COVE Connect | May 2023

EXCLUSIVE INVITATION: State-of-art- Facility Tour at MetOcean Telematics

25 May 2023 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ADT | 11 Thornhill Drive, Dartmouth, NS

Join COVE and MetOcean Telematics for an exclusive invitation available to the COVE community on May 25 for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility and meet a global leader in satellite communications headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The tour offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the satellite communications industry and provides the chance to network with others in the marine sector.

NOTE: Tickets are mandatory for this event. Please have a printed copy or save a tree and have your mobile ticket ready to be scanned when entering the facility.

Thank you to Cox & Palmer, sponsors for the Ocean Connector series, and Irving Shipbuilding Inc., our founding partner.

14 June 2023 | 10:00 AM – 2:20 PM | Halifax, Nova Scotia

Get your ticket for the largest marine technology-focused event in Canada!

We are three weeks away from the H2O Conference and COVE Demo Day!

The OTCNS-led conference will take place from June 12-13 at the Halifax Convention Centre, with the grand finale on June 14 at COVE Demo Day. Register today by clicking the button below! Don’t miss your chance to network with over 300 manufacturers, service providers and business leaders worldwide, explore opportunities with national and international markets, and get hands-on demonstrations from the best in marine technology.

24 May 2023 | 6:00 p.m. ADT

Are you a post-secondary student interested in making Halifax a greener and more efficient port and winning up to $2,000 in prizes? Register for the Ocean of Data Challenge: Future Green Ports!  The challenge kicks off on May 24 at 6:00 p.m. ADT with a webinar introduction to the challenge and the opportunity to have your questions answered.

Register today for the opportunity to learn about green ports, make connections with leaders in the industry, and the chance to win! The challenge is hosted by COVE, DeepSense, The PIER, and Shiftkey Labs.

5-8 June 2023 | Limerick, Ireland

Global thought leaders and innovators in marine technology, engineering, science, research, and education will gather at the OCEANS 2023 Limerick event to learn and experience cutting-edge technologies in marine science. Patrons will hear from industry experts and engineers regarding the latest research and innovations, discuss current environmental issues and policies affecting the field, and work together to move the fields of marine technology and engineering forward.

The event will have a strong Canadian presence and feature many COVE resident companies.

Source: The Toronto Star, May 7, 2023, by Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press News.

“In five short years – much of it in the depths of a global pandemic – COVE has landed on the international stage as one of the most cutting-edge marine innovation ecosystems in the world. It’s now home to 65 local and international businesses – with a waiting list for its workshops and office space. The companies are involved in research ranging from sea level rise and ocean floor mapping to offshore energy and ocean shipping sustainability.”

The full article discusses the development of COVE’s headquarters from a former Coast Guard building to an internationally recognized high-tech innovation hub in the marine sector. Read about how the interest in COVE grew exponentially in five short years – by reaching total capacity with a continually increasing waiting list and sought-after expertise right here at COVE, and the world is recognizing Nova Scotia’s potential. The region is also gathering international attention with programs like NATO choosing Halifax as the home of the North American head office for DIANA, how COVE resident companies could complement and benefit from the program, and the multi-disciplinary workforce needed in the marine tech industry. Click the button below to read more of the latest published article about COVE.

At the Lands, Environment, and Economic Capacity Conference, Barry Stevens from 3D Wave Design launched a new product that allows anyone with a computer or mobile phone to map out and predict the effects of different natural disasters. The product was designed to help communities in high-risk areas prepare for the worst-case scenario events

Through funding and support from Samqwane’jk, an Unooweg-led project with partners COVE and Upswing Solutions, five indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada have purchased the technology developed by 3D Wave Design.

On May 18, Sensor Technology Ltd. celebrated its 40th anniversary on site at their warehouse in Dartmouth, NS!

Sensor Technology was established in 1983 in Collingwood Ontario, In 2018, Sensor Technology opened it first office in Atlantic Canda at COVE, with an office and bay space before expanding its production facility in Burnside. The company has gained international recogniztion as a global leader in piezo based acoustic tools and systems.

Sensor Technology has always been committed to designing and manufacturing the highest quality acoustic products, developing transducers, hydrophones, and piezoelectric ceramics, and selling their products in various marine sectors such as defence, hydrography, oceanography, energy, and aquaculture.

Congratulations, Sensor Technology, on all your business success!

Spearheaded by the Ocean Technology Council of Nova Scotia (OTCNS) and Innovate UK, with support from ACOA, the inaugural Ocean Tech Challenge was designed to create industry-advancing solutions, open new markets for innovative companies, and grow trade through international partnership.

Congratulations to the winners, eSonar Inc., Aquatec Group Inc., Deep Vision Inc., and D-RisQ Ltd.! It is great to see Aquatec Group Inc. and D-RisQ Ltd., who are part of the COVE Ocean Scale-Up Accelerator Program, work with Atlantic Canadian companies to build strong partnerships and collaborate to solve complex issues within the marine sector.

In late April, COVE’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, James Kesten, and Accelerator Program Manager, Rachel Cox, attended Ocean Business 2023. They participated in a tour of the National Oceanography Centre, had the chance to see various innovative technologies in action, and connected with other leaders in the marine technology industry to discuss opportunities in COVE’s ecosystem, market-readiness programs, and COVE Demo Day.

There was also plenty of innovative Canadian and COVE representation at the event. Companies in the Canadian pavilion included:

• Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc.
• Ocean Sonics Ltd
• MetOcean Telematics
• Xeos Technologies Inc.
• Pro-Oceanus Systems
• Hawboldt Industries
• Enginuity Inc.
• Snap Innovations

Congratulations are also in order for RBR, who celebrated its 50th anniversary while attending the event!

The Canadian Women in Ocean Industries Leadership Conference (CWOIL) took place from May 9 – 11 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The conference aims to attract, develop and retain a robust, diverse and inclusive talent pipeline that includes women from all origins to enable and accelerate Canadian innovation, research and technology development, and market and export leadership in ocean industries.

COVE’s Director of Workforce Development, Tanya Lush, and Marine Technical Specialist, Kennedy Sittler, participated on the Workforce of the Future panel, discussing how COVE is creating a pipeline for talent who want to work in marine tech and stay in Atlantic Canada. Some key takeaways from the panel were:

• The importance of reaching youth early to expose them to available workforce opportunities.
• How there is a need for various skillsets in the marine industry.
• The importance of mentorship, how mentors are key to helping you build your network and feel supported and how mentors can learn just as much from their mentees.
• How more diverse female leaders in executive positions are needed to create positive change.

While at the conference, Tanya, Kennedy, along with COVE’s Education and Outreach Manager, Kat Mataya, also had the chance to tour The Launch @MI and network with other remarkable women leaders in the industry to share experiences and innovative ideas for growing the marine industry talent pipeline.

On April 13, Graphite Innovation & Technologies (GIT) announced a CAD $10 million series A raise. A major milestone for the company and significant push in propelling the marine sector to zero net emissions.

The funds will be used to expand GIT’s production capacity, increase their global customer base, invest in the development of next generation marine coatings, and build strategic partnerships to accelerate commercialization. Their end goal is to drive positive change in green shipping, sustainability, marine life, and more around the world.

A former Start-Up Yard resident at COVE, we extend our congratulations to GIT and their mission to decarbonize marine shipping globally!

Two impressive marine vessels are currently docked and anchored in the Halifax Harbour! The M/V Orion, built in 2019,  is one of DEME Group‘s offshore installation vessels that installs foundations, turbines, cables and more on offshore wind farms.

The other vessel is Heavy Lift Vessel GPO Grace, built in 2017, carrying monopiles for off shore wind projects. The ship arrived in Nova Scotia waters on May 13, carrying piles and transition pieces for the Vineyard Wind 1 project, some of which were transferred to the M/V Orion vessel.

Atlantic Business Magazine recently announce their list of top 50 CEOs. COVE extends its congratulations to MetOCean Telematics and CEO Tony Chedrawy, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and CEO Kendra MacDonald, IGNITE and CEO Doug Jones, and Ocean Sonics Ltd. and CEO Mark Wood.

MetOcean Telematics, based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is a leader in satellite communications. MetOcean Telematics is a prominent global Iridium Satellite Value-Added Reseller focused on hardware solutions, data services, and support. They have regional offices in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., to support customers around the world 24/7. The CEO, Tony Chedrawy, is also a COVE Board Member.

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is an industry-led transformative cluster model that is driving cross-sectoral collaboration, accelerating innovation, and growing Canada’s ocean economy in innovative and unique ways. They are also a COVE resident company.

IGNITE, based in Yarmouth with offices in New Glasgow and Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a rural innovation hub that brings people together to explore how to make change possible in rural communities. IGNITE aims to create a culture of innovation by engaging youth, communities, startups and industries to find solutions and create opportunities. IGNITE is part of COVE’s ecosystem.

Ocean Sonics Ltd., based in Truro, Nova Scotia, designs digital hydrophones, including the world’s first icListen smart digital hydrophone. Their products are used for sound data collection and as acoustic recorders for long term deployments. Ocean Sonics Ltd. is part of COVE’s ecosystem.

Congratulations to the above companies and to all who are striving for maximizing innovation and strengthening the ocean economy in Atlantic Canada.

Sending a big welcome to the latest COVE resident companies Virtual Marine, Rising Tide BioAcoustics, Voltai, and Cellula Robotics!

Headquartered in Newfoundland and Labrador Canada, Virtual Marine specializes in state-of-the-art maritime safety training simulators. Their training simulators offer skill enhancing, hands on, risk-free training. The ability to frequently practice in realistic scenarios, using simulation technology is proven to increase confidence and competence of seafarers.

Rising Tide BioAcoustics provides underwater acoustic solutions for:

• Fish deterrence and guidance
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmentally friendly methods of improving the efficiency and reducing bycatch of commercial fishing operations
• Control/eradication of invasive species

Their acoustic technology can reduce the environmental impact and operating costs of various activities, such as power generation, waterway management, commercial fishing, and aquaculture.

Voltai makes ultra high-density generators that harvest energy from motion to help cargo vessels cut fuel costs, emissions, and stored power. Their generators represent the next state of the art in kinetic energy harvesting with the highest energy density in the market. Their new energy harvesting generator has 100 times the energy density of electro magnetic turbines and can provide up to 1MW continuous power, which translates to 30% of fuel consumption.

Cellula Robotics Ltd. was founded in 2001 and has grown to become a world leading engineering solutions company that specializes in the turnkey design and production of subsea robotic systems. Cellula’s extensive experience in projects that require integrated mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and software elements in a subsea environment is evident in its wide client base spanning over the defence, mineral exploration, and oil and gas sectors. The company is headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia.

On May 1, COVE welcomed our latest cohort of students for the Summer 2023 COVE Internship Program!

The highly competitive COVE Internship Program provides post-secondary students with meaningful work experience within the marine sector. The program aims to help build the talent pipeline within the sector and set them up for success with employable skills and resources as they enter the workforce.

This is the fourth year of the COVE Internship Program. During the application process, COVE received 530 student applications from across Canada for the exclusive program. This year we have 22 interns working at 18 companies within the marine sector, many of which will be working within our COVE community. Some of the COVE companies involved are CMAR, CEOTR, Hawbolt, Lockheed Martin, Merinov, SEATAC, and Sensor Technologies. Interns come from various disciplines including business, engineering, software development, and ocean sciences. We can’t wait to see what they get up to this summer as they bring innovative ideas to their projects.