Photograph taken at Oceanology International 2014: Nothing beats face-to-face conversations – it’s what exhibitions are all about. Credit to: Trevor Smeaton
Invasive species have been identified as one of the four greatest threats to the world’s oceans. Invasive alien species are now generally recognised as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally, they present serious economic, environmental and health impacts and, as a result, place major constraints on development. That’s why invasive species will be coming under the conference spotlight at Oceanology International 2016 (OI 2016), the world’s largest marine science and ocean technology exhibition and conference, being held at London’s ExCeL from Tuesday 15 – Thursday 17 March. Free online registration is now open at www.oceanologyinternational.
Chaired by Dr Bev MacKenzie, Technical and Policy Director, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and Richard Burt, Chairman, AMSI; Sales and Marketing Director, Chelsea Technologies the ‘Green Shipping’ session will take place on the afternoon of opening day (15 March) and feature six presentations, and panel discussions.
Bev MacKenzie explains: “Ships often take up ballast water in ports and coastal regions, where the ecosystems have a rich diversity of life. These biologically diverse waters, and their underlying sediments, including many forms of viruses, bacteria, plankton, plants and animals, are sucked into vessels’ ballast tanks. Ballast water is then is released during various stages of the ship’s journey, including at sea, along coastlines, and in various ports.
“As a result, a diverse mix of organisms is transported and released around the world. Over 3,000 marine species travel around the world in ships’ ballast water on a daily basis. Invasive species are carried across the seas not only inside ships, but also attached to the outside. This is known as hull fouling, vessel fouling, or biofouling. Organisms like barnacles, mussels, sponges, algae and sea squirts attach themselves to the hulls of ships, or within protected nooks and crannies such as sea chests. These organisms then ‘hitch a ride’ from one port or bioregion to the next.”
Looking forward to the panel session at the end of ‘Green Shipping’ she explains: “This will cover the two major vectors of invasive species into the marine environment: in ships ballast water or by hull fouling. Talks will cover the science, technologies and legislation designed to minimize and prevent invasions and a discussion on how impending international legislation may present business opportunities for the science, engineering and technology sector.”
“It’s a packed programme on a vital topic,” says Event Director, Jonathan Heastie, of organisers, Reed Exhibitions. “Not only can those attending the conference listen, learn and participate, but on the exhibition floor they can also find out more about the technology available to help minimise and prevent invasions. Indeed their ‘detective work’ can continue in the relaxed atmosphere of our networking event being held in the exhibition at the end of Day 1.”
Getting down to detail
The first hour and a half of the ‘Green Shipping’ session provides a useful introduction to ballast water and biofouling. Following opening remarks by session Co-Chairman, Richard Burt, topics being highlighted are
- Ballast Water Management from Regulation to Monitoring, Chris Mooij, Director and Head of the Modelling, GIS and Metocean (MGM) Team, Intertek
- Ballast Water Treatment Systems, Dr Stelios Kyriacou, Technical Director – Ballast Water Management Systems, Wärtsilä
- Universal Challenges in Ballast Water Management and Sensor Technology Developments, Stephanie Lavelle, Chelsea Technologies
- Challenges in Combatting Biofouling, Tom Vance, Research and Development Manager, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
- Hull Coating Developments, Speaker TBC, International Paint
Panel discussions then take over, first with the speakers discussing ‘Technology Applications & Business Opportunities within Green Shipping’. Then Bev MacKenzie will provide an introduction to ‘Ramifications of Ballast Water Convention Ratification’ which in turn will lead into a discussion involving the audience as well as the panel for what will be a highly stimulating 30 minutes.
Packed exhibition
There are Canadian, French, German, Irish, Dutch and US national group stands at OI 2016, as well as a diving pavilion; and individual exhibitors come from 32 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK and the USA. Together they take up over 8,000m2 of stand space making OI 2016 the largest ever held in its 47-year history. In 2014 there were 520+ exhibiting companies and total attendance over the three days of over 8,400 industry professionals.
OI 2016 is staged in partnership with the SUT and with The Hydrographic Society UK; the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST); the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA); the Marine Technology Society (MTS); and the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) as endorsing organisations.
Further information on all aspects of Oceanology International including visitor registration is available online atwww.oceanologyinternational.
About Oceanology International
Oceanology International is the global forum where industry, academia and government share knowledge and connect with the marine science and ocean technology community, improving their strategies for measuring, exploiting, protecting and operating in the world’s oceans. Established in 1969, Oceanology International features the world’s largest exhibition for marine science and technology, multiple agenda-setting technical conferences, and a visiting vessels and waterside demonstration programme.
The Oceanology International portfolio includes:
- Oceanology International 2016 (15-17 March 2016, ExCeL London, UK): will build on the success of the 2014 show, which attracted 8,410 participants – an increase of 10% over 2014. Exhibitor figures at the world’s largest marine technology and ocean science show were higher than ever before with 528 exhibiting companies from 35 countries. www.oceanologyinternational.
com - Catch the Next Wave 2016 Now in its third edition, Catch the Next Wave is an exclusive conference taking place on14 March 2016, the day before Oceanology International 2016 at the prestigious Royal Institution, London. The event takes a longer term view of the capabilities that will shape our future ability to explore, understand, exploit and protect the oceans, with a focus this year on next generation robotics and automation. www.ctnwconference.com
- Oceanology International China 2016 The fourth show in the annual series will be held 9-11 November 2016, CECIS, Shanghai, China. Developed with government and industry associations it provided organisations with the opportunity to capitalise on China’s rapidly growing offshore energy and marine industries. www.oichina.com.cn/en
- Oceanology International North America 2017 (14-16 February, 2017, San Diego Convention Center). The launch of this biennial conference and exhibition is in line to attract more than 2,000 marine energy professionals and 250 paying conference delegates. www.
oceanologyinternationalnortham erica.com