Science and technology converge at Oceanology International

Oceanology International has been serving the community for over 40 years, and this year’s exhibition is the largest ever held, with pavilions from Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands and individual exhibitors from nearly 30 countries,

‘Every gamut of marine science and ocean technology is extensively covered within the exhibition, said event manager James Coleman. ‘As the need for a more thorough understanding of the oceans, deep water processes and their relation to the exploitation of marine based energy and global climate becomes more apparent, Oceanology International successfully serves an ever wider range of users and industries.

‘These encompass aquaculture to renewable energy, marine construction to offshore oil and gas, protection of the marine environment to ports and harbours, homeland security to military needs and much more besides.’

In addition to the major exhibition, the biennial event features a technical conference with day long streams on Navigation & Positioning, Marine Environment, Ocean Observation & Forecasting, Hydrography/Geophysics, and Geotechnics.

The event also attracts vessels of many disciplines from around the world to demonstrate new technologies and host networking functions. There will be meetings of dozens of industry associations, work groups and end user organisations as well as a Careers Day for those looking for a career in the rapidly expanding sectors the show represents.

‘New Scientist’ magazine will focus on ‘Offshore Renewables: Challenges and Opportunities’ in a briefing session being held on Thursday 11 March. Speakers will include Benjamin Sykes, Head of The Carbon Trust’s Offshore Renewables Programme; Peter Fraenkel, Technical Director of Marine Current Turbines, whose SeaGen, the world’s biggest tidal power machine, is generating power in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland; and Peter Madigan, Head of Offshore Renewables at the British Wind Energy Association. Like all Oceanology International conference sessions, it is free to attend for all visitors and exhibitors.

The two-day UKSPILL10 Marine Oil Spill Seminar, organised by the UK Spill Association (UKSPILL), is another event to be co-located with Oceanology International. The association represents companies, organisations and individuals working in the oil spill industry in the UK and is recognised by the UK Environmental and Maritime Regulators as the national industry body for the commercial and related interests of the industry. UKSPILL10 will take place on 9 and 10 March at ExCeL and thus take advantage of the presence at Oceanology International of so many global players in the sector.

UKSPILL’s director Roger Mabbott said, ‘We are hosting the two day European seminar to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), which was adopted in November 1990, to help Governments combat major oil pollution incidents. Oceanology International with its wide range of highly relevant exhibitors and visitors is the perfect event at which to hold this seminar.

‘We will be looking at what has been achieved in the UK and Europe over the 20 years, what the spill industry shares and where we differ across borders in preparing for, and dealing with, marine oil spill incidents. Presentations will encompass views from the UK and European maritime agencies; from manufacturers and responders; and will include recent case studies from leading industry figures. There will also be a dedicated exhibit area for marine spill equipment and services within the Oceanology exhibition.’

Many companies will have new products making their debut at Oceanology International, including Coastline Surveys Ltd, which will launch its newly commissioned seabed CPT unit ‘C-Pen20’. The new concept in CPT operations has been designed specifically to meet the requirements for seabed soil investigation for subsea cable networks in connection with offshore renewable energy projects.

Using a standard 5cm² piezocone, the system has proven capability to penetrate up to 3m below the seabed providing real-time in situ measurement of soil properties and stratigraphy. C-Pen20 has been designed to operate in conjunction with Coastline’s range of high powered vibrocoring systems from its dedicated 24m multirole survey vessel ‘MV Flat Holm’.

C-Pen20 is also an ideal tool for pipeline and telecoms route surveys to inform trenchability assessments and in port and harbour soil investigations for pre-dredge studies.

Admission to all elements of Oceanology International is free of charge and online registration is open at www.oceanologyinternational.com