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gas infrastructure gets denser and more complex, AUVs will be favored. AUVs are also seeing increased utilization as mobile nodes in subsea sensor networks. Offshore oil and gas is driving marine technology activity. Deeper projects create challenges that call for new solu-tions as top side hydrocarbon process-ing applications are transferred down to the seabed. Coincident with this trend of denser subsea production infrastructure is the requirement for longer offsets in terms of umbilicals, pipelines, hydraulic lines and cables for power, signal and data transmission. Deploying and assur- ing the operational integrity of the entire subsea oil and gas installation offers a rich setting for marine technology appli-cation and adaptation advances. From a government/legisla- tive perspective, are there any matters on the horizon which could speciÞ cally spell trouble or opportunity for this sector? Please be speciÞ c. If federal or local governments reduce oceanographic research fund-ing on scientiÞ c pursuits at agencies, foundations, universities or other gov- ernmental knowledge-seeking institu- tions, then the marine sector would be affected to some degree. If governments legislate new rules, say, on any portion of the offshore energy generation spec- trum, then delayed exploitation of the resource might be initially negative; however, if the new rules impose new technology requirements for safety, de- tection, monitoring, reporting, etc., then perhaps the new materials, products and services would prove overall positive to the industry and related sectors. Aug 2005 Jan 2006 Aug 2006 Mar 2007 Jan 2008 Jul 2008 Oct 2008 Dec 2 008 Sept 2010 Jul 2011 CORMON Ltd.www.seadiscovery.com Marine Technology Reporter 25MTR #7 (18-33).indd 25MTR #7 (18-33).indd 259/10/2012 10:13:35 AM9/10/2012 10:13:35 AM