A chat with John Murray, Chief Executive, Society of Maritime Industries
The Society of Maritime Industries is the voice of the U.K. maritime engineering sector, and its Chief Executive John Murray is the very public and indelible face of the organization. SMI promotes and supports the interests of organizations with activities and interests in this sector both to its membership and the wider world. In total it is a trade association of more than 150 organizations across the maritime, offshore energy, subsea, naval and academic sectors, and the society has been busier than ever, as a number of drivers have buoyed the prospects of all matters maritime in the U.K.
Indonesia, Norway to Cooperate on Deep Sea Technology
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg agreed to cooperate on deep sea technology for oil and gas exploration and maritime sector. Norway has been advanced on deep sea technology and Indonesia thinks it is beneficial to have cooperation in this sector because many of its oil reserve are located in deep sea," Indonesian Energy and Mines Minister Sudirman Said said. Most of Indonesia's oil and gas reserves are located in deep sea in the eastern part of the country. The minister said that Indonesia's state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina and Norway's state company State Oil would cooperate in implementing the plan.
Singapore BWTS Development Grant for Liqtech International
Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore awards MINT ((Maritime Innovation & Technology) funding to LiqTech International, Inc. subsidiary LiqTech Pte Ltd. The award is for the development of a Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS). LiqTech Pte Ltd based in Singapore will be test-bedding its proprietary Silicon Carbide (SiC) membrane to configure a high efficiency and robust filtration solution for BWTS to meet the standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Maritime and Port of Authority of Singapore (endowed with the MINT Fund provides support in the maritime industry towards education, training and research and development) is providing funding support towards LiqTech's development of a robust BWTS.
Gulf O&G Tech Collaboration Debated
More than 30 oil and gas organisztions in the Middle East will gather to discuss the opportunities and challenges of collaborating on technology development in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). The event, organised by ITF, the technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry and sponsored by Kuwait Oil Company, will take place in Abu Dhabi on Monday February 27. ITF, a membership organization of international oil and gas operator and service companies, is encouraging companies in the GCC to focus on the need for collaborative oil and gas technology funding and agree commitment to drive forward with a strategy for the region. Neil Poxon, managing director of ITF will outline the benefits of driving new groundbreaking technologies through joint industry projects.
Navy Announces DD(X) Program
The Navy announced today that it will issue a revised Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Future Surface Combatant Program. Formerly known as DD 21, the program will now be called DD(X) to more accurately reflect the program purpose, which is to produce a family of advanced technology surface combatants, not a single ship class. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz approved the revised program focus and reaffirmed the Department's support for the Future Surface Combatant Program. "President Bush has made transformation of the Department of Defense a high priority. Through DD(X), the Navy has charted a course to transformation that will provide capability across the full spectrum of naval warfare. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics E.
Defense Companies Poised For Growth Under Bush
Despite the uncertainty of new government policy, the defense industry presents a picture of renewed growth, boosted by higher spending and technology funding under the George W. Bush administration. Makers of the nation's warfare technologies along with Wall Street analysts and industry consultants spent a week bragging about new opportunities and the likelihood of changes to Pentagon policy that would foster growth after 15 years of strained budgets. What's more, defense and aerospace stocks ended on a high note, climbing amid a broad market slump as 24 U.S. and British warplanes struck Iraqi military targets using various long-range, precision-guided weapons.
GAO Issue Report on Homeland Security and Information Technology
The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) issued its report entitled Homeland Security: Information Technology Funding and Associated Management Issues
