SUT Perth Annual General Meeting

Report

Highlights

It was perfect conditions for the fourth SUT Perth Branch AGM, held at the Kings Park Function Centre next to Fraser's Restaurant, on the evening of 14 November 2007, with a clear blue sky, a temperature of around 26°C, light breeze and a wonderful view of Perth Central Business District and the Swan River.

Proceedings kicked off just after 6 p.m. with an update from SUT Perth Branch Chairman, Martyn Witton. Martyn outlined some of the 2007 highlights including increased local membership of 131, plus 9 fellows, 22 local corporations and 51 students. There were also a significant number of remote memberships around Australia and in New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Martyn indicated how successful SUT Perth had become with strong growth in the areas of special courses, technical events, seminars, SUT cooperation with other societies and institutions including DoIR, INTSOK, UK DTI and many universities. There was also recognition of the popularity of the SUT Annual Dinner. All in all, SUT Perth activity and involvement during 2007 was significant across a broad range of fronts.

In particular, there was recognition of subject range, growth and uptake of the underwater technology courses that were now available in Perth by SUT. There would be two additional courses in 2008 covering Offshore Survey and Subsea Pipelines. Martyn also talked about the launch of SUT Melbourne Branch and how it was set to grow and provide services and facilities to membership in the region. Martyn made a point of thanking the branch committee and SUT administrative staff for its commitment and hard work over the last year. Also, thanks went to all speakers and lecturers that supported SUT.

Next up was Keith Bentley, Treasurer. Keith certainly painted a healthy financial position for the branch that would provide a strong foundation for SUT to embark on further growth and services to members during 2008 and beyond. A special mention and thanks was given to Jim Leven and the Department of Infrastructure and Resources (DoIR). Since initial startup of the branch, the DoIR has provided a financial grant which has contributed to SUT growth. This grant will now cease since SUT is financially sustainable.

Enda O'Sullivan, Branch Secretary, provided an overview of changes to committee members and those nominated for 2008. Three new members were welcomed, Paul Mercer, Dermot O'Brien and Ben Witton. Co-opted members covering Secretariat and Events Management were Wendy Buchanan and Joyce Bremner. Regional liaisons included Duncan Cameron (Singapore), Adam Brumley (KL), Simon Allen (Tasmania) and Hayden Marcollo (Melbourne). Enda also outlined some proposed changes to the branch Constitution for 2008. The first proposal was to ensure continuity and refreshment of committee members by having members elected for two years, limiting it to a maximum of three consecutive terms, and having eight members changed out each year. The second proposal was to name the branch SUT Perth Branch and drop SUT Australasia.

Enda with Joyce and Wendy

Martyn Witton and the successful students

Ryan Hannan and Martyn

A special thanks, together with flowers, was given to Joyce Bremner and Wendy Buchanan for their behind the scenes efforts with organising SUT events, courses, seminars and day to day administration of the branch. A new recruit, Jennifer Murray, was also warmly welcomed. Jennifer will be supporting Joyce and Wendy during 2008.

A major global focus with SUT is educational support and encouraging and helping young people with their education and career in underwater technology. The SUT Perth Branch is particularly active in this respect, and the AGM provided the right forum for Martyn to present six successful students with cheques worth $3000 each. This years students were: Sophie Broun, University of Western Australia (UWA), Mechanical Engineering and Applied Maths/Physics; Colin Hart, UWA, Environmental Engineering, Ocean Systems and Commerce; Nathan Fairclough, Curtin, Mechatronic Engineering; Ryan Hannan, UWA, Engineering in Commerce, majoring in Offshore Engineering and Naval Architecture; Craig McDonnell, Curtin, Aquatic Science, Coastal Management; and Daniel Aleksandrow, UWA, Mechatronics and Physics.

New Outer Limits for Resource Jurisdiction - Implications and Opportunities The guest speaker for the evening was Phil Symonds, Senior Adviser - Science and Law, of the Sea, Petroleum and Marine Division, Geoscience Australia, Australian Government. Phil gave a very interesting and informative talk about approaches to defining the outer limits of extended continental shelf (ECS) and highlighted some national, as well as global, implications and opportunities of this activity, which is now underway throughout many parts of the world's oceans.

Guest speaker Phil Symonds Phil went on to explain that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides for the establishment of a series of marine jurisdictional zones, in particular the continental shelf, which extends to 200 nautical miles, or beyond that to the outer edge of the continental margin. In this zone a coastal state has sovereign rights for the purposes of exploring and exploiting its mineral and other non-living resources of the seabed and subsoil, together with sedentary living organisms. The full application of the UNCLOS rules for delineating the outer limit of the extended continental shelf (ECS) beyond 200 nautical miles requires information on the water depth, sediment thickness, and other geological characteristics of the continental margin. Over the last 15 years, considerable survey work has been conducted by countries for this purpose and is providing substantial new insights into the remote, deepwater parts of the world's continental margins. Where a coastal state intends to establish the outer limits of its ECS, it must make a submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). The 21-member CLCS is a scientific and technical body that facilitates the establishment of the outer limit of the extended continental shelf by considering data and other materials submitted by states and making recommendations on the outer limit. To date, the CLCS has received eight submissions and has made recommendations on three. Delineating the outer limit of the ECS is not a pure scientific task, but involves the integration of legal, diplomatic, scientific and technical matters. The amount of offshore survey data that has been collected over the years by countries to compile submissions to the CLCS was staggering. The 3D virtual modelling of the seabed that Phil presented was also extremely interesting and provided a powerful visualisation tool for scientists and engineers. Phil wrapped up his talk by pointing out that to define clear demarcation to national and international jurisdiction, helps to promote peace and security in the oceans, and creates the secure environment necessary for the management, exploration and exploitation of marine resources. This activity has important global political implications and provides considerable future opportunities for industry, marine science, resource and environmental managers. As usual at SUT events, the socialising and networking continued well into the late evening. This was helped along with trays of refreshments and delicious finger food being served by the waiters.