Annual Report of the Society for Underwater Technology (2019-2020)
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Annual Report 2019-2020 Society for Underwater Technology Annual Report 2019-2020 A special thank you from SUT to our inaugural group of President’s Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................4 Awards 2019-2020 ...............................................................................................................................................5 Council’s Summary of Activity 2019-2020 .........................................................................................................6 Ocean Patrons Chair’s Report ......................................................................................................................................................7 Officers and Council 2019-2020 and SUT Staff ..............................................................................................10 Branch Reports Aberdeen ............................................................................................................................................................11 Australia .............................................................................................................................................................13 Brazil ...................................................................................................................................................................24 China ...................................................................................................................................................................25 Mick Cook Kuala Lumpur .....................................................................................................................................................26 London and South of England ..........................................................................................................................27 Middle East .........................................................................................................................................................29 North of England ...............................................................................................................................................30 Tony Globe Norway ...............................................................................................................................................................33 Singapore ...........................................................................................................................................................34 US .......................................................................................................................................................................35 Gwyn Griffiths West Africa .........................................................................................................................................................42 Committee Reports Education ............................................................................................................................................................44 Training ..............................................................................................................................................................45 Ralph Rayner Educational Support Fund Management .........................................................................................................46 International .......................................................................................................................................................48 Policy Advisory ..................................................................................................................................................49 Publications ........................................................................................................................................................50 Technical Committee Reports Defence ...............................................................................................................................................................51 Diving and Manned Submersibles ...................................................................................................................52 Environmental Forces .......................................................................................................................................53 The SUT Ocean Patrons scheme is for members who are able to offer an enhanced level of contribution to Marine Renewable Energies .............................................................................................................................54 support our charitable objectives. Ocean Patrons receive exclusive benefits including: Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics ..................................................................................................55 • SUT Membership Salvage and Decommissioning ........................................................................................................................57 • Invitation to an annual Patron’s Event International Underwater Vehicles and Robotics Group ................................................................................59 • Certification • Prominent listing on annual report & website • Patrons Logo for exclusive use …and more, If you’re interested in becoming an SUT Ocean Patron get in touch with our London office to learn more www.sut.org [email protected] Annual Report 2019-2020 President’s Foreword Awards 2019-2020 020 will undoubtedly be remembered as the year of the Coronavirus pandemic. New Fellows Although warnings of the potential for pandemics were being made long 2before COVID-19 appeared, few fully anticipated the health, economic and Kerry Campbell business impacts of such a global emergency. Sarah Elkhatib Like all organisations, the SUT has had to deal with a new normal; as travel, face- to-face meetings, events and training courses have been progressively curtailed Tricia Hill by efforts to control the transmission of the virus. It has been good to see how Martin Harley well the Society has adapted; quickly transitioning to the virtual world of video conferenced meetings, podcasts and webinars, allowing the Society to continue to Dr Philomène Verlaan serve its members. The Society has also further developed its growing relationship with the Marine Technology Society to include reciprocal sharing and promotion of virtual events. COVID-19 is teaching us the importance of being adaptable in the face of President: Ralph Rayner unexpected challenges. It must also teach us the importance of preparing for the future. While a viral pandemic was always a possibility, the threats associated with anthropogenic climate change and the rapid degradation of the natural environment are a rapidly dawning and known reality. Left unaddressed, these threats will have far wider ranging impacts that the present pandemic. The Society must play its part in supporting a transition to a lower carbon future and the sustainable use of the ocean and its resources. Much is already being done, including the development of training material and courses related to offshore wind and the formation of new technical committees. Awards at the AGM December 2019: (L–R): Prof N. Penny Holliday, There is much more to do; supporting an effective transition in offshore energy Dr Philomène Verlaan, Dr Phil Bryson production, exploring the role of the ocean in carbon capture and storage and ensuring protection of the vital ecosystem services provided by the ocean though sustainable use of ocean resources. These are some of the critical scientific, engineering and technological challenges that the SUT must help to address while President’s Award continuing to deliver our existing portfolio of learned society activities. Awarded to Ian Wilson in recognition of the extensive contribution he has made to the underwater I would encourage you all to participate in ensuring that your learned society engineering industry over the past five years, culminating in the establishment of subsea engineering can deliver its critical mission of sharing knowledge, skills and experience now as a chartered area of practice within Engineers Australia’s Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and into the future. You all have a part to play. It may be in serving on a Society accreditation. technical committee or organising branch events. It could be through helping with a Society conference or training programme. Most importantly, we must all work Houlder Cup for the Best Contribution to Underwater Operations to engage young people to join our community and play their part in working Awarded to Dr Phil Bryson, for his outstanding contribution in the field of diving medicine and in the together to determine our ocean future. emergency treatment of both recreational and commercial divers. Philip has contributed significantly to education and training in diving medicine and to the development of standards for fitness to dive. He continues to sit on the Diving Medical Advisory Committee, the European Diving Technology Committee, and the committee of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society. He has published extensively on subjects related to diving medicine in specialist academic journals as well as books on responding to underwater accidents. SUT Oceanography Award Awarded to Prof N. Penny Holliday for her outstanding contribution to the field of oceanography.