Page 18: of Marine Technology Magazine (May/Jun 2014)

Before we talk about the current search, can you give us some insight on Blue Þ n, speciÞ cally how the company is still the same and different from the time you took the helm in 2008. I think BlueÞ n has the same Ôgo get it done attitudeÕ with a heightened focus on ß exible prod- ucts that meet the clientÕs needs for defense, com- mercial and oceanographic research markets. WhatÕs different is, the market and the demand has matured and grown, and in step with that, BlueÞ n has grown. When I joined we were in a building in Cambridge with roughly 60 people in the company. Today, we are more than 200 employees including Seebyte per- sonnel. WeÕve sold vehicles around the globe includ- ing products to commercial offshore clients and 16 navies, so it is a much more mature organization with a broader product line and activities in more areas of the undersea robotics space. The hunt for ß ight MH370 has brought a bright light on BlueÞ n, and in fact the entire AUV sector. Tell us about it. Without a doubt this is the most intense me- dia attention that BlueÞ n has received in its 15 plus year history. WeÕve been involved with other impor- tant jobs including the hunt for the Earhart wreckage and several others. However, the mystery surround- ing this ß ight has heightened the attention on the search. Can you tell me about the vehicle oper- ating in the hunt for the aircraft. Let me give you a little background before I directly answer your question. The 21-inch diameter MH370 MH370David Kelly, President & CEO, Blue Þ n Robotics on the hunt for AUV Market When Malaysian Airlines ß ight 370 dis- appeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 souls aboard, so began an aviation di- saster and mystery. While a collabora- tive effort continues to hunt for clues in some of the worldÕs most remote, hostile and uncharted ocean environments, the subsea industry Ð and more speciÞ cally the AUV sector Ð has garnered interna- tional headlines, as Phoenix Interna-tional, under contract to the U.S. Navy, has deployed its BlueÞ n 21 Artemis AUV in the search. Last month MTR caught up with BlueÞ n CEO David Kelly for his take on the search and the implications of the bright media light being shined on the AUV industry. By Greg Trauthwein 18 MTRMay 2014MTR #4 (18-33).indd 18MTR #4 (18-33).indd 185/12/2014 10:44:48 AM5/12/2014 10:44:48 AM