International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the achievements of women across the industry, while encouraging more people to consider the diverse and rewarding careers engineering can offer.
At STR, we’re proud to recognise the women whose expertise, dedication and collaboration help drive our business forward. One of those women is Shani Perdicou, Group Senior Technical Compliance Engineer, whose career has taken her from the Royal Navy to offshore engineering and now to supporting technical compliance across STR’s global operations. Alongside her role, Shani is also a parent to twins, balancing a busy family life with a varied and rewarding engineering career.
We spoke to Shani about her career journey, what inspires her most about engineering and her advice for the next generation.
Tell us about your career journey
“I have worked in the offshore industry since 2003, starting my career in the Royal Navy before moving into the oil and gas sector as an Offshore Geophysical Engineer.
“The knowledge and experience I gained in those roles helped shape the career I have today. Working in challenging offshore environments taught me the importance of reliability, technical accuracy and attention to detail – skills that continue to play an important role in my work.
“I joined STR in November 2019 and now work as Group Senior Technical Compliance Engineer, supporting employees and clients across all regions of the business.”
What does your role involve? “My role is incredibly varied, which is one of the things I enjoy most about it. Day-to-day activities can change depending on company priorities and client requirements, but having a structured way of working allows me to manage multiple projects and responsibilities effectively.
“I work closely with teams across STR, as well as external clients, to oversee technical reports, equipment servicing and repairs, calibrations, asset management and quality control processes.
“No two days are the same, but every task contributes to ensuring our clients receive reliable equipment and a high-quality service.”
What skills are most important in your role?
“Organisation and attention to detail are probably the most important skills. Many of the projects I manage involve multiple stakeholders and technical processes, so staying organised is essential.
“Problem solving is also a big part of the job, whether that involves analysing repair findings, managing project timelines or coordinating different teams. Communication is equally important because engineering relies on people working together to achieve the best outcomes.”
What do you enjoy most about engineering?
“I enjoy the variety. Every day presents a different challenge and there is always something new to learn.
“I also enjoy working with people across different departments and regions, bringing together different areas of expertise to achieve a common goal. Seeing a project successfully completed and knowing you have helped deliver a positive outcome for both the business and the client is always rewarding.”
What advice would you give to women considering a career in engineering?
“Go for it! Engineering offers so many different opportunities and career paths. It is a field where you can continue learning, developing new skills and taking on fresh challenges throughout your career.
“My own journey has taken me from the Royal Navy to offshore engineering and now into a global technical compliance role, which shows just how varied and rewarding a career in engineering can be.”
Beyond the role
“Outside of work, I am a parent to twins who keep me busy with their football and artistic roller skating activities. Balancing work and family life is never easy, but the flexibility that STR provides makes it much more manageable, allowing me to be present both at work and at home.”
International Women in Engineering Day is an opportunity to recognise the talented women helping shape the future of the profession and inspire the next generation of engineers.
At STR, team members like Shani play a vital role in delivering the expertise, collaboration and attention to detail that clients rely on every day, helping us continue to deliver quality, confidence and impact across our global operations.
In a fast-moving subsea market, setting the standard means more than having the right technology. It means having the people, expertise and responsiveness to support clients move with confidence – even when project demands change quickly.
For Michael Greening, recently promoted to Vice President – NASA, that mindset has been shaped by years spent close to projects: first as an ROV technician, then in survey technology, and now as a regional leader helping STR grow across North and South America.
“I’m excited to continue the success we’ve had over the last couple of years,” says Michael. “I’m excited to watch our team continue to grow and continue to deliver effective solutions, innovative technology and the customer-driven results that the STR brand has become known for.”
As he steps into the role, Michael is focused on three things: supporting his team, strengthening STR’s rapid-response service model and bringing customer-led technology to market in a way that solves real operational challenges.
A leadership style shaped by the field
Having started his career offshore, Michael understands the complexity of mobilisations, the importance of integration and the value of having dependable technical support available when it matters most.
“Our team delivers a great service to our clients on a regular basis,” he says. “It’s about bringing together the technical knowledge, insights and the support that projects need.”
For Michael, strong regional leadership is about making sure clients feel supported from every angle – through the quality of the people, processes and service behind the equipment.
Built for speed, backed by expertise
Across oil and gas, offshore wind and wider marine sectors, project demands are moving faster. Shorter project durations, tighter turnaround times and limited offshore personnel availability mean our clients need partners who can move quickly without compromising quality.
“I think customers are facing a great deal of uncertainty across several market sectors,” says Michael. “This has generally led to a shortage of available personnel, higher operational tempo and quicker turnaround times.
“This is where STR excels. We can perform quick mobilisations, turn equipment around very quickly and provide a team of offshore technicians who can assist with mobilisations at short notice. That has really led us to become a total solution provider.”
For clients, that means more than access to specialist equipment. It means confidence that the right technology, service and support can be in place when the project needs it.
The STR product Michael is most excited about
When asked which STR product he is most passionate about, Michael does not hesitate: the STR TitanMux.
“I started my career as an ROV tech and later progressed to a survey tech,” he says. “So data communication and integration into ROVs and survey equipment is really where I grew up in this industry.”
That hands-on experience gives Michael a strong appreciation for the TitanMux and the challenges it is designed to solve. In subsea operations, communication, integration, depth rating, reliability and usability are all critical.
“This Mux takes the best qualities of equipment on the market and puts them into one singular package. Its size, depth rating and communication protocols all provide something different from what is already on the market.
“We’re very excited to get this into our customers’ hands, gauge their feedback and watch this product take the market by storm,” he says.
It is a clear example of how STR’s innovation is being shaped not only by engineering ambition, but by close listening – understanding what customers need, then building technology that helps them perform with greater confidence.
What innovation really means to him
Innovation is one of STR’s defining values, but for Michael, the word has a very practical meaning.
“Innovation for me means setting the standard,” he says. “It means listening to your customers, understanding their needs and being able to take a concept from a problem to a real-world solution.”
That definition is important. Innovation is not just the launch of a new product or the adoption of a new technology. It is the process behind it: listening, testing, investing, refining and trusting the people involved to bring an idea to life.
“It also means confidence in your product, your processes and your team,” Michael adds. “It takes time, energy and resources to go through the trials, testing and development necessary to bring a product to market.”
For Michael, the outcome is simple but powerful.
“Innovation means taking a groundbreaking idea and making it a revolutionary product.”
Based at our Norway facility, Kjetil brings strong technical knowledge and a passion for subsea innovation to the STR team.
With a background in electrical engineering and extensive firsthand experience across both onshore and offshore operations, he has quickly settled into his role. After a recent visit to the UK to get to grips with STR’s processes, Kjetil is already supporting vessel spreads for clients and playing a key role in FMD scopes offshore.
We sat down with Kjetil to learn more about his background, what led him to STR and how he sees his role shaping the company’s presence in Norway.
Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and what led you to join STR?
“I actually started my career as a car mechanic which gave me a practical foundation and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. Over time, I became more curious about complex systems and advanced engineering, which led me into the offshore and subsea industries.
“In my previous role at DeepOcean, I worked as an Electrical Engineer, focusing on maintaining and testing subsea control systems, supporting ROV operations and assisting with integration tasks on demanding offshore projects. I’ve worked extensively with both Kystdesign and Schilling ROV systems, which gave me great exposure to high-end subsea technology and control solutions.
“Joining STR felt like a natural next step. The company’s reputation for technical excellence and its forward-thinking approach to engineering development in the subsea sector really stood out to me. I wanted to be part of a team that combines deep engineering expertise with creativity and precision, constantly pushing what’s possible in the subsea industry.”
What excites you most about your new role at STR’s Norway base, and how do you see it contributing to the subsea industry in the region?
“What excites me most is the opportunity to help build and strengthen STR’s presence in Norway. There’s a solid focus at STR on collaboration, innovation and technical quality, and I think that can make a real difference in how projects are executed here, especially as offshore operations become more complex and technology-driven.
“Being part of something that is still growing and being able to support regional clients directly with local knowledge backed by STR’s global capabilities, is incredibly motivating.”
What do you enjoy most about working in the subsea industry and what unique perspective do you bring to the STR team?
I’ve always been drawn to the combination of advanced technology, problem-solving and powerful collaboration that defines the subsea industry. No two projects are the same, and each one comes with its own challenges, which means you’re constantly learning, adapting, and finding solutions that are both practical and robust.
With backgrounds in both mechanical and electrical disciplines, I bring a multidisciplinary perspective to system integration and troubleshooting. I focus on delivering solutions that perform reliably in demanding offshore environments – not just functional, but efficient and built to last.
STR is proud to welcome Kjetil to the team in Norway, where his practical technical ability and passion for advancing subsea solutions will play a key role in supporting our clients and expanding our regional capabilities.
Looking for local expertise, global capability and trusted subsea support in Norway? Get in touch with our team today.
At STR, our mission is to provide customers with a competitive edge when it comes to their subsea projects, which is why we continuously strive to produce premium quality products and equipment to help enable superior data acquisition for our customers. A large part of this is investing in our locations around the world, ensuring we can provide an exceptional service offering across each region.
With this ongoing commitment in mind, we recently expanded our Singapore premises to a new location that offers enhanced capabilities. Not only is our new facility three times the size of our previous space, but it also embodies our drive to strengthen our subsea technology and equipment solutions, particularly within Asia Pacific.
Here, our Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Jason French, takes you on a visual tour of this exciting new facility, delving into its key features and what each new zone unlocks…
1. Reception and meeting room
“This area is the first impression for anyone visiting our Singapore premises. It’s separate from the core working area of the facility and provides a welcoming environment for visitors to enjoy our hospitality.
Our previous premises had a more industrial feel, so this professional office space gives us the ability to have more in-person time with our customers and collaborate on projects before they reach the engineering stage. We have also had customers use our facilities to hold their own meetings with their external clients, this is something we’re passionate about facilitating as our aim is to always act as a strategic partner and extension of their team wherever possible, to help their operations run smoothly.“
2. Electronics workshop
“Flooded with natural light and with enough workstations for 10 engineers, which is significantly larger than our previous site, and a hub of activity where our team works on our equipment and develops solutions.
This workshop is also where the engineers carry out some of STR’s testing processes, all of which are governed by our technical centre of excellence, where we conduct internal compliance audits throughout the year in line with our Quality Management System.”
3. Warehouse
“Our new warehouse in Singapore is a vast space, roughly three times larger than our previous facility. This huge increase in size allows us to store more of our equipment at this site, which gives us the ability to deliver equipment in this region swiftly and efficiently.
“Inside, we have installed LED lights and large power-foil fans to keep the team cool while reducing our overall energy consumption. For equipment storage, we introduced new racking, with each piece of tech correlating to the location set in our asset database. Additionally, to keep our operations as green as possible, we’ve also sourced an electric forklift and electric van as well.”
4. Test tank
“This test tank is our most recent addition here and one which we’re all very excited about. ts vast size means we can assess even some of our largest equipment with ease. Since a lot of our products are used underwater, it’s important that it all gets wet tested prior to being dispatched. In the test tank we can assess the water tightness and underwater functionality of our equipment, ensuring the quality is as it should be and providing our customers with peace of mind that it will work as expected once deployed.”
5. Calibration lab
“The calibration lab is another significant stride forward for our Singapore team. The new facility is sufficiently equipped to undertake pressure calibrations on subsea equipment which, like our new test tank, further ensures the quality of our equipment and services.
“Our calibration lab is currently set up for pressure sensor calibrations using a dead weight tester in accordance with our well established global process for sensor calibrations and tests. We can certify our own equipment locally in the region, which leads to increased uptime and faster delivery for our customers.
“We also welcome customers who wish to attend our equipment testing process in person prior to the equipment being delivered to their worksites. In these instances, we can provide desk space and meeting facilities during the testing. Not only that, the calibration lab also provides the ability to check customer owned equipment in the same way as we would evaluate our own, offering additional support in terms of analysis.”
“Overall, our new Singapore facility is more than just a larger building; it’s a reflection of our mission to deliver enhanced subsea technology and equipment solutions in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. With such a huge investment in our development and capabilities, we’re looking forward to the next chapter for our Singapore team.”
Subsea Technology & Rentals (STR) has appointed experienced sector leader James Christie to head up activities across Europe and Africa following significant growth and plans for further global expansion.
Christie, who has over 25 years’ industry experience most recently with Ashtead Technology, takes up the newly created role of regional director Europe, Scandinavia, Caspian, and Africa (ESCA), and will be based in Aberdeen.
STR operates globally with technology and service facilities in Aberdeen, Great Yarmouth, Houston, Perth, Singapore and invested £5m in a new Norway facility earlier this year which Christie will oversee. The company has doubled headcount in the last three years and now has 120 people with further growth to be delivered through strategic acquisitions, market expansion and a diversified technology and solutions offering, with plans to have a dedicated Middle East facility next year.
Christie brings a track record of developing strong client relationships, technical prowess and experience supporting solutions across operations, inspection, maintenance, and decommissioning. He previously spent more than 10 years of his career with Subsea 7 in operational roles including as a regional director for the Asia Pacific region.
Steve Steele, CEO of STR commented: “James joins us at a hugely exciting time for STR as we continue to grow at pace, diversify our product and service offering and enter new markets. More of our customers are asking us to diversify our product and service offering and want to actively participate in our new product development programmes, partnering beyond traditional rental models.
“James brings a highly strategic approach to growth and full field development experience spanning operations, inspection, and maintenance to decommissioning, which will support our ambition to diversify and strengthen our service offering to our customers.”
STR has invested over $10 million (£7.4 million) in innovation and technology in the last three years with a focus on offshore energy, infrastructure, and marine markets with two new products being commercialised each year.
James Christie added: “I am thrilled to be joining STR at such a pivotal time as the business has become firmly recognised as a subsea technology leader and continues to invest, creating value for customers and bringing new challenger products to market. I look forward to further strengthening customer partnerships, supporting the growth ambition, and enhancing our focus and footprint across key global regions.”
This article was recently featured in the prestigious OGV Magazine – Australia edition, detailing STR’s work and expertise in supporting countries like Australia to tap into their energy potential, smartly and efficiently.
Few countries can boast a wealth of natural resources comparable to Australia. Among the world’s largest exporters of minerals and raw materials, the nation is also home to bountiful energy supplies, both traditional and renewable, which make it one of the industry’s most exciting markets.
With this comes ambitious energy targets – Australia is aiming for 82% renewable electricity generation by 2030 on the path to net zero emissions by 2050. Delivering on these objectives will require major renewable projects and vast offshore wind initiatives that will hinge on the rollout of smarter, safer and more cost-effective subsea technologies.
Meeting this demand head on, STR delivers innovative marine sensor systems and technical expertise that is helping to shape the future of Australia’s flourishing offshore energy sector.
With large custom designed Technology and Service bases in Perth and Singapore, we are perfectly positioned to support complex offshore projects across Asia-Pacific.
Well-known for our established extensive rental fleet and service offering, STR is increasingly recognised for our work as a developer of advanced subsea technologies.
Our commitment to bringing integrated sensor systems – that help reduce vessel time, lower project costs and allow for real-time decision making in some of the world’s most challenging environments – to market has yielded technologies such as SeaCast and ROVMUX, two groundbreaking solutions that redefine how ocean data is collected and managed.
Profiling the ocean without pausing the mission
Traditional methods of sound velocity profiling require survey vessels to stop, deploy equipment, wait for data collection and then recover the sensor equipment before resuming operations. This interrupts workflow, inaccurate data and extends project timelines, something STR’s SeaCast system has been designed to counteract.
By eliminating the need for stopping and starting, SeaCast enables surveyors to gather accurate sound velocity profile data while the vessel remains in motion, generating significant time savings – typically more than four hours per day.
It is engineered for real-time streaming of sensor data, allowing operators to make informed decisions there and then. Moreover, its compact design makes it easily mobilised on a range of platforms, from conventional survey vessels to the growing number of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) that are now being deployed in Australian waters.
Underpinned by smart software architecture that allows for fully remote operation, SeaCast can be fully deployed and recovered in under ten minutes, reach depths of over 300 metres while underway at four knots and 200 metres at six knots.
For those operating off one of the world’s largest islands, SeaCast gives surveyors the autonomy, reliability and speed essential to traverse Australia’s large marine zones and dispersed offshore projects.
Smarter subsea integration for smarter ROVs
Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are the backbone of offshore inspection, maintenance and construction. But for too long integrating multiple sensors onto a single ROV has been a challenge that’s required complex cabling, heavy and fragile enclosures, lengthy setup times, and catastrophic product failure due to flooding.
STR’s ROVMUX system was developed in direct collaboration with Tier 1 clients to solve these problems. The result is a high-performance, compact interface that simplifies sensor integration while delivering maximum flexibility and reliability.
Despite its small footprint, ROVMUX supports up to 20 sensors – an industry-leading capacity for its size. It is also compatible with a wide range of connections, including Gigabit Ethernet, RS232, RS485, and both 24V and 48V power options, which can be switched as required.
Built for the harsh conditions of deepwater operations, the system is depth-rated to 6,000 metres and includes robust sealing and connector systems that significantly reduce the risk of flooding or failure.
For operators, this means fewer breakdowns, faster turnaround times, and a reduced need for on-site maintenance. ROVMUX also includes intelligent power management features such as monitored DC outputs with smart fusing and soft-start control for capacitive loads.
At the surface, an intuitive 12-inch touchscreen controller allows operators to monitor and manage system performance easily, with advanced diagnostics that support proactive troubleshooting and real-time configuration, empowering operators to do more with less, and supplied at a lower cost.
Meeting the moment and building the momentum
Australia’s offshore market is moving quickly, with declared wind zones in Victoria progressing, feasibility studies underway in Western Australia and New South Wales, and investment in subsea mining, carbon capture, oil and gas decommissioning and intercontinental energy transmission rising.
Operators in these sectors require technologies that support real-time data collection, autonomous operations, low-maintenance design and reliable performance in remote and often harsh conditions. STR meets all these requirements with our equipment, as well as our deep domain knowledge, engineering excellence and global network that ensures clients are supported at every phase of their operations.
Whether it’s enabling faster geophysical surveys with SeaCast or expanding the capabilities of subsea vehicles with ROVMUX, STR is helping Australia’s offshore operators do more, for less. Irrelevant of geographies, the global energy transition demands mission-ready solutions that redefine what’s possible offshore – and that’s just what we deliver.
STR has officially launched a Technology and Service hub in Norway, investing £5m in a state-of-the-art facility to strengthen our presence in one of the world’s most important offshore hubs. But an investment is only as strong as the people driving it forward, and leading this new custom-built facility is Oskar Tveit, our newly appointed General Manager.
With a wealth of experience in the subsea industry, Oskar understands what it takes to deliver cutting-edge solutions in a fast-moving market.
He commented: “I started my career as a marine engineer, progressing through offshore and subsea roles before moving into leadership positions. Over the years, I’ve worked on vessel conversions, project management and offshore operations.
“My experience spans hands-on engineering to strategic business growth as I grew in the roles I was in, and this has offered me valuable insights and experience from the client perspective. One thing I’ve always been passionate about is looking at the bigger opportunities.”
For Oskar, this role is about more than just leading a new facility – it’s about shaping the future of STR in Norway by utilising his industry knowledge, skills and strong network of connections accumulated over the years, as well as attracting the next generation of engineers within the sector and nurturing the existing talent at STR, providing them with opportunities to thrive in their career.
“As General Manager for STR’s new Norway facility, it’s important to foster a good working environment through clear communication and a straightforward, honest approach” he said.
“I strongly believe that encouraging our employees to gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment will ultimately allow them to become the best version of themselves and have a positive impact on business growth overall.”
With Norway being a major player in the subsea industry due to its established history in oil and gas, Oskar believes that the launch of STR’s new facility is a strategic move, providing further opportunities in renewable energy projects and marine research in the broader Scandinavian market, unlocking significant growth potential and expansion.
Over the next few years, a key focus for Oskar will be tapping into these industries while also reinforcing STR’s sensor capabilities and tooling range, including the development of in-house products that have already garnered client interest.
Oskar’s overall vision for STR in Norway can be linked back to the region’s rich subsea heritage. Located in Haugesund, he aims to leverage the local talent and historical reputation to establish STR as a leading supplier of survey sensors and world class offshore equipment, building on a legacy of technical expertise that defines this part of Norway.
Commenting on this, Oskar added: “Despite being a small area, Haugesund and the surrounding region have an incredibly high concentration of subsea expertise. The region is home to an unparalleled volume of subsea professionals and companies, making it arguably the most competent subsea hub relative to its population size.
“I’m excited to lead STR in such a highly skilled region – and to help shape a new chapter of global growth, innovation and excellence from right here in Norway.”
Interested to find out more about our best in class services and get in touch with our Norway team? Speak directly to an STR specialist here.
