SeaSense - Issue #2

Welcome to issue 2 of SeaSense (Previously Australian Product News)

Although there has been a big gap between issues, we are pleased to advise it is because of lots of action rather than nothing to report. In this edition we will introduce you to MetOcean Data Systems whom appointed MSI exclusive Australian agents earlier this year, highlight some key developments from RBR, AXYS Technologies and MetOcean as well as show off some key sales.

Much of the information contained here is available on our website and we encourage you to check www.metoceanservices.com regularly for updates. As always we welcome your requests for further information as well as your feedback on this newsletter. Please feel free to contact us if you have any projects using our equipment that you would like to showcase via this newsletter.

Introducing MetOcean Data Systems

MetOcean Data Systems (MetOcean) is a manufacturing and development company located in Nova Scotia that, since its incorporation in 1985, has become a world leader in the design and manufacture of air-deployed and ship-deployed drifting buoys. During this time MetOcean has produced thousands of drifting buoys for programs such as WOCE and TOGA. Buoys delivered include for search and rescue (Self Locating Datum Marker Buoys (SLDMB)), oceanography (SVP), oil tracking (iSPHERE and Davis floats) and various ice platforms and acoustic systems to customers all over the world. MetOcean has developed niche markets in the fields of oceanography, meteorology, defence, and coastal environments on an international basis.

Surface Velocity Buoy (SVP)	Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy (SLDMB)	Polar Automatic Weather Station

The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) has initiated this study to increase their understanding and knowledge on metocean data in the Lofoten – Vesterålen area in Nordland county. The observations will also be given to support the Mareano programme. Some rigs with current profilers are already in place in the area and OLF is extending the current programmes with additional moorings.

Read more on the appointment or the products offered by MetOcean.

First Sale of MetOcean Agency to AAD

MSI is pleased to advise its first sale of the recently secured agency of MetOcean Data Systems was to the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) in Kingston, Tasmania. The AAD ordered two of the iSVP Iridium based drifter buoys for use in its extensive research program and these were delivered with Lithium batteries installed to increase the measurement duration of the buoys.

The iSVP is an innovative addition to the spherical drifter family using GPS to track ocean current as well as providing barometric data. Additional sensors available for the iSVP include salinity and wind speed & direction. The use of Iridium telemetry on the buoy ensures excellent satellite coverage due to the extensive network of Iridium satellites, and also enables bi-directional communication with the buoy, allowing the reporting period to be changed remotely to preserve batteries or to allow more efficient tracking and recovery when a vessel is in the area.

The iSVP is just one of many products in the impressive portfolio from MetOcean that MSI now offer in Australia. These include Polar Area Weather Stations, Self Locating Datum Marker Buoys, Oil and Current Tracking Buoys, Ice Mass Balance Buoys, Polar Ocean Profiling Systems and Iridium based submersible tracking beacons.

Interest In Oil Spill Monitoring Sparked By GoM Catastrophe

The catastrophe that followed the fatal explosion and sinking of the BP rig in the Gulf of Mexico has sparked a lot of interest here in Australia for the MetOcean Oil Spill Tracking buoys, the iSPHERE, as well as the SLDMB. These systems were used extensively in the GoM as part of that clean up operation and video footage of a MetOcean SLDMB being deployed into the oil slick, can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/deepwaterhorizonjic#p/u/u-all/0/jMJssdIxjPY. Footage of scientists and researchers using the drifter to track oil plumes can also be found by visiting http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/07/gulf.oil.plume/index.html.

RBR Sales Continue to Grow - $1m Australian Sale Rapidly Approaching

Following on from very strong growth reported in the last edition of APN, MSI is pleased to report that the 2009/10 year has again seen significant growth in all areas of RBR products. Tide gauges continue to be a major purchase here in Australia but this has been supported by significant sales in CTDs, temperature loggers and the relatively new XRX multi channel logger.  Further details on RBR products can be found on our website.

As we enter our 4th year of representing RBR in Australia, we are almost at the CDN$1 million mark in RBR sales - a significant milestone we look forward to celebrating in the next few months.

CSIRO adds the MS-310 Portable Salinometer to its Calibration Arsenal

MSI is pleased to annouce the successful delivery of a RBR MS-310 Micro Salinometer to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Hobart, Australia.

Precision measurement of ocean physics is critical to understanding how the coastal marine environment or deep ocean is changing over short, medium or longer-term time-scales. Any inaccuracies in measurement impact the scientific outcomes and therefore accurate calibration is critical. The MS-310 joins the other equipment at the extensive calibration facility at CSIRO, where they not only calibrate their own oceanographic instrumentation, but offer the service for a range of clients including state research agencies, water authorities and the Australian Antarctic Division. Full Story

Introducing the RINKO III for fast Dissolved Oxygen Measurements

Following extensive discussions with JFE Alec in Japan, RBR recently launched the XR620CTD+RINKO III DO sensor - the ideal complement DO sensor to allow rapid DO measurements. The RINKO III has a time constant of better than a second in ideal conditions and all 8 calibration constants are stored in the logger.

If you need fast DO measurements, download the datasheet or contact MSI for further information and/or a quotation.

MSI Delivers Another TRIAXYS buoy & Receives Order for the 1st HydroLevel Buoy in Australia

Earlier in the year, MSI successfully delivered a TRIAXYS Wave Buoy to Oceanlinx in Port Kembla, NSW. Oceanlinx is a leading international company in the field of wave energy conversion and has developed proprietary technology for extracting energy from ocean waves and converting that energy into electricity, or using it to provide desalinated potable grade water from sea water.Oceanlinx has designed and deployed wave energy systems since 1997, to remain at the leading edge of marine renewable technology development. 

This TRIAXYS buoy is one of many deployed in Australia to existing clients includng other alternative energy companies as well as Port corporations.

MSI is pleased to announce the recent order of an AXYS HydroLevel buoy to a client in Brisbane. This is the first HydroLevel buoy to be sold into Australia and will be used to provide high accuracy tidal measurements in remote and dangerous locations. A full story will appear in the next edition of SeaSense. 

AXYS Academy

AXYS Technologies has run a number of Webinars as part of their AXYS Academy - set up to educate and support potential and existing customers. Previous webinars have been "Next Wave Trilogy", "TRIAXYS Buoy Deployment & Moorings" and most recently "Introduction to Met Ocean Buoys". These webinars can still be viewed but if you are interested in taking part in live webinars, please contact us and we will arrange it.

Metocean Services International - Global Providers of Meteorolgical & Oceanographic Services in 23 29 Countries (and counting).