Page 56: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2024)

Tech Feature: Winches

MTR 100

SOFAR OCEAN sofarocean.com

No. of Employees: 100

President/CEO : Tim Janssen

Sofar is changing our knowledge of the world’s water- ways by leading the global effort to unlock ocean data at scale for government, industry, science, and society. So- far’s story starts with Spotter, its marine sensing platform that collects and transmits ocean data in real time. Sofar has deployed hundreds of Spotters globally and now oper- ate the largest privately-owned network of ocean sensors, which produce more than 1.5 million real-time observa- tions of waves and other variables each day. Sofar’s team of ocean scientists uses this dataset to improve its propri- etary marine weather forecasts.

Sofar’s forecasts, data and hardware are used by many key maritime stakeholders: • Ocean industries, from offshore wind to aquaculture, de- ploy ? eets of Spotters at coastal and offshore sites to re- motely access real-time surface and subsurface data. These insights help them better understand ocean weather condi-

Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane tions and promote safe and ef? cient operations. • Marine researchers use the Spotter Platform — as well as Coastal Impacts project (NHCI) data from Sofar’s global network of ocean sensors — to bol- ster environmental monitoring efforts and further essential The Technology

Earlier this year, Sofar added a current meter integration to climate research. Coastal communities bene? t directly from this research, which is increasingly critical as the effects of the Sofar Spotter Platform. This upgrade has enabled Spot- ter users to streamline the process of collecting subsurface climate change intensify. currents data at scale. Spotter sims to simplify subsurface • Maritime shipping companies use Sofar’s Way? nder dy- namic voyage optimization platform to keep their vessels currents measurement, without compromising data quality on the most ef? cient path to port and save an average of or accessibility. Users can equip Spotter’s subsurface exten- 4-6% on fuel and emissions per voyage. The route and RPM sion (Smart Mooring) with multiple current payloads, and remotely access the current speed and direction data they guidance that Way? nder sends vessels is powered by Sofar’s collect in real time using the Spotter Dashboard and API. superior weather forecasts and data. • Government stakeholders leverage Sofar’s forecasts and These observations of subsurface currents can be made in tandem with other surface and subsurface observations at data, the Spotter Platform, and Way? nder in operations.

Sofar Ocean was founded in 2016 and is based in San the same site; for example, a current payload and a water

Francisco, California. Its mission is to connect the world’s level payload deployed in tandem on a Smart Mooring can oceans to power a more sustainable future. Its global team combine to act as a tidal gauge. The integration of a cur- comprises approximately 100 ocean scientists, engineers, rent meter with the Spotter Platform was made possible by our Bristlemouth open ocean connectivity standard. and business professionals. • Key customers (Way? nder): MOL Group, Star Bulk, Bristlemouth supplies plug-and-play interfaces for marine hardware, simplifying the process of connecting platforms,

Berge Bulk, and other leading carriers.

sensors, and devices. Spotter is fully Bristlemouth-enabled, • Key customers (Spotter Platform): University of West- meaning that marine professionals can swiftly integrate and ern Australia, USGS, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engi- interchange different payloads, including the current meter. neers, Mørenot.

Bristlemouth will facilitate the integration of other sensors • Key partnerships: U.S. Naval Meteorology and Ocean- ography Command (CRADA), NDBC (CRADA), National and devices with Spotter in the future.

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