Ireland Showcases Marine Technology at Oceanology International, London
Ireland’s SmartOcean Pavilion (stand B500) sponsored by the Marine Institute showcases a range of products and services, such as smart control technologies for subsea remotely operated vehicles; subsea power cable fault finding; innovative data buoy and anti-fouling wiper equipment; and adjustable ‘clutch fins’ technology that can potentially double the output of wave energy devices.
Exhibitors at the Ireland Pavilion represent Ireland’s growing SmartOcean cluster with displays by Mobile and Marine Robotics Research Centre (UL), SmartBay Ireland,Geomara, Jospa, IDS Monitoring, as well as INFOMAR (the Irish strategic National Seabed Survey by the Geological Survey of Ireland and Marine Institute), and Research Vessel Operations at the Marine Institute.
Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute said:
“We’re delighted to take part in Oceanology International 2014 alongside some of Ireland’s marine technology innovators. Ireland is a great place to do marine business right now, with a growing number of high tech marine and ocean energy companies developing novel products and services for international markets. And together with our national marine test-bed infrastructure in Galway Bay, Ireland is an ideal location to test and validate marine energy and subsea technologies.”
The Marine Institute continues to develop Ireland’s national marine test and validation facility for marine energy and subsea technologies in Galway Bay. The subsea observatory will include a standard telecommunications cable to provide power and high speed data communication between the shore station and a network of subsea data ports and surface buoys at the test site. The project is a national collaboration between the Marine Institute, SmartBay Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (UCC).
At OI2014, SmartBay Ireland is actively seeking companies with technology prototypes who wish to use this facility to test and validate novel sensors and equipment, for example Wave Energy Converters, Subsea Sensors, Data and Communications systems.
Visit us at the Ireland Pavilion to explore opportunities emerging through local and international initiatives such as Horizon 2020. Ireland is well positioned to work with Atlantic partners in the sustainable development of our ocean resource.
Ireland’s SmartOcean Pavilion at OI14 supports the achievement of key actions from the Governments Integrated Marine Plan, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth. A Development Task Force was set up last December, appointed by Minister Simon Coveney to progress these actions including: promoting Ireland as a good place to do marine business and supporting new and existing marine test and demonstration facilities.
Ends
For more information contact
Lisa Fitzpatrick, Communications Manager, Marine Institute 091 387200 or 087 2250871lisa.fitzpatrick@marine.ie
NOTES TO EDITORS
About SmartOcean
SmartOcean is an initiative led by the Marine institute aimed at catalysing the development of high value products and services by creating a critical mass of research and development activities in Marine ICT. SmartOcean seeks to harness Ireland’s natural marine resources and specialist expertise in Marine Science and ICT to establish Ireland as a leader in the development of high value products and services for the global marine sector. This includes the delivery of next generation technology products and services for marine sectors such as aquaculture, environmental monitoring, shipping and security, marine renewable energy, tourism, and oil and gas.
Marine Institute Research Vessel Operations/Infrastructure
Ireland has world-class marine research infrastructure, including 2 purpose built research vessels, RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager, and a deepwater Remotely Operated Vehicle. The 65m long RV Celtic Explorer is a highly sophisticated low-noise multipurpose research vessel designed for undertaking a wide array of offshore and deep-sea survey operations. The RV Celtic Voyager is a 31.4m multipurpose vessel suited to coastal research and offshore survey operations. The Deepwater ROV is rated to 3000m. It can accommodating a wide range of user equipment without modification including multi-beam, CTD, nutrient sensors as well as numerous spare serial and I/O ports. The ROV is equipped with a high level of auto control features including auto hold which is invaluable in the completion of delicate scientific tasks.
https://www.marine.ie/home/Research+Vessels.htm
SmartBay Ireland
SmartBay Ireland is responsible for the establishment and development of a National Research, Test and Demonstration facility to support the application and translation of research and provide platforms for the testing and demonstration of new technologies and solutions in the Marine and related sectors
INFOMAR
The INFOMAR programme is one of the world’s largest civilian seabed mapping programmes. INFOMAR has significant expertise in seabed mapping and hydrographic survey and offer integrated mapping products covering the physical and biological features of the seabed.
JOSPA
Jospa will feature “3Improvements” – novel technologies to increase displacement, bandwidth, controllability of wave energy devices. The report on one: “most wave energy devices capture 10 to 20% of available energy – with ACF the 10 may become 34% and 20 become 44%”. The ACF can also act to stabilise a service boat.
IDS Monitoring
IDS Monitoring specialises in the delivery and support of data acquisition and telemetry systems for a wide variety of marine and related environmental applications. During OI 2014 IDS monitoring will launch a micro data buoy and smart anti-fouling wiper.
Geomara
Subsea Survey, Asset Protection and Intervention.
Mobile and Marine Robotics Research Centre (UL)
The Marine Robotics Research Centre (MRRC) in University of Limerick is a research centre focused on the development of remote vehicle and payload technologies for subsea commercial and scientific applications.
Marine Coordination Group - Development Task Force
Implementation of the Irish Government’s Integrated Marine Plan ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’ (HOOW), is the responsibility of Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Inter-departmental Marine Coordination Group to supervise cross-government delivery.
A Development Task Force was set up in December last year appointed by Minister Simon Coveney T.D. to progress actions from ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’ including:
Give a clear message to investors that Ireland is ‘open for, and a good place to do, marine business, domestically and internationally and continue to market and promote business opportunities associated with the marine through the IDA, EI, IMDO, Bord Bia, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland. (HOOW #17)
Support existing and new test-beds/facilities for demonstration and commercialisation purposes that promote Ireland as a test-bed for renewable energy technologies and ICT (SmartOcean) focusing on the development of innovative technologies that support real-time information gathering (e.g. for security, surveillance, environmental monitoring). (HOOW#25)