The Submersible Operators Group was established during its inaugural meeting in Bristol, UK, in October 2023.
During this meeting, representatives from numerous operators and associated organisations came together for the first time to discuss inter-community cooperation, partnerships and improvements to submersible operations.
The group’s focus is to develop communications across the subsea community.
The Chair’s opening speech of the 2023 meeting perfectly sums up the group!
Hello Everybody
It is truly an honor and a privilege to stand before you today as we gather for the inaugural meeting of the Submersible Operators Group.
The meeting brings together operators, manufacturers, super users, certification bodies and pilots from all over the world.
The submersible community has a long history of safe operations spanning several decades and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dives from shallow coastal waters to the deepest trenches on our planet.
This record is, in no small part, preserved by those here today and those who continue to support SAFE submersible operations while we enjoy the hospitality of DEEP.
It is also down to the giants of engineering and exploration upon whose shoulders we stand and whose lessons we heed.
The depths of our oceans have always captivated the human spirit.
They have inspired explorers, scientists, and adventurers to safely push the boundaries of what is possible and, in the process, expand our knowledge of Planet Ocean.
Submersibles also play critical roles in defense, search and rescue and commercial activities. The increasing fleet size has allowed guests onboard cruise ships and yachts to experience a world they wouldn’t have known existed.
While a bold statement, submersibles have also shaped modern society through contributions to highly successful programs such as Blue Planet, prompting the BlueWave effect that has shaped many government policies and public perceptions.
Our community has a fine pedigree of safety and achievement that is embodied in the names of some of the industry’s most iconic and successful vehicles:
Trieste, Alvin, Nautille, DeepSea Challenger, Limiting Factor, Shinkai, and Pieces
To name just a few.
I am excited that some of these operators are able to join us today.
But with this fascination comes great responsibility.
The safety of those who venture into the deep and those who support them is paramount.
It is a responsibility that we all share – scientists, engineers, manufacturers, pilots, ship crews, classification agencies and operators.
Safety has always been – and will always remain – our first and foremost priority.
The measures in place, the expertise of our professionals, and the advancements in technology have undeniably made our endeavours safer than ever before.
But there is still more work to be done.
In our ongoing mission for discovery and progress, we must remain steadfast.
Our journey towards greater safety is unending, and our dedication to this cause is unwavering.
While briefly acknowledging the events of the past six months, the increased spotlight on our community has highlighted its ceaseless drive towards safety that has been the bedrock of its existence and the mantra of its many champions.
It has been recognized that the one event is not representative of the wider community.
This conference serves as a platform for fostering meaningful connections and collaborations.
It is a space where ideas can be exchanged and partnerships are formed.
While representing different organizations, we are a fraternity of submersible pilots and operators.
As you look around this hall at the faces of your fellow pilots remember
even though we pilot different submersibles from different manufacturers,
dive to different depths,
possess varying degrees of experience
and have contrasting mission objectives,
we as pilots and the whole submersible community, benefit from open and frank discussions on safety and experiences.
We are not in a submersible now, Oxygen and scrubbers are not at a premium – feel free to talk.
For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, argument, and debate.
The more each of you put in, the more you will get out of this event.
I am confident that this conference will be a productive and informative event. I encourage you to participate fully in the discussions and to share your knowledge and experience.
Please also remember this is the first of what hope will be many meetings.
It won’t be perfect the first time, and it will develop with your feedback and direction.
Today, we lay the foundations of this group, which we all own.
But what shape will a future group take?
That is one of the questions I hope we can answer over the next two days.
Other questions exist.
Should we tag this meeting to a bigger event? Oceanology? Ocean Business?
Should we be standalone or are there other groups we can merge with?
That’s in our hands.
Before we tackle these many questions
I would also like to thank DEEP for their hard work and dedication to making this concept a reality.
Extra thanks go to Tiga, Mike and Eva for their amazing efforts over the last few months
They have created an excellent program while extending a warm welcome to their facility.
I would also like to thank each of you for attending today.
I am confident that we will have a very successful event.
Thank You