Page 26: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2013)

Shark Marine marine debuted its owned ?manned? submersible, but one in quite a different scope, via its MAKO DDS Diver Delivery System. Ontario, Canada-based Shark Marine introduced the MAKO DDS next-generation Diver Delivery System that the company claims marks an evolution in diver transportation, combining a production device with the Shark Marine Navigator, Diver Held Navigation and Sonar Imaging System. The combina- tion results in a system that is designed to allow automated  ight paths, from a simple ?Go to Target? to complex sur- vey routes, while providing the diver with full navigation and forward-looking sonar to locate and view targets up to 810 ft. away. Intelligent operation modes include: Go to Target; Survey Routes; Waypoint Routes; Auto Depth; Auto Altitude; Auto Heading; Station Keeping; and Hover Mode. MAKO DDS is designed to be a  exible platform, and comes in three con gurations with 4, 6 or 8 thrusters. Power is pro- vided by neutral buoyant power cells that can be changed, even underwater, and the system can operate with 2, 4 or 6 batteries. MAKO DDS is designed to carry one or two dives, and to tow additional divers and payload. OceanGate announced that it has ac-quired a three-person, diesel-electric submersible Lula from Portugal?s Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation. The submarine, which can operate at a depth of 500 m (1,640 ft.), was purchased, according to OceanGate, to meet the increased demand for manned submersibles in com-mercial applications focused on biological and environmental surveys, monitoring, and inspection. Lula will expand OceanGate?s ability to meet growing indus- try client demands, helping ful ll contracts for the University of Washington on behalf of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Of ce of Naval Research. Lula will also supplement OceanGate?s Antipodes submers- ible in performing survey, inspection, and monitoring work in the Gulf of Mexico. ?OceanGate?s acquisition of Lula re ects the increased demand for submersibles in speci c commercial applications,? said William Kohnen, president/CEO of Hydro- space Group. ?As more organizations continue to re-evaluate the use of manned submersibles and their value as part of the overall portfolio of sub-sea operations, we will continue to see the market grow. As an industry, these forward looking mar- ket development roles continue to be lead by privately funded organizations like OceanGate as they deploy more technology and applications related to submersible solutions.? Vehicle Notes Shark Marine Debuts MAKO DDS Diver Delivery System. OceanGate acquired a three-person, diesel- electric submersible Lula from Portugal?s Re- bikoff-Niggeler Foundation. Teledyne Webb Research last month delivered the Þ rst Slocum G2 glider to Brazil. January/February 2013 26 MTRMTR #1 (18-33).indd 26MTR #1 (18-33).indd 261/30/2013 10:19:32 AM1/30/2013 10:19:32 AM