Our Seiche PAM buoys, marine mammal observers, technicians and AutoNaut Unmanned Surface Vessels have been busy helping The Ocean Cleanup with its Environmental Monitoring programme.
Take a look at the results of the first mission and watch the video showcasing our collaboration here.
We are proud of our long-standing relationship with University of Bath, working together on their Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. Philippe Blondel and Mark Burnett discuss here.
Click here to read the Ocean News & Technology article on the launch of the new 3.5 metre AutoNaut USV at Ocean Business 2019, taking place at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, from the 9th to the 11th of April 2019.
Seiche Training is pleased to announce a partnership with ORCA, one of the UK’s leading marine conservation charities.
Building on the sector-leading Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) programme Seiche Training has been running for a number of years, the two organisations have now developed an innovative new training package that integrates ORCA’s decades of experience monitoring marine mammals.
The three-day residential programme combines classroom-based learning with at-sea practical training, giving participants the theoretical skills needed to work as an MMO before putting it into practice observing real animals in the wild.
The course will produce a new generation of highly skilled MMOs that will not only have all of the technical skills needed to fulfil this crucial role, but will also have been exposed to a leading conservation organisation, giving them a crucial perspective on the key factors affecting whales and dolphins in UK and European waters.
Speaking about the new programme, ORCA Head of Science & Conservation, Lucy Babey, said: “This training course highlights how well respected ORCA’s work is in the wider scientific community, and we are thrilled to be working with Seiche Training to allow for a joined-up approach in creating safer spaces for whales and dolphins. We know from experience that there is no substitute for this type of at-sea experience.”
Sarah Hancock from Seiche said: “We are very excited to be building on our established course content by including the breadth of marine conservation knowledge brought by ORCA.”
The course commences with a one-day classroom-based session in Portsmouth before crossing to Santander, passing through one of the top five places in the world to see whales and dolphins – the Bay of Biscay – with the time at sea spent applying the technical skills on deck and observing marine mammals.
Two trips have been announced for 2019: 30 April to 2 May and 9 July to 11 July. The package includes the full training programme, passage aboard the ship and a single occupancy cabin. Places for this unique course are extremely limited and applicants should email Sarah Hancock at: info@seichetraining.com to find out more and apply.
ORCA is one of the UK’s leading marine conservation charities with a mission to give everyone who cares about whales and dolphins an active role in safeguarding their future. ORCA has coordinated a national network of volunteer citizen scientists since they were founded in 2001, using ferries and cruise ships as platforms of opportunity to collect critical data about whales, dolphins and porpoises.
ORCA’s research is used by government to inform UK and European marine conservation policy and ORCA is a key voice in the UK marine conservation sector. This work culminated in the launch of the annual The State of European Cetaceans report in 2016, which analyses ORCA’s data to identify critical habitats for whales and dolphins. The State of European Cetaceans 2018 report can be found in full at www.orcaweb.org.uk/soec
Listen here to the BBC programme (from 17 minutes in) where Hannah Fisher goes to see an AutoNaut unmanned automated vessel being tested in icy conditions.
The remotely-operated vessel will be used to explore uncharted waters around Antarctic ice sheets to collect data on ice-melt and sea-level rise, but first it needs to have a coating that won’t ice up.
Key presentations were given by Seiche Water Technology Group at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton last week:
“Smart onboard processing of visual imaging from a small Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV)” was presented by Mark Burnett on an Innovate UK and National Oceanography Centre collaboration.
“Commerical off the shelf UUV for ASW” was given by Robin Campbell, Qinetiq featured Seiche’s digital array and Iver UUV.
“Developing AutoNaut USV for Operations in the Arctic/Antarctic Environment” was presented by Karen Heywood, University of East Anglia.
“Operating around Hazards and Safe Manoeuvring by AutoNAut USV” was given by AutoNaut’s Phil Johnston and Pete Bromley.
On display in the main conference hall was Caravela, the University of East Anglia’s new boat, which will launch a seaglider under the Antarctic sea ice.
Seiche’s COO Mark Burnett made a well-received presentation to the SUT South West Branch at the Met Office last week on “Unmanned Surface Vessels in combination with Satellite Remote Sensing for Water Quality Monitoring in a Coastal Environment”.
Mark Burnett will take up position as Seiche Water Technology Group’s new Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect.
Mark joined the Group as UK Regional Director in November 2016 straight from his previous role as Chief Executive Officer of WGP Group.
Mark will also continue to oversee the day-to-day running of Seiche Ltd, providing acoustic and visual technology solutions to the oil and gas, renewables, construction, defence and marine science sectors.
Mark is a seasoned Executive Manager with over twenty years’ experience in the energy services sector. Having worked ‘from the bottom up’, Mark has developed an understanding of most aspects of an organisation with particular emphasis on business development, operational and finance management, human resources management and QHSE.
Mark comments: “I am looking forward to building on a busy and successful 18 months with the team at Seiche Water Technology Group to bring innovative technology and solutions to market. My new role will be to spearhead a cohesive and dynamic group strategy to deliver to clients worldwide over the coming years.”
We have been working with ASV Global and the LADC-GEMM consortium on their summer expedition to the Gulf of Mexico using our Seiche array to monitor marine mammals near the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site.
Click here to read the full article.
Check out our YouTube live stream to watch and listen to underwater sounds recorded on hydrophones installed on the seabed at Middelfart, Denmark.
Seiche, Aarhus University and Naturpark Lillebaelt are working together to provide real-time monitoring of porpoise activity and levels of ambient sound in this marine protected area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeHW-QIXcQc