[PSUBS-MAILIST] FYI: Underwater Intervention 2002 a Success (News Update)

[Ray Keefer <Ray.Keefer@Sun.COM>]

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Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 00:25:00 -0600
From: "Underwater Intervention 2002" <hdoyle@doylepublishing.com>
To: "Ray" <Ray@PSUBS.ORG>
Subject: Underwater Intervention 2002 a Success (News Update)
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April 5, 2002                                           NEWS UPDATE
Contact: Howie Doyle
hdoyle@doylepublishing.com
(281) 440-0278
http://www.underwaterintervention.com


Underwater Intervention 2002 Reflects Upbeat Mood of Industry

Underwater Intervention 2002 was held February 27 - March 2 in the Ernest
N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the largest, most prestigious
venue in which the conference has yet been hosted. Exhibitors and attendees
alike were enthusiastic about the enhanced function and prestige provided
by the world-class facility, and New Orleans is historically a favorite
location for the conference.

Underwater Intervention 2002 was co-sponsored by the Association of Diving
Contractors International, Inc. (ADC) and the ROV Committee of the Marine
Technology Society (MTS/ROV) for the tenth consecutive year. With 230
exhibit spaces filled, and 2,500 attendees, this year's show set a new
benchmark for success in domestic underwater contracting conferences. The
technical program was expanded to accommodate an increased number of paper
and panel presentations, with a fourth track and an additional half-day of
sessions being scheduled. The show was co-chaired by Drew Michel (MTS/ROV
Committee) and Jim Doré (ADC). Ross Saxon (ADC) again acted as Vice
Chairman for the event.

The conference was preceeded by a golf tournament which raised funds for
ADC and MTS/ROV scholarship programs. MTS/ROV chairman Drew Michel later
donated MTS's share of the funds to the newly established ADC scholarship
fund, resulting in a healthy boost to the program. Golfers at the
tournament were plagued by high winds, but the weather did nothing to
dampen the fun players had.

UI 2002's Early Bird Reception, held the first day of the conference, was a
attended by a large, enthusiastic crowd. Louisiana Lieutenant Governor
Kathleen Blanco, the state's second highest ranking official, spoke to
attendees on the offshore service industry in the State of Louisiana.

The UI Technical Program opened at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and continued
through the end of the day Saturday. The additional half-day was added at
the beginning of the conference (exhibits didn't open until Thursday
morning), and the sessions held Wednesday were well attended.

The UI Awards Luncheon was held on Thursday, and was highlighted by a
keynote speech by Peter Canty, CEO, President and COO of Stone Energy
Corporation. His speech, "The Gulf Coast Basin: A Bone Yard or a Boon Yard"
demonstrated that through improved imaging technologies additional reserves
of recoverable oil and gas are being detected in divable depths within the
Gulf Coast Basin.

The luncheon also featured the presentation of a plaque by Leslie Leaney of
the Historical Diving Society USA to the Association of Diving Contractors
International for ten years of support. During that time the HDS has grown
exponentially, and largely with the support of the commercial diving
community.

The following awards were presented during the luncheon:

ADC Awards

The 2002 John B. Galletti Award recipient was Conway "Whitey" Grubbs.
Whitey began his underwater wet welding activities in 1969 when he and
skilled divers qualified and repaired structural damage to the newly
installed Kazzan 1 offshore oil storage structure located in over 150 feet
in the Persian Gulf while he was employed by Chicago Bridge & Iron Limited.
Whitey Grubbs' career spanned the period from 1948 through 1999 during
which he held numerous responsible management positions with Chicago Bridge
& Iron, as President of D & W Underwater Welding Services, Inc., and prior
to his retirement, as Director of Underwater Welding for Global Divers and
Contractors.

The 2002 Tom Devine Memorial Award was presented to Jim Caldwell. Jim began
his diving career in 1943 while in the United States Navy. Following
discharge from the Navy in 1947 Jim began commercial diving in the
Northeastern United States where he formed a diving unit attached to the
Lakehurst Naval Air Station to aircraft.  Mr. Caldwell went on to form
Ocean County Diving, Caldwell Diving, and Caldwell Cable Ventures and in
1998 eventually sold his company to General Dynamics Corp. The company
currently operates as IT Telecommunications. Jim is recognized for his
specialized knowledge and expertise in the installation and burial of power
and communications cables around the world, both offshore and inshore.
Using his in-house designed and built jet assisted underwater cable plows,
his companies successfully laid and buried cables below the bottom to
depths ranging from 3 to 45 feet and installed fiber optic cables for A T &
T and Bell Atlantic around the world. Jim is presently active with the
Institute of Diving in Panama City Florida as a Past President and serves
as an Advisory Member of the Board of the Historical Diving Society USA.

Mr. Lazaro Del Castillo, Chairman of the ADC Latin American & Caribbean
Chapter and President of Sebute, S. A., was the recipient of the 2001 ADC
President's Award. Lazaro retired from the Colombian Navy in 1992 as
Officer Major, having been the only Officer qualified as a Saturation
Diver, and operator of both the Jim and Wasp One atmosphere vehicles, and
received both Underwater Demolitions and SEAL Training from the United
States Navy. Lazaro, in his official capacity with Buceo y Salvamento,
headed the first underwater archaeological study of many wrecks in
Colombian waters. In September, 2000, Lazaro Del Castillo responded to the
challenge of becoming Chairman of the newly formed Latin American &
Caribbean Chapter of ADC. Since that time he has worked tirelessly to
promote safety, communication, and education throughout the region and to
generate increased membership.

MTS/ROV Awards

C A Richards and Associates, Inc. (CAR) was the recipient of the Corporate
Excellence Award.  The company recently celebrated their 30th anniversary. 
In 1971, Charlie Richards decided to set up business as a manufacturer's
representative in Houston Texas. The oil and gas boom times of the early
seventies ensured the success of his start-up venture, but another success
secret was his initial choice of "associates", his wife Barbara, almost
from the beginning and son Chuck, just out of Texas A&M in 1974. As the
dark clouds of an oil and gas industry collapse were beginning to form in
1984, CAR decided to diversify. This maneuver helped the company weather
the storm of a depressed drilling market. Chuck Richards has worked
extensively with the ADC and takes special interest in MTS scholarship
programs and serves as vice chair of the MTS DP Committee. Charlie is
active on many committees and is the current chairman of the board of the
Offshore Technology Conference.

The MTS/ROV Committee Scholarship was awarded to Aaron Horine, an Ocean
Engineering Student at Texas A&M University. Aaron is a member of the
Marine Technology Society and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Ocean Engineering, Aaron
looks forward to beginning a career in the marine industry, utilizing ROVs
as a tool for any discipline of ocean engineering.

The UI Outstanding Technical Paper award, chosen by Drew Michel and Ross
Saxon, went to Wayne Verdun, moderator of the panel entitled, "The OSHA 300
Law and Record Keeping Requirements." Wayne organized an outstanding panel
of OSHA representatives, offshore operators and underwater contractors who
discussed OSHA's new record keeping rule and its impact as contractors
attempt to comply. The discussion resulted in several issues being brought
to light for OSHA representatives to clarify in the near future. This was
but one of many important panels and papers held during UI 2002.

Other Notable Sessions

- U.S. Coast Guard and Commercial Diving Safety Panel session, moderated by
LCDR John Cushing: Coast Guard representatives discussed the regulatory
landscape for commercial diving, including compliance and safety awareness.
- Minerals Management Service sessions: Donald C. Howard's presentation,
"Gulf of Mexico MMS Prospective," which presented the status of MMS
regulation of oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico, and pending
changes to the regulations which will affect diving inspection frequencie;
and Tommy Laurendine's presentation, "Underwater Inspection Requirements,"
which covered CFR 30, Part 250, Subpart I, Section 900, which covers
inspection of all platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf.
- AUV Track, coordinated by Track Chairman Brian Morr, which featured 18
papers and panels on subjects ranging from AUV insurance to current and
future commercial prospects, with emphasis also being put on data
communications and survey capabilities. The entire AUV track was
characterized by standing-room-only attendance.
- Shipwreck Track, coordinated by Track Chairman Greg Stemm, which featured
15 papers and panels on shipwreck law and politics, technical tools for
exploration, ROVs, underwater forensics, and recovery techniques.

2003: A Year of Growth

Underwater Intervention will be held in the Morial Convention Center
through at least the year 2005, allowing for unlimited growth in what has
become the world's leading conference for underwater contracting and
commercial diving.

UI 2003 will be held Monday-Wednesday, February 10-12. Although previous
scheduling of January 25-28, 2003 conflicted with Super Bowl weekend,
conference organizers were able to negotiate new dates with the Convention
Center.

The layout of the UI 2003 exhibit floor will accommodate 300 exhibit
spaces, and early plans are to feature an "International Lounge" to show
hospitality to the hundreds of overseas visitors to the conference. For
information on reserving booth space at next year's show, contact Ross
Saxon at 1-800-316-2188. For information on UI 2003, visit
www.underwaterintervention.com.

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