Meteorology and oceanography (metocean) have a major impact on design and operations in all elements of the offshore industry. From a business perspective, it is imperative that users of metocean information in the offshore oil and gas and marine renewables industries 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.

Following the success of the first Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) three-day Metocean Awareness Course, held earlier this year, the second in the series is to be held Tuesday 15-Thursday 17 September 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 conditions worldwide amongst project managers and engineers working in the offshore industries involved in operations or design, ranging from new industry entrants to those with many years’ experience.

“We were delighted by the success of the first course,” says Marcus Jones, Chief Executive of the IMarEST. “Attended by delegates from Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and the UK, it dug firm foundations on which we have been able to build. Our delegates described it as “consistently a very good course”, noted that “the general enthusiasm of the speakers about the subject shone through and the course felt new and exciting”, and also found the networking opportunities invaluable. We are delighted to have Dr Chris Graham once again as the overall facilitator and one of the expert speakers and authors of the course, who will be joined once again by the invited speakers who are experts in their field, and who took part in the first Course.”

Once again the course format will include a mixture of short presentations and participatory workshop sessions including a group case study exercise.

Overview by the Course facilitator
As Dr Graham explains: “We were delighted by the positive feedback we received from delegates on the first Metocean Awareness course held earlier this year. They told us that we got the balance about right. So even though the course content covered a wide range of aspects, overall it was at an appropriate level of detail. The delegates also told us that there was a good mix of lecture, interactive sessions and assignment tasks. Most importantly, we succeeded in meeting the needs of a varied group of delegates from a range of engineering disciplines and years of experience – not always easy to achieve on a course such as this.

“This success with the first course has encouraged us in our preparations for the second course this September. In response to feedback we are making minor modifications to the course schedule, content and mix of activities. The main change though is to broaden the appeal of the course. We are now widening its content, and our target audience, beyond the oil and gas industry to the offshore industry in general and including in particular offshore renewables.

“We aim for our delegates to learn just why metocean is important to the offshore industry; and, with their newly accrued understanding, engage better with internal and external stakeholders on metocean matters,” he adds. “This transfer of knowledge is also essential as the crew change in staff across the industry continues to gather momentum despite the recent downturn.

“Delegates will become familiar with how metocean conditions around the world impact operations and engineering; and will learn how metocean statistics are derived and 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 Metocean Awareness Course include Dr Robin Stephens, Dr Colin Grant, Trevor Pitt, Dr Ralph Rayner, Dr Mark Calverley, and Ian Leggett. 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 on all three days.

Further information on the course is available from technical@imarest.org and at
http://www.imarest.org/Events/IMarESTEvents/MetoceanAwarenessCourse/1517
September2009/tabid/843/language/en-GB/Default.aspx where the full programme for the three days appears (with information on the Early Bird Discount of £200 for places registered by 14 August 2009); and from +44(0)20 7382 2628.

About IMarEST

• The IMarEST (Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology) is the leading membership body and learned society for marine professionals, industry, research and education, with 50 branches and 15,000 members worldwide
  
• Professional Recognition: qualifications for membership are based on the educational background and/or multi-disciplinary experience ensuring that high professional standards are maintained
  
• The only membership body that can award Chartered Marine Scientist and Technologist, Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician status to their professional engineering counterparts
  
• The IMarEST is part of the Marine Engineering, Science and Technology Federation
  
• IMarEST Marine Partners: a membership network for organisations in industry, research and education operating in the marine and offshore sectors
  
• Maritime journals include MER (Marine Engineers Review); Shipping World & Shipbuilder incorporating Maritime IT & Electronics; The Marine Scientist; and the newly launched Journal of Operational Oceanography.
  
• IMarEST Publications: Technical Proceedings Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology (JMET), Journal of Marine Design and Operations (JMDO), Journal of Operational Oceanography (JOO) and a catalogue of 100+/- books
  
• The IMarEST Marine Information Centre (MIC) has 36,000 references available; 86,000 references on the combined IMarEST/BMT database; and nearly 10,000 books and 2,000 conference proceedings
  
• IMarEST organises 30-40 events and conferences annually; and was the host organisation for the World Maritime Technology Conference held in London 6-10 March 2006