Winners Revealed At 2023 Subsea Expo Awards

• 24 February 2023
• Subsea Expo Awards

Success across the UK’s £8billion underwater industry was celebrated in Aberdeen this week at the Subsea Expo Awards.

The prestigious black tie dinner saw over 500 guests gather at P&J Live in Aberdeen to applaud the achievements of companies and individuals working across the oil and gas, decommissioning, offshore energy, defence, aquaculture and marine science sectors.  The event formed part of the three-day Subsea Expo exhibition and conference.

 

Global Underwater Hub chief executive Neil Gordon hosted the evening, while guests enjoyed a passionate and engaging talk from engineer, space scientist and broadcaster Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE.  Known as the BBC’s ‘face of space’ and a presenter of the astronomical institution The Sky At Night, Dr Aderin-Pocock shared her love of science with the audience and highlighted the connection between space and the sea.

 

Hampshire firm Scientific Management International (SMI) was presented with the top honour of the evening, the Company of the Year Award – over 50 employees, which was sponsored by Viper Innovations.  SMI works across the defence and offshore energy sectors of the underwater industry and has recorded strong growth over the past five years and built a pipeline of work through until the 2060s.

 

ITC Hydraulics and Manufacturing, based in Aberdeenshire, picked up the Company of the Year Award – under 50 employees.  Since its formation 1999, the company has been at the forefront of providing equipment design and build, fabricating and machining, and refurbishment and repair services to multiple industry sectors.  It has ambitious growth targets over the next three years and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.

 

Acknowledging its successful export strategy, Kraken Robotics won the Global Exports Award.  The firm, which delivers innovative 3D sub-seabed investigation services, undertakes around 80% of its work outside Europe and has plans to enter markets in Asia.

 

Collecting the Cross Sector Diversification Award was Aberdeenshire-based company Viewport3.  The award, sponsored by Ocean Installer, recognises a company that has developed technology or an innovative solution that can be applied to more than one market sector, or contributed to the energy transition and net-zero targets.

 

The Technology Development Award, sponsored by C-Kore Systems, was presented to Fugro, recognising the development of its Blue Essence 12-metre fully uncrewed surface vessel.

 

Stephanie Hood, growth hub product manager at Baker Hughes, was named Rising Star.  In the 15 months that she was been working with the company, she has been described as making a phenomenal impact on the business.  By bringing innovative thinking to how Baker Hughes can develop opportunities within new energy space, she is helping change industry perceptions and position the company at the heart of the energy transition.

 

Industry stalwart Peter Blake received the prestigious Outstanding Contribution Award.  The accolade acknowledged his 40-year career in the oil and gas industry, one which was dedicated to accelerating the development of the subsea industry.  In the early part of his career Peter played a key role in delivering the first subsea production systems in the North Sea – Petronella, Highlander and Strathspey.  Regarded as an innovator, he built and lead Chevron’s subsea organisation, before starting Chevron’s global technology centre in Aberdeen.

 

Tribute was also paid to Bill Edgar, former chair of Subsea UK, the predecessor of Global Underwater Hub, who died recently.  A short film looked back on his life and career, while Bill’s family was presented with a plaque acknowledging his contribution in shaping the membership organisation.

 

Neil Gordon, chief executive of the Global Underwater Hub, said: “The 2023 Subsea Expo Awards has once again shone a spotlight on the successes and innovations of companies and individuals working in the underwater industry.  Through a challenging few years, the varied supply chain that supports the underwater industry has shown resilience, innovation and an eagerness to collaborate and diversify, which has been very evident in the companies shortlisted as finalists.

 

“It is with these traits that the UK’s underwater industry can drive forward, achieve continued growth and support the energy transition.  With a talented workforce that includes inspiring future leaders – as was evidenced at the awards – the outlook of our underwater sectors is bright.”