There is still a lot to discover and Hydro International keeps you posted.

More than seventy per cent of the globe is made up of oceans, yet these underwater places are the least known areas of the planet. Even now only an estimated ten per cent of the ocean floor has actually been mapped in detail. There is still a lot to be discovered.

The average depth of the world’s oceans is over 3,600 meters, with the deepest areas found in oceanic trenches, such as the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean about 200 kilometers east of the Mariana Islands. With nearly 11,000 meters below the sea surface, it is considered the deepest point on earth.

Deepest points of our planet

On the other hand Mount Everest is, technically spoken, the highest point on Earth, reaching 8,848 meters above sea-level, but if you start measuring from the seafloor, there are some much higher mountains. Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 9,170 meters above the seafloor, is probably the highest. Only 4,170 meters of this is exposed above the sea surface.

You could submerge Mount Everest in the Mariana Trench and still have space for Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 1,917 meters, or Tongariro, a compound volcano in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of the North Island of New Zealand, as well. You could also fit thirteen buildings the height of the Burj al Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, in the trench, stacked end to end.

Revolutionary Discoveries

Just imagine that only a century ago Marie Tharp made major strides in discovering more about the world’s oceans and started mapping the entire ocean floor. Despite the barriers of being a female scientist in the male-dominated scientific community of the twentieth century, Marie Tharp’s work led to revolutionary discoveries and the maps of the ocean still affect us today. Step by step scientists and researchers reveal the secrets of the deepest points on our planet. But nearly a hundred years after Marie drew her maps of the seabed, only less than ten per cent of the global ocean is mapped.

There is still a lot to discover nowadays and unlike in the time of Marie Tharp we have high-tech and sophisticated equipment at our disposal. Moreover, both men and women are now involved in the current world of hydrography and its related activities. At Hydro International we closely follow all technical innovations, explorations, activities, discoveries and events.

Stay up to date

Hydro International, published six times a year, goes straight to the desk of key decision-makers in the international hydrographic, oceanographic and related arena and is directed at commercial, academic and government professionals all over the world, people at the leading edge of managing, implementing and procuring hydrographic equipment and services. Our audited readership is involved in a diverse range of activities such as hydrography, oceanography, maritime archaeology and environmental issues.

Do you want to stay informed of the latest developments in this dynamic world? Read our bi-monthly worldwide distributed magazine, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, visit our website and stay up to date with our extensive database with relevant information. At Hydro International we are constantly looking for interesting contributions, because we all still have a lot to discover of our seas, oceans, rivers and lakes.

 

Cees van Dijk,

Content manager Hydro International.

This post is sponsored by our media partner, Hydro International. 


Earning My Place

The following is an essay by a young professional at the start of her ocean-tech career. It appears in the June 2019 issue of Sea Technology.
For more ocean stories, visit sea-technology.com.

I moved to Seattle five years ago from eastern Washington. My family migrated from Mexico 22 years ago, fleeing poverty. Once in Washington, my family worked endlessly. I grew up in a single-parent home, raised by my older sister. I was a quiet kid. I read a lot. When I was 11, I told my mom that I was “out of there” right after high school. I decided I would do anything possible to make that happen.

I am the first in my family to attend college. Education was my way out and my way of providing for my family. I, like the many incredibly bright, relentless, inspiring students of color that I have the privilege of calling my classmates and friends at the University of Washington (UW), pushed through the barriers to learn how to navigate a large institution.

The challenge to fit in and feel like I deserved my place in this highly ranked university was nearly impossible to overcome. I didn’t have the support at home that other kids did when it comes to help with homework, applications or advanced classes.

I took charge of my education and enrolled in Running Start my junior year of high school. A counselor dissuaded me, saying classes could be too hard, or I might not have the $5 to drive daily to the community college. It is encounters like this that deter students of color from challenging themselves further. But I stuck it out and graduated with an even better G.P.A. from the community college than my first two years in high school.

I entered the university environment with this drive and work ethic. Undergrad was extremely difficult, from worrying about how I was going to pay for classes to learning how to study and feeling that I deserved to be there. For the first three years of undergrad, I suffered from imposter syndrome; overcommitted, sleeping 3 hr. a night and unable to shake the feeling of not belonging.

I did not get through high school and undergrad at UW on my own. The Advancement via Individual Determination program in high school encouraged me, and the College Assistant Migrant Program my freshman year of college pushed me. It was the small community of people of color at UW that inspired and convinced me that I had indeed earned my seat there and was not alone. It was the many nights at Latinx Student Union meetings where we would discuss our hardships with classes, with our peers and in this country that uplifted me and ultimately brought me to the Applied Physics Laboratory at UW (APL-UW).

I began working at APL-UW in October 2017, two months after finishing my undergraduate degree in oceanography. UW oceanographer Rick Rupan, whom I worked with, suggested I contact Sarah Webster at APL-UW, an independent department at UW that is a Navy-recognized University Affiliated Research Center, one of only five in the U.S. I met with Sarah and Pete Brodsky, autonomous underwater system engineers at APL-UW. They took a chance and offered me a position.

The first three months were grueling because I had little to no experience in the critical technologies of ocean engineering. However, I was able to focus my attention and give it my all. It was thrilling and rewarding.

On my first day at work, Pete, my boss, showed me around. The first thing I noticed was a pair of old, cut-up denim behind wooden fish cutouts labeled “Donald Trump” and “Hillary Clinton.” There were shot glasses around the room. I eventually learned the shot glasses were for epoxying 3D-printed parts, the fish were for a previous project, and the denim was old pants and jackets cut up into rags.

This scene is partly why I was immediately drawn to APL-UW. I felt I could succeed in this light-hearted, flexible, yet rigorous environment. Without the remarkably bright APL-UW employees, I would not have learned as much as I did in such a short period of time.

In less than a year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with more technologies than I thought possible, including the Linux operating system, the Python programming language to write applications and Matlab to analyze data. I have learned communication protocols such as serial, Ethernet and I2C. I’ve developed interfaces to internal sensors and actuators. I’ve learned how to establish a reliable network time protocol and have worked with submersible Iridium-based remote autonomous locating beacons. I have wired and soldered boards for computers and have worked with high-bandwidth data links using fiber-optic cables, connectors and switches.

In August 2018, I went on a research cruise. It was a chance to live with my co-workers in a challenging, exciting, exhausting and richly rewarding environment. There’s nothing like eight days at sea to stress you out and help you get to know your colleagues and yourself better.

I hope to spend even more time at sea. Now, I know I belong and have earned my place, ready to embrace another challenge.

Viviana Castillo received a B.S. in oceanography from the University of Washington. After a study-abroad program at the Queensland University of Technology, she started learning about and working with autonomous systems. She currently holds a position at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at the University of Washington as a research scientist/engineer, working with critical ocean technologies.


Oceans Highlighted at ADB Annual Meeting in Fiji

The following is a short report by Sea Technology of the latest ocean topics discussed at the Asian Development Bank’s 2019 Annual Meeting.
For more ocean news, visit sea-technology.com.

 

Ocean health in relation to sustainable development was a major theme of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Annual Meeting, held on Denarau Island, Fiji, May 1 to 5. ADB President Takehiko Nakao announced the launch of the ADB’s $5 billion Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies during the meeting. The plan will support the efforts of ADB’s developing member countries related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 on ocean conservation and sustainability. ADB will expand financing and technical assistance for ocean health and marine economy projects to $5 billion from 2019 to 2024, including co-financing from partners. The action plan focuses on four areas: creating inclusive livelihoods and business opportunities in sustainable tourism and fisheries; protecting and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems and key rivers; reducing land-based sources of marine pollution, including plastics, waste-water and agricultural runoff; and improving sustainability in port and coastal infrastructure development. Ocean ecosystems around the world are suffering from climate change, pollution and illegal and unregulated fishing. The Asia-Pacific region contains eight of the 10 rivers transporting 88 to 95 percent of plastics into the sea worldwide. Unless immediate action is taken, about 90 percent of Asia-Pacific’s coral reefs will be dead by 2050, and all commercially exploitable fish stocks will disappear by then. This will significantly threaten food security, the global economy and livelihoods, especially among millions of poor and vulnerable communities in the region. ADB will launch the Oceans Financing Initiative to create opportunities for the private sector to invest in bankable projects that will help improve ocean health through instruments such as credit-risk guarantees and capital market “blue bonds.” On the same day Nakao announced the ADB’s Action Plan for Healthy Oceans, a seminar on ocean health was held at the ADB Annual Meeting. The speakers were: Nakao; the Indonesian Minister for National Development Planning Bambang Brodjonegoro; Global Environment Facility CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii; World Resources Institute President and CEO Andrew Steer; and Pacific Islands Forum Deputy Secretary General Cristelle Pratt. Craig Leeson, director of “A Plastic Ocean,” moderated. Ocean resources are valued at $2.5 trillion, but they are threatened by 8 million tons of plastic being dumped into the oceans every year, Sea Technology reported from the seminar. “The ocean is suffering from tragedy of global commons,” said Ishii. However, “If we do shift our economic and financial paradigms, we can create a healthy ocean,” said Leeson, who brought up the example of his home town in Tasmania, which he witnessed transform from a heavily polluted coastal industrial town to a clean-water tourist destination. Raising awareness and monetizing values that promote ocean health are key. Steer emphasized that the narrative needs to change from helplessness to positive action; we already know the solutions to, for example, overfishing. Brodjonegoro explained how Indonesia has been successful in regulating overfishing by cracking down on illegal activities (partly by blowing up fishing vessels for deterrence). The Indonesian minister also said that both consumer and manufacturer behavior have to change to address the plastics problem; single-use plastics must be reduced. Ocean health is a large global problem, but it is not insurmountable, Leeson argued. With awareness, legislation and manufacturers’ involvement, ocean conservation and sustainable development are possible.

 


The Impact of the Blue Economy

As the nascent blue economy continues to grow and develop, there is an increasing effort at understanding, mitigating and managing the impact that human activity has on the marine environment. “Certain subjects keep bubbling to the surface, and one of them is ocean sound,” said Kira Coley, editor at ECO Magazine, a leading international science publication. “We’re learning not only the important role sound plays among marine life, but also the potential impact that human-derived sounds are having on marine ecosystems.”

ECO magazine recently published a special issue focused on the growing field of Ocean Sound. The special issue showcases some of the ground breaking research being done in the field and reveals just how much we’ve learned and how much we still don’t know about the dynamics of sound in a marine environment. The issue also explores the impact human-derived sound has as our activities increase. New acoustic technologies are helping us understand how important sound is for a species to thrive. Species depend on sound for their survival, and their survival depends on our understanding of the integral role sound plays in their lives.

“We are really just scratching the surface. We are only now learning the extent that the marine ecosystem depends on a complex web of sounds, generated by life in the highly specialized ecosystem of the ocean,” Kira added.

As we learn more about the dynamics between various life forms in the ocean’s ecosystems, and the interplay between various habitats, we can then begin to understand and minimize, our impact on our planet. But man-made sound isn’t the only important area being covered by TSC’s publications.

Jessie Lewis, publication manager at TSC, said “Our upcoming September issue of ON&T covers renewables and offshore energy installation. Fitting given that every day brings a new headline covering some facet of those growing industries.”

Outside of offshore renewable energy sources, another topic that is unavoidable is the use of autonomous and semi-autonomous technology. This technology is being used for everything from surveying to hull husbandry, and its importance will only grow. “The impact autonomous technology has is far-reaching and the ON&T’s August issue will take a closer look at the world of submersibles and its technology,” Jessie added.

In addition to the impact that human activity is having on the planet and the increased use of autonomous and semi-autonomous technology, there is a third, equally important area muscling into the industry consciousness. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, offshore renewable energy may well become the biggest story in 2020.

The key to understanding the growing offshore renewable market sector is data. On that front, SubCableWorld, the leading source of market intelligence for the submarine cable industry, just published a ten-year forecast on offshore wind power cables. “We clearly see how important offshore renewable energy sources are, but our forecast clearly illustrates that the United States offshore wind market has a great deal of work ahead of it in terms of developing a robust supply chain,” said John Manock, Senior editor at SubCableWorld.

TSC publishes two leading marine publications, Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) and Ocean News & Technology (ON&T).  ECO Magazine is a leading international ocean science publication for scientists and professionals reporting from the frontlines of ocean science, technology and exploration. ON&T is the offshore industry’s leading trade publication and for nearly four decades, ON&T has covered the Offshore Energy, Subsea Intervention and Survey, Maritime Communications, and Defense industries. Well read by Executive decision makers seeking industry news, forecasts and data, both publications are proud to be a part of the publishing arm of Technology Systems Corporations (TSC).


Using OCEANS for a Successful Product Launch

OCEANS 2018 Charleston was a great success with many highlights – the live feed from the NASA International Space Station, the packed exhibit floor, the in-depth education sessions, and so much more!

When coordinating the 2018 Conference, one of the exciting projects that the OCEANS team had worked on was to help our friends at General Dynamics Mission Systems launch their new product, Bluefin 9, in conjunction with the Conference.

GDMS was enthusiastic to utilize OCEANS 2018 Charleston as a platform to launch this product, but we wanted to make sure that we exceeded their attendee experience expectations.

We asked ourselves, “How could we tie this into some of the new innovative things that we are already doing around the event?” One of these new ideas was to place a theater in the center of the exhibit hall: a ‘Learning Lounge’ where we could host round tables and education as well as a sponsored presentation element in the hall.

The Exhibit Hall Theater was a significant investment for the Conference (design, production, labor, set- up), but we knew that we needed to feature this element in the exhibit hall. In strategic planning meetings with GDMS, we discussed designing a custom package to recognize them as the presenting partner for the Exhibit Hall Theater. Branding and new product imagery would be placed on all sides of the Theater alongside the OCEANS conference imagery while several spoken presentations in the Theater would introduce their new product.

In addition, we crafted a promotional program that included digital exposure leading up to the event, signage placed onsite, an announcement on the PA when the product was unveiled and a special VIP reception in the Theater during the main exhibit hall reception.

This strategic sponsorship package not only offset the cost of the Theater set up, but it provided GDMS with an innovative way to unveil their new product. In the end, it was a great success and we were proud to be a part of it!

If your organization is looking for new ways to display your product or solutions at OCEANS 2019 Seattle, please contact our sales team today!

Chris Martin
Phone: 410-584-1991
chris.martin@mci-group.com

Carly Heideger 
Phone: 410-584-1992 
carly.heideger@mci-group.com 


ECO & ON&T continue growth entering 2020

Anyone affiliated with the maritime industry knows about OCEANS, the annual conference and exposition put on by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and IEEE’s Oceanic Engineering Society. OCEANS 2019 Seattle is taking place in Seattle from October 27 – 31, and this year’s focus is on sustainable practices and new opportunities presented by the blue economy. The conference theme is “Blue Sea, Blue Sky, Blue Tech.”

On average, over 130 vendors are there and over 500 papers are presented at OCEANS. Sessions focus on the latest technology and news in the industry, which is why both ECO and Oceans News & Technology magazines will be well-represented at OCEANS.

Greg Leatherman, managing editor for both publications, and Kira Coley, ECO Magazine senior editor, took a few moments to share their thoughts on the blue economy, the conference, and what 2020 holds for their publications.

“I think one of the most exciting areas in the blue economy is the emergence of a traceable “farm to table” aquaculture presence in North America. Due to the sheer number of people who live along our coastlines, you can’t overestimate how important environmental issues are in this area. The combination of skilled people and good data in this arena could change the way we eat in the same way that organic labelling has,” Greg said.

Greg noted that many of the major food companies stock values are reflecting what is important to larger elements of the population. They’re sending the message that they want to know where their food is coming from. Greg added, “Clearly no industry has more to gain from this than the North American seafood producers.”

ECO Magazine senior editor, Kira Coley, said, “With all the challenges we face in understanding changes to the oceans and coasts, beyond-border collaborations between the technology industry, governments and different science fields will be key.”

Greg suggested that 2020 is going to be a big year for ECO and ON&T magazines. “Our ECO special topic issues have been tremendously successful, and we are going to continue along that path. ON&T we’re expanding our international coverage, focusing on hot spots such as Brazil and the southern Gulf of Mexico. We’re also going to cover supply chain companies in the offshore energy areas. Our print editions will continue to be more in depth, and we’ll leverage our websites and newsletters for breaking news and updates.”

Kira added, “It’s also vitally important for success stories to be shared so others can see what can be achieved and follow suit. Our role as a leading trade publication is to support these efforts and help build bridges between industry and academia. It’s not just about keeping people informed about the latest advancements, but also about sharing stories with the ocean community that encourages open dialogue and new thinking on a global level.”

As veteran alumni of the OCEANS conference, Greg and Kira are looking forward to what they most value in the conference – the people. Greg finds that the element he most enjoys when attending conferences are his fellow attendees. “It’s really about the people. I find that once you get past the logos and marketing materials, the quality of people that work in ocean industries, academia, and organizations is unsurpassed. Where else can I talk to a Navy officer one moment, a world-class inventor the next, and then find myself at a table full of young engineers excited to solve whatever challenges the world has for them. I always meet someone amazing at the OCEANS conference, in part because the membership for MTS is so far-reaching.”

TSC publishes two leading marine publications, Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) and Ocean News & Technology (ON&T).  ECO Magazine is a leading international ocean science publication for scientists and professionals reporting from the frontlines of ocean science, technology and exploration. ON&T is the offshore industry’s leading trade publication and for nearly four decades, ON&T has covered the Offshore Energy, Subsea Intervention and Survey, Maritime Communications, and Defense industries. Well read by Executive decision makers seeking industry news, forecasts and data, both publications are proud to be a part of the publishing arm of Technology Systems Corporations (TSC).

A business-to-business media company and conference organizer, TSC provides focused print, digital, and electronic media, research, market intelligence, information services and specialized conferences to the ocean and offshore industries. As the primary industry resource for news, technology developments, forecasts, information and intelligence, TSC provides insight and opportunity for the Ocean Science/Research, Submarine Cable, Offshore Energy, Marine, and Military and Civilian governments.


Elevate Your Brand at OCEANS

Everyone knows OCEANS.  The esteemed annual conference put on by both the Marine Technology Society and IEEE’s Oceanic Engineering Society is well known for the over 500+ papers that are presented on a variety of topics within the ocean science and maritime industries.  When attendees are not in sessions learning about these robust and essential industry topics, they are walking the Exhibit Hall Floor, experiencing and testing the latest and greatest technology, products and services that over 130 vendors have to offer.  

While it makes for an exciting and busy conference it can also be a challenge to grab an attendee’s attention.  Increasing traffic to your booth and company presence is more important than ever.  Asking yourself and your team “What are we doing to drive traffic to our booth?” can the make it or break it question for your conference activation.  

Fortunately, the OCEANS Seattle show has several ways to ensure a successful and busy show: 

  1.  Becoming a Patron: By selecting a patron package that includes your booth space, allows for over 15+ places for your company ad, logo and signage to ensure your company stands out above the rest.  
  2. Additional Registrations: Bringing additional staff to OCEANS can help your company be in more than once place at once.  Having staff work your booth, present in the Innovation Theater and attend additional sessions to make certain that your company is learning all there is to know about the industry! All patron packages include additional full conference and exhibit hall only registrations.  
  3. Social and Networking Events: At OCEANS…you are well fed! With three receptions and breakfast and lunch daily, there are many, customized ways to allow your company to connect with attendees on a more social level. 

Patron sponsorships continue to be a unique and important way to have a successful conference experience.  MCI is excited to be able to connect with vendors on designing a customized, unforgettable package! 

 


Join 5,000+ ocean technology experts at Ocean Business…

This post is sponsored by our media partner, Ocean Business. 

More than 330 international exhibitors will take centre stage at Ocean Business in Southampton from 9-11 April. Featuring live demonstrations of the latest ocean technology from across the globe, visitors can keep up to date with the latest advances in the industry.

International Exhibition
Explore an exhibition bringing together the world’s leading manufacturers and service providers. See the latest product launches from 330+ exhibitors showcasing products and services from across the globe.

Training & Demo Programme
Unique to the show is 184 hours of training and demonstrations, enabling visitors to test-drive the latest equipment and systems. Held in test tanks, in classrooms, on board vessels and in dockside waters.

Opening Session
Industry experts present and debate the future of the Ocean Economy with a keynote by Claire Jolly, Head, IPSO Unit Ocean Economy Group, OECD followed by a panel discussion.

Offshore Survey
Hear from industry experts addressing the major issues facing the international offshore survey community. Including autonomous and unmanned vehicles, imaging, data and future perspectives.

Co-located Meetings
Discover new business opportunities and hear from industry experts at co-located meetings and seminars organised by independent groups or organisations in the industry.

Social Events
Network at social events held throughout the show including welcome drinks the night before the show opens, a wine trail on the show floor and the famous Ocean Business Dinner.

To find out more or to register for free* visit www.oceanbusiness.com

* The exhibition, training and demonstration sessions, co-located meetings, welcome drinks and wine trail are free to attend. There is a fee to attend the Offshore Survey conference and Ocean Business dinner. The Ocean Business Dinner is sold out, to be added to the waiting list, please email awright@divcom.co.uk.


Welcome to the OCEANS Current!

Welcome to the OCEANS Current, the place to go for important information regarding the OCEANS 2019 Seattle conference as well as exclusive content and previews for what awaits you in October. While your trip to Seattle may be months away, your love and passion for the world’s oceans is ongoing – that’s why we wanted a way to help keep our valued conference participants stay current.

While we have this content covered, we need your voice to make OCEANS 2019 Seattle the best it can be. Have you done extensive research about marine technology? What about oceanic conservation efforts? If so, now is your time to show the world your ideas. Our Call for Abstracts opens on March 25 and will remain open until May 31. If your abstract is selected for presentation, your full paper or poster will be published in the IEEE eXplore journal and will be available for download from the OCEANS’19 app and online program after your paper or poster is presented in person at the conference. For more information, please click here.

Please make note of these important dates leading up to the conference:

March 25 | Call for Abstracts opens
May 31 | Call for Abstracts closes
June 17 | Early-bird Registration opens
July 12 | Author Notification
September 13 | Papers/Posters due
September 16 | Early-bird Registration closes

We can’t wait to see you in Seattle!