Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2015)

issues. They are issues for the oil and gas

Despite a precipitous drop in energy prices, industry, as well for many other sectors.

No single company, much less one sector, the Arctic remains ‘hot’ can solve those problems because they’re interconnected. We need a critical mass of the whole range of companies work- ing on these issues to address them. So we are creating a means for a collective effort by ocean-user industries that lead to business bene? ts through synergies, economies of scale and strength in num- bers.

Tell us a bit about the member- ship of WOC.

The WOC is a multi-industry “leader- ship alliance”. So it’s about getting these different industries together to tackle shared, cross-sectoral issues. The dif- ferent sectors live in different silos, but within each of the sectors there are com- panies – big and small –that think more about the ocean sustainability challeng- es. We have more than 80 members now, a mix of some of the biggest shipping and oil and gas companies in the world and other large companies from seabed mining, ? shing and other sectors, as well as many medium and small enterprises.

The WOC continues to grow steadily as more companies join and more par- ticipate in our network, which has over 34,000 ocean industry stakeholders.

How did you personally get in-

Photo Credit: DNV GL volved in this?

I’ve been working on international risks that ocean sustainability issues cre- effort to engage companies in collecting munity and saying, for example, ‘In the ocean environmental issues all of my ate to future operations. We are work- data. Companies like Maersk, which is southern ocean, the science community career, became more and more interest- ing to help shape the ocean sustainability co-chairing the WOC working group on is telling us there’s a signi? cant gap in ed in the business of ocean use. I came agenda and turn possible threats into op- Smart Ocean-Smart Industries, are es- data because it’s so expensive to get from a marine science background way portunities. For example, with the ma- sentially saying, ‘Look, we could do a their regularly with scienti? c vessels back, but I was always more interested rine spatial planning that is going on in lot more to possibly host instrumenta- and there is so little commercial activity in the human use and management of the many parts of the world, there is a poten- tion and collect data if someone made it down there”. But, there are more cruise ocean. It became clear that if we’re re- tial upside if industry gets involved early easier for us to get involved.’ ships traversing the area, as well as ? sh- ally going to tackle ocean sustainability in a constructive way that helps shape It’s a matter of ‘match-making’ be- ing boats from New Zealand and Austra- issues, the business community has got how the ocean zoning is developed and tween the scientists and interested com- lia, for example. If we had instrumenta- to lead the way. implemented. panies to host instrumentation that can tion on those vessels, we could help the

As I was getting to know the many collect data. This is one of the most scientists understand what’s going on in

As an organization, how do good, smart people in good, smart cost-ef? cient ways to better understand the Southern Ocean, which is important you address those challenges?

companies that care about the ocean, I ocean, weather and climate conditions to understanding weather and climate,

We are creating the means for compa- saw that there was a need and opportu- and trends. More and better data from as well as for improving forecasting, nity to connect them with each other, nies to collaborate for the good of busi- ocean areas can lead to better model- which will be directly and immediately particularly across the sectors. As we ness - and the good of the ocean - that ing and forecasting, which leads to bet- valuable for the companies with vessels began creating this global ‘ocean busi- has not existed before. A prime example ter safety and sustainability. So there’s a operating in the area . It’s a matter of ness community’ that became the WOC, is our “Smart Ocean-Smart Industries” virtuous circle here that is a real win-win building those connections and creating many companies expressed their interest program which builds on the concept of for the ocean business community. the collaboration.

in building an ocean industry leadership ‘ships of opportunity.’ There are 50,000

So is WOC doing this from the So what’s ‘in it’ for the marine organization that was a bridge between plus merchant vessels and another 1.3 million ? shing boats out there, not to stratosphere, or digging in and technology community?

the group and governments, intergovern- getting dirty?

mention thousands of oil platforms, In relation to marine technology, the mental bodies and the environment com- aquaculture facilities, wind farms, etc. We’re asking scientists to “Tell us, “Smart Ocean - Smart Industries” pro- munity.

These have the potential to host instru- what are the priority areas of ocean, gram creates a much bigger market for ments that collect data to better under- which parameters and variables do you the people who build the sensors and

So what are your biggest chal- stand the ocean and improve safety and need more data on to improve your other instruments. Instead of selling lenges today?

People’s top priority is running their sustainability. We are working to com- modeling; what’s the instrumentation solely to the world’s scienti? c vessels, business. We want to help companies pliment the ocean observation programs available, what are the operations, main- you could have a huge market even to ensure the success of their business at NOAA and others around the world tenance issues and costs”. Then we are with a small percentage of the merchant by helping them realize and address the by creating a systematic, comprehensive reaching out to the ocean business com- ? eet hosting instruments, perhaps many www.marinelink.com 47

MR #6 (42-49).indd 47 MR #6 (42-49).indd 47 6/8/2015 9:57:39 AM6/8/2015 9:57:39 AM