Jamie McCallum and Christer Fjellroth, have carried out a number of engineering studies in a bid to widen the remit of NSRI’s initial oil and gas focus (photo: NSRI)

Two engineers from Wood Group have supported the National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI) in its drive to speed up the development and implementation of near to market technologies in the subsea sector.

Jamie McCallum and Christer Fjellroth, who are both working towards becoming Chartered Engineers, beat off competition from a number of hopefuls who applied to join NSRI on a one year secondment last year.

Over the past 12 months, McCallum and Fjellroth have carried out a number of engineering studies in a bid to widen the remit of NSRI’s initial oil and gas focus. McCallum was tasked with exploring the opportunities in offshore renewables for UK supply chain companies, while Fjellroth focused on the potential and economic viability of deep sea mining; two sectors which offer immediate diversification opportunities for the subsea supply chain.

They also developed NSRI’s Matchmaker database, a resource which aims to partner end users with technology researchers and developers in the renewables sector as well as the growing subsea mining community.

The Matchmaker resource is a starting point on which NSRI will build to ensure that it truly represents the entire industry and relevant research organisations, providing the best and most relevant contacts and collaborations needed to progress the development of new technology.

Christer Fjellroth, who graduated from Robert Gordon University with a Masters in Mechanical and Offshore Engineering, says, “I feel extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with NSRI on a number of game-changing projects. I learned so much about key subsea developments currently underway and the technologies which will underpin the industry’s long-term prosperity as it moves into increasingly challenging territories and deeper waters. It has been really interesting to find out how UK supply chain companies can modify and adapt their technology to diversify into other sectors and sustain long-term growth.”

Jamie McCallum, who is a Master of Engineering graduate from the University of Aberdeen, worked with the NSRI team to identify how universities and specialist research centres can support the industry in its drive to get new technology off the ground.

Gordon Drummond, project director for NSRI, says, “Jamie and Christer are both extremely passionate about the subsea industry and understand the important role that technology will play in prolonging the life of the sector. They are great ambassadors for the industry and have proved that if you give people the tools and support to solve a wide variety of challenges, they will excel.

“The work that they have carried out so far has been extremely valuable in supporting our ongoing initiative. They both have a very bright future ahead of them and I hope this experience will go some way in helping them become leaders in subsea one day,” adds Drummond.

Maria Farid and Emmanuel Okoli, both engineers from Wood Group will be following in the footsteps of McCallum and Fjellroth when they join NSRI on a one year secondment later this month.

Bob MacDonald, CEO of Wood Group’s Specialist Technical Solutions business says, “We are delighted these talented individuals from Wood Group have used their energy, experience and expertise to support the NSRI in further developing new opportunities and innovations for the subsea sector and in particular it’s supply chain.

“The research and development Jamie and Christer have achieved will play a part in helping to enhance the industry’s future prospects and solve its challenges. We are proud as a company to collaborate with NSRI and remain committed to working in partnership with them, to support the subsea sector as it continues to adapt, diversity and advance.”

As the technology arm of industry body Subsea UK, NSRI is the focal point for subsea research and development, bringing together industry, developers and academia to collaborate effectively to fast-track the introduction of new technology which and help the UK maintain its global position.

Tags: The National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI), Wood Group