National Marine Facilities (NMF)

New report outlines how UK oceanographic capability must transition to become net zero by 2040

Findings from a new review into the future of oceanographic research infrastructure have revealed the significant changes that must be made to enable the UK to deliver a Net Zero Oceanographic Capability (NZOC).

Autosub-1 – Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the NOC’s first AUV mission

The NOC's first Autosub mission in July 1996

With the latest trials of the National Oceanography Centre’s (NOC) Oceanids Programme falling on the 25th anniversary of the NOC’s first Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), we look back to that first Autosub-1 mission, and how it paved the way to the innovative AUV operations and developments undertaken by the NOC team today.

Trials of new robot submarines underway in Scotland to reduce cost and environmental impact of future ocean missions

A2KUI having a solo swim in Loch Ness

Engineers from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are trialling new, state-of-the-art robot submarines in Loch Ness to pave the way for safer and more cost-efficient offshore operations.

Royal Research Ships resume scientific operations

RRS Discovery returning to her home port of Southampton

The Royal Research Ships James Cook and Discovery are cautiously resuming scientific research expeditions following the suspension of the Marine Facilities Programme earlier in the year due to Covid-19.

Marine community scopes out zero-carbon future for ocean research

RRS <em>James Cook</em> at a snowy mooring in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

An ambitious scoping project, led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), has launched today to investigate how to move towards low or zero-carbon oceanographic research.

National Marine Facilities Technology Road Map published

The National Oceanography Centre has this week published the National Marine Facilities (NMF) Technology Roadmap 2020–21, which outlines current capabilities, and looks to the future of oceanographic science and the technology that will take

Record breaking year for the NOC’s marine technology showcase

Last week, NOC hosted the Marine Autonomy and Technology Showcase 2019 (MATS2019) in Southampton, which was the fifth annual event focusing on the present and future of marine autonomous technology.

MATS2019 was our biggest and best showcase to date, with a record number of attendees, presenters and industry exhibitors, all packed into our giant dockside marquee.

Research expedition maps Scottish sea bed to study recovery of coral reef

Newly developed 3D imaging technology has allowed scientists to map an area of cold-water coral reefs off the coast of Scotland to see whether it has recovered since being declared a Marine Protected Area 16 years ago.

Research expedition will assess the recovery of Scottish coral reef

A healthy cold water coral mount

On Friday 6 September a team of scientists and engineers, led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and University of Southampton, will set sail to revisit a deep, cold-water coral reef area 16 years after it was named a Marine Protected Area, to look for evidence the coral is regenerating.

Latest NOC Autosub completes Loch Ness trials

ALR1500 being prepared for deployment

The latest Autosub Long Range (ALR) vehicles being developed by the National Oceanography Centre have completed their first round of commissioning trials in the waters of Loch Ness, Scotland, marking a major milestone on their journey to active service.

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