Provincial Government Supporting Innovative Wave Monitoring Technology

  • Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

July 23, 2018

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, accompanied by Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today toured Rutter Inc., for a demonstration of its latest innovation for marine and marine-adjacent industries: the real-time capability to predict the movement of waves. The technology will increase safety and efficiency for operations such as helicopter landings, crew transfer, lifeboat launches, and equipment transfer.

The Provincial Government, through InnovateNL, provided Rutter a non-repayable contribution of $609,768 to develop its Wave Prediction intellectual property. Rutter’s “Wave Prediction Radar” prototype algorithms will now advance into the commercialization phase and will be operational in real‐time systems by 2020. A non-repayable contribution of $77,120 was also provided to the company through the Business Development Support program. This funding will assist with business development activities and increase market access, providing support to help grow in a competitive global environment.

Wave Prediction Radar will result in three new disruptive technologies; Sea Surface Elevation Maps, Wave Propagation–Quiet Period Prediction, and Wave Propagation‐Vessel Hydrodynamic Response. These new technologies will complement Rutter’s existing suite of real-time radar data processing products. More information on Wave Prediction Radar can be found in the backgrounder below.

Rutter Inc. is an enterprise focused on providing innovative technologies and engineering solutions. Rutter’s global network supplies technologies to improve efficiency and safety in the marine, defence, transportation, oil and gas sectors from its headquarters in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Support for innovation and technology delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes
“Led by the Innovation and Business Investment Corporation, the Provincial Government continues to foster innovation and build upon the actions in the Business Innovation Agenda. The ability to forecast quiet periods in wave activity will allow offshore operations to be carried out more safely by delaying the actual task until the forecasted quiet period in wave activity. This innovative project by Rutter highlights our province’s strong technical presence in the offshore marine industry, and further increases our R&D capacity.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

“Wave Prediction Radar is an exciting extension of our continual advancement and development of the potential of radar. Rutter prides itself on always being ahead of the curve in its radar innovations and we are well-positioned to be first to market in the Wave Prediction space.”
Fraser Edison
President and CEO, Rutter Inc.

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Learn More
InnovateNL Program Application Forms

thewayforward.gov.nl.ca

Rutter Inc.

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Media contact
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

Stephen Hale
Rutter Inc.
709-697-0439
shale@rutter.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Information on Rutter’s Wave Prediction Radar
Utilizing standard marine navigational radars, Rutter’s Wave Prediction Radar will allow the prediction of wave conditions such as quiet periods and periods that exceed permitted operational conditions up to two minutes into the future. The practical benefits of Wave Prediction Radar products include increased up-time for sea-state sensitive operations, reduced possibility of equipment/cargo damage during lift operations, and increased mechanical equipment lifespan as control systems can be optimized for ‘future’ wave events.

2018 07 23 2:45 pm