DIVISION SUBSEA

The division achieved good results and had a strong influx of new orders in all product areas in 2007. The division signed an important contract worth approx. MNOK 350 for supplying advanced subsea systems for India's National Hydrographic Office's six new surveying vessels. The division also signed a contract with the Finnish Armed Forces valued at approx. MNOK 180. Both these contracts include autonomous underwater vessels, hydrographic multibeam echosounders, advanced sonars and acoustic positioning and navigation equipment.

The offshore oil and gas sector was a strong market segment in 2007, and this led to good results for underwater cameras and sonar applications associated with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The demand for acoustic positioning systems (HiPAP) and emergency communications systems for Blowout Preventers in the field of drilling increased substantially in 2007, leading to a very good influx of new orders. HiPAP equipment furnishes a position reference for dynamic positioning systems, as an important instrument in the survey industry and for positioning in connection with underwater construction work.

The division has long traditions in hydroacoustics and a sound basic technology which is used in different product areas and adapted to different market segments. It is imperative to engage in continuous research, technology and product development to maintain the division's market position. It is also important to have good knowledge of applications to apply existing technology in new ways. This is done by concentrating on human resources development and proprietary development, in addition to engaging in binding cooperation with researcher training and research institutions such as the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and the Institute of Marine Research.

A new, highly sophisticated sonar for detailed seabed inspection, the HiSAS 1030, has been developed in cooperation with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. A special signal processing concept facilitates a precision and resolution several times better than conventional sonars. The sonar, which is particularly well suited for the detection and classification of objects under water, is being delivered to the Norwegian Navy and is also part of the contract with the Finnish Navy.

Within hydrography, the new versions of multibeam echosounders have been well received by the market. Kongsberg Maritime enjoys a leading position in the delivery of equipment for seabed surveying to research vessels and hydrographic institutions.

Fishery activities (SIMRAD) also developed favourably in 2007, thanks not least to the world's first 3D multibeam sonar which has been specially designed for precision measurement of fish stocks for French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Several contracts have been signed for such sonars.