Page 24: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2020)

Vehicles

Innovative new platforms to conduct subsea work

KA aerial; different GSM modes for survey integration; the ability to replace of Mariner II’s. Their No. 1 seller, how- complex coms and up to 10 days diesel a larger surface vessel and a knack for ever, is a conversion pack that converts electric or two days all-electric opera- helping other USVs navigate. nearly any type of vessel into a USV. You tional time seem suffcient. can turn your launch into a Mariner II —

While the Otter is a proven harbour sort of. Deliveries of conversion packs CONvErtIblE and riverbed multibeam survey platform While 22 of the smaller Otter USVs — have gone toward towing vessels, target than can be programmed “on the way to 2 meters long, 1 m wide, 81 centimeters vessels and converted oil-spill clean- work”, the Mariner II will do the same tall and just 95 kilograms — were sold up vessels, including those tasked with from a control station and farther out to in 2019, the Mariner II may now also spreading dispersant and performing me- sea. An underwater hyperspectral imag- be fnding solid interest for bathymetric chanical clean-up tasks. “Communica- ing camera can be equipped to detect surveys. There’s a reported Dutch dredg- tions with the USV is set up in a way that algae types. Direction from an UAV is ing order, and there’s an untapped market allows instant manned-unmanned con- possible, as are operational modes that in early-stage surveys for offshore wind version at the push of a button,” Hovstein include remote control; way point track- parks, where a large compartment could tells us. “This is great value.” ing; pre-program or station-keeping en- conceivable also serve as tool carrier box So, Houston’s “Oil in water. Stay in riched by a “return to control station” to replace “seasick” crews. These wind vehicle,” highway signs could, in fu- and sea chart and radar overlays. surveys precede the cable-laying and ture, mean a Mariner II or Maritime Ro-

As for the Sheridan & Verplank autono- pile-driving of offshore wind grids. botics converted vessel is on its way to my ranking — there are collision avoid- For now, Maritime Robotics is selling clean things up. As in the case of pirates, ance and detection alarms; multi-vehicle a lot of Otters and seeing the frst sales there’s no need to put people at risk.

Survey points:

A view of the PC or tablet control interface.

Maritime Robotics May 2020 24

MTR