A remotely-controlled observation vehicle for observing swimmers is disclosed. The vehicle is designed to float and move on the water, and includes a hull, which is typically sealed. An above-water camera mount is attached to the hull and extends upwardly from it. The above-water camera mount carries one or more cameras. A below-water camera mount is attached to the hull and extends downwardly from it. The below-water camera mount also carries one or more cameras. A first propulsion system is adapted to drive the vehicle through water, and a first steering system is associated with the first propulsion system. The observation vehicle also includes communication and control systems. The vehicle may be fore-aft symmetrical, with a propulsion system and a steering system disposed proximate to each end of the hull. Also disclosed is a system including a vehicle with an associated controller and a data review station.

Multiple systems and methods for providing supervised control of subsea vehicles for offshore asset management as well as supplemental autonomous control behaviors are described herein. These systems and methods provide offshore support and alternative supervised control of one or more vehicle generally irrespective of where the vehicle resides in an oil and gas offshore field.

Systems and methods are provided for least one leading drone configured to move to a leading drone future location based on a future location of a base station. A set of base station future locations may form a base station path for the base station to traverse. Also, a set of leading drone future locations may form a leading drone path for the leading drone to traverse. The base station's future location may be anticipated from a prediction or a predetermination. The leading drone, navigating along the leading drone path, may collect sensor data and/or perform tasks. The leading drone may interact with sensor drones while traversing the leading drone path. Accordingly, the leading drone may move ahead of the base station in motion, as opposed to following or remaining with the base station.

The present embodiments relate to launch and recovery systems for a remotely operated vehicle. The embodiments eliminate or minimize the need for load lines, and provide virtually unlimited excursion distances for remotely operated vehicles, limited only by the amount of tether available at the launch point. Further, the embodiments allow for extended deployments of ROVs by allowing recharging of a tether climbing component while submerged. The system can include a launch and recovery assembly, a tether climbing component, and a remotely operated vehicle attached to a remotely operated vehicle tether. The launch and recovery assembly deploys the remotely operated vehicle and the tether climbing component overboard, and the remotely operated vehicle is configured for tethered operation while maintaining the tether climbing component at a desired depth.

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring quality of ballast water. The system comprises a central data hub comprising a data hub computer adapted for generating a set of acceptance criteria for ballast water quality parameters at one or more geographic positions based upon uploaded ballast water data from on-board computers of at least two vessels. The uploaded ballast water data indicates where, and possibly when, a volume of ballast water was loaded into a ballast water tank of each of the at least two vessels and the respective values of each of the ballast water quality parameters that are measured on each of the volumes of ballast water. The system for monitoring quality of ballast water further comprises at least two vessels, such as ships, each vessel comprising an on-board ballast water system comprises an on-board computer with a monitor, a data logger, a data storage for storage of a set of acceptance criteria for a number of the ballast water quality parameters corresponding to a geographical position and at least one geographical position. The on-board ballast water system further comprises detection means adapted for logging into the data logger the geographical position where the volume of ballast water is loaded into the ballast water tank and a number of ballast water quality sensors each being adapted for measuring at least one of the ballast water quality parameters of the ballast water in the ballast water piping or in ballast water tank. The on-board ballast water system is further adapted for logging ballast water data comprising a value of each of the ballast water quality parameters into the data logger and the on-board computer being further adapted for downloading the set of acceptance criteria from the central data hub and up-loading the ballast water data and the corresponding geographical position to the central data hub. The on-board computer is adapted to perform a comparison of the values of the ballast water quality parameters with corresponding acceptance criteria corresponding to said geographical position, and to display information on the monitor depending on said comparison.

One or more specific embodiments herein includes a personal flotation device, comprising a vest capable of floating in water and having front panels; a power source; a light source; at least two support straps; a first electrical cable; and a second electrical cable. Further, the first electrical cable and the second electrical cable are capable of being connected to one another to form a connector assembly through which electrical current is capable of flowing, and the connector assembly includes a housing for preventing water from contacting the electrical current when the connector assembly is formed.

An underwater communications system includes a network communication interface, one or more computer processors, and a memory containing computer program code that, when executed by operation of the one or more computer processors, performs an operation. The operation includes storing a plurality of data packets to be transmitted to a destination device, determining that data communications over the network communication interface have become available for a first network node, and determining that the first network node has a valid security credential that has not been revoked by an access granting authority. Additionally, the operation includes, upon determining that the first network node has the valid security credential, transmitting the stored plurality of data packets over the network communication interface to the first network node. The first network node is configured to employ store-carry-and-forward data messaging techniques to transmit the plurality of data packets towards the destination device.

A method of facilitating patient care between a maritime vessel movable on a body of water and at least one shoreside medical provider. The method includes upon determination that a patient on board the maritime vessel requires medical attention, determining whether the patient should be referred to or medically disembarked to the at least one shoreside medical provider, identifying a target shoreside medical provider from the at least one shoreside medical provider qualified to care for the patient, and coordinating care of the patient by the identified target shoreside medical provider, the coordination of care including coordinating exchange of any necessary data between the maritime vessel movable on a body of water and at least one of the identified target shoreside medical provider, one or more third party servicers, one or more shoreside vessel management entities, and one or more governing agencies, in order to facilitate care of the patient.

Control module(s) and safety link(s) for ship communications arranging for emergency shutdown ESD communication between an unloading storage facility for hazardous goods on either ship or shore and a loading storage facility for hazardous goods on either ship or shore, with at least one umbilical line, connectors for coupling the control module(s) with the lines, the lines using bidirectional communication between a ship type control module and a shore type control module, and a transfer switch to switch the communication mode of the concerning control module between ship type and shore type.

An underwater exploration system enables signal transmission and reception to and from an underwater vehicle through wireless communication, that enables carriage of the underwater vehicle to a survey point and collection of the underwater vehicle, and, further, that enables a quick change of the survey point. The underwater exploration system includes: an underwater exploration unit including: a floating member including a first antenna and configured to support the first antenna above a water surface; and an underwater vehicle connected to the first antenna via a signal line; a communication device including a second antenna configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal to and from the first antenna; and an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to carry the underwater exploration unit and drop the underwater exploration unit to the water surface.