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The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) is a proud supporter of the pre-COP26 Oceans of Knowledge 2021: Climate Change and the Ocean Conference, the fourth biennial conference in the series. The hybrid event is being held at the Institute of Physics in London with global remote participation.

The two-day conference addresses three key themes: climate change and sustainable use of the ocean and ocean resources; the role of the ocean in natural and engineered climate mitigation; and rising sea levels and coastal vulnerability. It is aimed at government and government agencies; the climate science and ocean observing community; ocean technology businesses; users of the coast and the ocean; coastal and ocean planning bodies; and ocean industries; SUT has individual and corporate members from, and special interest groups aimed at, all of these communities.

Ralph Rayner, immediate past President of the SUT and co-chair of the conference, organised by the Operational Oceanography Special Interest Group of the IMarEST said:

“Taking place immediately ahead of COP26, this is an opportunity to hear from an impressive array of speakers covering the three key conference themes Outputs from the conference will be delivered to COP26 through a side event and exhibition, helping to raise the profile of ocean issues in these all-important negotiations.”

Scene setting keynotes from luminaries including Sir David King, Founder and Chair, Centre for Climate Repair, Cambridge University, Former UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr Richard Spinrad, U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, and Emma Howard-Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency will highlight current scientific understanding and responses to ocean-related aspects of climate change. Policy responses at a national and international level will be placed into the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable development and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Sessions over the two days look at The Challenge; Use of the Ocean and its Resources; The New Blue Economy; Meeting the Challenge; What We Know; What We Don’t Know; Living with Uncertainty; and Meeting the Challenge. The full programme and registration are at https://tinyurl.com/2fj2ef2x .

Outputs from the conference will be used to generate a summary report drawing together the three themes, informing follow on workshops, and supporting peer-reviewed publications.

Full information on SUT, its events globally, special interest groups, podcasts and webinars, publications, and other activities is at www.sut.org SUT Individual membership is £76 per year; to join, visit www.sut.org/sut-membership/application-for-membership/ or e-mail [email protected].

The Society for Underwater Technology’s (SUT) second virtual Offshore Wind Renewable Energy course, held in association with Cranfield University, will take place on 19-20 October over two online interactive 4-hour morning sessions.

The introductory offshore wind course featuring acknowledged industry and academic experts as presenters is designed with two specific groups in mind: professional non-engineering staff, who would benefit from understanding the offshore wind energy industry; and for engineers and technical staff new to the sector or making the transition from another industry.

Following an introduction to the SUT, topics being covered over the two days are:

• Wind and the Net Zero Challenge inc Deepwater Floating Potential
• Planning, Environmental Studies, and Approvals
• MetOcean/Weather: UK and NW Europe Focus inc Deepwater for Floating Technology
• Fixed Bottom Offshore Structure Design and Integrity
• Offshore Site Investigation and Seabed Site Foundations
• Construction and Cables
• Floating Wind Structures
• Completion, Post Installation, and Ongoing Operation

Time is set aside for questions and for networking.

As Cheryl Burgess, Chief Executive of SUT explains:

“SUT is an international Learned Society with members in 40 countries. It covers all aspects of marine science and engineering involved in the seabed, the water column and surface piercing structures.

“An increasing number of our corporate and individual members in the UK and overseas are involved with the rapidly expanding global offshore wind industry. We were thrilled by the reaction to our first offshore wind virtual course at which we had delegates from all over the UK and from France and South Korea. Naturally we asked for feedback and were delighted by what we received:

• The course was well balanced, interesting, and enjoyable. Excellent presenters.
• Excellent value
• For me, it was perfect.
• I thought it was brilliant. Fast paced but very understandable. It was pitched at exactly the right level.
• All presenters were very informative and delivered subject matter effortlessly.
• This course is absolutely fantastic!

The full programme, details on the nine presenters, and registration information are online at www.sut.org/event/offshore-wind-renewable-energy-virtual-course/

Course fees are £325 for SUT members; and £415 for non-Members (excluding VAT where chargeable). The course is CPD approved. SUT Individual membership is £76 per year. To join, visit www.sut.org or e-mail [email protected].

The Society for Underwater Technology’s (SUT’s) next Virtual Subsea Awareness Course will be held 20-24 September 2021, featuring 15 hours (over five days running from 10:00-13:00 BST) of foundation-level interactive sessions presented by leading industry figures.

The course is aimed at new entrants who are already technically qualified but just entering the offshore energy industry and/or the subsea sector; technically qualified experienced personnel undergoing a technology transfer and conversion process into the subsea sector; and non-technical personnel from legal or finance sections who regularly deal with the subsea sector. It is based on SUT’s highly successful face-to-face 5-day course from which more than a thousand delegates have benefited over the past 20+ years. The course is CPD approved. Registration is at www.sut.org/event/virtual-subsea-awareness-course-3/

Sessions will be delivered by a dozen experts drawn from Fellows and members of the SUT including selected speakers from BP, Wood, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, Subsea 7, and Oceaneering and will cover subsea production equipment and systems; flow assurance; pipelines and risers; construction and installation; metocean; renewables and future technology trends; operation, maintenance and decommissioning.

Looking back at the first Virtual Subsea Awareness Course held earlier this year, Cheryl Burgess, SUT’s Chief Executive explained:

“It was attended by 20 delegates from the UK and overseas and attracted very positive feedback with comments such as ‘Really well worth it!’; ‘It was enlightening. Experts with decades of experience explaining principles at exactly the right level… and answering questions!’; ‘Thanks for an enjoyable course’; ‘Virtual courses really work. I would recommend it to individuals trying to improve their understanding and companies wishing to invest in their employees’; ‘I’m taking away a lot of new awareness from the course’; and perhaps, best of all ‘I wish I had been on this course years ago!’.

“We look forward to welcoming new delegates and know they will find it similarly inspiring. Our confirmed speakers are Paul Benstead; Michail Birdas; Dave Brookes; Ila Glennie; Steve Hall; Hooman Haghighi; Tony Laing; David Saul; Bernadette Weber; and Graham Whitehead. We thank them for giving of their time so generously and freely.”

The course fee for SUT members if £715 (with this discounted price also available to EEEGR, OES, IMCA and EIC members); and £845 for non-members (excluding VAT where applicable).

Click here for more information and to register.