This system is designed to allow the PLA's Port Control Center to plan the movement of vessels along the river from a selction of potential passages. The system uses predicted tides, tidal streams, and the known river profile to derive either the time of arrival, or departure to allow the vessel to reach a specified berth.

Integration with the PLA's Vessel Tracking System and On-line network of tide gauges allows any planned passage to be monitored in real-time.

For more information contact Hydro Projects by e-mail or, visit their website or, for the complete press release, click here. (PDF file, 23K).

E-PageAds has emerged as one of the most focused sites in the industry recording almost 6-figure monthly hits on their sites. E-PageAds Inc. offers online web page services where subscribers have 365/24/7 password protected access for easy editing of their own advertising web pages. Your Ad can then be viewed in six languages and you can send your unique URL to your own client database to advise them of new products etc. E-PageAds also sends out a FREE weekly newsletter to promote the service. To subscribe email subscribe@E-PageAds.com or click here. Visit E-PageAds.com Inc. at http://www.e-pageads.com

This event is unusual in that we think it is the first to cover the strategic issues impacting on the deepwater E&P industry ranging from licensing and finance to key technologies for deepwater production. Wide-ranging keynote presentations will be from government representatives from Angola, Brazil, Nigeria, USA; the oil majors and regional deepwater specialists, major contractors, industry analysts, financial institutions and technology organisations. Examples include:- ABB, Alpha-Thames, ANP, Dain Rauscher Wessels, IFP, Morgan Keegan, Simmons & Co, Vanco, etc.

To receive further information about the conference contact: Georgie Eldridge by e-mail at: geldridge@thecwcgroup.com (Please quote 'wwd'.). Alternatively, visit www.thecwcgroup.com

The Havila Crown is being equipped with an ABB DP system that will give it the ability to perform a wide range of offshore oilfield support tasks. The system is being supplied by ABB as a complete package valued at NOK 6,5 million. This includes the Sonardyne USBL and a Vertical Reference Unit manufactured by TSS (UK) Ltd. These are being supplied through Aquadyne AS which represents both companies in Norway.

The Sonardyne USBL and the TSS sensor will be integrated with the DP system and will enable the ship to hold station in even the most demanding sea conditions. This will be a valuable capability that will make the new ship suitable for a wide range of contract work including anchor handling, pipe and cable laying and construction support tasks.

The Sonardyne USBL system works in conjunction with one or more acoustic transponders on the seabed equipped with an acoustic release mechanism to permit their recovery after use. By measuring the transit time of the acoustic signal between the ship and the transponder the system is able to calculate the ship’s relative position with a high degree of accuracy – typically better than 0.5 per cent of slant range. This information is then automatically relayed to the DP control which commands the thrusters that hold the ship on-location.

Sonardyne International is based in Yateley, England and has offices in Aberdeen, Houston, Singapore, Brazil and Oslo. It is recognised as a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced acoustic instruments and systems for accurate survey, positioning and tracking in shallow and full ocean depth operations within the offshore oil and gas industries. For more information, e-mail:David Brown dpb@sonardyne.co.uk or visit their website at http://www.sonardyne.co.uk

The device was designed for tagging fish in the oceans in their natural environment, preventing the need for surfacing the fish, tagging and release. The Underwater Tagging Equipment is installed into the cod end of a fishing trawl. As the fish is inside the trawl it is diverted into the equipment where it is tagged and released into the open ocean. The equipment is remotely controlled from onboard of a ship. Clips from the underwater cameras inside the equipment are transfered onboard of the ship via the cable wire, so the researcher in control is able to view the fish, moves the tagging gun in place, and performs the tagging and release of the fish. The equipment will enable scientists to tag fish species that have not been tagged before, deepwater species that do not survice being surfaced.

Star-Oddi is exhibiting at OI, stand no. 722 To receive further information visit their website at http://www.star-oddi.com or e-mail: star-oddi@star-oddi.com

Octopus Marine Systems Inc. is a specialist provider of underwater technologies from Octopus Marine Systems Limited, Tritech International and Applied Acoustic Engineering. All of these products, including several newly released items, will be on display on the Octopus booth 414 at the upcoming OI Americas exhibition in Miami.

Their new address is 1305 FM 359, Suite G, Richmond, TX 77469. Tel. 832-595-1336, Fax 281-754-4401, Email OctopusMarine@aol.com

The systems have been delivered to the Tokyo University of Fisheries (TUF) and the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science (NRIFS) in Japan through its representative Nippon Kaiyou Co. Ltd. and the Chinese Institute of Marine Survey and Charting (IMSC)in China through its representative Laurel Industrial Company, Incorporated.

he MVP300-3400 is capable of reaching 300 m at 12 knots and 850 m at 5 knots and will be used to collect CTD and fluorometer profiles underway. The system will allow these users to collect water column profiles from a vessel underway. This ability to collect underway data will make the survey operation more efficient and improve the quality of the data collected.

The MVP is an underway CTD or sound velocity profiling system which permits near vertical data profiles to be collected with the use of a recoverable free fall fish. The system includes a computer-controlled smart winch and deployment system that permits the free fall fish to be deployed while the vessel is underway. MVP is completely automated, can be operated by computer without the requirement for personnel on deck, and can provides real time sound velocity input into a multi-beam sounder.

The free fall fish can also be equipped with a variety of sensors, including a sound velocity probe, fluorometer and plankton counter. For multibeam surveys, MVP saves a minimum of 3 hours per day of ship time by eliminating the requirement to stop and complete a static cast. Significant savings in data processing can also be realized through improved data quality.

BOT is a Canadian based manufacturer of sensor platforms, cable handling systems, and launch/recovery systems. They are represented in Japan by Nippon Kaiyou Co. Ltd., and in China by Laurel Industrial. BOT is also represented in Europe by MacArtney A/S. For further information visit http://www.brooke-ocean.com or e-mail:afurlong@brooke-ocean.com

With the recent awarding of large statewide LiDAR contracts and the exploding number of RFPs specifically requesting LiDAR mapping, it is clear that this technology is not going to go away. A brief survey of published accuracy specifications reveals that LiDAR results in accuracies of 0.5' vertical and 2' to 4' horizontal. However, there is growing concern among surveyors about the achievable accuracy of airborne LiDAR data and how this accuracy impacts products certified to various established mapping standards.

When discussing the accuracy of LiDAR data, it is important to keep in mind that the theoretical error based on a rigorous engineering analysis of the system is generally not achievable in the field. Operational considerations, such as variations in GPS quality, will significantly affect the final accuracy of the data. In addition, a surveyor will be faced with various interpretations—and misinterpretations—of what is meant by the accuracy of the LiDAR data. As many surveyors who have negotiated LiDAR survey contracts are finding, expectations and interpretations of what was negotiated at the beginning of a contract can become very different when presented with the actual LiDAR data from the vendor. For the complete press release, click here...

exaco is expected to divest a significant part of its U.S. refining and marketing assets to Shell to allay U.S. antitrust concerns about Texaco's proposed merger with Chevron Corp. "Positive discussions continue and are in the final stages," said a Shell spokeswoman. She declined to comment further on the talks, but confirmed that Saudi Aramco Refining Inc is also participating in the dialogue. For the complete press release, click here...

Sonardyne Inc is seeking an Applications Engineer to work in their Houston facility. Reporting to the Sales Manager, the position will involve extensive technical and commercial contact with new and existing clients.

Suitable candidates will have 3 to 5 years practical operational experience in the offshore industry. Experience in either the drilling, marine survey or seismic industry sectors is essential and a knowledge of acoustic positioning systems would be beneficial. The position will require excellent inter-personal skills, self motivation and the ability to work in a small dynamic customer focussed team. Previous commercial experience is preferred but not essential.

Sonardyne Inc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonardyne International, a world leader in the design and supply of subsea acoustic equipment to the world's survey, drilling and seismic contractors. The successful candidate will receive a comprehensive benefits package with good opportunities for career development.

If you are in the offshore industry and are looking to develop your skills in a wider environment we would like to hear from you. Applications in writing or e-mail to: Jonathan Davis, Sonardyne Inc., 11210 Steeplecrest Drive Suite 360, Houston, TX 77065 USA or e-mail him at jpd@sonardyne.com