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In an effort to ensure greater awareness of metocean (meteorology and oceanography) conditions worldwide amongst staff working in the offshore industry, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is launching its first three-day Metocean Awareness Course, which will be held 14-16 October 2008 at IMarEST headquarters at 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ.

Metocean can have major impact on the offshore industry. From a business perspective, it is imperative that users of metocean information 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.

"We are aiming the Course at project managers and engineers in the offshore industry who are involved in operations or design. The Course is ideal for both new entrants to the industry and those with many years experience," explains Ben Saunders, IMarEST's Education and Training Co-ordinator. "The Course, with its mixture of short presentations and participatory workshop sessions, will enable delegates to interact with expert speakers and other delegates from a wide range of backgrounds who use, or provide, metocean data."

Dr Chris Graham, course facilitator and one of the expert speakers actively involved in developing the new course explains: "Such a publicly available comprehensive metocean awareness course is not only a ‘first' for IMarEST but also for the industry.

"We aim for our delegates to learn just why metocean is important to the offshore oil and gas industry; and, with their newly accrued understanding, engage better with internal and external stakeholders regarding metocean matters. This transfer of knowledge is also essential as the crew change in staff across the industry gathers momentum.

"They will become familiar with how the regional metocean conditions around the world impact operations and engineering; and will learn how metocean statistics are 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 Course include Dr Robin Stephens, Dr Mark Calverley, Dr Colin Grant, Ian Leggett and Professor Ralph Rayner. 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 www.imarest.org/events/metocean - where the full programme for the three days appears; and from +44(0)20 7382 2605.

SOURCE: IMarEST