Oceanology International Prepares to Reopen Its Doors to Hydrographic Community
As media partner, we are excited to share the brilliant news for the global ocean technology and hydrographic community that the Oceanology International (Oi) exhibition and conference is back on the calendar! The three-day Oceanology International 2022 is scheduled to take place at ExCeL London on 15–17 March – and exhibitor numbers are reported to already be on a par with previous shows.
With the welfare of attendees a paramount concern, organizer RX Global has designed an exhibition and conference space that leaves no stone unturned in creating a Covid-safe environment. This means that visitors will be able to take in the full range of diverse content provided by an Oi event for the first time in four long years.
In addition to the welcome return of long-term Oi exhibitors such as iXblue, Kongsberg Maritime, Fugro and C-MAX, the Oi22 show floor will accommodate 83 new stands hosting companies who are exhibiting at an Oi event for the first time. These include GeoAcoustics, which supplies sonar equipment for bathymetry, side-scan and sub-bottom profiling, and Blueprint Lab, which manufactures robotic arms for use in challenging subsea environments.
A Wave of Product Launches and New Innovations
At the centre of ocean innovation and technology, Oi will showcase world-first product introductions, including the culmination of a four-year EU-supported project called AIRCOAT, a revolutionary hull coating that reduces friction, fouling and emissions while increasing vessel performance. From Sweden, Amo Kabel will launch the first DNV-approved aluminium power cables replacing traditional copper. A record-breaking underwater AUV thruster will be launched by Tianjin Haoye Technology of China, and Canada’s Seamor Marine will introduce the new Mako ROV built to carry a variety of accessories with a power capacity to run them all simultaneously. These innovative products and many more unique advances in maritime technology will be seen for the first time during Oceanology International.
A growing attraction on the exhibition floor is the Ocean ICT area, showcasing over 20 companies dedicated to the latest developments in ocean IT, communications, satellite and data solutions. These include BeamworX, which specializes in the acquisition, processing and integration of single/multibeam echosounder and laser data; Hydromea, an emerging supplier in high-speed wireless underwater communication and portable robotics; and WSENSE, which manufactures monitoring and comms systems that harness a unique patented solution in the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT).
Bringing Hydrographic Professionals Together
Another networking feature for Oi22 will be Oi Connect, bringing together ocean professionals to participate in free, brokered one-to-one meetings. Visitors can arrange meetings with their selected exhibitor representatives who are looking to grow their business networks. This service is organized by Oi in collaboration with both Sector Global, a renowned meetings broker, and EEN (the Enterprise Europe Network). Meetings can be arranged to take place on the exhibitor’s stand or in the quiet of the dedicated Oi Connect meetings lounge.
Always popular at Oi events are the multiple on-water product demonstrations, this year on a grander scale with scope for more activities and interactions, unique to Oi and staged in the adjacent Royal Victoria Dock. This year, Fugro will demonstrate its Blue Essence 12m uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the first in the industry with an electric remote operated vehicle (eROV) controlled from an onshore remote operations centre. USVs will play an important role in the maritime sector, offering a safer, more sustainable solution in support of the energy transition. The dockside will manage operations from multiple all-weather locations and include demos from the likes of subsea conglomerate Teledyne Marine, USV manufacturer OceanAlpha, ROV designer Blueye, and the hydrographic survey solutions provider Seafloor Systems. Visitors can also examine moored vessels on display such as the Kommandor Stuart from Hays Ships, and vessels from Magellan, Briggs and NORBIT Subsea. The latter’s 14.25m catamaran, SV Thame, is fully equipped for high-resolution bathymetric and terrestrial surveys.
Ocean Futures Theatre
The all-new Ocean Futures Theatre will be the flagship venue for the Oi22 industry-leading conference programme. Headline presentations on the New Blue Economy, the Energy Transition and Technology in Support of Science will feature distinguished guest panellists including Dr Rick Spinrad, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator, Vladimir Ryabinin, executive secretary IOC-UNESCO, and Dr Ralph Raynor, professorial research fellow at the LSE. Associated technical presentations by a prominent array of academics, technicians, engineers, CEOs and scientists will be held during the show covering important areas including Ocean Observation, the Energy Transition, Pollution & Low Carbon, Hydrography & Survey and Uncrewed Vehicles.
“We have all had a challenging two years,” said Oi event director, David Ince, “including not physically holding an Oi since 2018. I am thankful to the RX team and all of the Oi exhibitors, visitors and stakeholders, who have worked closely with us through the many changes and developments of Oceanology International. We have all missed the connections that are made through face-to-face interaction and I am confident that March 2022 is the right time to once again provide the opportunity for this international network of ocean professionals to meet, socialize, forge relationships and conduct business, collectively propelling the ocean economy and environment forward in a sustainable manner.”
For more information and to register for Oi22, see oceanologyinternational.com.
