Big Blue World
The Global Newsletter of the Society for Underwater Technology
Issue 10, July 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 SUT Past President
Judith Patten
New Corporate Members
Publications
UT2, Underwater Robotics, Big Blue World
Events & Training Diary
SUT News
09 | Lennard-Senior Prize
10 | Remembering Alex Hunt
12 | SUT-Perth celebrate 20 years
14 | SUT-US Updates
SUT Training Reports
16 | Subsea Awareness Course Aberdeen
18 | An Introduction to Offshore
Geophysics & Geotechnical Engineering
Innovation
20 | The Making of the RMS Titanic
Digital Twin - Voyis
23 | Fugro - Awards for Groundbreaking
Technologies at OTC
24 | Extending Subsea Asset Life using
Data and Tech-Driven Transformational
Intelligence with Viper Innovations
SUT Member News
26 | Rovco
28 | Havfram
29 | CONSUB
Events Reports
31 | SUT Middle East - Project Lightning
32 | All-Energy and D-carbonise
Next Issue
03
04
05
06
34
26
09
16
20
Cover image: RMS Titanic
Digital Twin, courtesy of
Voyis
See more on page 20
31
Society for Underwater Technology
Welcome
Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to this issue of Big Blue World. I’m in a refective mood reliving an incredible
record-breaking edition of All-Energy, and the co-located Dcarbonise, at Glasgow’s SEC (see page 32).
Not only did I have the pleasure of seeing many of our 11 conference halls and eight show foor theatres
packed to the proverbial gunwales and hear the most incredible buzz from the busy exhibition; but I was in
the room when Professor Deborah Greaves of Plymouth University and the Supergen ORE Hub realised she
was to be presented with the SUT’s Lennard-Senior Memorial Prize (see page 9). I love a successful surprise!
I’m having one of those ‘how did I get here’ moments. Let’s start with my frst SUT encounter. Spearhead
Exhibitions, founded and run by the inspirational David Stott, an SUT Fellow. David acquired Oceanology
International in 1982 from the Society and I worked on it handling PR and marketing right up to up to 2000
event. David had also created Ofshore Europe – I worked on that from 1975 until afer the 1999 show; also
on other Spearhead O&G shows around the globe – Brazil, Venezuela, Azerbaijan and was ‘lent’ to Norway’s
ONS. I edited the ‘North Sea Oil and Gas Directory’ before acquiring it and becoming its publisher (and
marketeer). I sold it in 1994, all the time running a PR consultancy with clients as varied as Fugro, IMCA,
Gastech and even superb stately homes.
David retired but we had unfnished business. We were both eager to run a renewable energy exhibition and
conference. Aberdeen was prepared to welcome us; we were close to announcing the dates when we decided
to undertake some research in June 2000 at a regional edition of the World Renewable Energy Congress in
Brighton.
Almost the frst person we saw there was Ian Gallett, SUT’s Chief Executive at the time. He was also on a
recce as he thought the SUT should be running a marine renewables conference. We came to an agreement
there and then that the SUT would become our show’s Learned Society Patron, work with us on the
conference, and we would create an exhibition. Te frst show was held in thick snow in February 2001. 350
attended it, their passion and enthusiasm should have been bottled.
I remember my pride at being invited to sit on a learned society’s Special Interest Group when SUT’s Marine
Renewable Energies Committee (MREC) was formed (it still retains a conference involvement). Much later
came ever closer-ties to the SUT as I became a Fellow in 2014 and then to my astonishment SUT’s President
in 2020 I knew the demands of All-Energy post-pandemic would impinge on the time I could devote to
the SUT and so resigned afer just one year; but am still a member of the SUT Council and also sit on the
Strategy Working Group.
Tank you SUT for stretching my horizons and being such a stimulating partner in so many ways for 42 years!
Judith Pa�en
SUT Past 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 can bring.
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’ on
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
JULY
SUT KL Monthly Session
10 July 2024
Loco, KL
Perth – OSIGp Movie Night
18 July
Perth, WA
Perth – Materials and Corrosion Course
31 July - 1 August 2024
Perth, WA
AUGUST
SUT-US Networking Event
1 August 2024
Velvet Oak Tavern, Houston, TX, USA
Perth – August Evening Technical
Meeting - Offshore Wind Foundations
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, WA
SUT Aberdeen and THS:UKI Scotland -
Super Summer Special
29 August 2024
Resident X, Aberdeen, UK
SEPTEMBER
Perth – Subsea Awareness Course
2-6 September 2024
Parmelia Hilton, Perth
SUT-US Networking Event
5 September 2024
Union Kitchen, Houston, TX,
USA
Aberdeen – Subsea
Awareness Course
9-13 September 2024
Palm Court, Aberdeen, UK
SUT KL Monthly Session
11 September 2024
Loco, KL
SUT Member News
Society for Underwater Technology
Events & Training Diary
Events & Training Diary
Perth - SUT & SPE Annual Golf Day 2024
20 September 2024
Maylands Peninsular Golf Course, Perth
SUT-US – Subsea Awareness Course
23-26 September 2024
Houston, TX, USA
OCTOBER
Perth – AGM & Evening Technical Meeting
9 October 2024
Perth, WA
SUT KL Monthly Session
9 October 2024
Loco, KL
Perth – Subsea Controls
Down Under Ice-Breaker
Function
29 October 2024
Perth, WA
Perth – Subsea Controls
Down Under Conference
30-31 October 2024
Perth, WA
NOVEMBER
13th International SUT China Technical
Conference
1-4 November 2024
Tianjin, China
ADIPEC 2024
4-7 November 2024
ADNOC Business
Centre, Abu Dhabi
Perth – The Lifecycle of Flexible Risers &
Flowlines Course
6-7 November 2024
Perth, WA
SUT KL Monthly Session
13 November 2024
Loco, KL
Aberdeen – Subsea Awareness Course
18-22 November 2024
Palm Court, Aberdeen
Perth Annual Dinner 2024
29 November 2024
Westin Hotel, Perth, WA
Find more information on SUT events and training online at
www.sut.org/events
Big Blue World
Forthcoming Events
13th International SUT China Technical Conference
1-4 November 2024 | Tianjin, China
Ofshore oil and gas and green energy are major resources to ensure a sustainable industrial development in
the future. Tis event aims to build an open platform for technological exchange, promote the progress of
global marine resources exploration and development technology, and enhance international cooperation
between Chinese and foreign universities, enterprises and research institutions involved in maritime afairs.
Te 13th International SUT China Technical Conference will be held in Tianjin, China, from 1-4 November
2024. We would like to extend our warmest invitation to experts and scholars from domestic and abroad
engaged in scientifc research, education, production, application, and other disciplines to discuss the
development of ofshore resources, engineering equipment and related industrial topics.
Te annual SUT China Technical Conference was initiated by the SUT China Branch and 12 conferences
have been successfully held in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Qingdao, Beijing, Zhoushan, Changsha, Dalian and
Haikou, which have been highly recognized by experts and scholars.
With the theme of “Green Development of Marine Energy”, this conference invites distinguished experts
and scholars from dozens of universities, research institutes and enterprises in the feld of ocean engineering
around the world to participate and discuss key topics such as underwater technology, ocean engineering
equipment, and development and utilization of ocean resources.
Call for Papers
Abstract submission: 15 September 2024 | Full paper submission: 8 October 2024
Tis conference will focus on the following topics (including but not limited to):
Development of marine oil and gas
and mineral resources
• Subsea production systems
• Risers and pipelines
• New ship and ofshore platforms
• Smart ocean technology and applications
• Structure safety and reliability
• Intelligent monitoring, operation and maintenance
of ocean engineering equipment
• Underwater survey and communication
• Marine engineering test and numerical simulation
technology
• Marine resources mining technology and
equipment
Marine renewable energy development
• Renewable energy equipment such as ofshore
wind turbines, photovoltaic devices and wave
energy converters
• Development, monitoring, operation and
maintenance of ofshore renewable energy
equipment
• Grid connection of ofshore renewable energy
generation
• Storage and conversion of ofshore renewable
energy
• Integrated development of ofshore renewable
energy
Contact SUT@cup.edu.cn
Society for Underwater Technology
SUT News
Forthcoming Events
Huge congratulations to Deborah Greaves, a beacon in
the �eld of Ocean Engineering and Renewable Energy!
We’re thrilled to share that Professor
Deborah Greaves has been awarded
this year’s prestigious SUT Lennard-
Senior Prize at the All-Energy
Exhibition and Conference in
Glasgow, held in May 2024, in
recognition of outstanding individual
achievement in the feld of Marine
Renewable Energy.
As Professor of Ocean Engineering
and Director of the COAST at the
University of Plymouth, Deborah has
been at the forefront of innovative
research and transformative projects,
shaping the future of sustainable
energy solutions.
Since its inception in 2017, Deborah
has been Director of the £9m
Supergen Ofshore Renewable Energy
(ORE) Hub. She was appointed to
develop the strategy and consortium
for the new Supergen ORE Hub that
brings together ofshore wind with
marine energy sectors.
Deborah also led the Collaborative
Computational Project on Wave
Structure Interaction and has
consistently pioneered the
development of new technologies in
ofshore wind, wave, and tidal power.
Tis has included novel types of wave energy converter, analysis methods for ofshore renewable energy
farms, and extreme wave-structure interactions.
In addition to her research, Deborah has led high-profle national and international initiatives designed to
ensure such technological advances can be applied in real-world scenarios to help meet the country’s future
clean energy demands.
Here’s to Deborah’s continued success and the remarkable impact she continues to make in advancing the
frontiers of Ocean Engineering and Renewable Energy!
The Lennard-Senior Memorial Prize has been awarded by the SUT annually
since 2011 in memory of two of the original members of The Society for Underwater
Technology (SUT)’s Marine Renewable Energies Committee (MREC) –
Don Lennard and Gordon Senior.
SUT’s Lennard-Senior Memorial Prize
for Marine Renewable Energy
SUT CEO Cheryl Burgess (L) presents Deborah Greaves (R) with
her award at All-Energy in Glasgow
10
10
SUT Member News
Remembering Alex Hunt: A Pillar of the Subsea
Community
It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Alex Hunt, a
respected subsea engineer and technology manager. Alex’s career spanned
across leading companies such as Texaco, Total, and BG, where he was known
for his eloquent presentations and signifcant contributions to the feld. His
insights and knowledge will be remembered by many across the industry.
Alex was a treasured colleague and friend. Many will recall his readiness
to mentor, his rich storytelling, and his infectious humor. He was heavily
involved with the SUT over the years and, notably, authored the opening
chapter in the SUT’s children’s book, Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist?
asking ‘Why do ships go missing in the Bermuda Triangle?’. We have
included his chapter below for you to enjoy.
Alex’s passing is a great loss. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his widow
Cynthia during this difcult time. Tose who had the privilege to know him will miss his wisdom, his annual
Christmas letters, and his presence at innumerable meetings and conferences.
Rest in peace, Alex. You will be greatly missed.
Friends and former associates are invited to a Service of Tanksgiving for Alex which is to be held on
Tursday 11th July at 13:30 at Christ Church, Radlett, WD7 7JJ. Following the service of Tanksgiving there
will be a reception at Vision Hall, Christ Church.
Why do ships go missing
in the Bermuda Triangle?
written by Alex Hunt
Te ocean can be a dangerous place. Storms can cause massive waves. Hurricanes and typhoons have high
winds. Monsoons bring heavy rain. Icebergs can be a threat to ships. Tere can also be unexpected dangers,
such as tsunamis, which are huge waves caused by large underwater earthquakes. Even today, pirates
continue to sail the seas.
Ever since mankind frst started to explore the ocean out of sight of land, these dangers have claimed many
lives. Even with all of today’s technology, ships and aircraf sometimes disappear over the ocean. Although
most of these can be explained, some still remain a mystery. One place that is renowned for unexplained
disappearances is the Bermuda Triangle. Some also call it the Devil’s Triangle.
It does not appear on ofcial maps and charts, but it is a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean bordered by Florida
to the west, Bermuda to the north and Puerto Rico to the south. Records of ships disappearing in the area
date back to 1800. In more recent times, aircraf have also vanished without trace. Various explanations
have been proposed, but there has been no conclusive proof.
For example, in 1941 the USS Proteus departed from St. Tomas in the Virgin Islands with a cargo of
aluminium ore. It was lost in heavy seas with 58 people on board. Te following month, her sister ship
USS Nereus departed from the same port carrying the same cargo and was also lost, this time with 61
people on board. According to the US Navy, both losses were due to the ships being old and sufering from
corrosion, making them vulnerable to breaking up in heavy seas. However, no bodies or wreckage from
either ship were recovered. More strangely, these vessels were also sister ships to USS Cyclops, a ship that
had disappeared in the same area in 1919 with 306 crew and passengers on board.
Aircraf have also disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Flight 19 was a group of fve torpedo bombers