SMMI shares seabed secrets during Short Course in Cyprus
SMMI colleagues visited Larnaca, Cyprus during January to deliver a successful two day short course titled “Seafloor Characterisation for Offshore Infrastructure and Marine Planning”.
Characterisation of the seafloor is essential for the safe design and installation of offshore infrastructure and for the planning of ocean activities. “Modern energy and communication networks are increasingly reliant on subsea cables and offshore renewable energy facilities, so there is a global need to share best practices for seafloor surveys” said Professor Justin Dix, the course convener. Justin was supported by geophysicist, Professor Tim Henstock, geotechnical engineer, Professor David White, and maritime archaeologist, Professor Fraser Sturt, providing a holistic multi-disciplinary perspective to the seabed.
The course combined informal lectures with hands-on practical activities around the whiteboard and at the computer. Participants gained skills in the latest analysis tools and worked with real data from offshore projects. Between sessions, the delegates enjoyed virtual trips to the seafloor wearing VR headsets, hosted by SMMI-CMMI Research Fellow, Dr Felix Pedrotti.
The course participants were drawn from across the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Croatia and Greece. The event coincided with the annual review of the Cyprus Marine & Maritime Institute by the European Commission, as part of our MaRITeC-X project, funded under the EU Horizon 2020 program. SMMI is an Advanced Partner of CMMI, responsible for supporting the research activity, infrastructure development and training. Eight colleagues from SMMI visited Cyprus during January 2024, supporting the growth and success of our new sibling, CMMI.