The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community
Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/410801
42 st / November 2014 www.sea-technology.com What are some of your biggest achievements? NRC's strengths reside with its people. Our scientists, engineers and technologists provide innovative products and services that provide Canadian industry a market ad- vantage by reducing risk and improving the longevity and performance of marine-based assets. Working closely with our partners, we help the Canadian economy through in- novation, while improving the lives of Canadians across the country. What are some of your biggest challenges, and how do you approach them? Finding solutions to challenges in the management of ocean, coastal and river resources. In this way, our chal- lenges are much the same as those of industry, but we view them as opportunities to grow, to adapt and to change by improving the performance and safety of marine operations, meeting the challenges of climate change, and protecting infrastructure, property and people from severe weather events and other environmental risks. How do you get industry, the government and civilians to participate in ocean resource management? NRC partners with Canadian industry and government by providing innovation support, strategic research and scientifc and technical services. Working closely with our partners, we are able to achieve solutions that have a di- rect impact on communities across Canada and around the globe. For example, the Prime Minister recently launched the Arctic Program that is expected to bring a number of proj- ects and jobs that will beneft the North. NRC will invest over $17 million into the Arctic Program over eight years and will be seeking $65 million in co-investments from in- dustry and other government departments over that same timeframe. Through this program, NRC will help increase the quality of life of Northerners by ensuring sustainable, low-impact development of the North. NRC's work directly contributes to Canada's bottom line. For example, it is estimated that the total attributable eco- nomic impacts of the Arctic Program is $105 million, with an additional $184 million in the fve years following the completion of the program, for a total estimated impact of approximately $289 million in reduced costs to oil and gas operators, mining companies, vessel owners, home and building owners, provincial/territorial and municipal gov- ernments, and other stakeholders. n most of our common components in anticipation of a client requiring delivery in a very short time frame. What does Newfoundland and Labrador have to offer the marine industry? NL has a tremendous amount of resources to offer the marine industry. It is home to world-class design and test- ing facilities, an innovative and growing ocean technology cluster, and a wealth of experience of people involved in the industry. And let's not forget the waters around NL itself, which are ideal for testing in harsh environments. What are some of the other marine companies that op- erate out of the area? Some of the newer ones with really innovative technol- ogy include Whitecap Scientifc, EMSAT, GRI Simulations, PanGeo Subsea and Kraken Sonar. Terry Lindstrom, National Research Council Canada Tell us a bit about yourself. I'm the general manager of the Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering portfolio at the National Research Council of Canada [NRC-OCRE]. What's NRC-OCRE's role in the ocean technology indus- try regionally and internationally? Our vision is to be globally recognized for excellence in marine technology development. Our mission is to deliver innovative technologies and support to improve Canada's competitiveness by reduc- ing risks and costs of marine operations, while assuring safe and responsible development of marine-based re- sources. What are you focusing on in the next few years and long term? Market-driven ocean engineering and marine technolo- gy research programs that focus on providing engineering solutions for Arctic challenges to ensure the sustainable, low-impact development of the North, while increasing the quality of life for Northerners; improving the design of marine vehicles while lowering the risks and costs as- sociated with their operation; and improving marine in- frastructure, managing water resources and developing marine renewable energy technologies that solve complex water issues.