,faithfullyperformed.Lessthan2percentofU.S.sailorsservedinsubmarines,yetsubmarinessank55percentofallJapaneseshipslostinWorldWarII.Forthehonorofvaliantservice,theSubmarineForcepaidaterribleprice.Thefateof52boatsand3,617submariners,oneoutofeveryfive,iscapturedinthesimplephrase“overdue,presumedlost.”

SpecialpresentationsweremadebyArtCarter,presidentoftheSanDiegoChapter,U.S.SubmarineVeteransofWorldWarII;C.J.Glassford,theSubVetsofWWIISanDiegoChapterchaplain;andtheevening’sGuestofHonor,MTSFellow,Capt. Charles Bishop,whoservedaboardtheUSS Piranha (SS-389)forfivewarpatrolsinWorldWarII. A52-inchmodelofaGato-classsubmarine,builtbyMasterModelerJeromeMcAuliffe,waschristenedbyCapt.Bishop’swife,AlnoraBishop,anddonatedtotheSanDiegoMaritimeMuseumbythesection.

Theaudiencelistenedinraptsilenceasthemenrecountedatimewhendiesel-electricswerethemainstayofsubmarinepro-pulsionandboatssubmergedwithnolifesupportexceptwhatairwascapturedwhenthehatcheswereclosedorsnorkelsraised.

CaptBishoprecountedpullingintoPearlHarborinJanuary1942,athicklayerofbunkerfuelonthesurfaceoftheharbor,invertedshipsandfiresstillburning,andhisensuingsubmarineoperationsoffthecoastofImperialJapan,torpedoattacksandevadingdepthcharges.

See Section News on page 9

San Diego Section honors wwII submarine veterans

Kevin Hardy,MTSvice-presidentofsections,organizedandMC’dtheevening.MichelleHardyorganizedthefestivedinnerfeaturingfavoriteMexicandishes,noeasytaskasRSVPspouredinoverthelastfewdays.

SectionChairBarbara Fletcheropenedtheevening.SectionmembersCapt. Charles MacVeanandJohn Benyaspokeaboutthemuseum’scurrentdisplayofanactualColdWarSoviet-eraFoxtrotsubmarineandacomingdisplayoftheU.S.Navy’sdeepdivingresearchsubmarineDolphin.■

Godwin,NOAANationalMarineSanctuaries,whospokeon“Tech-nologyandMarineResourceProtection.”PowerPointpresenta-tionsforthefirstthreespeakersareavailableonthesection’sWebpageatwww.mtsociety.org/communities/sections/hawaii.aspx.InterimChair:PhilomeneVerlaan,[email protected]

HoustonTheSportingClaysTournamentinFebruarywasahugesuccessdespitethestrongwindsandchillytemperatures.HeldattheAmericanShootingCenterinHouston,thetournamentfeaturedparticipantsfromallcornersoftheoffshoreoilandgasindustry.Thegeneroussponsorsupportandparticipationgenerated$58,000fortheMTSHoustonscholarshipfund,whichmakesthiseventthesinglelargestfundraiserforthesection.Therewerearecord49sponsorsthisyear.Itisalongprocesstoputthiseventtogether,butthesectioncouldnotdothiswithoutthesupportofallthesponsors,volunteersandshooters.

TheHoustonSection’sYoungProfessionalgroupplanstolaunchaMentorProgramthisyearandisrecruitingmentorstovolunteertime,friendshipandadvice.Tolearnmoreandtosignup,[email protected] RyanwithInterMoorwillbeworkingwithWithall.TheYPsarelookingforsponsorsfortheir2009events.CompaniesshouldcontactSarahLehmanatsarah.lehman@trelleborg.com.


continued from page 8

MTS President-Elect Jerry Boatman, left, shares wine, cheese and information about the society with Leslie Rosenfeld from the Naval Postgraduate School at the Monterey Section’s wine tasting. Behind them, at left, is Jason Nachamkin from the Naval Research Laboratory who is talking to Mike Clancy from the Fleet Numerical and Meteorology Oceanography Center.

Section News

SectionmemberscanbeproudoftheirhardworkinsupportingtheHoustonScienceFair.Arecentwinner,BrianStutzmanofMagnoliaWestHighSchool,sentaletterofthankstotheHoustonSectionchairofthesciencefair,Charles Royce:“IwassecondplaceawardwinnerattheScienceandEngineeringFairofHoustonformyproject,WaveEnergyExtractionII.Thankyoufortheonethousanddollarscholarship.IappreciatethegenerosityoftheMarineTechnologySocietyHoustonSection.Yourscholar-shipawardwillhelpmerealizemygoalofobtainingacollegedegreeinengineering.”Chair:EvalynShea,[email protected]

MontereyThesectionhelditsfirst-everwine-tasting,meet-and-greetnet-workingopportunityinFebruaryattheTasteofMontereyonCanneryRow.Past-presidentBruce GilmanandPresident-ElectJerry Boatmanwereonhandtowelcomeandtoastallwhoattended.MontereyBaySectionChairJill Zandealsowelcomedattendees,sharedthelatestsocietynewsandencouragedalltorecommendothernetworking,professional-developmentandinformation-sharingeventsthatthesectioncouldhostinthefuture.Beforethetasting,sectionmemberMark BrownprovidedanafternoontouroftheMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Instituteforseveralattendees.ThenextplannedsectioneventistheannualMATEMontereyBayRegionalROVContestforareamiddleandhighschoolstudentsatMontereyPeninsulaCollegeonMay16.Volunteerstosupportthateventareneeded!IfyouareaMontereyBaysectionmemberandhaveideasforfutureeventsorwouldliketogetmoreinvolvedinthesection’scurrent

undertakings,contactChairJillZandeat(831)[email protected]. Texas A&M University-College StationThestudentsectionhasanewcounselor.AssociateProfessorDr. Patrick LynettisintheDepartmentofCivilEngineering.Hisresearchinterestsfocusonhydrodynamicmodeling,withageneralconcentrationonshallowwaterwavephenomena.

Zack G. CovellM.S., Marine Resource ManagementCollege of Oceanic & Atmospheric SciencesOregon State University

stephen DawidowiczB.S. Maritime Systems EngineeringTexas A&M University-Galveston

Loren R. eckardtB.S., Ocean Engineering, B.A., GermanUniversity of Rhode Island

Jacob FosterB.S., Maritime Systems EngineeringTexas A&M University-Galveston

Brad holbrookB.S., Naval Architecture and Marine EngineeringSchool of Naval Architecture and Marine EngineeringThe University of New Orleans

Mario GabiatiM.A.S., Marine Biodiversity and Conservation PolicyScripps Institution of Oceanography-La Jolla

stephanie GroleauM.S., Coastal EngineeringFlorida Institute of Technology

Pedro atayi GuzmanB.S., Maritime Systems EngineeringTexas A&M University-Galveston

Marissa henriksonB.A., English - Professional/TechnicalUniversity of South Florida-St. Petersburg

Gerard KaufmanB.S., Ocean EngineeringFlorida Atlantic University

Darren KippingM.A., Maritime ArchaeologyFlinders University-Adelaide, Australia

Christin McLemoreB.S., Aquatic Biology and CultureAquatic Fishery and ScienceUniversity of Washington

Maddie schroth-MillerB.S., MathematicsCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Marcel MontroseDiploma of Technology, Marine Engineering Systems DesignFisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

John MooreB.S., Ocean EngineeringFlorida Atlantic University

samuel OrellanaB.S., Maritime Systems EngineeringTexas A&M University-Galveston

sarah schlosserB.S., Ocean EngineeringTexas A&M University-College Station

Danielle silverB.A., Marine ScienceUniversity of Hawaii-Hilo

Kristan uhlenbrockM.S.,Biogeochemical OceanographyCollege of Marine ScienceUniversity of South Florida

Jessica unzuetaB.S., Maritime Systems EngineeringTexas A&M University-Galveston

David WilkinsonM.S., Ocean and Resources EngineeringUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa

Colin a. WilsonB.S., Ocean EngineeringFlorida Atlantic University

Michelle WongB.S., Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa

Yongyan WuPh.D., Ocean and Resources EngineeringUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa

Lichuan ZhangPh.D., Underwater Vehicle Science and TechnologyNorthwestern Polytechnical University, China

Kudos to Our Graduating MTS Student Members!

See Section News on page 18


Professional Committee News

considerspendingmarketingbudgetsonconferencesinthefuture.Theyreallyappreciatedit,”Michelsaid.

Nextyear’sconferencehotelheadquarterswillmovefromtheRoyalSonestaintheFrenchQuartertotheMarriottCon-ventionCenterHotelacrossthestreetfromtheconventioncenter,makingiteasierforpeopletorelaxintheirhotelroomswhentheyarenotattheconference.

AndUI will continue to be in New Orleans.“I’vehadpeopletellmetheywereafraidtocometoNewOrleansbecauseofthecrimeandmessfromHurricaneKatrina,”Michelsaid,“butthecityhasdoneanexcellentjobensuringthattheconventioncenterareaandtheFrenchQuarteraresaferandcleanerthanever.”HealsowantedtopassonhisandconferencemanagerRebecca Roberts’appreciationfortheconventioncenterstaffwhohelpedthingsrunsmoothly,soexpectanevenbettereventnextyear.■

Marylyn Brown, diving sales manager, and John Cobb, VP of electro-optical products, demonstrate the virtues of their products at the Cortland Cable Company booth.

Great technical program defines a successful UI ’09

Ocean ObservingMembershipinthecommitteehasexpandedimmensely,from39to345sincelastyear’sOCEANSConference.Don’tmissthecommittee’sannualmeetingattheOCEANS’09MTS/IEEEBiloxiConference.(Dateandtimetobeannounced.)ChairDonna Kocak,withthehelpofMarioTamburrioftheAllianceofCoastalTechnologies,isorganizingaspecialfocussessiononnutrientsensorsinoceanobservingfortheOceanObservingTrack.Theyhaveaskedmanufacturersofnutrientsensorstosubmitabstractsthatfocusonthefundamentaltechnologyoftheirsensorsand,ifapplicable,anyfielddatastudiesorapplications.Theyhavealsorecruitedscientificpapersfocusingonnutrientdataandthescienceandmanagementneedsforin situmeasurementsaspartofthissession.Chair:DonnaKocak,[email protected]■

VP of Publications Karin Lynn (right) shows off the MTS Journal at the society’s booth while Jeanne Glover, membership and marketing manager, looks on.

The gang at Remote Ocean Systems is ready to raise a toast to customers.

Despiteadifficulteconomyanditseffectsontheoilandgasindustry,theUnderwaterInterventionConferenceinNewOrleansinMarchwasabigsuccess.AccordingtoROVCommitteeChairDrew Michel,whohasbeenco-chairingtheconferencefor17years,attendancewasdownafewhundredto2,490butenthu-siasmwasup.

Michelsaidthisyear’stech-nicalprogramwasthebestithasbeenforseveralyears,andattributeditsstrengthtothehardworkofTechnicalProgramChairJustin ManleyofBat-telle.Inrecognitionofhishardwork,MichelpresentedManleywiththeROVCommitteeChair-man’sAwardattheawardsdinner(seetheMarch/AprilissueofCurrentsformoreaboutthedinner).

Forthefirsttime,theconferenceencouragedpre-senterstosubmittheirfinalpresentationsinwhateverformatworkedbestforthem.Allowingavarietyofdigitalformatsencouragedpeoplewhomightnototherwisehavehadthetimeorinclinationtowriteapapertosubmittotheconference,Michelsaid.Theresultingconferencepro-ceedingsincludePowerPointandvideo,aswellaspapers.MTSmemberVideoRaydeservesspecialrecognitionforputtingtheproceedingstogether,Michelsaid.

One-hundredandseventy-sixexhibitorsdisplayedtheirwaresandservicesinthecon-ference’sexhibitarea.Toshowhowmuchtheywereappre-ciated,theexhibitorsweretreatedtoaspeciallunch—completewithanentertainingjazzcombo—onthelastdayoftheconference.“WegavealittlebacktotheexhibitorsthisyeartoencouragethemtothinkaboutUIfirstwhenthey


See Business News on page 12

Business News

Ashtead RebrandsMTSmemberAshtead Tech-nologyhaslaunchedanewvisualidentity.Theoveralllogowasdevelopedtoconveythesynergybetweenitsoff-shoreandinstrumentdivi-sions,whiletheocularshapeemphasizesthecompany’sinsightandexpertiseininstru-mentsfortesting,inspecting,monitoringandsurveying.Theshapestampedoutoftheverycenterofthesymbolformsacircle,reflectingtheglobalnatureofthecompany.Web link: www.ashtead-tech-nology.com

l-� MariPro JoinsMTSwelcomesL-3 MariPro, Inc.,asanewcorporatemember.BasedinGoleta,Calif.,nearSantaBarbara,thecompanyspecializesinprovidingunderseasensornetworkandspreadspectrumthroughwatercommunicationsolutions.Itisaconcept-through-operationscompanywithextensiveexpe-rienceinapplicationsengi-neering,includingperformancemodeling,high-reliabilityelec-tronics,long-lifemechanicalpackaging,electro-opticcableterminations,fiberoptictelemetry,signalprocessingandcomplexin-waterinstalla-tions.Web link: www.l-3com.com/maripro

Thanks for the MemoriesMajoroilcompaniesarelookingforthesolutiontotheworkforcecrunchintheiremployees’electronictrail.ConocoPhillips,ChevronCorp.andBPPLCareencouragingemployeestousehandheldcomputers,interactiveWebpages,blogs,socialnetworksandothermediatostoreinfor-mationonhowtheymakecrucialdecisionsorresolveproblemsattheofficeandinthefield.Thisnewgen-erationofoptionsallowscompaniestopartiallysolveoneoftheirbiggestchal-lenges:theretirementofhalfoftheirworkforceoverthenext10years.Theshiftallowsemployeestomoreefficientlycommunicateonalargescale,aswellasarchiveknowledgeandreducetrainingcosts,thecompaniessaid.

Schilling Sells ROVsMTSmemberSchilling RoboticshassoldtwonewultraheavydutyremotelyoperatedvehiclestoMTSmemberOceanWorks Interna-tional,whichwillsupplytheROVsaspartoftwosystemsthatincludeOceanWorkselectricdriveROVwinchesandhandlingequipmenttoaninternationaloperator.The150horsepowerROVswillbepaired

withSchilling’sXEtetherman-agementsystems,ratedforoperationsupto4,000meters.SchillingwilldeliverthesystemstoOceanWorksinSeptember2009and,alongwithOceanWorks,providetrainingandinstallationsupport.Web link:www.schilling.com

Teledyne RDI AcquisitionOdomHydrographicSystemshasbeenacquiredbyMTSmemberTeledyne RD Instrumentsandbeenrenamed Teledyne Odom Hydrographic.Odom,head-quarteredinBatonRouge,La.,designsandmanufactureshydrographicsurveyinstru-mentationusedinportsurvey,dredging,offshoreenergyandotherapplications.Web link: www.rdinstruments.com

Sonardyne SaleBMTScientificMarineServiceshaschosenMTSmemberSonardyneInternationaltosupplyanintegratedacousticpositioningandtelemetrysystemforPetrobras’Cascade-ChinookfieldintheGulfofMexico.Thesystemformspartofanintegritymonitoringsystemforfivefree-standinghybridrisers.Allrisers,umbil-icalsandmonitoringsystemtransceiversareintegrated

intoaturretbuoythatcanbedisconnectedfromtheFPSO.Theintegritymonitoringsystemwillprovidevaluabledataaboutthemovementandloadingonhybridrisersystemsduringextremeweather.Web link: www.sonardyne.co.uk

Fugro Chance workMTSmemberFugro Chancecompletedworkonadeep-waterwell-setprojectintheGulfofMexico.Thecom-pany’sMarineConstructionSurveydivisionpositionedthreeoffsetwellsrelativetoanexistingwellin914metersofwater.Toenablesparserangingintotheinertialnavi-gationsystemsolution,FugroChanceuseditsFineTrackT-100INSandWidebandMediumFrequencyacousticpositioningfromarig-basedROV.Wellinstallationtol-erancewasrequiredtobebetterthan0.6meters.UsingtheINSpositioning,FugroChancewasabletoachievewelldemarcationofbetterthan0.3meters.Web link: www.fugrochance.com

Saab Seaeye SalesMTSmemberSaab SeaeyehassoldthreeSeaeyeFalconROVstoNoordhoekOffshore

Chris Echols, vice president of Ashtead Technology’s offshore division based in Houston, shows off the company’s new logo.

Post your company’s logo!MTS member companies, liven up your MTS Web page!

Post a logo and brochure on your MTS Web page at

www.mtsociety.org.

Yourcompany’smaincontactshould:

1. Gotowww.mtsociety.org.2. LoginusingyourlastnameforausernameandMTS memberIDnumberforapassword.3. Select“CompanyProfile”fromthegraybandnearthetop ofthepage.Youwillenterthecompanyprofilepage.4. SelecttheLogo/Brochuretab.LogosmustbeJPGs,BMP orGIFfiles.BrochuresmustbePDFfiles.


B.V.Deliveryisscheduledforthesecondquarterof2009.NoordhoekalsoorderedtwonewSub-AtlanticMohicanROVs.InamajorbreakthroughintotheChineseoilandgasindustry,SaabSeaeyehassoldtwoPantherPluselectricworkROVstoChina’slargestoffshoreengi-neeringcompany,COOEC.ItfollowsanearliersaleofaPantherPlusandrepre-sentsanexpandingcapabilityforCOOEC,whichispartofChinaNationalOil.OfthetwovehiclessoldtotheChineseoffshorecompany,onewilloperatefromaTetherMan-agementSystem,whiletheotherisfree-swimming.Web link: www.seaeye.com

Norway Extends CSTheUnitedNationsCommissionontheLimitsoftheContinentalShelfhasissueditsfinalrec-ommendationsontheouterlimitsoftheNorwegianConti-nentalShelfintheHighNorth,extendingNorway’sacreagebyanadditional235,000squarekilometers.Mostoftheareabeyond370kilometersisataseadepthofmorethan2,500meters and on oceanic crust.Thepresenceofoilorgasreservesintheseareasisunlikely.

Fugro AcquisitionNetherlands-basedgeoscienceandmarinesurveycompanyFugrohassignedanagreementtoacquireNorwegiancompanyInteractionAS.Interactionspecializesintheprovisionofmarineelectromagneticdatamanagement,qualitycontrolandprocessingsoftwareandservices.Interactionwilloperateunderexistingman-agementandformpartofFugro’sGeneralGeophysicalServicesofferingintheGeo-sciencedivision.Web link:www.fugro.com

Samson Expands2009MTSCompassIndus-trialAwardwinnerSamsoncelebrateditsrecentmulti-milliondollarexpansionthatadded35,000squarefeettothecompany’sLafayette,La.,syntheticropemanufacturingplant.Thenewspaceaccom-modatesnewbraidingandtake-upequipmentspecifi-callytailoredtoproduceverylong,large-diametersyntheticropes.Web link: www.sam-sonrope.com

woods Hole ConsortiumThreeresearchcentersbasedinWoodsHole,Mass.,havecreatedtheWoodsHoleCon-sortium,analliancethatisintendedtobringtoegthertheircombinedscientificexpertiseandspawnscientificgrowthandjobopportunityontheSouthCoastofMas-sachusetts.Theconsortium,comprisingtheWoodsHoleMarineBiologicalLaboratory,WoodsHoleOceanographicInstitution(WHOI),andWoodsHoleResearchCenter,willfocusontheinterlockingissuesofclimatechangeandecosystemshealthandhumanwell-being.WHOIandtheRegionalTechnologyDevel-opmentCorp.(RTDC)ofCapeCodhavesignedaone-yeartechnologytransferandentre-preneurialservicesagreement.ThetermscallfortheRTDCtoworkcloselywiththeWHOIOfficeforAppliedOceanog-raphytoidentifyandevaluateWHOItechnologiesthatcanbecommercialized,assessnewandexistingmarkets,andidentifypotentialfundingsources.Web link:www.wood-sholeconsortium.org

Contract with NOAAWoodsHoleGrouphasbeenawardedanEnvironmentalFieldServicesContractwithNOAAinsupportoftheCenterforOperationalOceanographic

Productsandcanextendforuptofiveyears.Collectively,WoodsHoleGroupoperatesandmaintainsmorethan75stationsforNOAAaroundthecountry.Web link: www.whgrp.com

Fluor wind FarmsFluorLtd.,theU.K.operatingarmofMTSmemberFluor Cor-poration,andAirtricity,therenewableenergydivisionofScottishandSouthernEnergy,haveformedSeagreenWindEnergyLimited.SeagreenWindEnergyhasbidfortheexclusiverightstodevelopwindfarmsunderTheCrownEstate’sRound3OffshoreWindFarmDevelopmentProgram.FluorandAirtricitytogetherdevelopedthe500megawattGreaterGabbardOffshoreWindFarmoffthecoastofSuffolk,whichistheworld’slargestoffshorewindfarmundercon-struction.AirtricityboughtoutFluor’sstakeandsolda50percentinterestintheprojecttonpowerrenewables.Web link: www.fluor.com

C-Nav Changes OfficesC-Nav–WorldDGPS,adivisionofMTSmemberC & C Tech-nologies,hasrelocatedto5HillsideBusinessPark(1stFloor),KempsonWay,BurySt.Edmunds,Suffolk,U.K.IP327EA;phone:+441284703800or+441284701004.RickDavey,regionalmanager,willbedirectingsalesandsupportforC-Nav®inEurope.Web link:www.cnavgps.com.

Hydroid Receives OrderCaliforniaPolytechnicStateUniversityorderedacustomREMUS600AUVsystemfromMTSmemberHydroid.TheREMUS600systemwillbemodifiedtohouseacustomsensorsuiteandwillincor-poratealargebatterysectiontoenableverylongmissiondurations.Thecompanyalso

recentlyreceivedanorderfromWHOIforaREMUS100systemforscientificoperationsintheArcticinbothice-freeandice-coveredzones.Thesystemisbeingmodifiedtouselower-frequencyacousticcommuni-cationandnavigationsignalsforlongerrangesothelow-frequencysoundswilltravelfarther.Theestimatedrangeofthenewsystemisontheorderof10kilometers,whichallowsasurveyareaupto300squarekilometers.Web link:www.hydroidinc.com

Subsea Tree AwardsAreportintoglobalsubseatreeawards,publishedbyMTSmemberQuest Offshore,forecasts12.1percentcom-poundannualgrowthrateoverthenextfiveyears.ThiscompareswithaCAGRof3.6percentexperiencedinthepreviousfive-yearperiod.Questanalystsstatethatgrowthprospectsaresoundformeaningfulsubseaordersduring2009–2010,buoyedbynotableprojectsoffshoreBrazilandAfrica.Thereportalsoacknowledgesthatawardsmaybetemperedin2009bythepotentialslowdownoffinalinvestmentdecisionsoncertainworld-classprojectsasoilcompaniesactivelylook,andpossiblywait,forcostreductionsandconcessionsfromallaspectsoftheglobalsupplychain.Web link: www.questoffshore.com

Odyssey’s �008 FinancialsMTSmemberOdyssey Marine Exploration reportedthatforthefullyear2008,ithadrevenuesof$4.1million,comparedto$6.1millionin2007.Thecompanyreportedanetlossof$24.8millionforthefullyear2008,com-paredtoanetlossof$23.8millionin2007.Thenetloss

Business News



Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9 1�

pershareforthefullyear2008was$0.50,comparedtoanetlosspershareof$0.54in2007.Operatingexpensesdecreased$0.8millionfrom$29.9millionin2007to$29.1millionin2008.Whileopera-tionsandresearchexpensesincreased$4.3millionfrom$14.3millionin2007to$18.6millionin2008,marketing,generalandadministrativeexpensesdecreased$3.5millionfrom$13.3millionto$9.8million.Inaddition,thecostofsaleswas$1.7millionlowerin2008thanin2007.Odysseyattributedthe2008increaseinoperationsandresearchexpensestoseveralfactors,includingincreasedvesseloperatingexpenses($2.8million)relatedtoaddi-tionalshipchartersusedtosupplementitsoperatingscheduleinthe“Atlas”searchareawhiletheOcean Alert wasundergoingrepairs,aswellasvesselrepairandmaintenanceexpenses($2.1million),offsetbylowerthemedattractionexpenses($0.6million).Web link: www.shipwreck.net

Technip Sets RecordsMTSmemberTechnipsettwoindustryrecordsforultra-deepwaterpipelineinstal-lationwithitsworkonShell’sPerdidodevelopmentintheU.S.GulfofMexico.Technipperformedthedeepestreeledflowlineinstallationatawaterdepthof2,961metersandthedeepestreeledsteelcat-enaryriserinstallationatawaterdepthof2,469meters.Theflowlineandriserhadatotallengthof13.2kilom-eters.Technip’soperatingcenterinHoustonexecutedthecontract.Underthetermsofseparatecontracts,TechnipsuppliedthePerdidoumbilicalsaswellasthehullandmooringsystemforthesparplatform,

acylindrical,partiallysub-mergedoffshoredrillingandproductionplatform.Mooredinabout2,400metersofwaterinAlaminosCanyonBlock857,thesparwillbethedeepestsparproductionfacilityintheworldandthefirstwithdirectverticalaccess.Technipreceivedasignificantboostinrevenuefromitssubseabusinessin2008.Thecompanyreportednetincomeof$569milliononrevenueof$9.5billion,ofwhich$3.4billioncamefromsubseaactivity.Web link: www.technip.com

Subsea 7 ContractsMTSmemberSubsea 7hasbeenawardedacontractwithanestimatedvalueof$200millionfromPetrobras(PetroleoBrasileiroS/A)fortheTambauUruguaandP-56developmentsinthedeep-waterSantosandCamposBasinsoffshoreBrazil.Thecompanyhasbeenawardeda$17millioncontractfromSta-toilHydroforengineeringandinstallationoftheSnorreBRiserReplacementprojectintheNorwegiansectoroftheNorthSea.Andithasbeenawardedanengineering,pro-curement,installationandcommissioningcontractbyTotalE&PNederlandB.V.fortheflowlinesandsubseaworksontheK5CUDevelopmentProjectintheDutchsectoroftheNorthSea.Thecon-tractisvaluedinexcessof$26million.Web link: www.subsea7.com

long-Haul BitsMTSmemberTyco Telecom-munications,abusinessunitofTycoElectronics,success-fullydemonstrated40-gigabitspersecondtransmissionoverultra-long-hauldistances.ThetestwasconductedusingdarkfibersontheexistingTataCommunicationsTGN-Pacificsubmarinecablesystemthat

linksTokyotomultipleU.S.WestCoastcityPoPs.ThedatawascarriedfromToyohashi,Japan,toLosAngeleswithouttheneedforregeneration.Accordingtothecompany,thedemonstrationmarksthenextstepintheongoingpro-gressionofunderseacabledataratesandwillultimatelyenablesuchunderseacablesystemstocarrymorecapacityoverexistinglinks.Web link:www.tycotelecom.com

Catch the SaleCatchtheWindLtd.hashaditsfirst-evercommercialsaleofitsVindicator®laserwindsensor(LWS)toAXYSTech-nologies.AXYSwillinstalltheVindicatorLWSononeofitsdatacollectionbuoystodeterminetheviabilityofwindenergyproductioninoff-shoreenvironmentsthroughtheaccuratemeasurementofwindspeedanddirection.TheVindicatorLWSuseslasertechnologycombinedwithDopplerradartechniquestoanalyzeairparticlemovementanddeterminewindspeedanddirection.Web link: www.catchthewindinc.com

Turbines Back in RiverAftertwofailedattemptstoinstalltidalturbinesinNewYorkCity’sEastRiver,VerdantPowerhasinstalledanewalu-minumalloyturbine,theonlyoneofitskindintheU.S.Inthefirstattempts,pow-erfulcurrentstoreofftheblades.Thenewestiterationisworkingandpoweringanearbysupermarket.Web link: www.verdantpower.com

Stress Subsea ContractMTSmemberStress SubseahasbeenawardedacontractbyBHPBillitonforthewaterinjectiondesignengineeringaspartoftheShenzifielddevelopmentprojectintheGreenCanyonareaoftheGulf

ofMexico.Theawardincludesfourbasicworkscopescov-eringsubseahardware,umbil-icals,risersandflowlinesystems.Stress’sresponsi-bilityincludesengineeringandprojectmanagementleadinguptotheexecutionphaseoftheproject.StresswillprovideengineeringdefinitionandengineeringservicestoBHPBillitononsubseatrees,con-trols,flowlines,sledsandwaterinjectionrisers.Web link:www.stress-subsea.com

UH, JAMSTEC SignTheUniversityofHawaiihassignedanewfive-yearCoop-erativeAgreementwiththeJapanAgencyforMarine-EarthScienceandTechnology(JAMSTEC)tosupportcollabo-rativeclimateresearchattheInternationalPacificResearchCenteroftheUHManoaSchoolofOceanandEarthScienceandTechnology.

SAIC Tsunami SensorsScienceApplicationsInterna-tionalCorporation(SAIC)hasbeenawardedacontractbythePeople’sRepublicofChinaStateOceanographicAgencytoproduceanddelivertwoSAICTsunamiBuoysystems.ThesystemswillbethebasisofChina’stsunamiwarningsystemnetworkintheSouthChinaSea,continuouslysendingdatatotheChineseTsunamiWarningCenterinBeijing.Thesystemcon-sistsofthreesubsystems:asurfacecommunicationsbuoy,abuoymooring,andabottompressurerecorder.Thebottompressurerecorderincludesaseafloorpressuresensorthatcandetectearthquakesandsea-levelchanges.Onceproc-essed,thedatacanprovidereal-timeassessmentsofseismiceventsorotherforcessuchasunderwatermudslides.Web link: www.saic.com

Business News




Agreement SignedMTSmemberMaritime Communication ServicesannouncedithassignedanagreementwithCSnetInter-nationalonthemarketing,designing,developmentandoperationofoceanobservingsystems.Thecompanywillprovidesystemsthatwillbeusedforexplorationofenergy

resources,monitoringofpipe-linesandreservoirs,marinescience,warningofseismiceventsandmonitoringofinfrastructuresecurity.Maritime,asubsidiaryofMelbourne-basedHarrisCorp.,willprovideitsOceanNetbuoysystemtoactasthecommand,controlanddatastationforCSnet’sOffshoreCommunicationsBackbone,anetworkofpowerandfiberopticcablesandsensorports

Business News

continued from page 13 connectedtothebuoy. Web link: www.mcs.harris.com

Big Supply AgreementDONGEnergyandtheSiemensEnergySectorhavesignedanagreementforthesupplyofupto500offshorewindturbinesforDONGEnergy’splannedoff-shorewindfarmsinNorthernEurope.Thecompaniescalleditthelargestoffshorewindturbinesupplyagreementin

history.Thewindturbinestobedeliveredunderthesupplyagreementhavetotalcapacityofupto1,800megawatts.Permittingproceduresandcountry-specificwindregimeeconomicswilldeterminewhereandwhentheindividualoffshorewindfarmprojectswillbebuilt.Web links: www.dongenergy.com,ww1.energy.siemens.com/energy/en■

MTS logocontinued from page 1

queriedaboutthevalueofthesocietyandwhattheyexpectedfromit.Theywerealsoaskedtoevaluateandratethepro-posedpositionstatements.

Basedontheresultsofthesefocusgroups,DJGmod-ifiedthepositionstatementsanddevelopedquestionsforanonlinesurveyforthequanti-tativepartoftheresearch.Theonlinesurveywascon-ductedinAugust2008with491membersandnon-members,bothprofessionalandstudents.

Fromthequalitativeandquantitativeresearch,DJGfine-tunedthepositionstate-mentthatmostresonatedwithallaudiencesandcreatedataglinethatsuccinctlyandcre-ativelycapturedtheessenceofMTS:“Opportunityrunsdeep.”Thetaglinealludestotheknowledge,scienceandoppor-tunitiessuchasnetworking,resources,educationandsupportthat“rundeep”inMTS.

InOctober,DJGpresentednineconceptlogostotheMTSexecutivedirectorandstaff.Aftersuggestedmodi-fications,thepositioningstatement,taglineandninelogoswerepresentedtoasub-committeeoftheMTSBoardofDirectors,comprisingPresidentLiz Corbin,VPofIndustry

andTechnologyJerry Wilson,VPofEducationandResearchJill ZandeandVPofPublica-tionsKarin Lynn.Thesubcom-mitteepreferredthreelogosandsuggestedmodifications.Whenpresentedwiththemod-ifiedthree,thesubcommitteeselectedoneandit,alongwiththetaglineandpositionstatement,waspresentedtotheMTSBoardofDirectorsatitsMarch1meeting,whichtookplacejustbeforetheUnderwaterInterventionCon-ferenceinNewOrleans,La.

Theboarddecisiontoacceptthelogo,taglineandpositionstatementwasunan-imous.For insight into the board’s decision, please

see President Liz Corbin’s Drilldown column on page 3.

Thegraphicelementsinthelogoconjureupanumber

ofocean-relatedimagries:watermeetingtheshoreoroceanfloor,semaphores,evenschoolsoffishswimmingintheocean.“Thegraphicele-ments,”accordingtoaDJGspokesperson,“conveyasenseofmotionandenergyandareanchoredbyastrongcombi-nationofserifandsanseriftypefacesfortheMarineTechnologySocietyname.”Thefont,Calibri,wasdesignedbyaDutchtypedesignerforMicrosoftandisavailableinMSWord.

Althoughthesocietyhasadoptedthenewlogo,theprocessofconvertingthevarioussocietyitemsfromtheoldlogo—letterhead,Website,publications—willtakesometime.Expecttoseethetransformationtothenew“us”overthenextseveralmonths.■

MTS Position StatementThis is the position statement developed through the

rebranding process. “TheMarineTechnologySociety(MTS)bringstogetherastrongcommunityofleadingoceanengineers,researchers,technologists,policymakersandeducators.Asmembers,welearnfromeachotherandadvancetogetherasweshareourpassionforanddedicationtotheawareness,understanding,advancement,applicationandfutureofmarinetechnology.KeytothisgrowthisMTS’scommitmenttostrengtheningitsmembersthroughprofessionaldevelopmentandnetworking,andensuringourfield’sfuturethroughawarenessandexcitement-raisingoutreach.Externally,oursocietyservesasthevoiceofmarinetechnologyinthemediaandonCapitolHill.MTSsupportsandenhancesthisknowledge-based,future-focusedcommunitybyofferingnumerousnetworkingopportunities,conferences,technicalsymposiaandwork-shops,andbysponsoringawidevarietyofK-12educationaloutreachevents.”

Tlong Beach students form sectionwogroupsofstudentsatLongBeachCityCollegeinCaliforniajoinedforcesandpetitionedtheMTSBoardofDirectorstostartanewstudentsection.Atotalof45studentsinterestedinROVroboticsandmarinearchaeologysignedthepetition,whichwasapprovedbytheBoardatameetingbeforetheUnderwaterInterventionConferenceinNewOrleansinMarch.Allthestudentswereautomaticallygivenone-yearmembershipsinthesociety.Thecollegeisacommunitycollegethatprovidesassociatedegreeandcertificateprograms.Thestudentsection’scounselorisScott Fraser,headoftheElectricalTechnologyDepartment.Thisisthesecondtwo-yearinstitutionwhosestudentshavecometogethertostartanMTSstudentsection.TheotherisMontereyPeninsulaCollege.■

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9 1�

Robotic OctopusResearchersareworkingtocreatearoboticoctopuswitharmsthatworkthesamewayoctopustentaclesdosothatitcanreachintonooksandcranniesofflimitstocurrentremotelyoperatedvehicles.“Wearemakingarobotwithnorigidstructure.Andthatiscompletelynewtorobotics,”accordingtoresearcherCeciliaLaschiattheScuolaSuperioreSant’AnnainPisa,Italy.LaschiandcolleaguesintheU.K.,Switzerland,Turkey,GreeceandIsraelaretestingartificialmuscletechnol-ogiesthatwillmoreaccu-ratelymimictentacles.Theteamplanstomimicthelon-gitudinalmuscleswithsoftsiliconerubberinterspersedwithatypeofelectroactivepolymer(EAP)calledadie-lectricelastomer.Applyanelectricfieldtothismaterialanditsqueezesthesilicone,makingitshorter.TheteamhaveyettobuildatentaclebuthasbuiltamechanicalsimulatorthatmimicstheforcesthattheEAPsproduce.Thishasprovedthatthepeculiarmotionsofanoctopustentaclecanbecopied,Laschisays.

New Sound SensingEmployinganewtechnology,OceanAcousticWaveguideRemoteSensing(OAWRS),MITengineershavestudiedtheoriginsofamassgath-eringofhundredsofmillionsoffishandtheirsubsequentmigration.Thisisthefirsttimeamassmigrationofanimalshasbeenstudiedfrombeginningtoend,accordingtotheirpaperpublishedinScience.OAWRScantakeimagesofanarea100kilom-etersindiameterevery75seconds.Byemployingsoundwaveswithlowfrequency,OWARSsendsthemfartherthansimilarsystems.

Science & Technology News

Sensitive Ice SheetAfive-nationscientificteamhaspublishednewevidencethatevenaslightriseinatmosphericconcentrationsofcarbondioxideaffectsthestabilityoftheWestAntarcticIceSheet(WAIS).ThemassiveWAIScoversthecontinentonthePacificsideoftheTransant-arcticMountains.Theresearch,whichwaspublishedintheMarch19issueofthejournalNature,isbasedoninvestigationsbya56-memberteamofsci-entistsconductedona1,280-meter-longsedimentaryrockcoretakenfrombeneaththeseafloorunderAntarctica’sRossIceshelfduringthefirstprojectoftheANDRILL(ANt-arcticgeologicalDRILLing)researchprogram—theMcMurdoIceShelfProject.Newevidencefromsatelliteobservationsshowsacontinu-ationinthedecade-longtrendofshrinkingArcticsea-icecoverandathinningicecap.ThelatestdatacomesfromNASAandtheNationalSnowandIceDataCenter.Accordingtoscien-tiststrackingArcticsea-icecoverfromspace,themaximumextentoficethiswinterwasthefifthlowestonrecord.Thesixlowestmaximumssincesatellitemonitoringbeganin1979havealloccurredinthepastsixyears(2004-2009).

Cleaner Ballast waterTheInternationalMaritimeOrganization(IMO)hasorganizedanallianceofpublicandprivateintereststotackletheproblemofthespreadofexoticmarinespeciesbywayofships’ballastwater.TheIMOlaunchedGloballastPart-nershipstodeveloponboardballastwatertreatmentandothertechnologiestopreventtheproblem.Theorganizationsaidthatthepartnershipwillpromotethetechnologyandinformationexchange,anddeveloptrainingprograms.

Three Up and RunningTheIntegratedOceanDrillingProgram(IODP)willconductscientificoceandrillingopera-tionsaboardallthreeofitsplatformsin2009,fromMarchuntilDecember.ThisisthefirsttimesinceIODPbeganoperationsin2004thatallthreeplatformswilloperateatthesametime.RiserdrillingwillbeconductedaboardtheChikyu;thenewlymodernizedJOIDES Resolutionwillconductriserlessoperations;mission-specificoperationswillbeconductedusingplatformscustomizedforspecificenvi-ronments.Scheduledopera-tionswillexploreclimatechange,sealevelchange,theNankaiTroughSeismogenicZoneandoceanicplateauformation.

Blind Cavefish SensorsAblindcavefishspecies,Astyanaxfasciatus,thatsensesitsenvironmentandthemovementofwaterwithgel-coveredhairshasinspiredagroupofresearcherstomimicthehairsinthelabo-ratory.ResearchersattheGeorgiaTechSchoolofMate-rialsScienceandEngineeringengineeredamotiondetectorthatmimicstheunderwaterflowmeasurementsmadebytheblindcavefish.Thesensorscouldhaveavarietyofunderwaterapplications,suchasportsecurity,surveil-lance,earlytsunamidetection,autonomousoilriginspection,autonomousunderwatervehiclenavigationandmarineresearch.

New Coral SpeciesScientistshaveidentifiedsevennewspeciesofbamboocoraldiscoveredthousandsoffeetbelowtheocean’ssurface.NOAAsaidthatsixofthesevenspeciesfoundoffHawaiimayrepresententirelynewgenera,callingita“remarkable

feat”giventhebroadclassi-ficationagenusrepresents.Scientistsexpecttoidentifymorenewspeciesasanalysisofsamplescontinues.

Old Coral SpeciesDeep-seacoralsfromabout400metersoffthecoastoftheHawaiianIslandsaremucholderthanoncebelievedandsomemaybetheoldestlivingmarineorganismsknowntoman.UsingtheLawrenceLivermoreLab’sCenterforAcceleratorMassSpectrometry,researchersusedradiocarbondatingtodeterminetheagesofGeradiasp.,orgoldcoral,andspecimensofthedeep-waterblackcoral,Leiopathessp.Thelongestlivedinbothspecieswas2,740yearsand4,270years,respectively.Atmorethan4,000yearsold,thedeep-waterblackcoralistheoldestlivingskeletal-accretingmarineorganismknown.

Disappearing CoralRisingcarbondioxideintheatmosphereandtheresultingeffectsonoceanwateraremakingitincreasinglydif-ficultforcoralreefstogrow,sayscientists.AstudyinGeo-physical Research LettersbyresearchersattheCarnegieInstitutionandtheHebrewUniversityofJerusalemwarnsthatifcarbondioxidereachesdoublepre-industriallevels,coralreefscanbeexpectedtonotjuststopgrowing,butalsotobegindissolvingallovertheworld.

A Right ResultChangesinshippinglanes,lowerspeedlimitsandfishinggearhaveledtoanincreaseinthenumberandsurviva-bilityoftheendangeredNorthAtlanticrightwhale,andforthefirsttimesincethe1600s,notonewaskilledbyhumans

See Science & Tech on page 16


lastyear.FishingauthoritiesintheU.S.beganimposinggearrestrictions,andCanadaisconsideringsimilarsteps.NOAAestimatesthatthereareabout325,thoughscien-tistsinandoutoftheagencysuspecttheremaybemore,perhapsasmanyas400.

Safer AircraftApioneeringsystemthatwillprovideairtrafficcontrollerswitha“virtual”radarplotofallaircraftoperatingintheNorthSeahasbeenlaunchedfromAberdeen,Scotland,inamajorboostforoffshoresafety.Underthecurrentradarsystem,airtrafficcontrollerscanonlymonitortheaircraftupto60milesfromthecoast.ButthenewGBP5millionsystemusestransmitter-receiverson16oilandgasplatformsandwillpickupsignalsfromtranspondersonhelicopters.

Rare Schooner FoundAraredagger-boardschoonerhasbeendiscoveredindeepwateroffthesouthernshoreofLakeOntarionearOakOrchard,NewYork.SailingvesselsofthistypewereinuseontheGreatLakesforonlyashorttime,beginningintheearly1800s.Thisshipistheonlydagger-boardschoonerknowntohavebeenfoundintheGreatLakes.Theshipwasfounduprightandinremarkablecondition,accordingtoJimKennard,whofoundtheshipwithMTSmemberDan ScovilleofHydroacoustics.Thereareanestimated4,700shipwrecksintheGreatLakes.

Tiny Tuna SensorsAdvancesinminiaturesensorsandfish-trackingtags,oceanobservingsystemsandcom-putermodelsaregivingmarineconservationistsafish-eye

viewofconditions,fromover-fishingtoclimatechange,thatarecontributingtodecliningfishpopulations,accordingtoanewstudyinthejournalOceanography.AprojectknownasTagAGiant(TAG)usesanimplantedtaginthetunatorecordexternalpressure,internalandexternaltem-perature,andambientlight,thoughthetunamustberecapturedtorecoverthesedata.TAGalsousesapop-uptagthatisattachedtothetunabutself-releases,floatstothesurfaceandtransmitsdataoneachtuna’sexternalconditionsviasatellite.

Expanding Dead Zones NewcalculationsmadebymarinechemistsfromtheMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute,anMTSmember,suggestthatlow-oxygendeadzonesintheoceancouldexpandsignifi-cantlyoverthenextcentury.Ina“Perspective”inScience,researcherscombinedpublisheddataonrisinglevelsofcarbondioxideanddeclininglevelsofoxygenintheoceantoshowthatincreasesincarbondioxidecanmakemarineanimalsmoresusceptibletolowconcen-trationsofoxygen,andthusexacerbatetheeffectsoflow-oxygendeadzones.

NOEl Phase CompleteScientistsatFloridaAtlanticUniversityhavedeployedfouracousticDopplercurrentpro-filersintheAtlanticOceanoffDaniaBeach.ThedeploymentcompletesthefirstphaseofthecreationoftheNationalOpen-oceanEnergyLabo-ratory,analternativeenergyproject.Eventually,theuni-versityplanstoplacegiant,electricity-generatingturbinesintheoceantoproduceelec-tricalpower.TheprofilerswillmeasurethesizeandstrengthoftheGulfStreamfor8to

10months,usingahigh-fre-quency,low-powersonartomeasurethewatervelocitythroughoutthewatercolumnatsinglelocationsevery30minutes.TheNOELprogramwillprovideaccesstofederalandstateagencies,technologydevelopersanduniversitiesfortestingandevaluationofoceanenergysystems.

Testing Tidal ProjectsResearchersinScotlandplantostudytheimpactoftidalturbinesonprotectedspecieslikewhales,baskingsharksanddolphinsinabidtohelptidalenergyprojectsavoidthesortofcontroversiesthathavedoggedsomewindfarmdevelopments.Thethree-yearjointventurebetweenScottishNaturalHeritage(SNH)andtheScottishEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywillhave“worldwiderelevance,”accordingtoSNH.

New Monument HealthyMarinelifeandhabitatsatPapahanaumokuakeaMarineNationalMonumentareingoodoverallconditionbutfaceemergingthreats,accordingtoanewNOAAreportonthemonument’shealth.PreparedbytheNOAAOfficeofNationalMarineSanc-tuaries,thereportnotesthatbecauseofthemonument’sremoteness,pastmanagementefforts,andregulationsthatlimitaccess,impactsfromlocalhumanusesarerelativelyfew.However,pastactivitieshavepermanentlyalteredsomeareasandinsomecasesresultedindegradationofhabitats.

Not So Rare DolphinsSurprisedscientistsfoundnearly6,000rareIrrawaddydolphinslivinginthefresh-waterregionsoftheBang-ladeshcoast.Previousestimateshadputthepop-

Science & Technology News

continued from page 15 ulationataround450.TheWildlifeConservationSocietysaiditusedrigorousscientifictechniquesinanareawherelittlemarinemammalresearchhadtakenplacepreviously.ScientistsandconservationgroupsdonotknowhowmanyIrrawaddydolphinsremainacrosssouthandsouth-eastAsia.CuRiOSATi GrantWorkingcloselywiththeUniversityofMiami’sCenterforSoutheasternTropicalAdvancedRemoteSensing(CSTARS),associateprofessorofappliedmarinephysics,Dr.RolandRomeiser,hasbeenawardeda$500,000grantbytheOfficeofNavalResearchfor“CurrentsinRiversObservedbySpace-borneAlong-TrackInSAR(CuRiOSATI),”whichmarksthefirsteveruseofthistypeofInSAR(interferometricsyn-theticapertureradar)sat-elliteimagerytodeterminesurfacecurrentfieldsinriversandtheocean.Thesemeas-urementswillbevaluableinmonitoringglobalriverrunoff,bathymetricchangesincoastalwaters,andthespreadingofpollutants,aswellasinbasicresearchonturbulencecharac-teristicsintheopenoceanandotherpromisingapplications.

Informed PessimistsAccordingtoananalysisofstudentperformanceonPISA2006—aninternationalassessmentof15-year-olds—studentswhoarethebestinformedaboutenvironmentalscienceandthegeosciencesarealsothemostrealisticabouttheenvironmentalchal-lengesfacingtheworldinthenext20years.Meanwhile,stu-dentswhoareleastinformedintheseareasarethemostwildlyoptimisticthatthingswillimprove.■


Education News

New record set for MTS scholarship applications

pletelynewsubmarinetocompeteintheone-manned,propeller-drivenracethisyear.In2007,theteamtooksecondinthetwo-manned,propeller-drivenrace.Inthepast,theschoolhasheldworldspeedrecordsforhuman-poweredsubs.

Thebiennialracesareanengineeringanddesigncom-petitiontoencouragestu-dentstopursueeducationinmarineengineeringandoceantechnology.Thesponsor,Foundation for Underwater Research and Education,isanMTSmember.Twenty-five

MTS Student Section members from Florida Atlantic University show off their submission to the International Submarine Races. George Valdes is kneeling. Behind him, from left are Jason McCullough Justin Stewart, Dillan Gould and Tyler Marzella.

MTS-fundedscholarships,thereareseveralthataresponsoredbyindividualsorcompanies:CharlesH.Bussmann,Paros-Digiquartz,JohnC.BajusandDieter-Family.

TheMTShomeofficehasbeenfieldingcallsforthelastfourmonthsfromstudents—andtheirparents.Therewasamaddashtothefinishlineastheoffice—andthePostOfficecarrier—wasinundatedwith

applications,transcriptsandlettersofreference.

TheselectionprocessisbeingoverseenbyCath-erine Woody,amemberoftheMarineEducationProfes-sionalCommittee,someofwhosemembersmakeuptheScholarshipCommittee.“Withthismanyapplicants,wearegratefulthatsomanyMTSmembershaveenthusiasti-callyansweredthecalltobe

MTS Student Section in International Submarine Races

Thisyear,279studentsappliedforMTSscholarshipsbytheApril15deadline,breakingtherecordforthenumberapplyingthatwasreachedin2007when260sentinapplica-tions.Thestudentsarevyingfor$58,000inscholarshipmoney.In2008,theMTSBoardofDirectorssetupabasefundingamountof$50,000toensurethatthisamountisavailableeachyear.Besides

TeamsfromaroundtheworldhaveachancetotesttheirmoxyandengineeringskillsJune20–27attheInternationalSubmarineRaces(ISR),whichareheldattheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenter,CarderockDivision,inBethesda,Md.

AmongthecompetitorsaremembersoftheMTSFloridaAtlanticUniversityStudentSection,whoareusingthe$500MTSgivestoitsstudentsectionstohelpfinancetheirentry.AccordingtoStudentSectionPresidentMattYoung,theteamisbuildingacom-

human-poweredsubsfrom22teamsareexpectedtotakepartintheweek-longevent.Previouswinningsubswillbeondisplay.ThevariouseventstakeplaceintheDavidTaylorModelBasin,a3,200-foot-longbuildingthathousesthreeindependenttowingbasintestfacilities:theShallowWaterBasin,theDeepWaterBasinandtheHighSpeedBasin.Thesubmarinesareallhuman-poweredandareclassifiedastwo-personwithpropeller,one-personwithpropeller,andone-personwithnopropeller.Theysubmergeto15–20feetandruna100-metercourse,guidedbyastringoflightsatthebottomofthebasin.Com-

judges,”saidMikeHall,MTSmembergroupsmanager.

Consider joining the MTS Scholarship Program by setting up an annual schol-arship in your company’s name and take direct action to help the next generation of marine engineers succeed. [email protected],(410)884-5330.■

The world Ocean Observatory hasjoinedforceswiththeOceanClassroomFoundation(OCF),aneducationalorganization.Thetwonon-profitorganizationswillshareinformationandadministrativeassetsbutmaintainseparatefundingsources.InterimOceanClassroomFoundationExecutiveDirectorPeterNeill,founderofWorldOceanObservatory,willassumetheroleofexecutivedirectorforbothorganizations.Web links:www.thew2o.net,www.oceanclassroom.org

Hot Topic for StudentsLeadersfromarangeofschoolsacrossthecountry,includingArizonaStateUniversity,IndianaUniversity,theUniversityofColoradoandUCLA,sayrenewableenergyisthehottesttopicfortheirstudents.SecretaryofEnergyStevenChusaidhesees“anewcadreofidealisticpeoplewhowanttoworkon[energy]inanywaytheycan”andthatharnessingthemisthekeytothenation’sfuture.■

petitorspowerthevesselsastheybreathefromscubagear.ISRraceofficialshavesophis-ticatedunderwatertimingdevicestodeterminethespeedandcourseofthesubmarinesastheytraveldownthecourse. TheInternationalSubmarineRacesaresponsoredbytheUnitedStatesNavy,NavalSurfaceWarfareCenter,CarderockDivision;andbyElectricBoat;LockheedMartin;theH.A.PerryFoundation;andnumerousin-kinddonors.Formoreinformation,contactMTSmemberNancy R. Hussey,ISRdirectorandpres-identoftheFoundationforUnderwaterResearchandEdu-cation,[email protected],(843)278-1474.■


legislative News

Historic Act Signed JustdaysaftertheHouseofRepresentativespassedtheOmnibusPublicLandManagementActof2009,PresidentObamasignedtheactintoLaw.Thishistoricactcontainsfivelandmarkoceanbills:OceanExplorationandNOAA’sUnderseaResearchProgramAct;OceanandCoastalMappingIntegrationAct;IntegratedCoastalandOceanObservationSystemActof2009;FederalOceanAcidificationResearchandMonitoringActof2009;andCoastalandEstuarineLandConservationProgram.

Managing U.S. OceansSinceCongressliftedamoratoriumonoffshoredrillinglastyear,federallawmakershavegrappledwiththeissueofhowbesttoregulateU.S.oceanwaterstoallowoil,waveandwindenergydevelopment,whilesustainablymanagingcriticalfisheriesandmarineanimalhabitats.Anewpolicypaper,publishedApril10inSciencebyateamofDukeUniversityexperts,arguesthatestablishingapublictrustdoctrineforfederalwaterscouldbeaneffectiveandethicalsolutiontothisandsimilarconflicts.Thepublictrustdoctrineobligesgovernmentstomanagecertainnaturalresourcesinthebestinterestsoftheircitizens,withoutsacrificingtheneedsoffuturegenerations.ThedoctrinealreadyiswellestablishedintheUnitedStatesatthestatelevel,andextendingittoU.S.oceanwaterswouldhelpfederalagenciesbettermanageconflictingdemandssuchasconservation,offshoreenergydevelopment,fisheriesandshipping.Currently,morethan20differentfederalagencies,operatingunderdozensoflaws,regulatespeciesandactivitiesinthesewaters,withoutanymandated,systematicefforttocoordinatetheiractionsforthepublicgood.

Icebreaker ApprovedInMarch,theHouseTransportationandInfrastructureCom-mitteeapprovedlegislation(H.R.1747)thatwouldauthorize$153milliontodesignandbuildanewicebreakerfortheGreatLakes.WhiletherewassupportforreplacingtheGreatLakeice-breaker,RepresentativesDonYoung(R-AK)andRickLarsen(D-WA)notedthatthenation’spolaricebreakersarealsoindireneedofreplacement.■

FERC, MMS reach understanding on OCS renewablesI ofleases,easements,rights-of-way,licensesorexemptions.

TheagenciesalsowillcoordinatetoensurethatanylicensesorexemptionsissuedbyFERC,andalloperationsregulatedbyFERC,withrespecttoalease,easementorright-of-way,areconsistentwiththeprovisionsoftheOuterContinentalShelfLandsAct,theFederalPowerActandotherapplicablelaws.

LaterinApril,Interiorfinalizedaframeworkthatestab-lishesaprogramtograntleases,easementsandrights-of-wayforrenewableenergydevelopmentactivitiesontheOCS.TheprogramalsoestablishesmethodsforsharingrevenuesgeneratedfromOCSrenewableenergyprojectswithadjacentcoastalstates.Twotypesofleaseswillbeoffered,commercialleasesofaround25yearsauthorizingfullbuild-outandcommercialproductionofenergy,andlimitedleasesofaroundfiveyearsauthorizingdatacollectionandtechnologytesting.■

Currentresearchincludesmulti-scalewavemodeling,hybridandparallelnumericalcomputing,investigationsintotsunamibreakingandextractionofenergyfromnearshorewindwaves.

University of HawaiiDr. Reza Ghorbaniisthestudentsection’snewcounselor.HeisanassistantprofessoratUH-Manoa,Honolulu,intheDepartmentofMechanicalEngineering.Hisresearchinvolvesaspectsofrenewableenergy,includingdesigningocean-andwave-energyextractiondevices,designingactuatorsandsensors,dynamics-basedcontrolofelectro-mechanicalsystemsandhybridelectrictransportationissues.Ghorbanitookonthecounselorrolebecausehethought,“itwouldbebothfunandrewardingtoworkwithstudentsandhelpthemtobeincontactwithMTSasaprofessionalsociety.”HehopestoinitiatearenewableenergycompetitioninlightoftheimportanceofthatsubjecttoHawaii.“Iamhopefultogetsponsorshipandwelcomeanyfeedbackfromprofessionals,”[email protected].■

Section Newscontinued from page 9

nApril,theInteriorDepartmentandtheFederalEnergyReg-ulatoryCommission(FERC)signedaMemorandumofUnder-standingthatestablishesacohesive,streamlinedprocessthroughwhichInterior’sMineralsManagementService(MMS)andtheFERCwilllease,licenseandregulateallrenewableenergydevelopmentactivitiesontheOuterContinentalShelf(OCS).

Undertheagreement,MMShasexclusivejurisdictionwithregardtotheproduction,transportationandtransmissionofenergyfromnon-hydrokineticrenewableenergyprojects,includingwindandsolar.MMSalsohasexclusivejurisdictiontoissueleases,easementsandrights-of-wayregardingOCSlandsforhydroki-neticprojects.FERChasexclusivejurisdictiontoissuelicensesandexemptionsfromlicensingfortheconstructionandoperationofhydrokineticprojectsontheOCSandwillconductanynec-essaryanalyses.Bothagenciesmayinspectauthorizedhydroki-neticprojectsontheOCStoensurecompliancewiththeterms


Ocean Community Calendar

JUNE 4–6Super Pile ‘09San Francisco, Calif.www.dfi.org/conferences.asp

JUNE 8–12American Society of Marine Engineers Turbo ExposOrlando, Fla.www.asmeconferences.org/TE09

JUNE 9–11Capitol Hill Oceans WeekWashington, D.C.nmsfocean.org/capitol-hill-ocean-week-2009

JUNE 9–11Undersea Defence Technology Europe 2009Cannes, Francewww.udt-europe.com/udteurope2009.asp

JUNE 16–17Sustainable Ocean SummitBelfast, Irelandwww.oceancouncil.org/site/events.php

JUNE 16–18Seawork 2009Southhampton, U.K.www.seawork.com

June 16–18energyOcean 2009Rockport, Mainewww.energyocean.com

JUNE 17–19TRANS-NAV 2009Gdynia, Polandtransnav.am.gdynia.pl

June 29–302009 Marine technology for Offshore Wind Power Workshoparlington, Virginiawww.mtsociety.org/conferences/windworkshop.aspx

JUNE 29–JULY 3National Marine Educators Association Conference: One World Conserving One OceanMonterey, Calif.www.nmeaweb.org

JULY 19–23Coastal Zone’09Revolutionary Times: Catching the Wave of ChangeBoston, Mass.www.csc.noaa.gov/cz

JULY 23–24Conference on Coastal Environmental Sensing NetworksBoston, Mass.www.csc.noaa.gov/cz

AUGUST 11–15Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2009Suntec, Singaporewww.asiaoceania.org/aogs2009

AUGUST 23–2616th International Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible Technology Durham, N.H.ausi.org/events/uust

AUGUST 26–28 First IEEE GRSS WHISPERS Workshop on Hyperspectral Image and Signal Processing—Evolution in Remote SensingGrenoble, Francewww.ieee-whispers.com/2009

AUGUST 30–SEPTEMBER 418th International Mass Spectrometry ConferenceBremen, Germanywww.imsc-bremen-2009

SEPTEMBER 9–11Offshore Europe 2009Aberdeen, U.K.www.offshore-europe.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 13–15Canadian Underwater Conference & ExhibitionHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canadawww.underwaterconference.ca

SEPTEMBER 13–17GITA: 186h Annual GIS for Oil and Gas Conference 2009Houston, Texaswww.gita.org/events/oil_gas/09

SEPTEMBER 21–25OceanObs’09Ocean Information for Society: Sustaining the Benefits, Realizing the PotentialVenice, Italywww.oceanobs09.net

SEPTEMBER 23–25IODP New Ventures in Exploring Scientific Targets (INVEST) 2009University of Bremen, Germanywww.marum.de/en/iodp-invest.html

SEPTEMBER 30–OCTOBER 2GEOTECH 2009 Expo: First Mediterranean Earth, Industry & Technology Exhibition and ConferenceRome, Italywww.geotechexpo.eu/en/index_gth.asp

OCTOBER 4–9Gulf of Maine Symposium: Advancing Ecosystem Research for the Future of the GulfSt. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canadawww.rargom.org/Symposium2009

OCtOBeR 13–14Mts Dynamic Positioning Conferencehouston, texaswww.dynamic-positioning.com/next_conference.html

OCTOBER 21–23SNAME’09 Annual Meeting and ExpoProvidence, R.I.www.snameexpo.com

OCTOBER 21–2334th Annual Conference on Deep FoundationsKansas City, Mo.www.dfi.org/conferencedetail.asp?id=128

OCtOBeR 26–29OCeans’09 Mts/Ieee BiloxiBiloxi, Miss.www.oceans09mtsieeebiloxi.org

NOVEMBER 10–12HYDRO 09Cape Town, South Africawww.hydro9.co.za

MaRCh 9–11, 2010OnR/Mts Buoy WorkshopMonterey, Calif.Web site not yet available.

Diving Deeper: Expanded Papers from Recent MTS ConferencesSpring �009 Issue, Volume ��, Number �

OutstandingpresentationsfromtheOCEANS’08MTS/IEEEQuebecConferencehavebeenexpandedintofull-length,peer-reviewedpapers.TopicsincludeUSBLProcessing,DevelopmentoftheMarineScienceandTechnologyIndustryClusterinNewEngland,Image-BasedMarineHabitatClas-sification,NOAAEducationonOkeanos Explorer,TetheredandUntetheredVehicles,OilandGasPlatformOceanProfileData,ROVandAUVdevelopments,andSeakeepingSystemTradesforCoordinatedAir-Surface-UnderwaterOperation.

On the Horizon …

Summer �009 General IssueVolume ��, Number �

Thiseclecticoffering,availableinlateJuly,willincludepapersonportchoicebehavior,ageyseroffJapan,issuesconcerningoffshorewindturbines,usinganAUVtodetecthypoxiaandothertimelytopics.

Currents M AY / J U N E 2 0 0 9�0

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