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SPILL RESPONSE pa, ? rst responders now arrive with “We have tenured professionals exit- real-time information regarding spill size, material characteristics and spill ing the industry faster than the next direction. Apps – and applications – change, adding strength to this ? eld.

Then there are other technologies, generation can gain experience.” presenting a more complex mix of moving parts, big moving parts – such – Devon Grennan, SCAA President and CEO and as autonomous vessels.

Boston-based Sea-Machines (S-M)

President of Seattle-based Global Diving & Salvage builds and installs a range of marine technology, including emerging tech- nology for piloting unmanned ves- sels. Hazardous environments – oil ogy, starting with shallow survey op- with an Israeli-based Harbo, involves spills and clean up – is a major focus erations. Spill response is another big a lightweight and ? exible boom sys- part of ASV’s upcoming product and tem. One goal is to pack 500 meters area. S-M’s automated systems are to- day mostly in a test-case mode with technology developments. of material into an autonomous boat,

James Cowles is ASV’s Commer- ready for instant deployment. “This selective companies. S-M’s SEA MA-

CHINES 300 System will likely be cial Technical Sales Manager. Cowles would mean you could get something ready in the 3rd quarter of this year. said ASV is working on a “follow me” in place very quickly,” Cowles said, “at

To that end, Sea Machines recently system, towing a boom, for example, least containing the spill and holding partnered for tests with Marine Spill with the effort under the control of a it until a clean-up team could arrive.” larger, manned vessel. This has obvi- These ideas are not yet commer-

Response Corporation (MSRC).

Testing centered on the ability to ous advantages – it keeps personnel cially ready. R&D is still under way.

autonomously control a Munson boat out of harm’s way. A related project Another emerging autonomous to deploy and tow a spill collection boom working in tandem with, and controlled by, a 210-foot MSRC oil spill response vessel.

Michael Johnson is S-M’s CEO.

Initial tests with MSRC went well,

Johnson said, demonstrating perfor- mance in critical areas such as remote control and maintaining vessel dis- tance and speeds. Johnson said up- coming tests still need to “push the system more in different conditions.

We’re on the water daily,” he added, “working hard to ? nd the solutions.”

For his part, John Swift, MSRC

Vice President, said, “This technology has promise. Anything you can do to maximize safety and minimize fatigue of personnel is always a good thing.”

Separately, ASV Global is work- ing on autonomous projects with a similar focus. ASV recently partnered with UK’s Peel Ports Group to de- velop autonomous vessel technol- www.marinelink.com MN 35

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