And finally… Underwater engineer hub planned for Aberdeen

Plans to build a multi-million pound underwater engineer hub in Aberdeen have been endorsed by the UK Government.

Announced by the Prime Minister Theresa May, the planned Global Underwater Engineering Hub will bring together underwater technologies from both industry and academia from up and down the country.

It will also reinforce the UK’s status as a global leader in the field and build on expertise in subsea robotics, remotely-operated underwater vehicles and maritime support vessels.

The government said that seizing the opportunities in the blue economy will also help the UK’s oil and gas sector diversify and support the UK move away from fossil fuels towards clean growth.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Today I can announce that the UK government is backing plans for a new Global Underwater Hub in Aberdeen, helping established businesses thrive and creating new opportunities as the world makes the shift towards clean growth.

“Cementing Aberdeen’s place as an energy hub for offshore and renewables, the new hub would bring together areas of excellence in underwater technology under a single commercial vision. It would support industry, generate new skilled jobs and help us in the fight against climate change.”

George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF, the business development experts for the energy sector, said: “The UK’s subsea industry’s position at the forefront of global offshore technology innovation will be bolstered by the creation of this new hub. It will provide a focus for the efforts being made by the UK’s technology-led subsea supply chain that is already successfully diversifying across the energy sectors while complementing the strides being taken by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in the development of new solutions for the generation of clean energy from wind, wave and tidal resources.

“The UK subsea sector is heralded worldwide for its ability to deliver technologies and capabilities that improve operations and increase opportunities for developments in both traditional and new offshore energy sectors. Subsea companies from across the UK, with the notable clusters in North East Scotland and North East England, will be instrumental in the future success of the sector with this new hub providing a focal point for innovation.”