MARINTEK - a key partner of the SeaOrbiter Team

 

The international scientific station, Sea Orbiter will drift across the oceans, driven by the current. Its mission is to observe and explore ocean life, to study the interactions between ocean and atmosphere and their impact on our climate. The underwater saturated area that can host 6 people out of 16 will be used by astronauts of space agencies to perform training on long term missions in extreme environment.

Most of the oceans have still to be discovered and understood. With a life expectancy of 15 years, SeaOrbiter will provide a new tool for multidisciplinary scientific expeditions focusing on climate global change, fish resources, viruses and bacteria.

The designer Jacques Rougerie states:

“Exploring Space and Ocean are the great adventures that fire the dreams of humanity. Space stations have enabled us to measure the extent of the world’s oceans, the blue plant about which we know so little.

Everything connected with the ocean has an impact on our daily life – the seas that surround our coastlines have travelled the world on the great ocean currents. As we enter the Third Millenium, winds of change are carrying new concepts onto our horizon, capable of changing our vision of the ocean.

It is in this spirit that we propose SeaOrbiter.”

Recognized professionals are participating in the development of the station: Space agencies, Scientific laboratories (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution(US), Institut de Recherche et de Development – IRD (FR)..),  Specialists of underwater operations (COMEX – FR)..

MARINTEK has been selected as a key partner within laboratory testing and optimising the seakeeping characteristics of the platform and to evaluate current and wind effects. MARINTEK has long experience within reduction of motion of ships and various offshore floating structures. We have applied this knowledge and experience with success on the SeaOrbiter developing a platform with excellent performance within the criteria for sea sickness and comfort.

Contact person at MARINTEK: Kjell O. Holden