Maritime Developments: Subsea Sector Ready for Tough Challenges

Derek Smith, CEO at Maritime Developments, has offered his impressions of this year’s Subsea Expo.

Europe’s largest annual subsea exhibition and conference broke all records this year with a 23% increase in attendees and 200 exhibitors.

“The figures for Subsea Expo 2015 make for impressive reading. Around 6,500 people – up 23% on last year – visited the event at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

And that’s one of the reasons why, at Maritime Developments, we figure the subsea sector is in good shape to take on the tough challenges it undoubtedly faces,” says Derek Smith.

“The positivity signalled by those numbers – by the rising level of interest in one of our showpiece events – was reflected by the prevailing mood throughout the three days.

“The economic challenges are certainly there, but we detected a steely determination to work through them and succeed in the long term.

“Innovation, world-class technical expertise and a pioneering spirit that has characterised the UK subsea sector for many years: these were not only common themes at the event itself, but frequently cited as the qualities that will see us through.

“So, indeed, was collaboration. That’s something we’ve long embraced; in fact we only recently formed a partnership with Magma Global to develop a unique well intervention solution.

“We were certainly delighted by the attendance figures at our own stand, the centrepiece of which was an eye-catching 40-tonne winch (we also had a 50-tonne tensioner at the show entrance – there’s nothing like making a big first impression!).

“There was a familiar thread to our stand conversations: smart people, making smart decisions and continuing to deliver smart solutions, would stand our sector in good stead.

“That’s something we’d already figured. We’re always ready to adapt to changing customer needs and priorities. Where, during good times and bad, we strive to be better, to do more.