Live Round Table:
Unexploded Ordnance
The Impact of UXOs on Offshore Construction and the Marine Environment
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) presents significant challenges for offshore wind projects, impacting construction timelines, marine ecosystems, and worker safety.
In this round table, we invited industry experts to share their insights into the wide-ranging effects of UXOs on offshore developments and the environment. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the tools and methodologies used to detect and assess seabed remnants of war, along with practical approaches for reducing associated risks.
This session offers actionable knowledge to help you navigate the complexities of UXO management, whether you're involved in planning, overseeing operations, or ensuring safety and compliance in the field.
What We Will Discuss with the Panel Experts
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Why offshore renewable teams must locate UXOs
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Tools & methodologies used to locate remnants of war
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How UXO risks can be reduced
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Why we must consider environmental harm when dealing with UXOs
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Practical insights from industry experts regarding the complexities of offshore UXO management
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Bonus Q&A
Date & Time
Please reference the time below for your corresponding local time zone.
DATE: 5 December, 2024 (Thursday)
DURATION: 1 Hour
LOCATION: Join in online via Zoom
United Kingdom
11:00 (GMT)
Central Europe
12:00 (CET)
Taipei, Taiwan
19:00 (CST)
Melbourne, Australia
22:00 (AEDT)
LIVE Q&A
Submit your questions before 5 Dec, 2024
There will be a 15 minute Q&A session towards the end. Please submit your questions in the registration form before 5 Dec, 2024.
Please note: We CANNOT guarantee that all questions will be answered, however submitting prior to the round table will help us prioritise them based on relevancy.
THIS ROUND TABLE'S PANELISTS
Auke van der Velde
Principal Senior EOD and UXO Expert at
Aukssupport
Auke van is a Chartered Engineer specialising in UXO and EOD risk mitigation within the maritime sector. With over 25 years of experience, his work centres on the intersection of safety, engineering, and operational efficiency to manage and mitigate explosive hazards in complex environments. Throughout his career, Auke has examined why traditional methods of handling UXO and EOD risks often fall short in preventing incidents, despite significant resources and expertise. He has worked to identify the failure points in conventional approaches and develop innovative strategies to improve safety outcomes. His efforts ensure that operations are conducted safely, minimising risk to personnel, communities, and the environment, while upholding high standards of compliance and reliability.
Hannah Finch-Saunders
Director at
CetOcean Consultancy
Hannah is a seasoned marine environmental specialist with a focus on the complex challenges associated with offshore construction and the marine environment, particularly the impact of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). With over a decade of experience in roles ranging from Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Operator to Project Manager, she has supported high-stakes projects in offshore energy for clients like Shell, Iberdrola, and EON.
Her expertise spans not only managing environmental mitigation but also implementing safety measures that protect both marine life and construction teams working in areas with potential UXO risks. Through meticulous planning and hands-on field experience, she contributes to ensuring that offshore operations can advance with minimised ecological impact, aligning industry practices with environmental stewardship.
Anders Lykke Mikalski
Senior Geophysicist at
COWI A/S
Anders is an experienced geophysical specialist. From 2004, where he conducted his first geophysical investigations, and with 14 years of experience within offshore geophysical investigations, Anders have maintained a strong focus on de-risking offshore construction works through integrated geophysical surveys.
This especially includes managing the UXO risk from first seabed interaction to delivering the completed structure.
With experiences as an offshore surveyor, geotechnical driller and later as party chief, survey manager and project manager, Anders has extensive insights in most aspects of marine construction and has supported high-complexity projects in Europe, Asia and the US for clients like, Orsted, Vattenfall, Equinor and Energinet.
Anders strongly believes that handling the UXO risk on projects is a fundamental activity that is not only a requirement but is ensuring the safety of all personnel working on the sites in all phases of a site development.
About the UXO - Remnants of War Specialist Course
Hear from RECOA's alumni
Gordon Foot, Offshore Client Representative
"Never take for granted what many perceive to be a ‘simple operation!’"
Ngọc Tú Nguyễn
"Highly recommended for engineers and managers in the industry who want to minimize risks, schedule and costs for their projects."
About RECOA's Round Table
RECOA's Round Table events serve as an industry forum where industry experts delve into specific industry topics relevant to today's landscape.
The format involves a 40-minute round table discussion featuring key topic discussions. Each topic is addressed by industry experts, who share their insight and opinions.
Following the round table, there will be a 15-minute live Q&A session where RECOA's host will present questions from the audience. If there's a desire to delve deeper into the discussion or pose additional questions, participants can do so on RECOA's Professional Student Community. Here, the panelists will directly respond to queries and continue the conversation.