Big Blue World
The Global Newsletter of the Society for Underwater Technology
Issue 9, April 2024
Contents
Big Blue World™
Editor: Emily Boddy
emily.boddy@sut.org
Contact Emily to submit an article,
send in Corporate Member news,
member updates and photos, or to
find out about advertising and
sponsorship opportunities in Big
Blue World™.
www.sut.org
facebook.com/SUT.org
linkedin.com/company/sutuk
buzzsprout.com/1000288
instagram.com/societyforunderwater
twitter.com/SUT_news
youtube.com/SUTMedia
Welcome from the new SUT President
Benj Sykes
New Corporate Members
Publications
UT2, Underwater Robotics, Big Blue World
Events & Training Diary
SUT News
8 | SUT at Oceanology International
10 | Corporate Members at Oi2024
12 | Cheryl Burgess, SUT CEO, Engages in
Houston Extravaganza
15 | The Underwater Technology Podcast
The Historical Diving Society
Thar Be Dragons - Aurora Offshore
Engineering
SUT Branch News
20 | SUT China
21 | SUT Perth
SUT Member News
22 | CONSUB
23 | Verlume
24 | Elevate Offshore
25 | Greensea IQ
Events Reports
26 | SUT Aberdeen AGM and Quiz
27 | Subsea Expo
29 | North of England - Subsea Imaging
and VR
Next Issue
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04
05
06
22
30
26
08
Cover image courtesy
of MMA Offshore
Ltd and Blue Media
Exmouth - King Reef,
Exmouth, Australia.
See more about this
on our Underwater
Technology Podcast
on page 15
17
18
20
Society for Underwater Technology
Welcome from the new SUT President
Welcome
I’m delighted to welcome you to my frst edition of Big Blue World as SUT President. We’re only a short way
into the year and already is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting and productive 2024 in the marine space –
and, indeed for the SUT itself.
I recently attended the Oceanology Conference, which brought together a huge range of knowledge,
experience and expertise from a diverse range of marine-based industries. I was fortunate to be part of some
interesting and inspiring discussions over the course of the conference – focussing in on the innovative work
and exploration which will help to shape the direction of the SUT over the coming years.
At the centre of the conference was a tribute to Don Walsh - a truly extraordinary individual - who will be
remembered for decades to come as one of the most important fgures in ocean exploration, not only for
his journey to the deepest point in the World’s ocean with his dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in
1960, but for the huge contribution he’s made to our understanding of and work in the oceans. Don’s lifetime
of contribution to ocean technology and pioneering spirit will, I have no doubt, live on in inspiring future
innovations and discoveries for generations to come, not least through Professor Peter Girguis, who received
the SUT’s Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration this year; his work on deep ocean life is both
fascinating, and vital to inform how we build a sustainable blue economy.
From my own perspective as the new President of the SUT, I have already met so many people that have
been, and continue to be, inspired by Don. It’s with this pioneering spirit in mind that I look forward to
playing my role in championing the work of the SUT and the wider ocean community – supporting the
continuing development of the ocean economy, ocean energy and marine innovation, as we tackle the twin
challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Tere is an ever-increasing need to act swifly to meet these challenges head on and I hope to utilise insights
from my current role in renewable energy at Ørsted, as well as my experiences at the Carbon Trust and as
chair of the Ofshore Wind Industry Council, to help develop and evolve plans to tackle these issues head on.
It’s both a challenging and exciting time in the marine space, but one I think we can all agree is vital to get
right – and with a sense of urgency. With the array of talent, knowledge, innovative thinking I have already
seen in my time so far as SUT President, I’m confdent that we can make real progress and help lead the
growth of a successful, sustainable blue economy based on strong science and ground-breaking innovation.
Benj Sykes
SUT President
Big Blue World
New Members
Big Blue World
Click here to �nd out how your organisation can join the SUT as a
Corporate Member and the bene�ts it includes.
Welcome to our new Corporate Members
The Society offers enhanced communication with other companies, government, organisations and
individuals working in the area of underwater technology in specialist disciplines.
Follow SUT on Social Media
Click the icons above to follow
SUT HQ on social media.
Join us on LinkedIn!
www.linkedin.com/company/sutuk/
Many of our branches and special interest
groups also have social media accounts
of their own. Make sure you search for
‘Society for Underwater Technology’ across
LinkedIn to follow accounts dedicated to
these groups too.
Society for Underwater Technology
Publications
UT2/Underwater Robotics - The magazines of the SUT
Click to read the latest issues
Society for Underwater Technology
Big Blue World - The global newsletter of the SUT
Click to read past issues
Editor: John Howes John@ut-2.com | Commercial: Zinat Hassan ut3subsea@gmail.com
Big Blue World
Events & Training Diary
2024
APRIL
Perth – April Evening Technical Meeting
17 April 2024
Parmelia Hilton Perth
ECOSIGG Webinar – Boats, Drills, Sound
Waves and Drones
17 April 2024
Webinar
Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Course
30 April - 2 May 2024
Newcastle, UK
MAY
SUT-US Networking
Event
3 May 2024
Houston, Texas, USA
Perth – Subsea Awareness Course
6-10 May 2024
Parmelia Hilton Perth
SUT KL Monthly Session
8 May 2024
Loco, KL
SUT Middle East - The case for HVDC
Systems for Offshore Power Transmission
in the MENA Region
14 May 2024
Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi
ECOSIGG Webinar – Geotechnical Design
of Offshore Windfarms – a Holistic
Engineering Perspective
15 May 2024
Webinar
All-Energy
15-16 May 2024
SEC, Glasgow
SUT Singapore - Technical Evening
16 May 2024
TBA
An Introduction to Offshore Geophysics &
Geotechnical Engineering
21-22 May 2024
Southampton
EAGE/SUT Workshop on Integrated
Site Characterization for Offshore
Renewable Energy
22-23 May 2024
Boston, Massachusetts, US
SUT Member News
Society for Underwater Technology
Events & Training Diary
Events & Training Diary
JUNE
Aberdeen – Subsea Awareness Course
3-7 June 2024
Palm Court, Aberdeen
Perth – Subsea Production Systems
Course
5 June 2024
Offshore Site Investigation & Geotechnics
– South West Geoforum 7
6 June 2024
Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
SUT KL Monthly Session
12 June 2024
Loco, KL
Perth – June Evening Technical Meeting
12 June 2024
Parmelia Hilton, Perth
Ocean Tech Expo 2024
26-27 June 2024
University of Plymouth
JULY
SUT KL Monthly Session
10 July 2024
Loco, KL
Perth – Materials and Corrosion Course
31 July - 1 August 2024
AUGUST
Perth – August Evening Technical
Meeting
14 August 2024
Parmelia Hilton Perth
SUT KL Monthly Session
14 August 2024
Loco KL
1st EAGE/SUT Workshop on Integrated
Site Characterization for Offshore Wind
in Asia Paci�c
14-15 August 2024
Perth
Find more information
on SUT events online at
www.sut.org/events
Big Blue World
Oceanology International
SUT at Oceanology International
12-14 March 2024, ExCel London
SUT staf, corporate and individual members, Special Interest Groups, Branch committee members, and
volunteers came together for Oi24 among almost over 7,500 visitors from 90 countries with almost 450 exhibitors
at the London-based ocean innovation and technology showcase that is Oceanology International at ExCel.
Ocean Industry professionals from technology, engineering, science and academic felds met, discussed and
displayed cutting-edge technologies and solutions, announced collaborations, awards and developments
during this international gathering.
In addition to supporting Catch the Next Wave, SUT
augmented the conference with its associated events
on UXO in the Marine Environment, Women in
Industry and Ocean Careers during the week. We
thank all of those speakers who so generously gave
their time to speak in these sessions. SUT would like
to congratulate RX on their new initiative of the Oi
Skills and Career Trail which included SUT members
Elevate Ofshore and UTM Consultants. Skills, careers
and education remain fundamental to SUT’s focus on
ocean technology, underwater and subsea engineering
and science and the communities we serve.
Professor Peter Girguis travelled from Harvard
University to accept the Captain Don Walsh Award,
awarded jointly by SUT and MTS. Peter’s presentation
following the keynote session was fascinating,
enthralling and lef everyone in the audience ruing that we had not had the foresight to record this session.
We urge members to listen to the SUT’s Underwater Technology Podcast episode with Peter Girguis to share
in Peter’s enthusiasm and expertise.
Exhibiting stands were busy, conference theatres and rooms were full. Sharon Jones, Business Manager,
Maritime Enterprise, MOD posted ‘Why did you need 3 days at Oi 2024?’ For SUT staf, the three days at
Oi few by. Our days and evenings were busy with meetings: UK and international, potential members,
meeting other industry bodies, answering general and technical questions from visitors, and being the main
distribution point for UT2 magazine (thank you, John Howes!).
Peter Girguis (middle) receives his Captain Don
Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration
Speakers at the SUT Ocean Careers panel (L-R) SUT CEO Cheryl Burgess, Martin Stemp, Mick Cook,
Lucy Shuff, Stephen Thomson, Ed Steele, Laura Rivera Paramo, Andy Woolgar, Steve Hall, Sue John
Society for Underwater Technology
Oceanology International
Oi Show Director David Ince said: “Once again, it was an
immense privilege to bring together the global ocean science,
technology, and engineering community here at Oi in London.
With exceptional visitor numbers, all three days were high in
energy and positivity, across the exhibition, the conferences, and
the many networking events. It was particularly inspiring to see
the sheer amount of new technology and innovation on show,
alongside a diverse, international audience – proof that we are
all working hard towards a common goal, to ensure a healthy,
sustainable future for our oceans.
“We are already
looking forward
to Oi26 in two
years’ time from
10th-12th March
2026, with a
commitment
to evolve and
expand the event,
to introduce
new features
and topics, while
building on
the decades of
history that have
made Oceanology
International
successful.
We will continue to strive to bring together the best the industry
has to ofer across the sectors, strengthening the bridge connecting the ocean’s three pillars of industry,
academia, and government, and looking towards the future with optimism.”
Team Podcast! Former and current
SUT Underwater Technology Podast
hosts Andrew Connelly (L) and Martin
Stemp (R) with SUT Publications
Of�cer and SUT Podcast producer
Emily Boddy (middle)
Full House - a packed theatre of attendees listening to the SUT’s Women in Industry Panel
Meeting SUT members: L-R Natacha
Barbier, Eric Cauquil, SUT Finance and
Membership Of�cer Jane Hinton, Andy Hill
10
10
Oceanology International
Big Blue World
S U T C o r p o ra t e M e m b e r s a t O c
Ashtead Technology
Elevate Offshore
Exail
Gardline
Geoquip Marine
Global Underwater Hub
Greensea IQ
MacArtney
MMA Offshore
MTS
N Sea
Next Geosolutions
There were SUT Members around every corner at Oi 2024! We always enjoy the opportunity to catch up with our individual, student, and corporate members face-to-face and hear all about their latest endeavors.