2018-2019

News Release

REF NO.: 10

SUBJECT: Looking Deep Into Shallow Waters

DATE: September 28, 2018

Hydrographers, ocean technology companies, government agencies, and post-secondary students in ocean mapping from the United States, Canada, Australia and throughout Europe will gather at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s, NL, Oct. 1-3 for the Shallow Survey Conference, hosted by the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University.

More than 180 delegates, including 31 national and international exhibitors, are attending to learn about the latest scientific and technological advances in hydrography – a branch of applied sciences that deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time.

This will be the first time the Shallow Survey Conference will be held in Canada. 

More than 40 speakers will focus on a wide range of approaches to shallow water hydrography including data gathering by underwater vehicles, satellites, airborne technologies and multibeam surveying along with the data processing and analysis of resulting information.

Paul Brett, conference co-chair and head, School of Ocean Technology at the Marine Institute, said understanding such ocean data, especially in shallow waters, is vital.

“When we understand the current and future state of our coastlines and seabeds, we are well-positioned to provide advice on ocean safety and navigation and contribute to scientific research, environmental protection, security and new and emerging uses of the ocean for economic development,” said Mr. Brett.

The three day event features keynote addresses from Genevieve Bechard, hydrographer general of Canada and director general for the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and Capt. Gary Hesling and Lt.-Cdr. Mark Butcher of the Royal Navy, United Kingdom.   

Kraken Robotics Systems Inc. is one of the major sponsors and exhibitors of Shallow Survey 2018. "We are pleased to sponsor such a fantastic event and want to give credit to the organizing committee for bringing this conference to Newfoundland. Shallow Water Survey allows Kraken the opportunity to showcase our technology against some of the best in the world - right here in our own backyard," said Karl Kenny, Kraken’s president and CEO.

The full conference program can be found at www.shallow-survey.com.

The event is supported by IxBlue, Kongsberg, Kraken Robotics Inc. Teledyne Caris, IIC Technologies, and the Nature Conservatory of Canada.

- 30 -