INITIATIVES FROM THE INDUSTRY IRO, The Association of Dutch Suppliers in the Oil and Gas Industry and Offshore Renewable Industry, has several committees that enable member companies operating with a specific sector to exchange experience and expertise and to gather information. 1. Oil & Gas (Energy transition, Decommissioning, CCS) 2. Renewables (Offshore Wind, Marine & tidal energy, Geothermia), 3. Innovation & Technology (Digitalisation, Cyber) 4. Sustainability & Safety (Corporate responsibility, Circular economy, Young IRO) 5.(Inter) national relations & communications. Organising promotional activities, lobbying and joint promotion are
important activities of the committees. IRO embraces many initiatives that are aimed at creating a sustainable and responsible industry. Our Oceans Challenge, Nexstep, Wind & Water Works, the North Sea Energy Program (TNO) and the Offshore Experience (Maritime Museum Rotterdam) are a few examples of these interesting initiatives which are highlighted below.
OUR OCEANS CHALLENGE Looking back at 2017 it might have been a transitional year. Sustainability has gained a prominent place on the agenda of the offshore and maritime industry and new innovations are climbing the charts. 2017 also presented us with a rather complex puzzle. ‘Changing’ the mindset towards a sustainable future in the well run maritime and offshore industry at a global market is an immense task. A task that can only be done with a clear strategy and a strong network.
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When the Our Oceans Challenge 2016 challenges were defined - noise mitigation, waste management, sustainable legacy, big data and ocean resources - we couldn’t have guessed the broad variety of ideas we were to receive. The network expanded rapidly in a few months and it was exactly the sort of chain of partners with the ability to fuel and adopt innovation. Within 8 months after announcing the second
cycle of Our Oceans Challenge, the finals were held at the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam. More than 150 ideas were posted at the online platform, discussed and improved amongst the collaborating organizations and the public. They resulted in fifteen live pitches in June 2017. From designing biodegradable electronics to combining renewable energy sources and from a market place for industrial waste to bubbling for plastics, the pitches all inspired to move towards a more sustainable industry. Wave parasite was the jury’s favorite and the Great Bubble Barrier the public’s one. So where does that leave us now? After winning the Outreach Award at the offshore gala in October 2017, with the great support of our partners, we have started to prepare for the 2018/2019 cycle. The five challenges of 2016 are still very up to date. However we are very open for discussion to choose the topics that should be addressed in the next cycle. We prefer to do that together
Jury’s winner: Wave parasite. (Photograph: Marco de Swart)
Public’s winner: Great bubble barrier. (Photograph: Marco de Swart)
NETHERLANDS SUPPLIERS CATALOGUE 2018
