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17-09-2008

Oceanology International 2008
Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans

 

Oceanology International (OI) is the marine science and ocean technology community’s premier forum, and for well over three decades has provided a focal point every two years for the diverse range of individuals and organizations that work in this sector to debate and discuss crucial topics. It also provides a unique networking opportunity for companies to showcase the latest state-of-the-art technological solutions in use or under consideration by the industries that work in the ocean environment.

Outside exhibition with various survey vessels present.

 

By Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk

 

The latest show, held from March 11 to March 13 under the overall theme of ‘Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans’, attracted a record total of 8,703 attendees through its doors at the ExCeL venue in the Docklands. Attendees came from 67 countries, from as far afield as China, Russia, the USA, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Angola, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and India, as well as from Europe and Scandinavia.The exhibition, meanwhile, saw the available space of 7,184 square meters sold out, with 533 exhibitors from 32 different countries participating. Country pavilions from Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain were featured, alongside exhibiting organizations and companies including the European Commission, Fugro, Acergy, Gardline, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, Teledyne, Kongsberg Maritime, Sonardyne and IXSEA.

 


Survey vessel Xplorer in the London docks demonstrating
Kongsberg Simrad multibeam echo sounding equipment.
Congress

The theme of the 2008 congress was ‘Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans’. The sessions covered three subjects; Energy from the Ocean, the Oceans and Climate Change, and Environmental and Civil Security. The theme as well as the specific subjects would lead most outsiders to believe that the conference would provide more insight into these politically important subjects. Any visitor basing his or her attendance on just this information would have been in for a disappointment. As with many congresses of this type, the sessions were highly technical or academic in nature, addressing such issues as the ‘Development and field testing of the Doppler Volume Sampler’. For the audience gathered at these sessions, the information exchange proved, however, to be very useful. There are very few oceanographic events and every such event is an opportunity to share information amongst the attending scientists.

 

Exhibition

The exhibition, on the other hand, attracts attendees from all disciplines. When one is (or has been) part of the world of ocean and sea surveying the exhibition is a sort of reunion. The list of exhibitors reads like the who’s who of the ocean business. Although more than 70% of the world is covered with water, the ocean business is much smaller in terms of companies operating than, say, land survey or GIS. As a result, the exhibition serves every two years as a reunion of business partners, old colleagues and people who have retired from the industry. The exhibitors themselves can be roughly divided into three categories. The two biggest categories are offshore survey companies and equipment providers. The third category covers the (inter)national organizations involved in the ocean business.


Eyeball-type ROV in an aquarium in the exhibition.

 

Underwater Vehicles

Quite a few booths at the exhibition were dedicated to underwater vehicles of all sorts and sizes. Underwater vehicles can roughly be divided into two categories: the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and the AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle).

The major difference between the ROV and the AUV lies in the method of control. Whereas the ROV is connected to a mother vessel through a so-called umbilical cord, the AUV is programmed to do a set task and is then left on its own with frequent checks on the operation. Due to the limited amount of power AUVs are mainly used for survey tasks whereas ROVs are also used as an underwater workhorse. The size of the ROVs and AUVs on display at OI2008 varied from very small eyeball ROVs to large work-class ROVs.


 Work-class ROV being explained.
 

Surface Vessels

Although not officially mentioned, there is a third component to OI; the outside exhibition. A number of vessels attend every show. This year the number of vessels was relatively small due to gale-force storms in the North Sea, with mainly larger vessels in attendance. From experience I can tell you readers that it is not funny and even downright dangerous to try crossing the North Sea in that sort of weather in a small vessel. The vessels present represent a cross-section of those used every day around the world. The smaller vessels are used to demonstrate the newest equipment from the various manufacturers. This year a few smaller vessels who had the luck to arrive before the storm demonstrated their equipment in the London docks. In previous years the results from these demonstrations have been quite dramatic. Personally I remember the show where the first high-resolution multibeam echo sounders were demonstrated. During this demonstration various car wrecks that the London Port Authority was not aware of were found near the quaysides. This year, however, the winds were still high during the exhibition and no vessel dared to go close to the quaysides.

 


Surveillance system using both optical cameras for
above-water surveillance and acoustic imagery to provide
a 3D underwater image.
Equipment

The inside exhibition displayed the latest equipment from a variety of manufacturers. These included high-resolution multibeam echo sounders and side-scan sonars as well as various positioning systems. New from CodaOctopus was a version of the F180 GPS heading and attitude sensor where the GPS antennas and the motion sensor are installed in a single unit. This removes the need to calibrate the offset between these two instruments in the field. The major marine GPS suppliers such as Trimble, Magellan, Novatel and Navcom were present or represented by their main marine resellers. There were, however, few new marine products.

Marine surveillance systems are getting more and more attention at this sort of show. With the US-based ISM safety code for marine shipping being implemented at all major harbors in the world, the need for automated surveillance is increasing. The newest systems have the ability to detect divers swimming towards the quay. Since visibility underwater is generally poor, these systems are based on acoustics. Some systems even have a coupling between an above-water camera and a below-water acoustic imaging system.

 

Socializing

As mentioned before, OI is not just a place where companies show their latest products and scientists exchange information; it is also a major reunion of those involved in the ocean business. Much attention is given to the social aspect of this gathering and as a result attendees could choose from quite a few receptions. For example, on the first evening of the show I counted at least four receptions taking place.

 

Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com is project manager at IDsW and a freelance writer and trainer. This article reflects his personal opinion. For more information on OI: www.oceanologyinternational.com





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