Not far from the Guice Offshore (“GO”) headquarters, our friends at Gulf Blue remind the maritime and offshore community to mark your calendars for the 2022 “Oceans in Action” Workshop and Port Security Summit March 7-10, 2022 at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi!
Among the exciting speakers scheduled is Craig McLean of NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), who will speak on the United Nations’ Decade of the Ocean (see below) that began in 2021.
To view the current agenda, click here.
Oceans In Action 2022 is an in-person event (as of December 20, 2021) highlighting how marine science and technology research efforts are integrated into operational missions, results, and decision-making tools. The event will also highlight results of the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) vignettes that took place in the Gulf of Mexico in 2020, as well as details on NOAA’s increased support to that program.
New to the program will be the Port Security Summit hosted by the Port of Gulfport through the University of Southern Mississippi’s Mississippi Defense Initiative (MDI), a grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.
Guice Offshore is very honored to support our men and women in uniform and the many other branches of the U.S. Government. GO vessels are regularly employed in a variety of support roles including research and development, offshore training and drills, and logistics and special projects. Based at Port Everglades, Florida, our Multi-Purpose Vessel GO America operates in conjunction with our partners at Global SubDive to support a large array of government projects, often utilizing GSD submarines and ROVs. Similarly, partner Ryan Marine is an expert in the field of unmanned vehicle operation, which allows us to provide turnkey AUV and UUV services to government agencies anywhere in the U.S. and Caribbean.
For research, GO vessels offer a stable platform from which to conduct experiments and utilize specialized equipment. Our vessels’ large accommodations can house many scientists and vessel crew simultaneously, and even be converted into floating laboratories. Multi-Purpose Vessels like the GO Pursuit, operating in partnership with Ryan Marine Inc., are especially well-suited for this industry, which often requires an A-frame and winch to deploy acoustic gear into the water column or down to the seafloor.
What’s Oceans in Action All About?
It’s the premier Gulf Coast regional marine technology event focusing on emerging technologies – bringing together federal, state, local, and private organizations for presentations, business-to-business/business-to-government meetings, exhibits of the latest technology, and pier-side demonstrations in association with the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise Gulf Coast and Port of Gulfport. This year, details on the programs associated with the newly awarded Gulf Coast Tech Bridge will be highlighted.
The newly added Port Security Summit, hosted by the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi, will examine key security and logistic measures needed to transport cargo as one of 17 strategic seaports in the nation, highlighting emerging technology within the maritime and port security industry. With increased traffic and cargo moving through ports each day, ports are particularly vulnerable to security threats, creating the need for a wide range of security tools from cybersecurity to physical security to defend and reduce the impact of potential threats to port operations.
Oceans In Action / Port Security Summit Highlights
- New this year: Port Security Summit and introducing the new Gulf Coast Tech Bridge
- Great pier-side demonstrations and ANTX vignettes
- Updates by local federal and state agencies on their missions and technology needs and programs
- Talks on new and developing technologies
- In-room exhibit tables
- One-on-one Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government meetings
- Break time to network
Hear from Local and Regional Agencies at the Summit
- Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command
- Naval Research Laboratory – Stennis Detachment
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program
- Updates on Mississippi’s Blue Economy, including:
- Ocean Enterprise Facility Construction
- Gulfport Blue Economy Innovation District
- Singing River Innovation Hub
- Newest developments at the University of Southern Mississippi’s classes and programs in ocean engineering, unmanned systems, aquaculture, and others
- State of Mississippi efforts and programs
- Additional presentations from local collaborative groups and emerging technologies
What is the “Decade of the Ocean?”
In 2017, the United Nations has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to support efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for sustainable development of the Ocean.
The marine realm is the largest component of the Earth’s system that stabilizes climate and support life on Earth and human well-being. However, the U.N.’s First World Ocean Assessment released in 2016 found that much of the ocean is now seriously degraded, with changes and losses in the structure, function and benefits from marine systems.
In addition, the impact of multiple stressors on the ocean is projected to increase as the human population grows towards the expected 9 billion by 2050.
Adaptation strategies and science-informed policy responses to global change are urgently needed.
Scientific understanding of the ocean’s responses to pressures and management action is fundamental for sustainable development. Ocean observations and research are also essential to predict the consequences of change, design mitigation and guide adaptation.
As mandated by the U.N. General Assembly, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO will coordinate the Decade of the Ocean’s preparatory process, inviting the global ocean community to plan for the next ten years in ocean science and technology to deliver, together, the ocean we need for the future we want!
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
“The Decade Advisory Board, with its rich diversity of cultural, geographical, skills and stakeholder backgrounds, is well poised to help the Ocean Decade ride the strong momentum of the first year of implementation of the Decade,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary. “I am pleased to see such a star line-up of professionals committed to helping deliver on the Ocean Decade vision.”
On behalf of the IOC Secretariat, Vladimir Ryabinin convened a Selection Panel composed of the IOC Chair, Ariel Troisi (Argentina), five IOC Vice-Chairs and the Past IOC Chair. The 15 experts were selected from over 240 nominations put forward by governments, UN, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, as well as self-nominations. In addition to a diversity of skills and geographic backgrounds, the selection panel also considered gender and generational diversity in the selection of members.
“The number and quality of the applications submitted is a clear example of the interest, vocation, and commitment to meet the challenges our Ocean is facing while responding to the demands of society. We are on a determined path towards transformation and I am fully confident that, with the advice of this superlative team, we will lay solid foundations to reach the Ocean we need from a holistic, participatory, and inclusive perspective.”
Among its key roles, the Board will provide advice to the IOC Executive Secretary on the endorsement of global and major regional programs that will form the building blocks of Decade action over the next ten years.
The Board will also provide strategic advice to the IOC Governing Bodies on Decade implementation including identifying major gaps or priorities to scope future Calls for Decade Actions, advising on resource mobilization strategies, and supporting broad engagement and outreach.
The Decade Advisory Board will hold its first meeting in January 2022.
- Meet the Members of the Decade Advisory Board
- To learn more about Decade of the Ocean, click here.
About the IOC of UNESCO
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programs in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
