NOC to Host Workshops at Ocean Business 2017

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) will be delivering a programme of workshops at Ocean Business 2017, taking place from 4-6 April at the NOC in Southampton, UK. The workshops will address a variety of issues facing the ocean technology community, both currently and in the future.

On the first day of Ocean Business (Tuesday 4 April), Prof Matt Mowlem, head of the NOC’s Ocean Technology and Engineering Group, will present the NOC's sensor and instrumentation technologies that have just become available commercially. Further workshops include: business opportunities to network and work with the newly created South Marine Cluster; meetings with innovative companies operating in ocean observation to identify barriers to commercialisation, as part of the FixO3 Horizon 2020 project (Fixed point Open Ocean Observatory network) and a presentation about the collaborative development of a shore-based marine radar system which provides crucial hydrographic data, information on wildlife activity and acts as a vessel traffic tool. 

A major highlight of the programme is the NOC’s executive director, Professor Ed Hill, whose presentation focuses on the strategic priorities of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) that advance efficiency in monitoring the world's oceans (Wednesday 5 April). Also on the second day, the NOC is conducting a seminar about the support they have provided on the decommissioning of the 475 offshore oil and gas installations in the UK. Other highlights include a technological update about the NOC's development of pressure tolerant lithium sulphur batteries.

Industry Applications Using Marine Data

The potential use of arctic shipping lanes will be an interesting subject for discussion on the final day of the show (Thursday 6 April), as well as a seminar with NOC's data modelling experts explaining how to translate marine data into industry applications.  All these workshops will be free to attend and visitors simply need to register by sending an email. The NOC will also open its doors for tours of the key testing facilities that are available for commercial hire. 

As the biggest gathering of the year for the international ocean technology community, Ocean Business has become a centre for high profile industry events.  For a full programme of activities at the show and for free visitor registration, visit the website at www.oceanbusiness.com.