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The marine technology industry in the Province is maturing, aided by oil and gas development and fisheries diversification. About 100 local firms are engaged in marine technologies, employing 1,000 people and generating revenues of $45 million annually. Services provided by these firms include hydrographic services, remote sensing, marine communications, marine geomatics, electronic charts and mapping, defence surveillance, ice management, aquaculture, and environmental technologies. Three of these companies are profiled below.
is the exclusive provider of federal-certified digital navigation charts for Canadian territorial waters. These charts allow users to view hazards both below and above water and are viewed as one of the most significant advances in marine navigation since the introduction of radar. Building on its success in Canada, NDI is exporting its services to the US, Europe, and South America. The Company received a provincial Export Award in 1995 and its president was named Atlantic Canada’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996. NDI currently employs about 25 people.
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Development of local marine technology applications stems from strong research and development (R&D) capacity.
R&D institutes include, among others, C-CORE, the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications, the Institute for Marine Dynamics, the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (see
Fishery), and the Oceans Science Centre.
More recently, AquaNet was established under the Canadian Centre of Excellence research program to undertake aquaculture research. R&D at this institute will focus on issues such as biotechnology, environmental sustainability, and species diversification.
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Image courtesy of: ICAN
AIS products by ICAN
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Photo courtesy of: C-CORE
Geotechnical engineering at C-CORE has gained considerable expertise in investigating gravity-dependent phenomena using reduced scale physical modelling in its centrifuge facility
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has developed Automatic Identification System (AIS) solutions for the marine market. ICAN has received a contract from US-based Lockheed Martin Overseas Corp. to provide AIS solutions for pilotage use and vessel operators globally. AIS delivers vessel identification, position, speed, course and other information from ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore; provides collision avoidance capability; and augments vessel traffic management systems. By 2002, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will require all new SOLAS ships (i.e., almost all commercial ships engaged in international service) to use AIS. The remaining ships of this category will have the carriage of AIS phased in yearly until 2008. Most marine users not regulated by the IMO (e.g., work barges, and fishing and military vessels) are also expected to carry AIS. ICAN employs 20 people at present.
has developed and is marketing a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), the marine equivalent to an aircraft’s black box. The VDR is one of the most advanced technologies of its kind, and is now used by most cruise ship lines. As of 2002, the IMO will require mandatory use of VDR systems on passenger ships. Rutter Technologies employs approximately 24 people and is a graduate of Memorial University’s Genesis Centre which assists expanding local companies to commercialize and market IT products and services.
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