The theme of the session is “Advances in Marine Measurements”, and will address the following subjects:

Metocean measurements from Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers. Speaker: Claire Cardy (Director, Nortek UK)

Claire studied Oceanography at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, and has since worked for Fugro, BMT and ABPmer in a variety of metocean roles, including conducting feasibility studies, front-end engineering design and hydrodynamic modelling for the offshore oil and gas and marine renewable energy sector. At Nortek, Claire provides acoustic Doppler instruments throughout the UK and Ireland. These instruments are used to measure currents and waves in a variety of applications, ranging from detailed lab-based studies to highly accurate subsea navigation.

Coastal measurements from aerial drones. Speaker: Dr Tim Scott (Lecturer in Ocean Exploration, University of Plymouth)

Tim is a Lecturer in Ocean Exploration at the University of Plymouth – actively contributing to internationally-recognised research on beach and submarine geomorphology, rip current dynamics and coastal hazards – with extensive experience of intertidal and nearshore oceanographic instrumentation deployments. In addition to publishing over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as numerous conference papers, technical reports, invited lectures and workshops, Tim has conducted a considerable amount consultancy work, including working closely with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for over a decade, improving understanding of physical coastal hazards and developing operational risk assessment tools. He holds a PhD in Coastal Processes. Prior to lecturing, Tim was a Research and Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the University of Plymouth, and previously employed as a consultant geophysicist within the commercial hydrographic and seismic industry at WesternGeco and DeepOcean.

Physical oceanography measurements from surfers and satellites. Speaker: Dr Bob Brewin (Remote Sensing Scientist, Plymouth Marine Laboratory)

Bob is a Remote Sensing Scientist at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, focussing on the use of satellite data for understanding marine biogeochemistry, and on citizen science projects for measuring key environmental indicators such as water quality. Conducting research across a range of ecosystems, from the coast to the open ocean, Bob has spent over six months at sea collecting data for validating remote sensing observations, as well as developing and testing new algorithms for the detection of chlorophyll concentration, phytoplankton functional groups and sea surface temperature. He holds a PhD in Satellite Oceanography. Prior to working with the National Centre for Earth Observation, Bob was a Research Fellow on several European Space Agency projects, including the Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative, and has participated in multiple Atlantic Meridional Transect measurement programmes.

Biological oceanography measurements from vessels of opportunity.  Speaker: Dr George Graham (Instrumentation Data Scientist, Marine Biological Association)

George is an Instrumentation Data Scientist at the Marine Biological Association, examining the impact of climate change on marine plankton and the health of our oceans. He leads the development of new instrumentation and observing system capabilities, as well as commercial consultancy and R&D in instrumentation and data analytics. Specialising in the measurement of suspended particulate matter in the coastal and open ocean, George uses novel imaging, optics and acoustics systems, in combination with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning approaches, for particle characterisation and monitoring. With broad experience in both academic and research consultancy, he has developed and deployed a range of novel submersible hardware technologies for physical, biological and chemical sensing and built bespoke software systems for the management, analysis and visualisation of large environmental datasets.  He holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography. Prior to working with the CPR Survey, George was a Research Fellow on two consecutive National Environment Research Council grants and has been involved with the spin-out and commercial licensing of optical technology.

Subsea Augmented Reality – Visualise and Measure, Speaker: Alexander Steele (R&D Hydrographic Surveyor, Fugro)

Alexander supports the worldwide program for implementing the effective deployment and use of new systems within Fugro’s Vision Technology Group. Having graduated from the University of Plymouth with a First Class Honours degree in Ocean Exploration, his roles within Fugro have included trialling Fugro’s own acquisition software suite at Fugro Intersite, working operationally on large scale projects offshore for Fugro Survey, and delivering training within the Fugro Academy. While now based in the Innovation Centre at Fugro’s Headquarters in the Netherlands, Alexander combines the skills of a Hydrographic Surveyor with that of a technical Product Manager. Frequently deployed offshore to assist with specialist project work and responsible for leading product trials of new hardware and software in the North Sea, Africa, the Americas, Australia and the Middle East, Alexander also provides technical support and project management assistance remotely to Fugro’s local offices across the globe.

Presentations will start at 18:15pm and will be chaired by Dr Edward Steele (Met Office).

This is a FREE event, and (limited) parking is available on site. You do NOT need to be a member of the Society of Underwater Technology to attend, however please take a look around  our website to understand the benefits of doing so!

The University of Plymouth, home to over 3,000 marine-focussed staff, researchers and students, are kindly hosting the event on their city centre campus. This is a convenient location for travel within the South-West; it is only 45 miles from Exeter, 66 miles from Falmouth and 120 miles from Bristol, as well as benefitting from direct trains from London Paddington. The Jury’s Inn Hotel is just around the corner from the Plymouth campus, if you want to stay over.

You can view the meeting report here.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THIS SOUTH WEST MEETING .

EC-OG have developed the Subsea Power Hub as a method of generating electrical power at remote subsea locations by harnessing the energy of passing ocean currents and tides. By generating the power directly at the point of demand, the Subsea Power Hub can remove the requirement for lengthy power umbilicals and their associated transmission losses.

The focus of this ‘Lunch & Learn’ will be EC-OG’s high energy subsea battery technology which is being developed in-house for use within the Subsea Power Hub. EC-OG is working to apply the latest battery technology to subsea applications, with a battery system which is highly configurable and suitable for use as a standalone unit. This unit will provide long-term power for a range of applications within the Oil & Gas industry and beyond.

The Subsea Power Hub is changing the economics of providing reliable electrical power for remote offshore applications, whether it be for new developments, short-term installations or diagnostic operations.

Presenter: Paul Slorach

Paul is one of the founding members of EC-OG and was responsible for engineering the first Subsea Power Hub system deployed in 2017. Now in a business development role, Paul is a mechanical engineer with 15 years’ experience in the subsea industry, working with leading service contractors and operators. Paul’s remit is to lead the client engagement team, ensuring the company’s engineering development programme aligns with the needs of the industry, and maintaining EC-OG’s position as leaders in subsea energy conversion, storage and delivery.

 

Special thanks to our hosts:

 

Registration open from 1200, presentation starts at 1230, lunch and networking from 1330.  

Please click here for the flyer

Please click here for the presentation 

 

Autonomy Under at Sea a presentation that will consider how advancements in autonomy will lead to innovative solutions to today’s problems. During the presentation we will consider amongst others Saab’s autonomous vehicles AUV 62 AT and Anti-Submarine Warfare target and the hybrid vehicle Sabertooth.

Presenter Chris Lade,  Saab Seaeye

Commander Chris LadeRoyal Navy (Retd) joined the Royal Navy in 1980 after completing a Chemistry Degree at Exeter University. He qualified as a Minewarfare and Clearance Diving Officer four years later and served in four MCMVs finally commanding his own ship in 1994; he commanded the UK’s Defence Diving School 2004-2007. In 1987 he participated in Mine Countermeasures operations in the Arabian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq War and then in 2003, as head of the UK’s MCM Capability team, worked closely with the USN to deliver MCM effect in the Shatt el Arab campaign, Second Gulf War, he was instrumental in introducing a number of innovative new mine countermeasures systems to the Royal Navy during that conflict.

He joined Saab Seaeye in March 2012. During the last six years he has concentrated on the development of Mine Countermeasures Systems, working closely with amongst others the UK and US navies. He has led projects to develop an innovative Mine Neutralisation System and delivered a Waterborne IED Remotely Operated Vehicle, Sea Wasp, to the US Homeland Defence Department. He now shares his time between managing the Engineering Department at Seaeye in Fareham, UK and developing international business for Saab in the Defence Maritime sector.

With thanks to our hosts:

Please click here for the flyer

The subsea industry has advanced at a significant rate since inception in the 1960s. How do we manage diversity across vendors, operators and applications? How do we cope with the historic approach of customised supply for each project, and how can we make operations easier for the subsea industry of the future, currently going through a rejuvenation? “Optimisation and Maximising Efficiency” seeks to discuss latest initiatives providing standardisation and optimisation to the subsea industry, improving efficiency and maximising economic recovery.

Shreekant Mehta, OTM
JIPs are about collaborating to push the boundaries of technology, and an excellent way to optimise and realise efficiency savings. A subset of JIPs run by OTM focus on standardising technology – still through collaboration, but with a different end goal.
With 25 years experience of starting and running JIPs, OTM will present the remit of some of the standardisation JIPs that we have undertaken and completed, and some that are currently running.
We will bring these to life by discussing practices implemented to drive joint industry efforts to success – driving optimisation and efficiency.

Anthony Clarke, BEL Valves
Engineered Products
An illustration of the savings and efficiencies achievable through the standardisation of specifications, design, project processing and project management.

Alistair Birnie, Ashtead Technology
Deploying Innovation in a Standardised World
Standardisation can inhibit and at times block evolving technologies and innovation that could lead to cost reduction and higher quality data. However there are ways to mitigate this through management of interfaces and functionality at the appropriate level that can open up standardised systems to allow innovation to continue, particularly for information based systems. This issue continues to grow in subsea infrastructure, offshore survey & IRM applications where technologies continue to move faster and become more sophisticated.

Please click here for the flyer.

Who were Aileen, Caroline, Eleanor and Dylan??

Last year, a strong team from Wood ran away with the honors; this year promises to be more competitive as our usual quiz masters (Bob Inglis and Ray Ebsworth) will be back setting the questions and not chasing the laurels of victory…

All Learned Members of the SUT are invited to attend the London and South East Branch’s 5th Annual Pub Quiz at the Ye Olde Watling, 29 Watling Street, EC4M 9BR.  Planned start time 7pm, probable finish time 10pm with a buffet served between rounds.

Corporate Members are invited to send teams (5 person teams are ideal) with suitably knowing names; individual members can form a winning team on the night. 

There is a limit on 60 attendees due to space restrictions at the venue and as such all teams and persons are encouraged to pre-register to avoid bitter disappointment on the night.

Following the quiz, there will be ample opportunity to toast success or drown sorrows at the bar.

Many thanks to our sponsor ATV 

Ocean X-Prize – Team Tao
Professor Nick Wright and Team Tao
Having successfully passed round 1 the team is focussed on the final challenge – Map 500km2; 4000m deep, fully autonomously, find the target and return all the data to land in 24hrs – $7M prize purse.
“Having seen what the teams are proposing, if this competition is a success, there is no doubt in my mind that we will have made history by collectively changing this world” Dr. Jyotika Virmani
Team Tao, a partnership between SMD and Newcastle University, are the only remaining UK team in the competition and will present their solution and some of the challenges they have faced along the way.

Advancements in Robotics – Sonardyne
Elizabeth Paull
Sonardyne has been working on hybrid navigation systems which tightly integrate all raw sensor data at a low level to provide unprecedented improved accuracy and reliability. A hybrid navigator adapts to make best use of the on-board sensors by fusing inertial technology with acoustics instruments. The result is transforming subsea robot missions. Hybrid navigation enables the systems to dead-reckon for longer and more accurately. Aided by acoustics it achieves navigation precise enough to dynamically draw 3D point clouds using laser scanners mounted on the vehicles.

Post talk refreshments
Networking and a finger buffet is provided to close off the evening event. This event is jointly held between the IEEE and SUT NE Branch. Pre-registration is required so we can cater for the anticipated numbers.

Registration from 6pm Presentations 630pm

Meeting Report