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Robotics News

07 Feb 2025

Wilson Sons Starts Testing Aerial Drone Deliveries at Brazilian Port

(Credit: Wilson Sons)

Shipping and logistics firm Wilson Sons has started testing drones in the Port of Salvador to make vessel deliveries and pickups. The trials represent the first time the drones have been used to make deliveries in port facilities in Brazil.Speedbird Aero, which specializes in designing, manufacturing, and operating drones, owns the uncrewed aerial vehicles.In 2022, it was the first company to obtain authorization from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) to operate uncrewed…

06 Feb 2025

Support for Jones Act, Concern about China Voiced at Maritime Infrastructure Hearing

Mike Ezell source YouTube

US Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) addressed a hearing titled “America Builds: Maritime Infrastructure” on Wednesday saying: “It is clearly critical that we must build a safer and more efficient system.”The new chairman, for the 119th Congress, said the Jones Act is quite literally the bedrock and foundation of the nation’s shipbuilding industrial base because it helps to maintain a pool of qualified American mariners that the US relies on to transport goods and its military…

17 Jan 2025

New Funding to Advance Hull Cleaning and Inspection Robot Deployment

Source: YouTube

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) is participating in a $940K Amphibian UWILD Remote Robotic Platform Project.The robot is expected increase the speed and accuracy of ship hull inspections and reduce the risks associated with diving crews.The project will allow Marine Thinking to develop a Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for Innvotek’s Amphibian “Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-docking” (UWILD) solution.Marine Thinking’s LARS will feature remote control capabilities and ensure efficient and safe deployment and retrieval of the Amphibian robot.

31 Dec 2024

Ukraine Claims First: Navy Drone Downs Russian Helicopter

Russian Mi-8 helicopter. Copyright Yuriy/AdobeStock

Ukrainian military intelligence said one of its naval drones had destroyed a Russian helicopter and damaged another one in the Black Sea.In a battle near Cape Tarkhankut on Crimea's west coast on Tuesday, a Magura V5 maritime drone equipped with missiles hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, Ukraine's GUR spy agency said on Telegram.GUR said it was the first time a Ukrainian naval drone had downed an air target. Reuters could not independently verify the report.There was no comment from Moscow on the helicopter.

06 Dec 2024

Converse Joins Greensea IQ EverClean Growth Team

Greensea IQ appointed Brooks Converse as Director of Business Development for the EverClean team. Image courtesy Greensea IQ

Greensea IQ appointed Brooks Converse as Director of Business Development, focused on driving the growth and adoption of EverClean, the company’s flagship in-water hull cleaning solution, while building stronger partnerships within the maritime industry.Converse holds a Master of Science in International Transportation Management from the State University of New York Maritime College, and his understanding of port operations equips him to effectively address the challenges and…

25 Nov 2024

Subsea Global Robotic Hull Cleaning gets the Green Light in Singapore

Image courtesy Subsea Global Solutions

Subsea Global Solutions reports that authorities in Singapore have granted approval of its hull cleaning services for vessels, allowing underwater cleaning to take place while vessels are engaged in cargo work at the terminal. The approved cleaning procedure requires the use of a Cleaning Remotely Operated Vehicle (C-ROV) equipped with an integrated filtration plant, designed to capture and reclaim materials, ensuring compliance with Singapore’s stringent environmental regulations.

06 Nov 2024

ECOsubsea's Next-Gen Hull Cleaning Robot is Ready for Action

ECOsubsea's sustainable hull-cleaning service vessel alongside the products tanker Maersk Callao in the Singapore anchorage. Image courtesy ECOsubsea

ECOsubsea launched its Ultra High Efficiency Hull Cleaning Service (UHEHCS) in Singapore, introducing its new ROV. According to the company, tests showed the ROV operates 10 times faster than conventional cleaning methods. "We cleaned a fully laden capesize vessel, with an 18-m draft, in just four hours," said ECOsubsea CEO Tor Østervold.Golden Ocean’s Head of Global Operations, Tord Brath, said: "ECOsubsea’s ROV demonstrated impressive speeds and enhanced safety with minimal human intervention.

17 Sep 2024

Baker Marine Solutions to Offer Greensea IQ's EverClean Services

(Photo: Greensea IQ)

Autonomous underwater robotics solutions provider Greensea IQ announced a it is partnering with Baker Marine Solutions (BMS) to expand its innovative hull cleaning service offering in Louisiana ports.BMS will serve as a subcontractor and sales representative for Greensea IQ’s EverClean hull cleaning service throughout Louisiana, including at the Port of New Orleans, and expand the EverClean brand into new regional markets.BMS, a Covington, La. based provider of marine and offshore expertise…

10 Sep 2024

Damen Buys Ship Repair Robots for Yard in Dunkirk

(Photo: AMBPR)

AMBPR, a SERCEL company, announced that it has signed a contract with Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque for the sale of the first five ship repair robots. Damen in Dunkerque is thus the first shipyard in the world to acquire the GreenDock Robot, an autonomous solution for washing, UHP and abrasive blast cleaning, and painting of ships.The official signing took place at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg on September 4 following several years of collaboration between the robot manufacturer and DSDu…

28 Mar 2024

Ocean Infinity Inks Deal with Shell for Subsea Data Capture Services

(Credit: Ocean Infinity)

Ocean Infinity signed a global framework agreement (GFA) with Shell to provide its robotic fleet for servicing the offshore energy sector.The GFA marks a significant milestone in the provision of lean-crewed and robotic seabed geomatics, spanning geophysical and geotechnical services, within the offshore energy sector.It covers a 5-year period, encompassing all countries where Shell is currently active or plans to operate in the future.Services governed by the GFA include the Armada fleet of uncrewed and lean-crewed vessels."This agreement enables new…

14 Dec 2023

Robotics in the EngineRoom

Image courtesy FMD

When talk turns to autonomous ships, a first question always centers on how routine and emergency repair and maintenance will be conducted. Trey Taylor, Director of Digital Innovation, Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), discusses FMD’s research and development on next-gen engine room robotics.The FMD team that Trey Taylor leads is relatively new, kicking off in 2019 with a baseline product that was looking at monitoring equipment, “being able to provide that information back to our…

02 Oct 2023

Shipshave Scoops Award for In-Transit Hull Cleaning Solution

Cleaning of the hull during a voyage using a robotic tool deployed from the deck by the crew. Photo: Shipshave

Shipshave has won the Most Innovative Proven Technology Award in the inaugural SNIC Innovation Awards for its in-transit hull cleaning solution that removes biofouling to boost fuel efficiency and decarbonization.The prize was handed out at the Singapore Norway Innovation Conference (SNIC) 2023, with the theme Innovate to Zero, that is hosted annually in Singapore by the Norwegian Business Association Singapore (NBAS).Shipshave earned the accolade for having “the most innovative…

28 Jun 2023

MR4WELD Debuts: Mobile, Robotic Welding for Shipbuilding

Image courtesy Fincantieri

Italian companies Comau and Fincantieri presented today  the first result of their joint collaboration with Automatica: MR4Weld (Mobile Robot for Weld), a mobile robot, an innovative outdoor automation solution, designed to improve the quality, performance and well-being of operators during labor-intensive welding activities.The MR4Weld mobile robot is being tested and will be used in the Fincantieri shipyards to autonomously weld steel structures, with the possibility of increasing operations up to to 3 times compared to a manual process…

23 May 2023

Remote Survey is the New End-Game

ScoutDI has performed initial tests of its drone’s SLAM capabilities in the cargo tank of the Altera shuttle tanker Beothuk Spirit.
Source: ScoutDI

More than remote witnessing, more than remote data analysis, remote survey techniques are now going to aid the shift to full vessel autonomy.The technology that enables a robot to safely navigate an environment it has no prior knowledge of is called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). “It is the key to autonomy for any aspiring can-do inspection robot.” That’s according to ScoutDI, a participant in the REDHUS project led by DNV which is developing a prototype inspection drone.SLAM is not a specific, copyrighted piece of technology.

13 Jan 2023

VIDEO: Watch the Armach Robotics Hull Service Robot in Action

Image courtesy Armach Robotics

Armach Robotics, Inc. (Armach), recently passed a critical milestone during a trial of its Hull Service Robot in full over-the-horizon (OTH) mode.At the end of 2022, Armach’s hull service robot (HSR), in the water in Norfolk, VA, was monitored and controlled by staff at Armach’s command center in Plymouth, MA, using a 4G modem providing over-the-air connectivity. During the trial, the Plymouth-based operator was able to fly the robot from its launch point at the pier, and make a controlled approach to the side of the ship.

05 Jan 2023

VIDEO: Ocean Infinity's Armada 7801 Robotic Vessel Reaches Norway

Credit: Ocean Infinity (Video Screenshot)

Ocean Infinity's Armada 7801 has reached Norway after a long journey from Vietnam, where its hull was built last year at the Vard Vung Tau shipyard."Our first new ship has arrived in Norway, having set sail on its maiden voyage from Vietnam in November. Installation of the payload equipment and remote systems will now commence ahead of the ship entering service on offshore data acquisition tasks in the coming months," Ocean Infinity, a seabed survey and ocean research company based in the United States…

20 Dec 2022

Armach's Hull Service Robot Excels in Over-the-horizon Operation Trials

Armach Robotics Hull Service Robot on ship -  ©Armach Robotics

Armach Robotics said on Tuesday that it had reached a major milestone by operating its hull cleaning robot successfully in full over-the-horizon (OTH) mode.In the water in Norfolk, VA, Armach’s hull service robot, was earlier this month monitored and controlled by staff at Armach’s command center in Plymouth, MA, using a 4G modem providing over-the-air connectivity.Once the communications connection was made between Norfolk and Plymouth, the vehicle was able to complete its pre-dive checks on the pier.

06 Dec 2022

VIDEO: Ocean Infinity's Two Armada Vessels Set Sail from Vietnam

©Ocean Infinity (Video screenshot)

Ocean Infinity, a seabed survey and ocean research company based in the United States, said Tuesday that two of its new vessels, part of the Armada USV fleet, had set sail from Vietnam."We're officially the proud owner of not just one but two brand new ships. Armada 7801 and 7802 have set sail from Vietnam and are headed to Norway. The delivery of these first two ships marks an important milestone on our journey towards tech-enabled lean-crewed operations for a safer and greener maritime future…

30 Nov 2022

A Robotic Reach in Offshore Wind

STL’s Autonomous Synchronised Stabilised Platform being put through its paces at the University of Plymouth’s COAST Laboratory. Photo from STL

With a background in subsea and offshore, coming up with new ideas is the norm for UK-based engineering consultancy STL (Submarine Technology Limited), writes Elaine Maslin.The last few years have been no different. The company has been focusing on ship-based robotics, including robotic arms. These aren’t just any robotic arms – they’re motion-compensated systems for deploying/recovering people and robots to and from fixed or moving objects.That could be wind technicians to an…

21 Jun 2022

Sea Machines Debuts AI-ris Computer Vision for Commercial Vessels

Image courtesy Sea Machines Robotics

Marine perception sensor aims to provide high-def situational awareness to eliminate at-sea collisions and allisionsSea Machines Robotics unveiled AI-ris (Artificial Intelligence Recognition and Identification System), a new marine computer-vision navigation sensor designed to improve safety and performance while vessels are underway. Sea Machines’ AI-ris uses digital cameras and AI-processing to detect, track, classify and geolocate objects, vessel traffic and other potential obstacles in the majority of operational conditions, day or night.

15 Jun 2022

SpaceX, ABS Ink JDP on Remotely Controlled Rocket Recovery Droneships

Image courtesy of SpaceX

SpaceX  and ABS signed a joint development project (JDP) to review the remotely controlled functions of autonomous rocket recovery droneships used for booster rocket recovery at sea.The rocket recovery droneships are modified to include an expanded deck to increase the size of the landing platform, four thruster engines for propulsion and to hold on station, and blast shielding to protect electrical and engine equipment on deck. The droneships are entirely unmanned during landings…

02 Jun 2022

Greensea Acquires C-2 Innovations' Line of Seafloor Crawling Robots

Credit: Bayonet Ocean Vehicles

Greensea Systems today launched Bayonet Ocean Vehicles, a new company created to develop, manufacture, and distribute a line of amphibious robots recently acquired from C-2 Innovations Inc.The deal includes the acquisition of the IP and inventory of C-2 Innovations’ crawling robot product line. The robots have been rebranded and are launched to market as the Bayonet 150, Bayonet 250, and Bayonet 350 vehicles.Bayonet joins the Greensea group of companies as an independent entity managed by the Greensea Executive Team.

04 May 2022

Robotic Hull-cleaning Firm Armach Announces Key Appointment

Karl Lander - promoted to Director, Regulatory Compliance and Outreach of Armach Robotics - Credit: Armach Robotics

Following its public launch in March 2022, Armach Robotics, the robotic hull-cleaning subscription service has now promoted Karl Lander to Director, Regulatory Compliance and Outreach.Lander is a 25-year maritime veteran including 20 years in the US Coast Guard. He joined Armach as Senior Program Manager from sister company Greensea Systems where he served as Director, Hull Robotics. In his new role, Lander will be responsible for working with ship owners, maritime regulatory organizations…