IMarEST Metocean Awareness Training Attracts Overseas Students
The first Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) three-day Metocean Awareness Course, being held from 10 to 12 February 2009 has already attracted participants from Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and the UK.
Being held at IMarEST headquarters at 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ in the heart of the City of London, the course is designed to ensure greater awareness of metocean (meteorology and oceanography) conditions worldwide amongst staff working in the offshore industry.
Metocean has a major impact on design and operations in the offshore industry. From a business perspective, it is imperative that users of metocean information are fully aware of the implications that the weather, waves, currents and water levels can have on their operations or design work. Experience has shown that if they are not, things can go wrong, with serious health and safety and economic consequences.
"We are aiming the Course at project managers and engineers in the offshore industry who are involved in operations or design. The Course is ideal for both new entrants to the industry and those with many years experience," explains Ben Saunders, IMarEST's Education and Training Manager. "With its mixture of short presentations and participatory workshop sessions, it will enable delegates to interact with expert speakers and other delegates from a wide range of backgrounds who use, or provide, metocean data. The delegates who have registered come from interesting and diverse backgrounds - there is no doubt that participants will learn from each other's experience as well as from the experts lined up to speak and lead workshop sessions. It is going to be a packed and stimulating three days."
Dr Chris Graham, course facilitator and one of the expert speakers actively involved in developing the new course explains: "They will become familiar with how the regional metocean conditions around the world impact operations and engineering; and will learn how metocean statistics are presented and, most importantly, how they are used. After the three days they will be aware of how weather and ocean forecasts are derived; be able to identify the process for obtaining key metocean deliverables; and understand where metocean information and advice can be obtained. Feeling at home with these topics will undoubtedly give them added confidence."
Other experts involved with the Course include Dr Robin Stephens, Dr Mark Calverley, Dr Colin Grant, Ian Leggett and Professor Ralph Rayner. Networking is part and parcel of the three days, with a drinks reception at the end of the first day; and a course dinner on the second evening as well as lunch, coffee and tea breaks.
