Current Projects
In partnership with research and educational institutions and government, Newfoundland and Labrador companies are developing a broad range of products and services to meet the ever-changing needs of the global oceans economy. Reflecting the international scope of ocean technology markets, exports of the 50 Newfoundland and Labrador companies operating in this sector increased by 300 per cent between 2006 and 2010.
Some of the projects these companies and educational and research institutions undertake make use of expertise, facilities and resources within the province, some engage partners elsewhere in Canada, and some involve international collaborators.
Ocean Observing System Provides Near-Real Time Meteorological and Hydrographic Data from Buoys in Placentia Bay
by OceansAdvance on May 31, 2011
SmartBay is an ocean observing system that provides mariners with near-real time meteorological and hydrographic data from three buoys in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as regional and hourly site-specific weather forecasts. SmartBay users include marine pilots. tanker and tug operators and others involved in supporting the oil industry, fish harvesters, recreational boaters, tourism operators, charterers, research scientists, and the federal and provincial governments. Read more.
High Frequency Radar Ocean Surface Applications to Extract Information on Ocean Surface Parameters
by OceansAdvance on May 31, 2011
The High Frequency Radar Ocean Surface Applications (HF-ROSA) project will develop a suite of commercial software applications to extract information on ocean surface parameters such as currents and ocean waves as well as ice and icebergs from data collected by the OceanView radar system. The project team is led by the Memorial University Faculty of Engineering and includes Northern Radar Incorporated of St. John's (the developer of Ocean View radars), the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Read more.
Memorial University & Husky Energy Partner to Study Sustainable Technology for Polar Ships and Structures
by OceansAdvance on May 10, 2011
Sustainable Technology for Polar Ships and Structures is a $7.2 million project over five years focused on 1) understanding the impact forces when ice collides with steel structures at realistic speeds in the high Arctic, and 2) developing tools for designing ships and offshore structures for year-round Arctic operations. Memorial University’s Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering Department has partnered with Husky Energy Inc., American Bureau of Shipping Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Read more.
Marport Introduces SQX-500 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
by oa on May 8, 2011
The SQX-500 AUV is an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that serves as a support platform for many different sonar devices that operate on Marport Deep Sea Technologies' proprietary sonar processor architecture. This technology will provide significant commercial solutions to survey and defence problems over the next decade. Marport is collaborating with the NRC Institute for Ocean Technology (IOT-NRC) in St. John's on the AUV development. Read more.
C-CORE Launches LOOKNorth Project
by OceansAdvance on May 7, 2011
LOOKNorth will identify the knowledge gaps facing natural resource developers in Canada’s North, and validate Earth observation technologies and other technical solutions that can fill those gaps, to support oil and gas, hydro, and mining in the sub-Arctic and Arctic. LOOKNorth will involve Canadian technology companies with relevant expertise. This $15 million project over five years is led by C-CORE of St. Read more.
Marine Institute Develops Snow Crab Escape Mechanism
by oa on May 6, 2011
The Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources at the Marine Institute developed a rigid escape mechanism to reduce the capture of juvenile snow crabs (under 95 mm). Comparative fishing experiments conducted by the Centre showed that traps fitted with escape mechanisms caught up to 47 per cent less juvenile crab compared to traditional traps, depending on the area and season. The device, which is being manufactured by AAA Tony’s Fisheries Solutions, is being used by 132 harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador. Read more.
Memorial University Initiates SEAformatics R&D Project
by OceansAdvance on May 3, 2011
Beginning in 2007, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University initiated SEAformatics, a five-year multidisciplinary R&D project to design, fabricate and validate a proof-of-concept seafloor array of acoustically networked marine sensor platforms for subsea monitoring applications. Each platform in the array ('pod') will harvest power from ocean currents using a small-scale marine turbine to extend deployment beyond systems that rely solely on batteries. Read more.
