Subsea camera and machine vision technology by Irish company Cathx Ocean enables Bluefin Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to ‘see clearly’ during deep-water subsea engineering operations.
Quincy, MA and Dublin, Ireland, May 5 2014 – Kildare-based underwater technology company Cathx Ocean expects to more than double its workforce over the next 24 months with the creation of 50 additional jobs, Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton announced during the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Texas.
The announcement comes as US-based subsea engineering manufacturer Bluefin Robotics announced that it has chosen to equip its high-speed Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) with subsea camera and laser based imaging technology by Cathx Ocean. This is the latest in a number of recent deals secured by Cathx in Europe and the US in recent months.
Companies in the defense, commercial and scientific space depend on Bluefin’s fast-moving AUVs for the completion of crucial subsea survey and engineering tasks, such as real pipeline visual surveying at depths of up to 4,500m, where there is no room for error.
The Cathx M12 Imaging system aboard the AUV extracts information in real-time from the underwater images it collects and uses it to provide critical decision-making data to the AUV, thus saving Bluefin customers a lot of time and money.
This win for Irish technology innovator Cathx Ocean was announced during the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Texas led by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.
Speaking from Texas, Minister Bruton said: “At the heart of our Action Plan for Jobs is our determination to support the creation of a powerful engine of Irish industry. This week in Texas we are supporting our innovative Irish companies in developing deals with large US companies taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the rapidly-growing oil and gas sector. Today’s announcements that Cathx Ocean, a fast-growing Irish company developing cutting edge underwater technology, has struck a deal with a major US engineering company is a great example of what we are trying to achieve. This is a company which has secured a number of recent deals in Europe and the US to grow its export sales and is now creating 50 extra jobs in Ireland over the next two years. I wish both companies every success with this project”.
“Bluefin selected the Cathx system as it provides the highest underwater image resolution available today, it is scalable and robust and has the accuracy required for a high speed moving vehicle,” said David Kelly, CEO at Bluefin Robotics. “We are working closely with Cathx on specific automation applications and unique capabilities which will greatly benefit Bluefin’s customers.”
The trade mission coincides with the Oil & Gas Offshore Technologies Conference in Houston, which a number of Irish companies are attending including Cathx Ocean.
“Cathx Ocean is changing how data is captured and used in the world of subsea engineering operations by delivering measurement and automation capabilities to underwater vehicles” said Adrian Boyle, CEO of Cathx Ocean. “Our unique underwater camera hardware capabilities combined with automation and machine vision software not only resolve pressing subsea industry challenges, but delivers tangible cost, time and data management efficiencies. Our technology is radically changing the way the offshore oil and gas industry ecosystem will operate the next decade.”
Cathx Ocean currently employs 30 people in Ireland. The company is growing rapidly and expects to create over 50 new jobs in the next 24 months. Cathx customers include subsea survey companies, oil companies, oceanographic research institutes, navies and commercial diving operations worldwide.
About Cathx Ocean
With offices in Kildare, Ireland and Boston, MA, Cathx Ocean designs and develops advanced underwater optical imaging and laser-based machine vision systems. These systems operate on Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV) and fixed observation and monitoring platforms to generate images and data on subsea assets. Cathx Ocean products and integrated solutions deliver unique imaging and measurement capabilities for the harsh subsea environments in Oil & Gas, Oceanographic Research, Security & Defense and Professional Diving industries. For more information please visit www.cathxocean.com
About Bluefin Robotics
Bluefin Robotics, a Battelle company, designs, manufactures and operates Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems and related technology including subsea power systems. Founded in 1997, the company has grown to become a world leader in AUV products designed for defense, commercial, and scientific applications. For more information, please send your inquires to sales@bluefinrobotics.com or visit www.bluefinrobotics.com .
Source: envircentre.ie