As the Asia Pacific region gears up for significant expansion in offshore energy markets, STR is proud to be at the forefront, providing cutting-edge sensor technology and advanced subsea services within the region.
To help lead our efforts in APAC, we are excited to have Maxime Even as our newly appointed General Manager in Singapore. His extensive background in the subsea industry, combined with valuable strategic insights, makes him an invaluable member of the team as we continue to strengthen our presence in the region.
You’ve had 20 years of experience in the energy sector, how has this impacted your leadership style, and what are some key milestones that have shaped your professional path?
“In the offshore industry, where projects are inherently complex and often demand lateral thinking, success hinges not only on technical expertise but also on effective teamwork and bringing together a wide range of skills and perspectives to deliver successful outcomes. I believe that strategic thinking is best achieved when a team is empowered and motivated, and I strive to create an environment where every team member feels heard.
“Having experience across both technical and commercial roles enables me to lead with a balanced approach that integrates operational excellence with business growth, and over the years, I have built a diverse and dynamic career within the survey industry, with a focus on the renewable energy sector.
“Once I completed a master’s degree in Hydrography at the University of Plymouth, I worked my way up in offshore roles for eight years, from a surveyor to geophysicist, then to reporting manager and eventually to party chief. During this period, I concentrated on projects involving submarine telecommunications cables across the Asia, South Pacific, Middle East, and East Africa regions – some of which involved the longest subsea cables spanning oceans and connecting multiple countries.
“Other key milestones throughout my career include leading the establishment of a deep geotechnical investigation department for an established survey company, with a focus on entering the burgeoning Taiwanese offshore wind market. Most recently, I led a commercial team that successfully delivered pioneering projects utilising lean-crewed, robotic survey vessels on energy projects. These projects included deploying Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in ultra-deepwater, conducting fully remote ROV inspections of pipelines and acquiring ultra-high-resolution 3D seismic data on offshore wind farms.”
What specifically attracted you to join STR, and what motivated you to take on the role of General Manager at its Singapore base?
“I was drawn to STR due to its stellar reputation within the industry. Renowned for its commitment to excellence, STR is recognised as being among the best in the industry, known for its dedication to finding client-oriented, fit-for-purpose solutions. What also stands out is that it not only boasts the youngest pool of rental equipment in the industry, but it also has an in-house design and production department (Products & Technology division) that has consistently released some of the most innovative subsea products over the past 20 years, including a full line of survey electric winches, FMD/CP sensors, subsea camera systems, subsea lights, lasers and more. STR’s capabilities extend well beyond equipment rental; they encompass cutting-edge production that enable the acquisition of vital marine data and intelligence for the offshore energy and marine science markets.
“The opportunity to lead the Singapore base, a critical hub for the Asia Pacific region, aligns perfectly with both my experience and professional aspirations. I am motivated by the prospect of leveraging my regional experience to drive STR’s growth, enhance its service offerings and establish a strong presence in a market that I know intimately. This role offers a unique challenge and the chance to contribute to STR’s continued success in a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry.”
What do you see as the key opportunities in both Singapore and the wider APAC region?
“This region presents significant opportunities for STR, particularly in the offshore renewable energy sector, alongside the more traditional subsea telecommunication and oil and gas industries. In Singapore, we can capitalise on the city-state’s strategic location to expand its services both locally and regionally, making the most of the world-class logistics infrastructure available here. Additionally, many of our major clients are based here which provides us with an excellent opportunity to build new connections, strengthen our current relationships and demonstrate our capabilities through initiatives such as product demonstration days.
“Regionally, Malaysia is just a stone’s throw away from our Singapore base, and we can tap into the thriving oil and gas industry there. Thailand, which is less than two hours from Singapore, is witnessing significant decommissioning activities, offering further potential for growth. Similarly, Indonesia continues to have a steady flow of work, including the development of several deepwater fields. Further afield, markets like India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Timor present untapped potential that STR has yet to fully explore.
“More importantly, the region’s ongoing transition towards renewable energy presents us with the opportunity to introduce innovative solutions in offshore wind. Traditionally, the Asia Pacific region has been highly cost-driven when it comes to subsea solutions, but the arrival of foreign offshore wind developers is driving the adoption of new technologies and encouraging innovation, and this represents a timely opportunity for us to carve out a significant niche in the market. STR is already well-established in Taiwan – where we collaborate with most survey and EPCI contractors – and as activities increase in South Korea and Japan, these markets offer substantial growth opportunities for the company.”
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for STR, how do you envision this will contribute to the company’s overall success?
“My long-term goal for STR is to build upon the strong foundation laid by Regional Director, Jason French, ensuring that we are recognised as the leading subsea sensor technology and solutions provider in the APAC region, renowned for our innovation, reliability, and customer-focused solutions. I intend to expand this legacy by penetrating additional markets across the entire region and beyond, establishing strategic connections that extend into South Asia and the Middle East.
“To achieve this, my aim is to further strengthen our market presence and work with the leadership team to expand our service portfolio and develop cutting-edge technologies anticipating market demands. I believe we can not only achieve sustained growth, but also set new benchmarks within the industry. This strategic approach will ensure that STR remains at the forefront of the industry, continuing to deliver exceptional value to our clients while fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within the company.”
Find out more about STR and our suite of best-in-class services here…
At STR, we recognise that investing in our people is key to not only our success, but also vital for shaping the next generation of engineers. With this in mind, the STR Academy was established to foster career growth and professional development within our team, demonstrating our commitment to nurturing talent.
Providing a clear path for progression, the competency programme that equips our technical team with the industry skills required to advance in their career. Through this programme, we aim to provide our team with the knowledge and support required to reach their full potential.
Here, we’ve highlighted the journeys of four STR employees who have taken part in the STR Academy, showcasing how the programme has been instrumental in their career development…
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve always been curious by nature and enjoy understanding how the things around me work, which was the reason why I studied mechatronics after school. After completing my studies, I was keen to secure a job that could provide me with a technical knowledge of the energy industry as well as hands-on work offshore, which is why STR immediately stood out.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“I first joined in 2018 as a Base & Offshore Engineer in Aberdeen, which was also my introduction to full-time employment within the industry. I strongly believe that the foundation of your career can shape future opportunities, and thanks to STR supporting my career development, I am now the Technical Operations Supervisor at the Houston base.
“The company has grown exponentially since I joined six years ago and has remained committed to nurturing talent and developing the future workforce; the STR Academy being a key asset to our team’s development!”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“It’s provided me with first-hand experience of operations that occur in the marine and energy industry. I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of work scopes, including offshore wind farms, offshore construction projects and geophysical survey projects for installing subsea power cables. The company has a diverse customer pool which has also allowed me to gain valuable knowledge of what is happening in the industry and STR’s overall impact in various projects.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“For those aspiring to be an engineer, I believe that working with a company, such as STR, that supports your growth and development is crucial for kickstarting your career. Having a helping hand during the initial stages of your career is so important, and you can learn a great deal from working with experienced, knowledgeable and hard-working colleagues.”
James Whyte, Group Survey Technician, Aberdeen
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve always had an interest in electronics and engineering, which developed throughout my time at secondary school. This encouraged me to study an HND in Electrical Engineering in the hope of pursuing a career within the industry.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“STR has supported me from the moment I joined the team as a Base and Offshore Engineer in 2021. At the time, I was studying at college, as well as gaining industry experience within the STR workshop and mobilising vessels offshore. Receiving support from the STR team throughout my studies helped me to achieve my qualification and developed my knowledge of offshore engineering and processes.
“I have since been promoted to Group Survey Technician and I’m thoroughly looking forward to continuing my career with STR and seeing what the future holds!”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“It has an excellent mentoring structure in place, which has expanded my knowledge of the energy and marine science markets and enhanced my capabilities as an engineer.
“Extensive training with manufacturers has also been provided, which has helped me gain a better understanding of the subsea equipment that we provide and how we can support our customers with their offshore projects.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“I would recommend going into further education and attaining a qualification within the engineering discipline you’re most interested in. As well as this, gaining hands-on industry experience is excellent for developing your skill set and learning on the job.”
Jamie Forsyth, Survey Technician, Perth
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve had an interest in the offshore industry for as long as I can remember, particularly subsea engineering, and I was curious as to how different subsea equipment worked for their specific purpose.”
How has STR supported your skill development and career progression?
“The STR Academy competency programme in particular has been brilliant for my training and development, and the skills I have gained over the last five years will be integral for my next role within the company. As I’ve now completed the required elements for Survey Technician Grade 1, I’m working towards the next step in my career which is becoming a Survey Engineer.”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“STR has provided me with incredible opportunities to grow and excel within the industry, as well as work with a variety of diverse subsea survey equipment.
“Being able to test and maintain this wide range of equipment in our rental pool – as well as mobilising, troubleshooting, and maintaining equipment offshore – has given me great exposure to both sides of the workshop. and various offshore elements within the industry.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“The best advice I could give is to keep an open mind. Versatility and flexibility are great traits to have for learning and developing in this industry!”
Nicolas Lopez, Survey Technician, Houston
What inspired you to choose a career in engineering?
“I’ve always been fascinated by how certain objects work. As a child, I enjoyed taking gadgets apart to understand how they functioned – even if I couldn’t always put them back together!”
How has STR Academy supported your skill development and career progression?
“The structured support system that STR Academy provides has been instrumental in keeping me on track with my current skills, while also helping me to develop new ones. I’m grateful that it provides a tangible way to monitor my career progression and enhance my industry knowledge and skills.”
What opportunities has STR provided for expanding your knowledge of the energy and marine industries?
“STR offers a wealth of knowledge within the organisation, which has been incredibly valuable. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to attend various external training sessions and lectures, which have broadened my understanding of our evolving industry.”
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in engineering?
“To jump in headfirst and don’t be afraid to ask questions – someone will always be willing to help when you need it!”
Are you interested in a career at STR? Discover our latest vacancies here.
Subsea equipment plays a fundamental role across various industries, facilitating exploration, inspection, monitoring and intervention below the ocean’s surface. It allows a range of companies to navigate this challenging environment with precision and efficiency.
From the extraction of hydrocarbons to harnessing clean energy and conducting cutting-edge research, subsea equipment offers versatile solutions for diverse applications. Here, we explore the functions and benefits subsea equipment can unlock for three primary subsea industries; oil and gas, renewable energy and marine science.
Subsea equipment in the oil and gas industry
How subsea equipment enables oil and gas exploration
Since the industry began extracting oil and gas from offshore locations, subsea equipment has been integral to the success of operations within the sector. In recent years, the increasing number of ageing assets around the world, and the global energy transition, have required increasingly reliable subsea equipment, which has led to a number of innovations across the subsea equipment market.
Equipment categories that are very connected to oil and gas projects – both in the installation of new infrastructure and integrated risk management (IRM) – are inspection equipment, long baseline (LBL) positioning systems, ROV tools, and oceanographic equipment. The primary uses and functions of subsea equipment in the oil and gas industry include the following:
Inspection equipment: This includes advanced tools and devices used to assess the integrity, performance and safety of materials, structures or systems, often utilising non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques to identify flaws without causing damage.
Long baseline (LBL) positioning systems:This system functions by measuring acoustic ranges to a seabed array of transponders. These are then passed through a least squares computation to accurately trilaterate a position.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): ROVs are crucial in providing visual assessments for corrosion, damage or leaks, as well as collecting data to ensure the integrity of subsea infrastructure.
Oceanographic equipment: To provide data on currents and water properties, oceanographic equipment offers a better understanding of the subsea environment and allows companies to make informed decisions on their renewable energy projects.
The benefits of subsea equipment for oil and gas companies
With cost and safety being primary concerns within the industry, along with the expansion into deep and ultra-deep water operations, companies are becoming increasingly selective when sourcing equipment for subsea oil and gas operations.
The use of high-quality subsea equipment for oil and gas extraction has revolutionised the sector, offering a number of benefits to companies and operators; from optimising production efficiency, to mitigating operational risks in challenging offshore environments. The most significant benefits are as follows:
Increased efficiency: Specialised subsea equipment allows for more precise and faster extraction processes in the oil and gas sector, which reduces downtime and increases production as a result.
Enhanced safety: With recent innovations allowing for more tasks to be operated remotely, subsea equipment offers an enhanced level of control and safety. It also produces in-depth data to allow for clearer and safer decision making.
Cost reductions: By optimising subsea architecture, increasing operational efficiency and extending the life cycle of ageing assets through improved maintenance and inspection, subsea equipment allows for a number of cost reductions within the oil and gas industry.
Subsea equipment in the renewable energy sector
How subsea equipment is used for renewable energy
As sustainable operations and net zero have become crucial targets for companies around the world, offshore renewables has emerged as a significant subsea market.
To harness power from renewable sources, especially offshore wind and tidal energy, the renewable energy sector relies heavily on subsea equipment for installation, maintenance and monitoring, allowing for the sustainable and efficient generation of renewable energy.
Equipment that support wind farm projects include winches, sidescan and sub-bottom profiling systems, multibeam echo sounders, magnetometers, oceanographic and positioning equipment:
Electric winches: These allow for lifting, pulling and positioning of subsea infrastructure during the installation phase, while using an efficient electric power source.
Sidescan and sub-bottom profiling systems: Utilising advanced sonar technologies, these tools create detailed images of the seabed (sidescan) and map and analyse the layers beneath the seafloor (sub-bottom profiling), to provide critical data for offshore operations.
Multibeam echo sounders: These are sonar systems that utilise multiple beams of sound to map the seafloor in high detail. This provides precise depth measurements and detailed 3D images of underwater environments for various applications.
Magnetometers: These are used to measure magnetic fields and map geological features below the seabed, allowing teams to locate submerged pipelines, shipwrecks, or unexploded ordnance.
Oceanographic instruments: To provide data on currents and water properties, oceanographic equipment offers a better understanding of the subsea environment and allows companies to make informed decisions on their renewable energy projects.
Positioning equipment: This is essential for enabling precise device installation and subsequently maximising energy production, as well as overall safety.
The benefits of subsea equipment in the renewable energy industry
Companies within the renewable energy sector can unlock a range of benefits by leveraging innovative subsea equipment in their projects and operations. As an industry centred around sustainability and lowering carbon emissions, environmental considerations are crucial when it comes to renewable energy, as well as ensuring that operations run efficiently.
The most significant benefits the renewable energy sector can gain from subsea equipment are:
Sustainable operations: Subsea equipment enables the efficient harnessing of renewable energy sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting sustainable energy production.
Reliability and durability: The robust design of subsea equipment ensures it can withstand harsh marine environments, providing long-term operational reliability.
Operational efficiency: Advanced subsea technology streamlines installation and maintenance processes, reducing downtime and operational costs.
Subsea equipment in the marine science industry
Using subsea equipment for marine science
The ocean occupies 71% of the earth’s surface and holds many secrets which aren’t immediately visible or accessible to us. Subsea equipment is therefore essential for the marine science industry to allow researchers to better understand and monitor activity from marine life, which provides invaluable data for exploration and aids conservation efforts for the subsea environment as a whole.
Marine subsea equipment can be used to gather intelligence and research on sea life and subsea habitats in the following ways:
Underwater cameras and video systems:These systems are used for continuous visual monitoring of marine life, underwater habitats and geological features below the ocean’s surface. They can be mounted on ROVs, AUVs or deployed as standalone units.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): Equipped with cameras, lights and various tools, ROVs can be used to conduct visual inspections, take samples and perform precise tasks at depths which can’t be reached by divers.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs): These are programmable robotic vehicles that operate independently for mapping the seafloor, collecting water samples and measuring elements such as ocean temperature, salinity and currents.
Sonar Systems: Multibeam and side-scan sonar systems are also used for mapping the seafloor, as well as providing detailed imagery and data to detect underwater objects and studying marine life.
Underwater drills: These allow researchers to collect samples from the seabed for geological studies, allowing marine scientists to gain important data on seabed sediments.
The benefits of subsea equipment in the marine science industry
When it comes to marine science, knowledge is power, and by utilising high-tech subsea equipment, researchers can gain a better understanding and invaluable insight into the ocean’s environment and wildlife in order to better protect them.
The most significant benefits that marine scientists can unlock through the use of subsea equipment are:
Enhanced research capabilities: Thanks to the availability of a vast range of innovative technology, subsea equipment offers detailed and extensive exploration of underwater environments, providing researchers with high-quality data for scientific analysis.
Environmental monitoring: By using specialised subsea equipment, marine scientists can continuously monitor the underwater environment, helping them to track changes in marine ecosystems, assess the impact of human activities and develop conservation strategies to protect the ocean’s wildlife.
Data collection: Efficient and precise data gathering methods are provided by modern subsea equipment and supports a wide range of scientific research within this industry, from climate studies through to marine biology and geology.
Subsea equipment is essential for driving advancements and efficiencies in multiple offshore industries, with its applications enhancing operational safety, efficiency and sustainability across the board.
At STR, we provide state-of-the-art subsea equipment, carefully designed to meet the diverse needs of a range of industries. Discover our impressive product portfolio and find out more about how subsea equipment can benefit your operations…
As the subsea sector continues to progress, new innovations in technology and equipment continue to emerge, resulting in cost efficiencies and enhanced operational output for operators in a number of industries.
Electric winches have grown in popularity and application in recent years due to the many benefits they have over their hydraulic counterparts, and are now seen by many in the subsea sector as a go-to piece of subsea equipment.
Here we share the core capabilities of electric winches, their primary benefits and how they can be the key to unlocking safe and efficient subsea operations…
The primary function of an electric winch
Electric winches are used to lift, pull and position heavy loads underwater, making them an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to deployment and recovery during subsea operations. Using an electrical system, these winches are powered by a direct current of electricity to enable its lifting mechanism, which winds a cable up or down by rolling a large drum.
The key components of an electric winch include the cylindrical drum – the size of which will determine the winding speed and cable length – as well as a rope or cable which is made of steel or synthetics depending on the strength requirements. The clutch allows for free spooling where fast deployment is needed, while the automatic brake ensures optimum safety by locking the drum when it’s not actively pulling, and the control system enables its use from a safe distance.
Finally, the electric motor forms the heartbeat of the winch, with a battery or separate power source to drive its lifting and lowering functions. This is its core differentiator to hydraulic winches which are driven by a hydraulic system.
Applications of an electric winch
One of the reasons electric winches have become widely used in the subsea sector is their incredible versatility. Depending on the size and capability of the electric winch, you can lift and lower virtually anything, whether it’s to load equipment on and off the vessel, or lowering it underwater during deployment and recovery.
Electric winches have been widely utilised across a number of industries where subsea projects are essential. Within the rapidly growing renewables sector, electric winches offer high performance capabilities while reducing energy consumption and supporting cleaner operations, making them a go-to choice.
They have also helped to progress the oil and gas market to support inspection, maintenance and repair efforts, as well as commissioning and decommissioning projects. Similarly, in the marine science sector, winches are utilised for lowering and raising survey or sampling equipment to ensure high quality data acquisition while protecting the surrounding environment.
Finally electric winches offer the flexibility to support operations in both the manned and unmanned surface vehicle (USV) market, allowing for projects to be completed remotely or from a survey vessel, to improve overall safety and flexibility.
Benefits of an electric winch
Electric winches offer a number of benefits which have made them a preferred alternative to their hydraulic counterparts. One of their primary advantages is their ease of use; unlike hydraulic winches, which require a complex setup with pumps and fluid systems, electric winches are powered directly by a battery or a connection to the electrical system. This makes them much easier to install and maintain which results in cost efficiencies, reduced downtime and enhanced safety.
Electric winches also provide a significant advantage in terms of their remote operation capabilities. With technological advancements, many electric winches now come with wireless remote control systems that enable operators to manage a winch from a distance, increasing safety and precision as a result.
Additionally, electric winches consume much less energy and tend to be quieter than their hydraulic winches, which is crucial for cost savings and ensuring that sensitive marine environments are protected. Even when not in use, hydraulic winches require a huge amount of power to stay operationally ready and are renowned for being noisy when in use.
This combination of versatility, ease of use, and safety features positions electric winches as a superior choice for professionals seeking reliable and efficient load handling solutions.
Choosing the right electric winch for your subsea project
When it comes to subsea operations, choosing the right winch is crucial for safety reasons and to ensure effective operations. This involves a number of important considerations, such as the environmental conditions which could damage or erode winch over time, the control mechanisms required and the desired process for installation and maintenance needed.
What is arguably the most important consideration when choosing the right electric winch is the load capacity needed for the project. Winches vary in how heavy a load they can carry, so it’s crucial to take this into account and select a winch. As a general guideline, the chosen winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the weight of the equipment or vehicle being lifted and positioned.
At STR, we have the largest fleet of electric winches in the world, with a team of experts who can support you in choosing the right winch to ensure efficient subsea data acquisition for your offshore operations. No matter the project scope, our innovative electric winch designs and bespoke technical support offers a cost-effective solution for a range of subsea projects.
Subsea Technology & Rentals (STR), a leading global provider of advanced sensor technology and solutions for the offshore energy and marine science markets, has welcomed Maxime Even as the new General Manager of their Singapore Technology and Service hub.
With over two decades of experience in the offshore survey industry, Even will play a key role in supporting STR’s clients across Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East, while his background in marine operations, business development and project management will help drive growth and expand STR’s regional operations and client base.
Jason French, STR’s Regional Director for APAC, said: “With his impressive experience in the offshore survey market, Maxime brings a wealth of regional knowledge to our hub in Singapore and understands the unique challenges faced by our clients. The APAC region presents significant opportunities, particularly in offshore renewables, and we know Maxime will contribute greatly to our continued success in this dynamic and rapidly growing market.”
Established more than 20 years ago, STR operates globally and serves clients in the offshore energy and marine science markets, helping them acquire mission-critical marine data through the provision of advanced subsea sensor technology, solutions and services.
As the 23rd of June marks International Women in Engineering Day, we’re shining a spotlight on the achievements of women in the engineering field and recognising the invaluable contributions of female engineers worldwide.
At STR, we are proud to champion the talents of our diverse team. We sat down with STR’s Group Technical Compliance Engineer, Shani Perdicou, to explore what led her to a career in engineering, the challenges she has faced in the field and the advice she would give to aspiring female engineers.
Tell us about your journey so far, and what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
“My career began in 2003 when I joined the Royal Navy as a Mine Warfare and Communications Specialist serving in Portsmouth, Plymouth and Scotland. This role marked the beginning of my journey into the world of engineering and after eight years in the Navy, I transitioned into the geophysical sector, working offshore as a Geophysical Engineer for a marine survey company. This position appealed to me as I’ve always preferred to be hands-on and I thoroughly enjoyed being offshore, as well as the flexibility that being on a six month rotation allowed me to have.
“Throughout my career, I’ve often been one of only a few women in predominantly male-dominated environments, which has reinforced my commitment to supporting and advocating for more women in engineering.”
How would you describe your current role at STR and what does a typical day look like for you?
“I am the Group Technical Compliance Engineer at STR, and my main responsibility is managing our database of assets that support our clients’ projects. My day-to-day tasks centre around ensuring all equipment is of the required standard, which involves a thorough process of monitoring and repairing faults, internal failures and damages. I’m also client facing and issue technical reports on damaged equipment, as well as arrange payments and third-party repairs.
“While I’m not on the front line of securing new business, my role is crucial in maintaining the quality, reliability and performance of our assets – which is something STR prides itself in.”
What do you enjoy most about your job?
“I thoroughly enjoy the variety of my role and the opportunity to interact with colleagues across all of our Technology and Service hubs, including Australia, Scotland, Singapore and USA. I also love engaging with different departments, from the sales team and engineers, to the calibration and finance departments. The diversity in my responsibilities, and the fact that I’m recognised as a key member of the operations team, always keeps things fresh and interesting!
“STR has provided me with fantastic support and flexibility, which is particularly important for me having young children. The company is also committed to professional development and encourages everyone to participate in training and developing their domain knowledge and career – I will soon participate in the company’s new “People Development” programme aimed at team leaders and supervisors who manage, or will soon manage, a team.
What do you think are the biggest barriers currently facing women in engineering, and how has this changed from previous years?
“I would say that one of the biggest barriers for women in engineering is visibility. Young people, particularly young women, don’t see or hear enough about female engineers which potentially encourages the stereotype of who ‘should or shouldn’t’ be an engineer.
“For a long time, I think there has been a perception that to fit into an engineering role, you need to be a certain profile of person, which can be discouraging for those who don’t fit that mould.
“Having said that, the industry has changed for the better since I started my career. In the past, hiring managers would feel obligated to interview a female candidate just to tick the diversity box. Nowadays, the focus is more on qualifications and personal attributes, which is a significant progression. There’s also been a noticeable increase in female representation in STR and at industry events – I’ve seen more female speakers and attendees on LinkedIn recently, which is great and reflects the positive changes happening within our field!”
What challenges have you faced as a woman in engineering, and how have you overcome them?
“When I joined my vessel in the Navy as one of the first females in mine warfare, none of the 38 males on board had ever sailed with a female before. Because of this, several crew members had to be convinced that I was capable of doing my job, not just intellectually but also physically. I was fortunate to work with a good group of people who didn’t focus on my gender, however, the perception that females are weaker than men was often a challenge. Despite this, I wasn’t given any special treatment and was expected to perform the job just the same as everybody else.
“Another challenge I’ve faced as a woman in engineering was uniform related. When I started going offshore, the overalls provided were tailored for men and often didn’t fit properly. Trousers were too long, and boots and gloves in my size were rarely available. As well as this, the expectation to go above and beyond to justify my position in a male-dominated field was also a struggle. Thankfully, over time, I think the industry has become more inclusive and focused on skills and capabilities rather than gender.”
What initiatives have you seen or would like to see that support women in engineering?
“I’ve noticed an increase in career fairs at local colleges and schools, which is a step in the right direction. I’ve participated in a few of these with STR, where we visited a local college and the students found out more about what we do. As a result of this, we recently had a female student join us as a Trainee Engineer following a work placement.
“I think it’s crucial to engage with students when they’re around 13 or 14 years old to make them aware that engineering is a viable and exciting career option. It’s encouraging to prospective employees that STR has female engineers across all our departments, making new female hires feel supported. The more we reach out to students and show them that engineering is an accessible and rewarding career path, the more we can open doors for the next generation of female engineers.”
What advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in engineering?
“Go for it! My mum always told me that engineering offers a career for life; it’s one of those professions that’s always evolving, we see how quickly technology develops!
“It’s important for young women to remember that engineering isn’t gender specific and the industry is just as suitable for females as it is for males – there are no jobs in engineering that are solely built for men. If you have the capability and are willing to put in the work, you’ll succeed!”
Are you passionate about STEM and looking for a diverse career in the offshore industry? Visit our website to discover our latest vacancies: https://www.str-subsea.com/careers
Taking place every two years in London (UK), Oceanology International is a place where knowledge across the marine science, offshore energy and technology markets is shared, cementing it as a central hub to showcase innovation and discuss new ideas.
As a global provider of mission critical sensor packaged solutions, enabled through in-house innovative and specialist services, our primary focus is to enable the acquisition of higher quality, critical marine data. With innovation at our core, Oceanology was our primary platform to showcase our cutting-edge products, including a member of our Smart Deployment System product range – The SeaTow 2000 electric winch, our SeaCount cable measurement system and our deepwater SeaSpyder drop camera system; all of which represent pioneering engineering. It was also the perfect opportunity to announce our latest advancement in New Product Development (NPD), such as our Fast Deployment System and ROV Multiplexer, both of which are being developed in-house by our Products & Technology (P&T) team.
Bringing specialists from core divisions of our business – operations, products and technology, senior leadership and sales – each team member discovered trends and insights that will help us unlock new opportunities and develop solutions for our customers. Here, we discuss our key takeaways and how we think these shape the future of the subsea industry.
Insight 1: Preference has shifted in favour of autonomous and remote operations
Driven by economic factors, health, safety and environmental concerns and of course, feasibility through advancements in technology, the move towards autonomous operations on uncrewed service vessels (USVs) is increasing, and therefore the demand for products with remote capabilities is significantly growing.
With this new way of working bringing a multitude of benefits such as increased safety by removing people from hazardous environments, unmanned operations resulting in a smaller carbon footprint and cost savings through reduced personnel as well as the unit cost of the asset (USV vs manned vessel), it’s no wonder that questions on remote capabilities were on the rise at this year’s Oceanology event.
Raymond Forsyth, Group Technical Director said: “With this shift comes the need for new innovation and changes in ways of working, coupled with robust, reliable technology. While remote operations come with many advantages, the quality of the product needs to be unparalleled to ensure high performance without manual input and offshore maintenance. It’s also important to consider that unmanned vessels tend to be much smaller than conventional manned vessels, therefore a compact product design that can be operated autonomously is often a required feature.
“Conversations around remote capabilities were often directed to our SeaTow 2000 electric winch which we had on display, as ultimately, our Smart Deployment System range (SeaTow) enables the entire survey project. Our SeaTow products have been designed to go much further than just ticking the box for remote operations, the winches not only correct any arising faults but also report on performance statistics to minimise any downtime.
“It’s still important to note that human experience and intervention is required to enhance project performance, and it’s vital that specialist knowledge and experience is used to ensure the correct technology is selected and working cohesively with other equipment as a complete sensor solutions package. Autonomous operations will be an important part of the future way subsea operations are managed. However, it will take time for the markets to adopt this new technology and success will be dependent on strong collaboration across the whole supply chain.”
Insight 2: The demand for single high-performance products has extended to innovative solution-led packages with a focus on equipment integration
Fundamentally, customers need subsea deployment systems and sensor products that are reliable and high-performing to complete their operations, but there’s been a shift from using equipment from various manufacturers to looking for multi-product packaged solutions from one service provider that can integrate all the technologies to solve a number of challenges at once, while maximising data capture.
There are many benefits to working with one service provider that uses the same engineering and operational methods – products will work in harmony, prompting enhanced operational efficiency, reduced costs, and less impact on the environment when considered as a full package offering. When selecting technology packages for projects, it’s vitally important we engage with our clients, forming an extended part of their operations team, to understand the specific user case, the subsea environment, vessel / USV and the desired data requirements – only then, can we provide the optimum results.
Steve Steele, CEO said: “Throughout the event, customers were keen to discuss technology that would enable smarter working, increased efficiency, reduce the impact on the environment and improve data quality, therefore being able to do more with less.
“At STR, we have a very strong heritage of innovation and we were proud to showcase some of our products at the event. We have been designing and developing in-house products for more than twenty years and are continually challenging ourselves on enhancing our product offering. At our Innovation and Technology Centre in Great Yarmouth, we are continuously investing in our team, infrastructure and expanding our in-house product catalogue – as evidenced by two new products that we’re bringing to market in 2024.
“Our mission critical products (we refer to them as “enablers”) form part of a more comprehensive product package offering, and it’s one of the reasons why our clients work with STR. Managing subsea projects is complex, no matter the market sector, and they are getting larger with greater demands on our client project teams. At STR, we work very closely with our clients to provide the right mission critical sensor package solution and after-market service care to de-risk our clients’ projects and maximise their results.”
Insight 3: The environment is rich for product development and cleaner technology remains a priority
As technology advances, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible within the subsea sector, and the buoyancy and positivity in the market strengthens the appetite for smarter engineering and paves the way towards the energy transition.
With environmental concerns remaining at the top of companies’ agendas, we made the decision years ago to engineer electric winches and raise awareness of the benefits over their hydraulic counterparts, but education is still key to encourage and support this approach being adopted on a global scale.
Rob Williamson, Group Research and Development Director said: “Throughout the event, we received a high volume of interest in our Smart Deployment Systems (SeaTow 2000 electric winch), with clients intrigued to see if its technical specification and capabilities can address their challenges.
“For example, adopting the use of our electric winches can solve deck space challenges as they eliminate the need for such an intensive power source while benefiting from higher motor efficiency. This, combined with a lower power generator and low standby power consumption, means operators can significantly reduce fuel expenses while reducing environmental concerns through excellent motor efficiency.
“In addition, a core focus for us was to announce our latest innovations, our Fast Deployment System – which will significantly support autonomous and remote operations – and our ROV Multiplexer – which takes data acquisition to an even more advanced level. Both these products are integral to complementing our subsea packages and increasing efficiency for our customers.
“Our aim remains simple, we’re not building products just to sell it, we’re engineering equipment to solve our customers’ problems, helping them complete their surveys to an unrivalled standard while also enabling them to transition to more sustainable methods.”
In summary, this year’s event presented an extremely positive outlook for the subsea sector and the main trends support the transition to the global goal of reaching Net Zero. While there were concerns raised about the global supply chain and market demand, the show symbolised investment within the sector and emphasises the importance of collaboration between suppliers to overcome common challenges and achieve ambitious targets.
