A Quarter of the World’s Ocean Floor Now Mapped Under Seabed 2030 Project (3)
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, which aims to complete the mapping of the world’s ocean floor before the end of the decade, has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saildrone, a U.S. based uncrewed surface vehicles (USV) company, at a ceremony during Ocean Business held in Southampton, the United Kingdom, on April 18-20. Ocean Business is three days of ocean technology engineering and science, knowledge sharing, hands-on training and demos as well as networking.
The MOU outlines a shared commitment between Seabed 2030 and Saildrone to leverage technological innovation to more quickly and efficiently collect ocean mapping data and support solutions for ocean mapping and bathymetric data management.
Saildrone’s fleet of USVs is designed to make ocean data collection cost-effective at scale, offering new capabilities for ocean exploration and mapping.
Saildrone said that its surveyor-class vehicles carry a similar sophisticated suite of acoustic instruments to deliver International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)-compliant bathymetry data to a depth of 11,000 meters. Saildrone’s 10-meter Voyager-class vehicles are equipped for near-short ocean mapping to depths of 300 meters.
Mr. Jamie McMichael-Phillips, project director of Seabed 2030, commented: “We can only realize our goal of a complete map of the ocean floor if we mobilize the international community and work together. We are therefore delighted to partner with Saildrone and leverage their expertise in unmanned surface vehicles for ocean mapping.”
“The capabilities of Saildrone’s fleet will greatly enhance our ability to obtain essential data and increase our understanding of the ocean. Allowing us, in turn, to make informed and impactful decisions with regard to the future of the planet.”
According to Saildrone, its platforms are the only USVs capable of long-endurance ocean-mapping operations using renewable energy as the primary source of power.
Mr. Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO, said: “Saildrone’s vision is of a healthy ocean and a sustainable planet. A complete map of the ocean floor is fundamental to achieving that vision. We are proud to collaborate with Seabed 2030, to enable the mapping of our entire seabed, for the benefit of the global community.”
At Ocean Business in Southampton, Seabed 2030 also entered into a new partnership with ACUA Ocean, which develops zero-carbon emission uncrewed surface vessels.
Headquartered in London, ACUA Ocean is a maritime cleantech startup working to promote the sustainable economic and environmental management of the ocean. Their hydrogen-powered uncrewed surface vessels (H-USV) reduce operational CO2 emissions by up to 99.3% compared to existing manned solutions, as well as reducing fueling and maintenance requirements. This enhances operational efficiency by allowing for an increase in range, speed and endurance.
Seabed 2030 Project Director McMichael-Phillips said he was delighted to partner with ACUA Ocean, whose commitment to environmentally-friendly practices and marine conservation strongly aligns with Seabed 2030’s goal of promoting the sustainable management of the ocean, adding: “Through this new partnership and ACUA Ocean’s innovative technology we can expedite the global endeavor to map the ocean, so that we can better manage it.”
Mr. Neil Tinmouth, CEO of ACUA Ocean, said: "This partnership with Seabed 2030 is a natural fit for us. Our mission is to advance underwater mapping in order to better understand the ocean and its ecosystems. By working with Seabed 2030, we can help to make a significant impact in our efforts to protect the planet."
(To be continued)